Abstract:

The preservation of intangible cultural heritage is increasingly urgent in rapidly modernizing societies. This paper presents an ongoing community-engaged learning initiative at Rabdan Academy (Abu Dhabi, UAE), integrated within the EMS 100 Emirates Studies course, in which students serve as active agents in the documentation and preservation of Emirati oral histories, family values, and cultural memory.

The project is implemented in partnership with the Lest We Forget Initiative, under the patronage of the Sheikha Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation — an organization dedicated to archiving vernacular photographs and oral histories of the UAE. Aligned with the national vision of the UAE Year of the Family 2026, this initiative challenges students to move beyond the traditional classroom and engage directly with Emirati history, identity, and community narratives through structured field research.

The methodology follows a three-phase approach. In the first phase, the Lest We Forget team delivers training workshops across four class sections, equipping students with oral history documentation techniques and academic report-writing skills. In the second phase, students conduct and analyse field interviews with elderly family members, capturing personal narratives, vernacular photography, and material culture reflective of Emirati heritage. In the third phase, students present their research through academic submissions and visual poster displays combining photographs and written narratives.

Preliminary outcomes indicate that this model significantly deepens students' sense of national identity and belonging, strengthens critical thinking and research competencies, and bridges the gap between academic learning and real-world heritage preservation. This paper argues that higher education institutions can serve as meaningful and strategic partners in sustaining the UAE's intangible cultural heritage through student-driven documentation.

Keywords:

Oral History Documentation, Community-Engaged Learning, Cultural Heritage Preservation, Active and Experiential Learning, Emirati Identity and Heritage, Higher Education and Community Partnership.