We were delighted to host the MENA & Oman Taster Day at the British Omani Society on Thursday April 10th, welcoming students from all over the UK who were interested in learning more about the Middle East region and Oman, Arabic, International Relations, Politics, Diplomacy, and History at university and beyond.
The BOS team prepared a programme for the day to help give the students an insight into Oman and the Society and different pathways into their future studies and careers, covering potential careers in the Middle East and new ways to learn more about the region through its history, culture and language.
The day started with a welcome from our Chairman Richard Stanford and a brief overview of the work of the Society from our Director Rosa Braune. The morning session continued with presentations about our BOS Schemes from our alumni Joseph Hearn (Arabic Language Scheme) and Tom McKnight (Student Volunteers Oman Scheme), who gave the attendees more detail about their time in Oman and how it impacted them in their personal and professional lives. Many of the students enjoyed learning more about the schemes and were encouraged to sign up themselves, showing keen interest in applying for the next batch of volunteering.
Afterwards, our very own Events & Programming Assistant Tia Chevasson gave a presentation on her experience learning Arabic in Oman, in which she delved into why the Sultanate is a great place to study Arabic due to its rich historical and cultural heritage, as well as its affordability and high-quality education services. For more on Arabic language learning in Oman, you can visit this handy page on our website.
Our previous Digital Marketing Assistant Assia Hamdi hosted an interactive workshop on her own practical insights into Middle Eastern studies, which involved teaching the students how to find solutions to the representation of Middle Eastern Cultures in the UK through the case study of museums, as well as expanding their perspectives on how to look at objects in museums through real life examples.
This was followed by a personal statement workshop from our previous intern Asma Ibrahim, who gave the students some practical advice on how to draft their personal statements in preparation for their upcoming university applications.
After a break for lunch, our Vice Chairman Christopher Breeze gave a presentation on Diplomacy in the Middle East, talking through his own experiences with diplomacy whilst working for the Foreign Office, and what to expect from the career path, as well as how the FCDO has changed over the years and the important qualities that a diplomat should have.
Last but certainly not least, Director of the UK-MENA Network Aurelia Finch gave a presentation on ‘Entering the Field of Middle Eastern Studies’, in which she spoke about choosing the right course, preparing university applications, extra curriculars and more.
We at BOS would like to extend our sincere thanks to the wonderful young students and presenters who joined us for the Taster Day! This was our second time hosting this event and we were very glad to see such positive feedback from the students. We hope this day provided them with a budding interest in Oman, good ideas on how to proceed with their future, as well as new skills and pathways for them to pursue their dreams and ambitions.
Feedback from the students
“I found the presentations very interesting, especially the personal statement workshop since it gave me an insight into the application process. I also related a lot to what the alumni had to say. I particularly enjoyed learning about the insights into Middle Eastern artifacts.” – Yossra Badaoui
“Exploring art history isn’t a topic I have much experience with but Assia’s insights into heritage relics sparked a new-found enthusiasm for the history behind items. I am also keen to look into the programs for studying Arabic in Oman, perhaps during the holidays whilst studying my Arabic degree.” – Eleanor Hames
“The BOS Scheme presentation was arguably the most interesting one for me. The talks on civil service, diplomacy, and the schemes were most relevant to me as I aspire to become a diplomatic figure” - Moqtada Titouha
“The presentations were extremely relevant for me, as an ambition of mine is to live abroad in the Middle East and I’m passionate about creating memorable experiences. I intend to hopefully immerse myself in Omani society and some day become one of the volunteers.” - Maryam Harichane
“I found the talk on diplomacy interesting as that’s something I’m interested in for my future career pathway. It was quite relevant as I want to pursue international relations with French and Arabic as a degree.” - Leyla Amrane
Learn more about our Arabic Language Scheme
Learn more about our Student Volunteers Oman Scheme