The second Government Communication Forum (GCF) has instituted a ‘Green Seat’ that will nominate one Emirati student per panel discussion to provide feedback or to share perspectives at the conclusion of each session.
The Sharjah Media Centre is currently meeting with students from government colleges and universities who submitted their statement of purpose to be nominated for the Green Seat. Those students who have strong academic credentials and active participation in campus-based thought-leadership programmes will be selected.
The ‘Green Seat’ initiative takes root from the Sharjah Media Centre’s vision to engage the youth in decision-making, which represents the largest segment of the UAE’s society and enjoys the highest integration in government bodies across the country.
The implementation of the Green Seat will help identify trends among the country’s youth and their opinions on the discussed topics. Director of the Sharjah Media Centre (SMC) Osama Samra said: “Green Seat is a space that the Government Communication Forum has earmarked for the youth of our country. Apart from representing a significant segment of the UAE society, students have an important role to play in contributing to developmental endeavours with their creative skills and strength of purpose. It is imperative for policy-planners and decision-makers to accord special attention to this segment of the society for ensuring their smooth integration into the national developmental initiatives.”
Taking place from February 24 to 25, GCF 2013 will feature four panel discussions, two case studies, two special discussion sessions, four workshops, along with an influential speech headlined by around 40 speakers and moderators from the Arab region and the world.