The Fourth Arab Forum for Postgraduate Students in Media and Communication Sciences concluded at the University. The event was organised by the Department of Media at the College of Arts and Social Sciences, in collaboration with the Arab Forum of Science Media and Communication, the Institute of Press and Information Sciences at Manouba University in Tunisia, and Abdelhamid Ben Badis University in Mostaganem, Algeria.
The forum, which serves as a prominent academic platform for enhancing communication among postgraduate students, featured panel discussions and specialised workshops addressing key research issues in media and communication. The event resulted in recommendations aimed at strengthening research integration and academic cooperation at the Arabian countries level.
Participants emphasised the importance of enhancing scientific collaboration between faculties and academic departments specialising in media and communication across Arab universities. This would contribute to the development of a supportive academic environment for young researchers. They also stressed the need for this forum to be held periodically, given its role in fostering connections among postgraduate students, facilitating knowledge exchange, and enhancing scientific partnerships.
To support students, participants recommended increasing practical training programmes within the forum’s activities, providing postgraduate students with hands-on opportunities to acquire research and professional skills. Additionally, the importance of collaboration among Arab universities to establish incentive mechanisms encouraging student participation in academic forums was highlighted, including nominating students for upcoming events.
The forum also called for the involvement of postgraduate students in shaping the agenda of future editions, enabling them to gain leadership experience and ensuring their research interests are reflected in scientific sessions and training workshops. One notable proposal was the creation of an interactive electronic platform to bring together postgraduate students in media and communication from various Arab universities, providing a space for exchanging ideas and announcing training sessions and research activities.
In terms of supporting research, participants recommended establishing a comprehensive database containing information and links to master's and doctoral theses in media and communication sciences. This would facilitate access to Arab research output. Furthermore, strengthening cooperation between research laboratories and the Arab Network for Media and Communication Sciences was proposed through initiatives such as organising summer and winter universities, implementing joint publishing mechanisms, and collaborating in the evaluation of doctoral dissertations.
Regarding research methodologies, the recommendations underscored the importance of focusing future training workshops on modern research methods, such as network analysis methodologies, to enhance students’ skills in studying virtual spaces. Encouraging students to launch joint Arab research projects and organising regular remote training workshops to improve their research competencies were also highlighted.
Additionally, special attention was given to Palestinian students, with participants recommending academic support through joint supervision and mentorship to enable them to complete their postgraduate studies despite the challenges they face. Moreover, the organisation of regular academic events, such as study days and brainstorming workshops, was encouraged, with Arab universities and research laboratories serving as hosts.
In conclusion, participants called for holding regular listening sessions for postgraduate students across the Arab world to identify the main challenges they encounter in their research journeys and to find solutions that enhance the quality of their academic output. Another proposal was to develop periodic publications documenting doctoral training experiences in media studies across Arab countries, with continuous updates in line with scientific advancements, ensuring the benefits of diverse academic experiences.
Participants expressed their aspiration for the implementation of these recommendations to sustain efforts aimed at advancing scientific research and strengthening the status of media studies in the Arab world. They affirmed that the forum represents a significant step towards achieving research and academic integration in this field.