The Arabian Gulf University, represented by the College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, participated in the International Conference on Medical Education (ICME–IMEC 2025), one of the most prominent global conferences in the field of medical education and health care professions. Dr. Mai Salah Sater, Professor of Biochemistry, and Professor Khabbab Abdel Moneim Al-Sayed Al-Haj, Head of the Quality Assurance and Accreditation Unit at the College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, presented an interactive online workshop as part of the previous events. For the conference, entitled: “Enhancing student participation in health education through quality circles.”
The workshop highlighted the concept of Quality Circles as an effective tool to enhance students’ participation in continuous improvement processes and academic decision-making, based on the Japanese “Kaizen” philosophy of sustainable development. Participants from various countries discussed the most prominent obstacles to student participation, such as limited feedback channels, study pressure, and institutional culture, using interactive tools such as surveys. Slido, Zoom discussion rooms, and AI-powered thinking activities.
It is noteworthy that the Joint International Conference on Medical Education ICME–IMEC 2025 was held under the slogan “Globalizing Education in Health Care Professions: Strategies, Partners, and Sustainability,” with the participation of an elite group of international universities and institutions, including the International Medical University (IMU) in Malaysia, and Ribah International University in Pakistan, and in cooperation with the World Organization for Medical Education (WFME) and a number of academic bodies. International.
Professor Khabbab Al-Hajj explained that quality circles represent a qualitative shift in the involvement of students, as they give them an influential voice in improving the educational process, pointing to the “Voices of Quality” initiative launched by the university, which contributed to raising student participation rates in academic evaluation, and enhancing bilateral transparency between students and faculty members.
For her part, Dr. Mai Sater emphasized that true participation is not limited to attendance or interaction in the classroom, but rather includes developing scientific curiosity, contemplative thinking, and a sense of shared responsibility towards the learning process. She said: “When students feel that their voices make a real difference in developing programs and curricula, interaction turns from a formal commitment to a substantive participation stemming from conviction and the desire to contribute.”
She added that the quality circles model creates a safe and organized environment for constructive dialogue between students and faculty members, in line with the standards of the World Organization for Medical Education (WFME) and the ISO 21001:2018 standard, which emphasize participatory governance and learner-centeredness.
The workshop witnessed wide international participation, which reflects the growing pioneering role of the Arabian Gulf University in spreading the culture of quality and innovation in medical education. The participants praised the evidence-based design of the workshop, the innovative interactive method, and the use of artificial intelligence techniques in analysis and reflection, describing the experience as “an inspiring model for international cooperation and enhancing student participation,” as the outcomes of the workshop were consistent with the fourth goal of the objectives. UN Sustainable Development (Quality Education), which focuses on ensuring equitable and inclusive education for all and promoting lifelong learning opportunities.
At the conclusion of the workshop, the Arabian Gulf University announced the establishment of a “Community of Practice for Quality Circles in Health Education,” under the supervision of the University’s Center for Quality Assurance and Strategic Planning. This community will be a global platform for exchanging knowledge and experiences between academics and students, with the aim of developing sustainable initiatives to enhance participation and continuous development in health education institutions.
