News - ALHOSN University

Transcription

Content
March 2012
Editor-in-Chief
ALHOSN News
Hassan Belhiah
ALHOSN Facebook Page2
Stand Design Contest3
‘Ata’ahad’ (‘I Pledge’) Campaign4
Capstone Presentations5
New Program: Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering 6
T&CEC News
Consultancy and Training Agreement with TAMKEEN
Workshop on Problem-solving Skills
Associate Editor
Mohamed Hasab El Naby
Design
Mehdi Al Tayeb
Translation
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ACAD News
Jordan’s Former Prime Minister on Campus
10
Dr. Nelson Lim’s lecture11
Semester-end Gathering11
Breast Cancer Awareness Week12
ALHOSN Events
NAJAH 2011’s Inaugural UAE Lead - Youth Leadership Congress 14
UAE-wide Social Awareness Campaign at Inaugural Taweya 2011 15
Academic News
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
16
Faculty of Business20
Faculty of Engineering and Applied Sciences
22
Human Resources News
Orientation to New Faculty Members
29
New Appointments30
Student Activities
‘Tathqeef’ Traffic Safety Awareness Vehicle
31
Positive Attitude32
Key Student Services Fully Automated
32
Appreciation Day33
40th National Day Celebrations34
Reading Club35
Teirab AShareef
Maha Elhami
Editing & Proofreading
Saleh Al Nusairat
Bassem Younis Al Bdairat
Chantal Mercier
Richard Baltus
Amanda Tinnin
Sherien Alwakeel
Maha Hamdi
Coordination & Circulation
Wafa Mousa
Ahmed Majid Arabieh
ALHOSN Newsletter
Semi-annual Newsletter
Issued by the
Marketing and Public
Relations Department
For inquiries,
please contact the
Marketing & Public
Relations Department
Phone: +971 2 407 0700
Fax: +971 2 407 0799
E-mail: [email protected]
www.alhosnu.ae
ALHOSN News
Issue 11 | March 2012
AHU Embraces World of
Social Networking with
Facebook Presence
A
LHOSN University has launched a new
Facebook page to capitalize on the reach
and advanced features of the world’s
most popular social networking site.
Developed by Mark Zuckerberg in 2004,
Facebook is the most visited website on the
internet. It has evolved into a central communication tool where people upload content
and have access to up-to-date information for
business, networking, leisure and socialization.
Facebook is believed to be patronized by more
than 16 million internet users in the Middle East.
The ALHOSN Facebook page features
photos, videos and status updates on the university’s latest activities and news. It has been
designed to appeal to a broad audience that
includes ALHOSN community members, parents, partners, and friends.
Although Facebook is commonly regarded
as a socialization tool for individuals, it is
also carving a niche as a soundboard for various types of organizations. In the Middle East,
Facebook has become a venue for youths
to hone their technology skills, reach out to
friends throughout the region and air their
concerns and sentiments.
The ALHOSN University Facebook page was
developed by an in-house team led by Mr.
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Mohamed Farouk, the university’s Deputy IT
Director. The project is ALHOSN’s latest initiative to raise its IT-related capabilities. Last year,
the university launched an updated version of
its web portal to deliver more functionality and
services to students, parents, and teachers.
ALHOSN News
Stand Design Contest for 20112012 Exhibitions
A
LHOSN University has announced the
winners of its annual ‘ALHOSN Exhibition
Stand Competition’ which ran from
mid-August to October 3, 2011. The best design
is used for all major ALHOSN events in which
ALHOSN will participate for the academic year
2011-2012, including Najah, a leading education training exhibition and career fair in the
Middle East, and Gulf Education and Training
Exhibition (GETEX), the largest education fair in
the Middle East and Asia.
The contest was open to all ALHOSN students, who were challenged to design creative
and modern display spaces to represent the university’s stand which consists of the ALHOSN
logo, and a guest area to welcome visitors.
Rana Al Hussaini, the 1 st Placer from the
Architectural Engineering Department, won
AED 2,000; Manal Constantin from the Interior
Design Department was 1 st runner-up and
received AED 1,000; Adeelah Al Hassan from
the Architectural Engineering Department was
awarded AED 500 as 2nd runner-up.
“The 2011 winners of our stand design contest have done an excellent job capturing the
essence and values of ALHOSN in a unique
and dynamic way. Competition was tighter
this year as all of the previous awardees
were from the Department of Architectural
Engineering and so the other departments
wanted to prove their designing skills as well.
