UAE: Sheikh Sultan honours winners of Alesco-Sharjah Award

Sharjah is working towards elevating the status of Arabic language graduates by initiating teaching programmes to preserve the language, the Sharjah Ruler has said.

His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, and Supreme President of the Arabic Language Academy in Sharjah, emphasised that the true value of the award-winning works at the 5th edition of the Alesco-Sharjah Award for Language and Lexical Studies lies in the fact that it provides exclusive study materials to the Arab library, which is already a renowned knowledge powerhouse housing strong research.

Attending the awarding ceremony held at Dr Sultan AlQasimi Centre, the Sharjah Ruler said: “The award is not for specialisations that delve into politics or industry, but rather for scientific and literary research expanding the existing body of knowledge for researchers, and is not widely available in manuscripts or books that are hard to access.”

Sheikh Sultan added: “The importance of these research efforts cannot be understated as they serve to preserve and revitalise linguistic traditions, adding new dimensions to our understanding of culture. Universities and libraries play a vital role in this work, making it a key part of their mission. Language serves as the foundation of our identity, shaping our religion and beliefs, and thus, these research efforts should not be viewed as a cultural luxury, but as a fundamental aspect of our lives.”

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He added: “We hope that these studies will act as a comprehensive resource for anyone who wants to conduct research and wishes to contribute new information to the field of language. While the monetary prizes offered may be symbolic, the appreciation, and high status we offer to those who have participated in this study must not be underestimated. We extend our sincere wishes for success to all those who have contributed and encourage those who follow in their footsteps to pursue endeavours that benefit the public.”

The Sharjah Ruler pointed out that many Arabic language and Islamic studies graduates face challenges in securing jobs, adding that the emirate is working towards elevating their status by initiating teaching programmes, among other relevant roles.

Sheikh Sultan also received a briefing on the operations of the jury committee and the challenges they encountered, along with several recommendations to increase the number of award submissions and improve the tools available to Arabic language intellectuals and specialists to participate in the award. The winners also presented their research to attendees and shared insights on the efforts they made to complete their projects.