Public Affairs

CGS Hosts Lecture by AUK Professor (and Alumnus) on Studying Humanities in the Gulf

30th Oct 2018 | by the Department of PR & Marketing

The Center for Gulf Studies hosted a public discussion presented by Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Farhan, Assistant Professor of Near and Middle Eastern Studies at AUK. The lecture, entitled, Studying Humanities in the Gulf, intended to help break the fear barrier that many students face when pursuing higher education in the humanities.
 
Professor Abdulrahman—who is also an AUK alumnus—began by talking about his experience as a student. He majored in finance, but minored in Arabic literature and visual performing art. After graduation, he had offers from graduate schools that could have led him to many different career paths, but he decided to pursue his passion and go to SOAS in London to pursue an MA and PhD in Near and Middle Eastern Studies. He noted that one of his AUK professor’s encouragement about his talents in the field are what gave him the confidence to pursue a career in Arabic literature.

Professor Abdulrahman argued that people today (particularly those in the GCC region) have become too focused on memorizing and copying, rather than using their own creative potential or brainpower to solve problems; as he pointed out, “How can you be human without having an interest in the humanities?” As a result, the GCC region has fallen behind in the production of knowledge.

After the talk, members of the audience discussed their experiences with the liberal arts (most as AUK students, alumni, or faculty) and talked about ways to get people from the GCC region to start producing knowledge again. One student spoke about his experience with an AUK professor who brought many different academic disciplines into an environmental studies class to help make it relevant for all students by including business, engineering, and humanitarian issues in the field. One audience member, who was from outside the AUK community, emphasized the importance of creating more research and development sponsorships in the humanities and business. Professors mentioned the importance of exciting students about the humanities and encouraging them to pursue their passions.

Reflecting on the discussion, Dr. Shareefa Al-Adwani, Assistant Professor of Political Science and Director of the Center for Gulf Studies, said, “The speaker tonight, Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Farhan, emphasized that the production of knowledge, through critical thinking and creativity, often begins with a liberal arts education. A liberal arts education is one that is both diverse and cohesive, fostering and enriching scholarship throughout one’s lifetime. The Center for Gulf Studies, in its support of the cultivation of research on the Gulf, encourages both international and indigenous research by scholars at all stages of their academic journeys.”

The talk provided a necessary reminder about the importance of the humanities in helping society move forward.
 

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