Dr. Fatma Jobran, a guest lecture from Taibah University, visited AUCA

January 27, 2017

On 20 January, 2016, the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication at the American University of Central Asia (AUCA), organized “Design and Innovation,” a guest lecture by Dr. Fatma Jobran from Taibah University in Saudi Arabia. Through the lecture, Dr. Jobran explained how people’s psychological, emotional, and social well-being can be benefited through scientifically and concisely designing their environments.

“In the Middle East and in other countries, the design and architecture of most graduate students’ classrooms, graduate libraries, and graduate centers are characteristic of the region’s climate and non-natural environment effects on learning, memory, creativity, and health outcomes. […] Following this custom, [one would expect] the use of [these] natural and healing environment elements characteristic [would also be found] in the design of places of respite in the Middle East, and other countries; that without such elements, places of respite would not be as effective in promoting healing, enhancing creativity, and reducing stress. The purpose of this study is to collect the perceptions of graduate students on places of respite that enhance the creativity using focus-group discussions and a survey. Specifically, data will be gathered on graduate students’ perceptions on the effectiveness of places of respite in promoting healing, enhancing creativity, and reducing study-related stress. Additionally, the respondents’ design preferences will also be determined, including perceptions on the influence of factors such as anxiety and depression along with level of learning, memory and health outcomes.  Finally, differences in perceptions between master student and doctoral student, and between healing and non-healing environment, will be identified. Data will be analyzed using thematic analysis for the focus groups and using t-tests and MANOVA for the quantitative data,” said Dr. Fatma Jobran, an Assistant Professor in Interior/Environmental Design, College of Family Sciences at Taibah University.

 Dr. Fatma Jobran has future plans to build a bridge between Taibah University and AUCA, which would explore the potential for the two universities to collaborate in building effective engagement mechanisms such as help desks, ‘hub and spoke’ contact models, exchange teachers, and research groups to review ideas for activities that will support an ongoing flow of new projects and partnerships over time.

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