Moneim El-Shorbagy, assistant professor of architecture at Effat University, shares his experience as a male professor in an all-female institution Aamer Trambu Dr Abdel-Moneim El-Shorbagy is Assistant Professor of Architecture at Effat University. On the eve of the graduation ceremony, Saudi Gazette caught up with him to find out how it feels to be a male professor of graduating architecture students in an all-female institution in Saudi Arabia. Dr El-Shorbagy is a professor of architecture and design who received his Ph.D. in Architecture from the University of Canterbury, New Zealand in 2001. His professional practice over 33 years included the design of numerous residential buildings, villas, and hotels. In 2000, he taught history of Islamic Architecture at the University of Canterbury and between 2002 and 2006 he taught Architecture and Design in Egypt. From 2007 to the present, he has been teaching courses in architecture, design and structure at Effat University. He hopes to pass on his concepts of design to younger architects as well as to develop educational courses that reflect these concepts to the architectural students. His research interests include Contemporary Architecture theories, identity and culture, environment and sustainable architecture, and history of Islamic architecture For how long have you taught architecture? I have been teaching architecture since 2000 (almost 10 years now), but I have been practicing professional architecture for more than 33 years. How has your experience in teaching architecture been at Effat? Teaching in Effat University is a new and exciting experience; specifically when you are working in a female environment only. I have also got the feeling of a strong responsibility towards teaching these young female students, who will be the first architecture graduates in the history of the Kingdom. However, I have been very keen to deliver the best architectural education for them in order to prepare them to face the challenge of finding a job in a completely men profession in Saudi Arabia. What did you like most about it? In fact, teaching female students increased my ability of adapting myself to a new and challenging environment. What I liked most is the positive attitude, response and enthusiasm of the students towards gaining knowledge and the appreciation to what I am doing for them. How have things changed in the past four years? Over the last four years, the architecture department has experienced unprecedented growth in the number of candidates. When I joined the university in 2007, the number of students in the department was 22, and now we have more than 2000 students and 14 graduates. There are other male professors too, but how is it to be a male professor in a sea of female students? Yes, it is really a good question. I used to teach in a mixed environment (male and female students), however, teaching females only has been a new experience, where you should be careful about everything you say as they are very sensitive. So, you need to have knowledge about the psychology of females, being in a completely female environment. What is your most memorable experience as a professor? In fact, there are many memorable experiences in Effat University. But one unforgettable thing is when my students prepared a small friendly party for all their professors in the department, where they showed their appreciation to us as well as awarded us some symbolic gifts. In fact, I was very touched. What do you feel is the primary role of a professor? Is it to educate, to guide or to inspire? Another good question. I believe that the primary role of a professor is to inspire and help his/her students to be confident and explore their intellectual potentials, then educating them comes and I believe it will be an easy task. On the occasion of the graduation day, all your senior students will be leaving the institution, how does it feel? In fact, after teaching your students for four years, a relationship of a father/daughter would likely to be developed and when they are graduating, I get the feeling of two things; their graduation is an expression of the huge effort that lead to a success of both the student and me. The second thing is that I really feel that I am going to miss them. What is your message to them as they enter a new phase in their lives? I think the message would be, “approach your career-life confidently, and never be arrogant, but you should always be humble and have pride”. What makes a student unforgettable? What qualities of a student do you admire more than others? During their classes, students should be thought provoking, interested in the subject and challenging the instructor. Their passion for their subjects and commitment to all of their professors make them extra special.
