Department of Special Education

Department of Special and Gifted Education

Overview

Vision & Mission

Academic Programs

Facilities

Faculty & Staff

General Enquiries

Overview

Welcome to the Department of Special and Gifted Education

The Department of Special and Gifted Education established in the academic year 1987-1988 and is the first special education program in the United Arab Emirates. The Department of Special and Gifted Education at the United Arab Emirates University is one of the top undergraduate and graduate level programs in the country. The department’s goal is to successfully prepare educators, leaders, and researchers to assist children and youth with special needs to be academically and socially successful life-long learners.

The program is committed to effective teaching, excellent field supervision as well as innovation, and leadership. Offering both undergraduate and graduate programs. You will graduate with all the knowledge, skills and dispositions that you need to be a successful special educator leader and researcher. The Special and Gifted Education Department includes nationally and internationally renowned faculty.

Vision & Mission

Vision

The Special and Gifted Education Department is dynamically committed to instructing, mentoring, and empowering students to become future leaders in the educational field.

Mission

The objectives both of the undergraduate and graduate programs in Special and Gifted Education enhance the intellectual and communicative skills and abilities to contribute to the progression and academic excellence of the UAE. The Department of Special and Gifted Education has equipped generations of graduates with responsibility and high commitment to the ethical practices and professionalism that effective leaders possess. The Special and Gifted Education curriculum offers a plethora of high-quality undergraduate and graduate programs to prepare excellent educators, independent thinkers, and successful communicators.

Academic Programs

Facilities

Family and Child Special Education Lab (FCSEL)

Family and Child Special Education Lab (FCSEL)is part of the College of Education at UAEU, and operates as part of the Special Education Department. (FCSEL) provides Academic assessment and support services for students with special needs, both at the university level and in the wider surrounding community. The (FCSEL) benefits from the expertise of university faculty members and practicing clinicians. The (FCSEL) provides counseling services to families and professionals in the field of special education. Additionally, it provides l counseling services to students with determination and their families. Finally, (FCSEL) serves the United Arab Emirates University and the local community by providing ongoing workshops and training sessions.

One of the (FCSEL) s purposes is to be used as a learning environment for Special Education students within the College of Education and the University as a whole, to equip them with necessary practical experience to support people with additional learning needs. The students work as supervised practitioners in the (FCSEL), gaining the necessary knowledge and expertise to build on their theoretical knowledge by adding practical experience. Special Education graduates will have both a sound academic knowledge in their area of specialty, and also a real-life experience gained from their work with children and families.

Students who work in the lab people with the following additional needs:

Speech, Language, and Communication Disorders (including articulation difficulties, Developmental Language Disorder, stammering/stuttering, Childhood Apraxia of Speech)
Dyslexia
Math’s difficulties (dyscalculia)
Learning difficulties
Autism Spectrum Condition
Behavioral difficulties
Difficulties with attention or hyperactivity

The (FCSEL) provides its services free of charge. It is able to provide support both in both Arabic and English.

Operating hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, following the UAEU Academic Calendar.

For any enquiries, please use our contact details below:

Phone: 03 713 6261

Email: Hana.omar@uaeu.ac.ae

Faculty

Note: If calling from outside the UAEU organization, dial (+971 3 713) before the extension.

Name	Position	Email	Ext.
Dr. Maria Efstratopoulou	Associate Professor, Chair of Department	maria.efstratopoulou@uaeu.ac.ae	6245
Prof. Ousha Al Muhairi	Professor	o.almuhairy@uaeu.ac.ae	6269
Prof. Hala Elhoweris	Professor	halae@uaeu.ac.ae	6270
Dr. Ahmed Mohamed	Associate Professor	ahamdan@uaeu.ac.ae	6203
Dr. Rhoda Myra Garces Bacsal	Associate Professor	myrabacsal@uaeu.ac.ae	6217
Dr. Mohammad Al Rashaida	Assistant Professor	moh.alrashaida@uaeu.ac.ae	6241
Dr. Maxwell Opoku	Assistant Professor	Maxwell.p@uaeu.ac.ae	6268
Dr. Ashraf Mustafa	Instructor	ashraf.m@uaeu.ac.ae	6221
Dr.Agathi Argyriadi	Visiting Faculty	agathi.argyriadi@uaeu.ac.ae

Staff

Note: If calling from outside the UAEU organization, dial (+971 3 713) before the extension.

Name	Position	Email	Ext
Dababa Al Ameri	Administrative Assistant	dababa.a@uaeu.ac.ae	6260
Msr. Hana Omar	Laboratory Specialist	Hana.omar@uaeu.ac.ae	6261

General Enquiries

Thank you for your interest in the Special and Gifted Education Department. We welcome your query and encourage you to contact us using the information below:

College of Education,
United Arab Emirates University,
P.O.Box: 15551, Al Ain,
Abu Dhabi, UAE
Phone: + 971 3 7136267