This is an excellent platform for us to showcase the talent, determination and creativity
of our students to a regional and even global
audience during the various exhibitions we
attend each year,” said Prof. Raymond Tennant,
Provost, ALHOSN University.
The ALHOSN University competition jury
met on October 3, 2011, the deadline set for the
submission of entries. The winners were named
the following day at the Female Campus.
“ The
2011 winners of
our stand design contest
have done an excellent
job capturing the essence
and values of ALHOSN in a
unique and dynamic way”
Prof. Raymond Tennant, Provost
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ALHOSN News
Full Support for ‘Ata’ahad’
(‘I Pledge’) Campaign
A
LHOSN University confirmed its participation and full support for the ‘Ata’ahad’
(‘I Pledge’) Campaign launched by
Emarat Al Youm newspaper. The initiative
aimed at ending the use of mobile phones
while driving in order to prevent road accidents
and thus avoid further casualties and fatalities.
The University created a Facebook page for
students to learn more about the campaign,
which focused on self-discipline by asking
supporters to make a simple pledge. The page
accepted signed pledges from students not to
use mobile phones while driving, which were
then forwarded by ALHOSN University to
Emarat Al Youm.
Prof. Abdul Rahim Sabouni, Vice Chancellor
and CEO of ALHOSN University, said: “The
Ata’ahad Campaign is a national and humanitarian call to action for the end of mobile phone
calls and texting while driving. We recognize
that promoting traffic awareness among road
users can be achieved only through cooperation
between various governmental bodies and society. Everybody should thus collaborate with the
concerned authorities to introduce awareness
campaigns covering various aspects of traffic
safety so that the number of deaths resulting
from traffic accidents can be diminished.”
The ‘I Pledge’ Campaign was launched by
Emarat Al Youm as an extension to unofficial
efforts by activists on social networking sites
to stop the tragic loss of youthful potential due
to traffic deaths linked to mobile phone use,
which has become a social epidemic that continues to claim many young lives.
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“ We recognize that promoting traffic awareness among
road users can be achieved only
through cooperation between
various governmental bodies and
society”
Prof. Abdul Rahim Sabouni, Vice Chancellor and CEO
ALHOSN News
Skills of Seniors Validated
Via Week-long Capstone
Presentations
A
LHOSN University validated the proficiencies of its graduating students
during its Capstone Week, running from
December 25 to 29, 2011. A total of 127 students
from the Faculty of Engineering and Applied
Sciences and the Faculty of Business presented their projects under the eight academic
programs of Architectural Engineering, Civil
Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Interior
Design, Software Engineering, Urban Planning,
Engineering Management, and Management
Information Systems.
“A capstone project is the culminating
activity towards a student’s undergraduate
degree. Drawing on the students’ academic and
practical experiences, these capstones, both
individual and group projects, are designed to
be intensive and proactive and require careful
planning and implementation. ALHOSN has
had great success in conducting its capstones
through the dedication and exceptional supervision of its faculty and teaching staff. This year’s
cohort of capstone students has developed
projects that cover a wide range of innovative
investigations and designs. These capstones are
crowning achievements to students’ academic
experiences and will become an important part
of their portfolios as they begin their professional careers,” said Prof. Raymond Tennant,
Provost of ALHOSN University.
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ALHOSN News
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ALHOSN News
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LHOSN University officially launched
its Bachelor of Science in Mechanical
Engineering (BSME) program during
a ceremony held on Wednesday, January
11, 2012 at the university campus. The
BSME program is offered alongside the
existing Bachelor of Science in Industrial
Engineering (BSIE) track, and falls under the
newly instituted Department of Mechanical
and Industrial Engineering.
ALHOSN’s mechanical engineering curriculum is a four-year program leading
to a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical
Engineering. Many courses have compulsory hands-on laboratory components. The
undergraduate program combines strong
foundations in the engineering sciences
with exceptional quantitative, problem-solving, design, and communication skills. The
program is accredited by the UAE Ministry
of Higher Education and Scientific Research.
“We developed our BSME curriculum with an eye to gaining national and
regional recognition as a leader institution in mechanical engineering education
and research. We are intent on exposing
our students to a wide range of theories
and practices to ensure successful careers.
