College of Mass Communication Conducts Strategic Faculty Research Visit to Advance International Collaboration

In a strategic step toward expanding its global research engagement and strengthening high-impact academic partnerships, the College of Mass Communication successfully concluded a research visit by Dr. Mervat Medhat, Assistant Professor at the College, to the University of Southampton, UK.

Supported by the Research Travel Grant (RTG), the visit centered on collaboration with the Winchester School of Art (WSA) and the Digital Humanities Hub. The initiative aimed to advance innovation in immersive media and ethical digital design, while laying the groundwork for sustainable, interdisciplinary research partnerships.

Throughout the visit, Dr. Mervat worked on developing joint research projects examining Generation Z designers’ perceptions of immersive technologies and the ethical dimensions of digital design. The visit also led to the development of a participatory co-design research agenda engaging students from the UAE, the UK, and China—thereby enriching academic experiences and fostering meaningful cross-cultural knowledge exchange.

At the institutional level, Dr. Mervat held strategic meetings with senior academic leadership at the University of Southampton to explore long-term collaboration opportunities, including the potential establishment of dual-degree programs for College of Mass Communication students. Discussions further addressed prospective partnerships between the Humanities and Social Sciences Research Centre (HSSRC) and UK-based digital research labs, reinforcing the College’s position as a regional leader in media innovation, digital humanities, and interdisciplinary research excellence.