Department of Arabic for Non-Native Speakers Holds Two Regular Meetings
The Department of Arabic for Non-Native Speakers at the Islamic University of Minnesota (Main Center) held its regular meeting on November 30, 2025, chaired by Assistant Professor Dr. Ali El-Shboul, Head of the Department, with the attendance of faculty members and Administrative Affairs Director Mr. Anas Al-Sayyar. The meeting began with a welcoming address from the Department Head, who expressed his gratitude and appreciation for the participants’ continuous efforts and engagement in advancing the educational process and developing the department.
The agenda included a discussion of the department’s new appointment decisions, with agreement reached to begin implementing the necessary procedures in accordance with established regulations, aiming to strengthen the academic staff and meet the department’s educational and administrative needs. The participants also reviewed the department’s curricula, agreeing on a series of revisions designed to enhance the quality of instructional content and align it with modern methodologies in teaching Arabic to non-native speakers.
The meeting further addressed plans to develop university-level courses and to establish a solid foundation for building an integrated departmental structure consistent with the future academic vision and accreditation standards. Strategic directions were adopted for improving both academic and administrative performance in the short and long term, with emphasis on implementing the necessary measures to achieve the desired objectives.
Discussion also covered collaboration with foreign universities and institutes, with agreements reached to strengthen academic partnerships in teaching and research, expanding opportunities for knowledge exchange and program development. A fair mechanism for distributing courses among faculty members was adopted, taking into account specialization and experience, while ensuring teaching efficiency and workload equity.
To support development initiatives, the attendees reviewed faculty proposals regarding departmental planning and performance improvement, agreeing to adopt a comprehensive plan that incorporates these insights into actionable steps. Coordination between the Curriculum Unit and relevant authorities was emphasized to ensure alignment among academic units and maintain the quality of educational outcomes.
The meeting concluded with clear recommendations, including the implementation of appointment decisions, curriculum revisions, adoption of a comprehensive development plan, enhancement of international academic cooperation, fair distribution of courses, and activation of proposed improvements, measures aimed at advancing the department’s mission and future aspirations.
In a related context, the department had previously held another meeting chaired by Dr. Ali El-Shboul, with the presence of the Deputy University Vice President Dr. Zainab Basyouni and faculty members, to discuss critical academic and administrative issues aimed at enhancing the department’s educational process. During that session, the current curricula and course descriptions were reviewed, and developmental revisions were unanimously approved to improve learning outcomes. A clear operational plan was also adopted to achieve the department’s goals and ambitious future vision, alongside an agreement on continuously updating educational programs to meet student needs and foster a stimulating learning environment.
