Department of Music Therapy, Conducted successful music therapy workshop in Sharjah, UAE
- Date2023.02.17
- 5884
Between January 12 and 19, 2023, a team of professors, graduates, and students from the Department of Music Therapy at the Graduate School (Director: Professor Hyun Ju Chong) visited Sharjah City in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to conduct a workshop on music therapy for local special education teachers and therapists. The department has been providing music therapy services at Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services, the largest educational center for children with disabilities in the UAE, and training for local educators and therapists since signing a Memorandum of Understanding with Sharjah University in 2013. This year, the ninth workshop of its kind, approximately 50 participants attended and showed great interest in learning about evidence-based music therapy practices in order to enhance their educational and therapeutic approaches for their students with disabilities. The participants expressed their satisfaction with the opportunity to acquire new knowledge and skills.
During the visit, the delegation also provided on-site supervision for music therapy programs that were being implemented by local trainees. This supervision was offered not only at SCHS but also its branches in Kalba and Khorfakkan, in order to support the professionals in providing more specialized services for Arab children with special needs. Beginning in February, graduates from Ewha Womans University will begin providing music therapy training to professionals working at SCHS for a period of six months. This will mark the 12th batch of trainees since the first training program was conducted in 2013.
The department of music therapy has been actively working towards fulfilling the school’s vision of serving and sharing not only within the country but also globally. Through their efforts in this year’s workshop, they provided music therapy services and and training to professionals in Sharjah, and thus contributing to improving the lives of children with special needs in the region and sharing their expertise with the global community. The department’s efforts in this workshop is a testament to their commitment to this vision, and they continue to strive to make a positive impact on the lives of children with special needs and their families.