Mechanical engineering plays an important role in our region’s growth, as it is an
essential discipline in the production and
processing of petroleum and natural gas, as
well as the broader energy sector, including civilian nuclear energy. In fact, nuclear
engineering is an option in our mechanical
engineering program. We intend to create
world-class talents for these vital fields,”
said Dr. Mohammed Chacha, Chair of the
Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
Department, ALHOSN University.
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T&CEC News
T&CEC Signs Consultancy
and Training Agreement with
TAMKEEN
T
8
he Training and Continuing Education Center has recently signed a consultancy and training agreement with TAMKEEN Consulting & Training. Under the terms of the agreement,
the two parties will collaborate efforts and exchange expertise in managerial and occupational sectors (e.g., engineering, computer technology, tourism and hospitality, and education
and healthcare) as well as other training programs that target both local and regional customers.
The agreement also covers the sharing and enhancing of training courseware, training
experience, and providing training and consultancy services. Dr. Hassan Al Samarrai, ALHOSN
University Director of Training and Continuing Education Center, and Ms. Sanaa Saad, Operations
Manager of TAMKEEN, signed the agreement in the presence of H.E. Ahmed Al Falahi, Secretary
General of TAMKEEN, H.E. Mohammed Al Anzi, Managing Director of TAMKEEN and staff members from both institutions.
After signing the agreement, the two parties proceeded to discuss ALHOSN University’s academic programs and training courses that will be on offer inside and outside university premises.
On this occasion, The TAMKEEN delegation commended ALHOSN University for its high-level
education standards.
“The partnership with TAMKEEN Consulting & Training provides new opportunities to further enhance T&CEC’s ability to cater for a much wider range of training and academic needs
of learners. This agreement manifests ALHOSN University’s strong commitment to pursue strategic alliances with like-minded institutions and to expand its ability to design and implement
efficient and competitive training and academic programs,” said Dr. Hassan Al Samarrai.
H.E. Mohamed Al Anzi, Managing Director, TAMKEEN Consulting & Training, said: “We are
delighted to sign an agreement with ALHOSN University, which is emerging as one of the most
prestigious universities in Abu Dhabi. ALHOSN has been offering top-notch academic and training programs and we are looking forward to collaborating with our new partners from the
university to develop and implement high-quality and authentic training programs that address
existing and emerging needs of learners in the
UAE and across the region.”
Through the agreement, ALHOSN University
seeks to extend its reach across new sectors,
some of which are currently being served
by TAMKEEN. The partnership will expand
the university’s existing team of trainers
and consulting experts and enable ALHOSN
to implement larger-scale training programs. ALHOSN University also aims to design
joint programs with TAMKEEN to address the
needs of specific groups of learners.
TAMKEEN will benefit from the agreement
by expanding its trainer database, specifically
T&CEC News
adding skill and education advantages as it will
have access to ALHOSN ’s exclusive resources
such as its team of PhD holders. TAMKEEN
will also be seeking to offer T&CEC certification programs, and work with the university in
areas such as training course design, training
courseware design and development, performance management systems design and
implementation, as well as learning management system design and implementation.
Workshop on Problem-solving Skills
T
he Training & Continuing Education
Center organized an evening workshop
on problem-solving skills in collaboration
with Bloom Management Consulting Center on
November 1, 2011 at The Armed Forces Officers
Club and Hotel, Abu Dhabi.
The workshop was facilitated by Dr. Tariq
Ali Al Habib, professor and psychiatry consultant with a Medical Degree from King Saud
University’s Faculty of Medicine and a holder
of advanced degrees in psychiatry from Saudi
Arabia, Ireland and Britain. He tackled the
essence of problems from a procedural perspective and offered hands-on training activities on
how to approach and solve problems.
The workshop was divided into a theoretical
and a practical session. The theoretical session discussed the philosophical foundations
of the notion of problem from the standpoint
of psychology, specific factors that lead to the
emergence of problems, and problem patterns. The practical session, on the other hand,
covered the formulation of a problem, its procedural resolution, the difference between
negative and positive problems, and key concepts in the process of problem-solving.
Considerable research has been conducted
in the field of both clinical and counseling
psychology in order to explore patterns of creative thinking among individuals. Results have
shown several features of creative thinking,
most notably the ability to predict problems,
abstract thinking on the best approaches to
realistic application based on various principles learned and practiced from procedural
problem formulation, and assumptions and
alternatives to realistic solutions.
Prof. Al Habib visited ALHOSN University
to meet with Prof. Abdul Rahim Sabouni, Vice
Chancellor and CEO of ALHOSN University,
and to discuss various academic matters. Prof.
