Researcher Amal Fadl Abdulmajid Ahmed was awarded a PhD degree in International Development Studies for her dissertation titled: Humanitarian Issues in Yemeni Fine Art and Their Impact on Community Awareness, which was submitted to the Inclusive Development Research Center (IDRC)–Sana’a University. The dissertation defense was held on Wednesday, September 23, 2026.
The PhD Viva-Voce Committee, which was formed based on a resolution issued by the Graduate Studies and Scientific Research Council, consisted of the following:
• Prof. Sukina Ahmed Mohammed Hashem – Sana’a University – Internal Examiner and Committee Chair.
• Prof. Saleh Mohammed Ali Humaid – Sana’a University – Main Supervisor and Committee Member.
• Assoc. Prof. Muneer Saeed Mohammed Al-Himyari– Hodeidah University – External Examiner and Committee Member.
The study aimed to identify humanitarian issues addressed in Yemeni fine art and examine their reflections on community awareness.
The study reached a number of key findings. A positive and complementary relationship was found among the three components of the artistic process—fine art, humanitarian issues, and community awareness—contributing to addressing prominent social and humanitarian concerns. A significant relationship was revealed between economic pressures, rising costs of art materials, shortage of exhibitions, limited government and media attention, security and regulatory restrictions, and narrow societal perceptions, on the one hand, and the weakened awareness raising impact of fine art, on the other
In light of these findings, the study recommended strengthening the documentation of conflict-related issues, the repercussions of war, the suffering of vulnerable groups, and livelihood crises in fine discourse, thereby enhancing its role as a tool for social documentation rather than merely an aesthetic practice. It also recommended calling on government agencies, international organizations, and relevant cultural institutions to support fine artists by providing art materials at affordable prices, facilitating procedures for organizing exhibitions, and reducing regulatory and security restrictions that limit the awareness-raising impact of fine art.
The dissertation defense was attended by a number of academics, postgraduate students, researchers, as well as the researcher's colleagues and family members.
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