The Mass Communication department at KIC hosted its special orientation event to greet the new joiners, in cooperation with some of the thought leaders in the Academic and Journalism fields, from the UAE and the Arab World.
The event, which attracted around 100 guests, started with the UAE national anthem, followed by the greetings of distinguished guests and speakers.
Dr Assem Al-Hajj, KIC President, welcomed everybody and mentioned in his speech that KIC’s pride lies in its students. Prof Nabil El Kadhi highlighted the importance of the orientation session and preparing for the jobs of tomorrow, as ‘success is a mutual outcome’. Finally, Dr Ibnaouf Hassan, Head of Mass Communication Department at KIC, concluded the round of greetings, noting that excellence is a new normal in the modern competitive environment, by that stressing the importance of a well-rounded academic journey.
The event featured several sections that instilled KIC and professional values in the students. Mass Communication Department prepared a documentary that provided a brief snapshot on the college’s history, which was established in 1985.
Students also had the chance to engage in an interactive FAQ session with Dr Ghada Salih, Mass Communication Program Leader and Assistant Professor, KIC Mass Communication department. Topics such as roles of academic advising, work-study-life balance, tips to maintain high AGPA, and building rapport with the KIC community were covered. Students got also introduced to the industry-grade production studio, which will be integral to their education.
Beyond that, students also benefited from the experience of the invited thought leaders in the Academic and Journalism fields. All of the speakers agreed on the importance of passion in driving a successful career in the field of Mass Communication.
Ms. Alsaad Almenhaly, Editor-in-chief of National Geographic Arabic, also highlighted the importance of guidance and support even if those are not solicited.
Prof May Abdallah, founder of “Arab Association for Scientific Research and Communication Sciences” and Professor of Information and Communication Sciences, Lebanese University, pointed out that the role is grand as it is the role of influence. As thus, the field demands specialists that think critically.
Dr. Abbas Sadek, having spent almost four decades in the field, and lately a Program Planner at Abu Dhabi TV, offered a historical perspective on the process of content curation in the field of mass media. He highlighted the impact of new technologies in the development of Mass Communication Sciences and stressed that students must understand the responsibilities of their profession.
The event also hosted KIC Mass Communication current students and alumni. Mr. Othman Alhammadi and Ms. Mona Al Jabri, offered some tips such as having a strategy, a positive self-image and confidence, working on soft skills, seeking positive people, and always adding value to overdeliver. The alumnus Mr. Ali Al Harthi volunteered to deliver a poetry piece.
KIC would like to thank its Mass Communication department for delivering an all-encompassing orientation, which included even a profession related Trivia Quiz. Special thanks to Ms. Yasmine AlHasani for hosting the event.
Finally, KIC community welcomes its new Mass Communication Students, the professionals of tomorrow.