University of Sharjah conference

DIFI experts participate with three working papers at the University of Sharjah Second International Conference

Experts from the Doha International Family Institute (DIFI), a member of Qatar Foundation (QF), participated with three working papers in the second virtual international conference entitled ‘Social Life Dynamics during and after COVID-19: Approaches to Family Life, Education, and Sustainable Development’, organized by the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences at the University of Sharjah. The DIFI experts previewed the different effects of the COVID-19 pandemic at the health, economic, and family levels, and touched on coping strategies, which form part of research studies conducted in partnership with Qatar University.

The conference was held under the auspices and in the presence of Dr. Hamid Majoul Al Nuaimi, Director of Sharjah University. Held on March 21 and 22, 2022, virtually via Zoom, the conference aims at shedding light on the experiences of family and educational institutions, underscoring measures and sustainable development, and previewing the challenges families face, as well as the coping mechanisms to overcome these challenges. Additionally, the conference featured discussing lessons learned in terms of future planning, strategies that enhance family cohesion, education, and distance learning, as well as sustainable development in light of exceptional circumstances and crises.

The conference featured the participation of Dr. Azza Abdel Moneim, DIFI’s Director of Family Research, presenting a working paper outlining the challenges that families faced during the pandemic and the strategies they had to embrace to maintain their cohesion, according to several DIFI studies.  The conference also saw a contribution by researcher Aisha Al-Sultan, who presented a working paper on ‘The dimensions of the pandemic and its impact on the economic reality of individuals in Qatar’, and another by researcher Fatima Al-Mutawa, DIFI’s Grants and Research specialist, who tackled the ‘Impact of distance learning on family cohesion in light of the COVID-19 pandemic in Qatar.’