Students completing their graduation projects in the Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Crisis Management programme at the College of Mass Communication, Umm Al Quwain University, organized a panel discussion in collaboration with the Umm Al Quwain Civil Defence Department on Wednesday, 28 October 2026. The discussion, titled “Leveraging Digital Corporate Communication During Crises and Emergencies,” was held as part of their graduation project requirements, which examine the Umm Al Quwain Civil Defence Department’s response through a case study of the emirate. The project was supervised by Dr. Suhair Fahd Mohammed, Assistant Professor at the College of Mass Communication.
The session aimed to highlight the role of digital corporate communication in managing crises and emergencies and its importance in strengthening institutional preparedness, ensuring the flow of information, and developing coordination mechanisms among relevant entities, thereby enhancing response efficiency and protecting lives and property.
The discussion was attended by Dr. Hany Abdulrahman Bakr, Deputy Director of Umm Al Quwain University, and Dr. Haitham Abdulrahman Al Samarrai, Dean of the College of Mass Communication, along with several faculty members and students.
A number of specialists from the General Command of Civil Defence – Umm Al Quwain Civil Defence Department also participated in the session: Lt. Col. Yousef Abdulrahman Al Qaywani from the Stations Section; First Warrant Officer Abdullah Khalfan Halis Al Ali from the Technical Affairs Branch; First Warrant Officer Rashid Humaid bin Eiran Al Ali from the Support Services Branch; and First Sergeant Ahmed Mohammed Al Mahdi Al Shehhi from the External Stations Section.
The discussion addressed three main themes. The first focused on “The Role of Civil Defence and Institutional Coordination During Crises and Emergencies.” The second explored “Preparedness, Field Response, and Digital Communication with the Public.” The third addressed “Challenges of Digital Corporate Communication and the Future of Effective Response to Crises and Emergencies.”
As part of the practical component, the graduation project team presented AMAN (أمان | AMAN), an interactive digital platform developed by the students to promote community awareness and foster a culture of safety and preparedness for crises and emergencies. The platform provides educational and training content offering guidance on appropriate preventive measures and behaviours. The team also presented a video showcasing the platform’s concept and key features as one of the practical outcomes of the academic project, demonstrating how students applied their skills to develop digital solutions that serve community awareness.
The session concluded with the recognition of representatives from the Umm Al Quwain Civil Defence Department in appreciation of their participation and for sharing their field expertise with students. This initiative reflects Umm Al Quwain University’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with national institutions and connecting educational outcomes with professional practice, helping develop students’ skills and prepare them for labour market requirements.