Students Embrace Trip to UAE as Moment of Cultural Education, Community
Based on author Ashley Gebb article published March 8, 2023 in Chico State Today
“Having the opportunity to travel across the world and experience a new culture in the UAE in general, and in Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services (SCHS) in particular, is something I will forever cherish”, said graduate student Coral Imhoff, who is working on her master’s in speech pathology.
“And being able to observe the children with disabilities in the school setting was truly inspiring,” she added. “Seeing how the teachers interacted with their students with such care and kindness was something I will never forget. What I know now about the UAE is what I wish every person in America could know.”
In January 2023, SCHS hosted a delegation of students, teachers and experts from California State University - Chico. The visit aimed at exchanging experiences, developing Adapted Physical Education (APE) services, and consolidating the use of best and latest practices based on scientific evidence.
During the 8-day visit, delegation members toured some of SCHS new schools, sections, and branches. They visited sites to observe teachers in their environments, and debriefed each day on what they saw, connecting it to their coursework and hands-on experiences back in California.
“It was an incredible chance to observe everything we had been studying at Chico State in another culture firsthand,” Bautista-Moreno said. “As I was witnessing a class in SCHS, I saw several of the techniques we have studied being used for physical exercises and we had the chance to utilize our expertise in order to suggest programs for kids with physical and mental difficulties.”
Kinesiology professor Rebecca Lytle spoke about the close and well-established relationship between California State University Chico and SCHS, which has assumed a global position thanks to the wise management and sound guidance of its president, Her Excellency Sheikha Jameela bint Muhammad Al Qasimi.
Lytle referred to the participation of a delegation from the university in the twenty-first "Al Amal Camp", which SCHS organized more than a decade ago. In addition, the two sides had many visits between each other to strengthen cooperation and exchange of experiences during the subsequent years.
The recent visit came within the framework of achieving SCHS's strategic goals "2022-2032" such as "adopting institutional learning approaches and knowledge production in national, regional and global institutions". SCHS does this through networking with universities and research centers on local and international levels. This would document and build academic treatment and service models and develop the scope and quality of services.
The importance of the program that SCHS approved for the visit lies in the development of many aspects of work during this stage, especially the activities related to APE and its services provided to persons with disabilities of all ages. In addition, there is the practical exchange of experiences and the participation of students and experts of the delegation in physical education classes and other activities included within program for physical education teachers in SCHS.
The positive effects of the visit were not limited to the scientific and academic aspects, but also included the social and humanitarian aspects. “I had anxious feelings about traveling to a country with culture and customs I was not familiar with,” said kinesiology major Drew Jones. “Once there, I felt so special being able to go to all those amazing places, not because we asked, but because they wanted us to be immersed and truly feel welcomed into their world. It was an experience I will never forget, not because of the place, but because of the people.”
The students of California State University - Chico in the article published on the Chico State Today website, admired education and training methods used in SCHS and the lack of behavioral issues in many of the classrooms. This confirms the level of professionalism that SCHS pursues in providing its services to people with disabilities and the continuous endeavor to improve the quality of their lives and the lives of their families.
Reference :
https://today.csuchico.edu/2023-uae-trip/