Zaki Nusseibeh: Suggesting creative insights in social service and social work

Mugheer Al Khaili: Developing the quality of social services and launching strategies that serve the community

H.E Zaki Anwar Nusseibeh, Cultural Advisor to His Highness the President of the UAE and Chancellor of the UAE University, affirmed that we are proud that the UAEU adopts within its strategies the fundamental principles of social work of human rights, social responsibility, respect of cultural diversity, sustainable development that is compatible with the teachings of the Islamic religion and to all what the monotheistic religions call for.

This was during the World Social Work Day activities that were organized by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences in collaboration with the Department of Community Development in Abu Dhabi, and with the presence of Dr. Mugheer Al Khaili, Chairman of the Department of Community Development, Prof. Ghaleb Alhadrami Al Braiki, Acting Vice Chancellor at UAEU, Dr. Hassan Al Naboodah, Dean of the College of the Humanities and Social Sciences, and several academic leaders, the university’s students, and representatives of local departments.

H.E Nusseibeh added that our celebration this year is under the theme “Participation in building a new social and environmental world,” to keep pace with the aspirations of our wise government, which aims to create an optimal environment for creativity by presenting new innovative visions in the field of social service and social work, and to achieve social welfare according to a pioneering and thoughtful scientific methodology, and spreading happiness which represents an approach and a foresighted vision of the UAE among all society members.

He concluded that “the university’s celebration of this day is an opportunity for social work specialists, members of the administrative and academic staff, and students to meet and discuss the best practices in social work, and to generate initiatives to attain leadership in this field and to improve social work profession to achieve sustainable social development.

H.E Dr. Mugheer Al Khaili, Chairman of the Department of Community Development in Abu Dhabi, gave a presentation on the role, tasks, and strategies of the Department, and pointed out that the Department, in collaboration with the Statistics Centre Abu Dhabi, launched the “Quality of Life Survey” to measure the social status in the emirate and to identify the social challenges that individuals face. The survey contributed to developing the quality of the social services and releasing strategies that serve the community in Abu Dhabi.

He added that the government sought to enhance social work by strengthening the role of the Department of Community Development in structuring and strategic tasks, and in providing social services according to basic principles that enhance the individual’s and community’s role. The Department has launched Abu Dhabi Strategy for People of Determination and their families in light of an integrated system and high quality, and building community confidence through a right-based perspective and the involvement of people of determination in the transition to an inclusive society. This is to provide equal access and ensure the provision of a better service, and to build a strategy through a cohesive, solid, and committed family, and empowered firm youth. The Department has set 15 main goals to achieve this. H.E Dr. Al Khaili stressed that the emirate of Abu Dhabi has received the ninth rank in the quality of life worldwide.

For his part, H.E Dr. Mugheer Al Khaili, Chairman of the Department of Community Development, appreciated UAE University’s efforts in providing important events that have a positive impact on society. The events which were organized in conjunction with World Social Work Day, especially in the field of social services, were considered wide and concerned with human service and improving the quality of their life.

He also affirmed that the emirate of Abu Dhabi is a city that incubates individuals from different cultures and races and is constantly working to develop and update laws and legislations that contribute to enhancing social protection for them and enabling institutions to provide social services that contribute to achieving a positive impact on society. This is to enhance the well-being and happiness of each individual, which is based on the vision of our wise leadership, that man is the real and sustainable wealth of the country.

H.E Dr. Mugheer Al Khaili added that the Department of Community Development, as the regulator of the social sector in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, is constantly striving to achieve the highest standards of quality for the community members by raising the happiness levels and quality of life. Therefore, since its establishment in 2018, the Department has launched the “Quality of Life Survey,” which is considered a main measurement tool that aims to identify the various social and economic dimensions of society. It also aims to develop plans, strategies, and policies that contribute to meeting the needs of individuals and promoting the development process in line with our vision which aims at achieving a dignified life for all society members.

His Excellency pointed out that they developed 14 basic indicators of quality of life which are approved by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. This organization is concerned with the extent of people’s satisfaction with their life, and with the services provided by their governments. He explains that the emirate of Abu Dhabi applies these international standards to know its position among the developed countries and to improve the level of individual life.

For his part, Dr. Ghaleb Al-Breiki, Acting Vice Chancellor at UAEU, gave a speech in which he said: "We celebrate the International Social Work Day, in cooperation with the Department of Community Development in Abu Dhabi, to participate in building a civilized society that keeps pace with the rapid development of civilization, to activate skills and experiences for social work away from race, beliefs, and nationalities, in issues that concern man as a civilized concept.”

Prof. Al-Breiki emphasized that the university, through the curricula that are taught in the university’s colleges, seeks to enhance the role and status of the social worker, to prepare highly qualified cadres, and to promote the spirit of tolerance, and civilizational, cultural and intellectual communication among students, especially since the university includes a large number of international students from different nationalities. It also strives to keep pace with the development of educational inputs and outputs according to international standards, to respect cultural and civilizational diversity, and to offer postgraduate programs that go along with the requirements of future foresight for the next fifty years that meet the national strategy of the UAE.

Then His Excellency Dr. Mugheer Al-Khaili, accompanied by Prof. Ghaleb Al-Hadrami, Al-Breiki inspected the accompanying exhibition and activities presented by the female students and some local departments. Then the social development experts and faculty members continued presenting the workshops.