The Dean of the College of Basic and Modern Education, Prof. Mazhar Abdul Ali, held an expanded meeting attended by the head of the University Psychological Counseling Unit and faculty members on Sunday, April 19, 2026, The meeting was dedicated to examining and discussing issues related to students’ academic and psychological well-being, in light of the current challenges facing the university environment.

The meeting featured an in-depth discussion of the most prominent academic challenges facing students, including low motivation to learn among some students, poor academic performance in certain core courses, issues of frequent absenteeism and lack of commitment to lectures, and adjustment difficulties among first-year students. The meeting also addressed exam-related psychological stress, academic anxiety, and cases of distraction and poor concentration.

The meeting included an analytical presentation of the results of recent exams, reviewing pass and failure rates across several academic departments, while noting disparities in student performance across different academic levels. Attendees emphasized the need to identify the causes of this disparity—whether academic, psychological, or social—and to address them using rigorous scientific methods.

The attendees also discussed mechanisms for continuously monitoring student performance through periodic reports submitted by liaison officers and academic advisory committees in the departments, as well as activating an early warning system for students struggling academically. Additionally, they emphasized strengthening the role of academic advisors in tracking student performance and providing timely support.

The Psychological Counseling Unit presented its future plan for developing counseling programs, which includes holding awareness workshops on time management skills, coping with psychological stress, and fostering motivation to achieve goals, as well as providing individual and group counseling sessions for cases requiring specialized intervention. The importance of ongoing coordination between academic departments and the Counseling Unit was also emphasized to ensure integrated efforts.

The Dean listened to input from liaison members and counseling committees regarding the most prominent psychological issues facing students, such as anxiety, mild depression, and low self-esteem, as well as presentations on cases that have been successfully treated and others still under follow-up, thereby contributing to the development of more effective and sustainable interventions.

During the meeting, the Dean emphasized the importance of closely monitoring cases requiring special support and analyzing the results of previous interventions to ensure continued improvement, stressing the need to build an accurate database that contributes to making decisions based on scientific grounds.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the Dean commended the efforts of the University Psychological Counseling Unit and the faculty, affirming the College Dean’s Office’s commitment to providing a safe and supportive university environment that contributes to students’ academic and psychological development and enhances their academic performance to achieve high-quality outcomes in higher education.