Sabouni handed a commemorative gift to Prof.
Al Habib on the occasion of his visit.
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ACAD News
American
Corner News
Jordan’s Former Prime Minister
on Campus
J
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ordan’s former Prime Minister, Dr. Abdul
Salam Majali, delivered a speech on leadership in higher education at ALHOSN
University’s American Corner last October
4, 2011. Dr. Majali was visiting Abu Dhabi as the
keynote speaker for the Annual Conference on
Education organized by the Emirates Center for
Strategic Studies and Research. He graciously
answered questions from the audience and
was subsequently treated to a reception in
his honor.
Aside from being Jordan’s past PM, Dr. Majali
also served as President of the University of
Jordan, Minister of Education, President of the
Higher Council of Higher Education, Minister
of Health, and Prime Minister of Jordan. Dr.
Majali also spearheaded the establishment of a
unique leadership academy in Jordan in cooperation with the United Nations.
“It is a privilege to learn from the vast experience of Dr. Majali in the education field. His
wisdom has become a source of inspiration
and guidance to our faculty and staff as they
provide global learning with local vision to our
students. We thank His Highness for accepting
our invitation,” said Prof. Abdul Rahim Sabouni,
Vice Chancellor and CEO, AHU.
ACAD News
Dr. Nelson Lim Lectures on the Role of Inclusion in Economic Growth
T
he American Corner hosted a lecture entitled ‘Inclusion as an Engine for Economic
Growth: An American Experiment’ delivered by Dr. Nelson Lim, Senior Social Scientist
at RAND Corporation and Professor at the
University of California in Los Angeles.
Dr. Lim is an expert in racial inequality,
immigration, strategic human resource management, and strategic diversity management
in large organizations. In his presentation,
Dr. Lim discussed how America’s ability to
harness the potentials of its immigrants to
drive economic growth has made it a model
of development. He cautioned that emerging countries that do not attract and include
immigrants into their society could be passing
up on major growth opportunities.
The concept of inclusion has become a
major topic especially for emerging countries such as the UAE, which accommodates
a large multicultural population. Dr. Lim has
provided ALHOSN community with valuable
insights on how immigrants can be positioned
in the country’s development frameworks with
America as a template for success.
Semester-End Gathering
T
he American Corner hosted a semester-end gathering on Wednesday, 21 st
December, 2011. The event honored several students for their utter dedication and
commitment to the American Corner activities held throughout the fall semester. Faculty
appreciation was another highlight of the gathering as ALHOSN Vice Chancellor, Prof. Abdul
Rahim Sabouni, and the ALHOSN community
extended their deep gratitude to Dr. Husam Al
Malkawi, Chair of the Department of Business
Administration and Assistant Professor of
Finance, and Mrs. Tanya Gill, ESL Instructor, as
they bid adieu to the ALHOSN family. The occasion was made all the more enjoyable by the
wonderful atmosphere created by the guitar
and vocal performances by some ALHOSN students and faculty. “This is indeed a fine tribute
to a successful semester abounding with social
and academic activities. The best is yet to
come!” said Ahmad Al Suwaidi, President of the
Male Student Council at ALHOSN University.
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ACAD News
Week-long Breast Cancer
Awareness Campaign in
Cooperation with Pink Caravan
and US Embassy
T
he University organized a full week of
fund-raising and educational events
from October 23 to 27 devoted to breast
cancer awareness. The activities focused on
the importance of early detection and broader
community awareness and support.
All fund raisers, including book and bake
sales, a charity bazaar and an art competition,
were held at ALHOSN’s American Corner in the
University campus in downtown Abu Dhabi.
The American Corner also hosted a series of
educational events for females and screened
films emphasizing the value of early detection
of breast cancer. All proceeds were donated
to Pink Caravan, a partner organization of the
Friends of Cancer Patients Society.
Pink Caravan representatives provided free
mammogram screening to all ladies over 40
in conjunction with Tawam Hospital’s mobile
mammogram unit. Pink Caravan’s medical
team also provided breast cancer detection
examinations for females under 40. Pink
Caravan volunteers offered on-going information sessions on early detection and sold
merchandise to fund breast cancer awareness
efforts in the UAE.
A 3x2 meter pink-ribboned cake was handdecorated by male students and faculty as a
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show of support for early breast cancer detection in the Middle East.
