Sharjah to host Sharjah Executive Program at American University of Sharjah

The Sharjah Executive Program will take place at the American University of Sharjah (AUS) from April 14 to 17, 2025, in collaboration with SBA, American University of Sharjah (AUS), and New York University (NYU), under the patronage of Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the SBA.Here, Mansour Al Hassani, Director of Publishing Services at SBA, shares more about the Programme. Excerpts.

AABP: Do tell us about the vision behind the Sharjah Executive Program?

Mansour: The vision of the Sharjah Executive Program, which will be held this year in Sharjah from April 14 to 17, is to help top executives and senior publishing professionals in the region further expand their understanding of the latest strategies and business practices in book publishing. This four-day intensive program, led by an outstanding group of thought leaders, is fully dedicated to the future of publishing.

AABP: What are the objectives of the Collaboration between SBA, NYU & AUS?

Mansour: Sharjah Book Authority is always keen to follow and promote innovative ideas and strategies that strengthen the publishing industry. New York University’s SPS Center for Publishing and Applied Liberal Arts (PALA) is a leader and innovator in the inter-related fields of publishing, professional writing, translation, and the liberal arts. The American University of Sharjah is one of the highly successful and most sought-after universities in the UAE. We hope that our collaboration and collective efforts can find solutions to industry’s many concerns.

AABP: Who do you think should attend, what do you think will the benefits be to the attendees?

Mansour: Several top professionals and executives from the publishing industry are expected to attend the program, gaining exposure to the latest strategies and practices in their concerned fields. They will receive support and guidance to develop comprehensive publishing plans for the global marketplace.

The program will cover ‘The State of AI for Book Publishers,’ including hands-on demonstrations of how AI can assist with everyday publishing tasks such as writing publicity and marketing copy, preparing contracts, analyzing sales data, and creating book covers. Additionally, the latest strategies and best practices in content development, marketing, publicity, and sales will be explored.

Participants will have the opportunity to collaborate, learn from one another,generate new ideas, and ask more insightful questions. All participants will be getting a certificate for their participation in the program. The certificate is issued jointly by the New York University, Sharjah Book Authority and American University of Sharjah.

AABP: It’s a 4 day course, do give a brief description of learning methodology in these 4 days?

Mansour: Sessions will take place from 9 am to 4 pm on all four days. There will be a total of 16 presenters, conducting around 25 sessions on different topics, in addition to 5 team exercise sessions. There will also be enough breaks scheduled throughout each day, to allow attendees to network with fellow professionals. Lectures and workshops will be conducted by leading publishing executives. Through case studies, problem-solving exercises, and analysis of successful strategies, attendees will deepen their understanding of the industry and come away with innovative ideas and fresh perspectives on today’s workplace.

AABP: What is your vision to grow the Sharjah Executive Program in the coming years?

Mansour: From the type of responses that we are receiving from publishers worldwide, the program’s success already seems guaranteed. We also anticipate increasing the number of participants to at least 50 next year. The fact that SBA has never failed with similar initiatives in the past boosts our confidence and ensures the program’s success.

AABP: Your views on role of Sharjah in facilitating growth of Publishing Ecosystem globally.

Mansour: Due to Sharjah’s multi-faceted approach covering nearly all aspects of the publishing industry, its global impact is both significant and highly visible. Nearly all events organized in Sharjah receive a strong response from stakeholders. The Sharjah Publishers Conference has led the world by ranking as the number one B2B conference globally for the past four consecutive years.

Sharjah Publishing City offers publishers worldwide a valuable opportunity to expand their market reach. The Booksellers Conference provides an ideal platform for publishers, booksellers, and distributors from around the world to come together, discuss new strategies, and address current issues through collaboration.

The Sharjah International Book Fair attracts over 2 million visitors annually, catering to the region’s literary needs. The Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival hosts hundreds of book-related activities for children each year.

Our annual events such as the Translation Grant Program, Animation Festivals, International Library Conferences, Sharjah Literature Festivals, and the Sharjah Festival of African Literature are supporting the global publishing ecosystem in various ways. Additionally, Sharjah’s participation in more than 30 international events each year continues to contribute to the growth of the publishing industry as a whole.