Under the patronage of the Dean of the College of Engineering, Prof. Dr. Ghassan Hameed Abdul-Majeed, and under the supervision of the Associate Dean for Scientific Affairs and Postgraduate Studies, Prof. Dr. Ziad Tariq Abdul-Ali, and the Head of the Department of Aeronautical Engineering, Asst. Prof. Dr. Anmar Hameed Ali, the Department of Aeronautical Engineering organized a workshop entitled:
“Smoking and Its Psychological and Health Effects on University Youth”, in collaboration with the University Psychological Counseling and Educational Guidance Unit and the Continuing Education Unit of the College of Engineering. The event was held in the Smart Hall of the department.
The workshop was presented by Asst. Prof. Hiba Mueyyad Mohammed and Lect. Asst. Saba Hafidh Mahdi, who discussed several scientific and awareness-related topics addressing the phenomenon of smoking among university students, the reasons behind its spread, and the psychological and social factors that reinforce this habit. The workshop also highlighted the serious short- and long-term health risks associated with smoking, as well as its negative impact on students’ academic performance and mental health.
The presenters further explored preventive and therapeutic approaches to reduce smoking among students, emphasizing the pivotal role of educational institutions in raising awareness and encouraging students to adopt healthy lifestyles. They also stressed the importance of implementing psychological counseling programs within universities to support students who wish to quit smoking.
At the conclusion of the workshop, participants reached several findings and recommendations, most notably the need to intensify awareness seminars across colleges and departments about the dangers of smoking, integrate continuous counseling programs into student activity plans, and enhance the role of families and the university environment in promoting psychological and physical health awareness among youth.
The workshop witnessed active participation from faculty members and students of the department, who contributed valuable discussions and questions, underscoring the importance of such events in fostering a healthy, conscious, and responsible academic environment.