Special invited guests included the US
Ambassador to the UAE, Michael H. Corbin,
who made his first visit to ALHOSN’s American
Corner since his arrival to the United Arab
Emirates in August of 2011. Ambassador Corbin
joined other high-ranking officials in helping
raise more attention to breast cancer, which
has become the third leading cause of death
in the UAE and yet is largely unfamiliar to the
local female population.
“Breast cancer is the most common form
of malignancy among women and the third
leading cause of death in the UAE, and yet
there is not enough awareness on this condition and on the need for its early detection. A
simple physical exam can spare women from
a lot of suffering and even save lives, so we
want the community to take a more serious
look at breast cancer. We also want to show
our full support for Pink Caravan and other
similar organizations that are working hard to
help women who may be unaware that they
already have this debilitating sickness,” said
Ms. Huda Kindi, ALHOSN Student Alumni and
Activities Coordinator at the American Corner
of Abu Dhabi.
ACAD News
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ALHOSN Events
NAJAH 2011
ALHOSN Joins NAJAH 2011’s Inaugural UAE Lead - Youth
Leadership Congress
A
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LHOSN University joined the inaugural
UAE Lead – Youth Leadership Congress
taking place as part of NAJAH 2011, the
th
5 edition of the UAE’s leading annual exhibition on higher education, training and careers,
which run from October 18 to 20, 2011 at the
Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center.
During the Congress, ALHOSN sought leadership opportunities for its students and ways
in which the university could further support
their personal and professional growth. A delegation of ALHOSN students received career
assessments from AIESEC, the world’s largest
student-run organization. NAJAH provided
various networking opportunities involving
not only educational and training institutions
and employers, but also government authorities, as the exhibition is strongly supported
by key government entities including the
Abu Dhabi Education Council, the Ministry of
Higher Education and Scientific Research, the
Emirates National Development Program, and
Dubai International Academic City.
“We desire a bright future for our students–
which is exactly what NAJAH promises as the
leading education, training and career event
in the country. Leadership is one of the qualities we strive to bring out in our students, and
this is why we are very excited over the new
insights to be provided by this year’s inaugural
UAE Lead – Youth Leadership Congress. And as
usual, NAJAH will be a platform for ALHOSN
University to showcase its competitive programs and share its vision of global knowledge
with local vision with prospective students,”
said Prof. Abdul Rahim Sabouni, Vice Chancellor
and CEO, ALHOSN University.
NAJAH draws over 120 exhibitors and more
than 18,000 visitors each year. The latest edition featured over 500 courses offered by more
than 100 local and international universities
and institutes, as well employers from leading
organizations seeking talented graduates for
recruitment. Also on offer were aptitude tests
at the AIESEC Assessment Centre, one-on-one
career counseling by experts from SUMMIT
Career Services, and seminars on education
and career-related topics by industry professionals, all of which were given free of charge.
ALHOSN Events
ALHOSN University Joins UAEwide Social Awareness Campaign
at Taweya 2011 Inaugural
T
NAJAH Exhibition 2011
he University participated in the
first National Exhibition for Society
Awareness and Humanitarian Services
–Taweya 2011– in support of a nationwide campaign towards increased social awareness.
Taking place from November 14 to 16, 2011
at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre
(ADNEC), Taweya 2011 gathered prominent
government and private sector organizations
to advocate social awareness and promote a
culture of volunteerism and humanitarianism.
It is expected to become a major annual event
for local and international participants to
encourage UAE citizens to take an active role
in social growth. The event was held under the
patronage of H.E. Maryam Mohammed Khalfan
Al Roumi, UAE Minister of Social Affairs.
Taweya 2011 is a wonderful platform for
encouraging UAE citizens to take a closer look
at the country’s social conditions and consider
joining volunteer and humanitarian work.
Part of ALHOSN’s vision is to uphold the local
vision, which is why it is important for the
university to support initiatives that promote
social awareness especially among the youth.
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Academic News
Faculty of Arts and
Social Sciences News
Visit to the National Center for Documentation and Research
A
delegation made of students from the
Department of Education visited the
National Center for Documentation and
Research in Abu Dhabi. During the visit, they
learnt about the history of the center as well
as its role in documenting historical events
and the successive stages which the UAE went
through since its creation.
The session began with a movie that documents the historical development of the
UAE, as well as the growth and prosperity achieved, which exceeded all the expectations of its rulers and people. The students then visited the exhibition at the center, where Mr. Hassan Musabi,
researcher at the center presented old maps and official historical correspondence among past
rulers. He also presented different historical stages symbolized by weapons, equipment, fishing
gear, models of ships, and memorial photos of the rulers of the UAE.
