Featuring international participation:

 

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The English Literature Department at the United Arab Emirates University organized the ‘First International Conference on Literature for Children and Young Adults: Contemporary Challenges and Future Aspirations’, on Wednesday, 18^th of November 2015, in the Information Technology building. Dr. Saif Al Qaydi, Dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, faculty, and specialists from Egypt, Germany, Kenya, England, Taiwan, Kazakhstan and several other countries were in attendance.

The Conference discussed the idea of writing being multi-disciplinary and how it can be harnessed to enrich literature for children and young people, as well as keeping up with changes and global developments. This covers theoretical, philosophical, historical, comparative studies, studies of authors, comic books, graphic novels and fiction. It also covers children’s literary development and the production of films, television and new media directed at children and young adults.

More than 30 working papers were presented at the conference by faculty and outside contributors. The international participation included, “Contemporary studies concerning the eradication of illiteracy,” presented by Dr. Melvit Melvin from the University of Maryland, USA, and “the Evolution of Islamic-Western literature" by Dr. Bob Williams of the University of Huddersfield, England. There was also an, “Analysis of theatrical practices by children from an adult point of view,” presented by Dr. Lilian Akoth from Maseno University in Kenya.

The Arabic participation focused on children and young people’s literature, linguistic and intellectual structures and writing strategies. Dr. Mohammed Abu Fadl Badran, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of the Ministry of Culture in Egypt, presented a paper on children’s poetry and literature while presenting the writings of the great poet and writer Ahmed Shawki as an example. Meanwhile Dr. Omar Mokdad from the University of Tunis presented a paper on “Children’s and youth literature in the light of comparative literature”, while Dr. Ibrahim Melhem, a professor at UAEU, talked about “Children’s culture in the age of multimedia: using an Emirati child as a model.”

Dr. Al Qaydi pointed out that this type of conference enriches students’ experience and creates new ideas by meeting a number of literary-minded people from diverse cultures. It is an enriching as well as literary and intellectual background.

Dr. Saddik Gohar, Chair of the Department of English Literature and the organizer of the conference said that we should aim to raise a new generation that maintains its identity and religion, is faithful to their country and traditions and capable of embracing the future without fear or hesitation. Through literature, theatre and television for children allied to our educational, cultural and intellectual institutions we can achieve this.