Chair of Department of Economics Holds Student Meeting
In an interactive academic setting, Dr. Zayed Nawaf Al-Duwairi, Chair of the Department of Economics and Islamic Banking at the College of Economics and Business Administration, Islamic University of Minnesota - Main Center, met with the department’s students and faculty members on Friday, November 14, 2025. The meeting was dedicated to enhancing direct communication channels with students and monitoring the educational process at the start of the second semester.
Dr. Al-Duwairi opened the meeting with a welcoming speech, congratulating the students and faculty on the start of the new semester. He emphasized the importance of seriousness and preparedness for the upcoming academic period, praised the efforts of the teaching staff, and urged students to actively engage in their academic journey to achieve scientific and professional excellence.
The meeting addressed various academic and administrative issues, including the number of lectures, adherence to approved academic regulations, and the creation of an interactive learning environment in classrooms. It also covered assignments, exams, grading procedures, and other academic evaluation processes, with emphasis on the importance of the university’s guidance handbook as an academic and organizational reference for students.
Students actively participated in the discussion, proposing, among other suggestions, the adoption of a unified academic assignment model outlining standards for each academic level. They also recommended that faculty members keep their cameras on during online lectures to enhance direct interaction. Additional proposals included the use of in-person or online proctored exams, employing anti-cheating tools such as Respondus and ProctorU, diversifying assessment methods with practical projects and short research papers, and reviewing the examination system to align with international academic quality standards.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Dr. Al-Duwairi stressed the importance of ongoing constructive communication between students, the department chair, and faculty members to address issues promptly, respond to inquiries, and receive suggestions regularly, all aimed at developing the educational process and improving academic outcomes.
Previously, the department had held a preparatory meeting on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, chaired by Dr. Al-Duwairi with faculty participation, to review preparations for the second semester. The meeting discussed methods to enhance the quality of education, organize study plans, implement and grade exams, and provide technical support for e-learning through the academic portal and Zoom platform.
The meeting also highlighted the importance of maintaining continuous communication with students, considering the specific needs of undergraduate and graduate programs, and reviewing development proposals to update curricula, support professional training for faculty and students, and encourage participation in scientific activities and research publication in the university’s Journal of Economics and Business Administration.
The session concluded with the chair emphasizing the department’s commitment to enhancing the quality of education and supporting academic development, with a vision toward a distinguished future for the department’s students and faculty.
