Female doctoral candidates from the Learning Difficulties and Developmental Disabilities programme at the Department of Special Education in the College of Education, Administrative and Technical Sciences at the Arabian Gulf University (AGU) have commenced a training initiative at Qatar’s Shafallah Centre for People with Disabilities. The field training – a component of a broader field applications course – is overseen by Dr Maryam Al Sherawi, Professor of Special Education.

During the programme, the candidates familiarised themselves with the centre’s various departments and units and engaged in in‐depth discussions on several special education topics with the centre’s educational guidance team. They also reviewed the objectives of the visit and the mechanisms for implementing programmes for children with different levels of disability – from mild and moderate to severe – spanning early childhood to the rehabilitation phase.

Furthermore, an agreement was reached during the visit to launch the first training workshop for parents of children with developmental disabilities. The workshop aims to alleviate parental anxiety regarding their children’s futures and to correct unfounded perceptions that might hinder positive engagement with their children’s needs and future aspirations.

Dr Al Sherawi noted that the visit is designed to broaden the horizons of postgraduate students by providing direct exposure to practical real-world applications in the field of developmental disabilities. This hands-on experience is expected to enhance their academic and professional skills.

This visit forms part of a series of field activities organised by the Learning Difficulties and Developmental Disabilities programme to strengthen cooperation between the university and community institutions specialising in disability care. Such initiatives not only enhance students’ skills but also contribute to the development of both the educational and social sectors.

The collaboration between AGU and Qatar’s Shafallah Centre for People with Disabilities underscores the commitment to bolstering the applied aspects of postgraduate programmes by linking students with professional field experience, thereby integrating academic theory with real-world practices in care and rehabilitation.