Dr. Mohammed Saeed Hasab El Naby, Head of the Department of Education, accompanied ALHOSN students on the trip and was delighted at the opportunity to become acquainted
with the history of the UAE and the efforts exerted by its leaders, who made tremendous sacrifices to ensure the prosperity and success of this country.
Testing: Principles and Applications
U
nder this title, the Department of Education
invited Professor Kamel Ghorab, Dean of
Graduate Studies, to present some of the latest developments in the field of assessment. The
presentation dealt with critical issues in the field and
investigated the significance of assessment in the context of educational processes.
Among the issues reviewed and discussed were:
• Educational assessment mechanisms and stages
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• Formative and summative
assessment
• Learner self-assessment
• Measurement of educational outcomes
• Essay type tests and their uses
• The value of objective testing
• Performance testing
• Conditions for valid testing
Academic News
Professor Kamel Ghorab further reviewed
examples of tests that do not reflect clear aims
and objectives. Such tests focus on rote learning at the expense of analysis, synthesis and
critical thinking.
Professor Raymond Tenant, the University
Provost, was in attendance together with
faculty members from the Department of
Education. They enriched the session with their
contributions to the discussion, which covered
areas such as the measurement of procedural
goals as well as reasons for emphasis on rote
learning and recall in testing.
The Department of Education Participates in Al-Nahda School’s
Celebration of the UAE National Day
T
he Department of Education participated
in Al-Nahda School’s celebration of the
UAE’s 40th National day on Wednesday,
29 November, 2011. The Practicum Students
prepared a distinctive “Heritage Corner” that
was commended by the school’s teachers and
their guests.
The students also trained the school’s children on folk dances and the preparation of
traditional dishes, in addition to displaying
signposts of the achievements of Sheikh Zayed
Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, UAE’s Founding Father,
may Allah rest his soul in peace.
These celebrations serve to enhance national
identity, to acquaint the public with the UAE’s
rich heritage and history, and to celebrate its
culture and achievements. They also play an
important educational role in strengthening
the feeling of pride among the students and
participants in this landmark day.
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Academic News
Student Teachers Show Gratitude to Al-Nahdah School Administration
P
racticum students of the Department of
Education held a reception in honor of Al
Nahdah School administration. The reception was attended by Mr Adnan Abbas, the
School Principal, Mrs Shwaikar Qoora, the Arabic
Supervisor, Dr. Saleh Al Nusairat, the Acting
Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences,
and Dr. Bassem Al Bdairat, the practicum
supervisor. In his opening remarks, Mr Adnan
Abbas thanked ALHOSN University and its Vice
Chancellor Prof Sabouni for their productive
and exemplary partnership with Al-Nahdah
School. He also expressed his school’s interest
in training teachers and enhancing their professional development. On his part, Dr. Al Nusairat
thanked the school principal, the supervisors
and the teachers for their support and welcoming atmosphere in the school, and expressed
his desire to continue this cooperation in the
years ahead. At the end of the event, Dr. Saleh Al
Nusairat presented certificates of appreciation
to the school principal and the practicum team.
Talk by the Jordanian Novelist Ziad Mahafdah
T
he Cultural Committee at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences organized a talk by the
Jordanian novelist Ziad Mahafdah. His Excellency Professor Abdul Rahim Sabouni attended
the lecture along with the Acting Dean of the Faculty Dr. Saleh Al Nusairat, and a host
of professors, staff and students. In his opening remarks, Dr. Teirab Alshareef, the Head of the
Cultural Committee, expressed the Faculty’s gratitude to Professor Sabouni for his unfaltering support for such special cultural activities and thanked Mr. Mahafdah for accepting the
invitation to deliver the talk. Mr. Mahafdah presented his personal experience in an eloquent
and succinct style. He talked about how the world has changed in the past few years and how
novelists can benefit from these changes. He also discussed the importance of creating an environment that nurtures creativity in educational institutions to help students develop their skills
and embark on writing projects. The talk was followed by a question and answer session. At the
end of the event, Professor Sabouni presented Mr. Mahafdah with the American Corner plaque
as a token of gratitude.
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Academic News
Students of Practical Education Honor the Administration,
Supervisors and Teachers at Ashbal Al Quds School
S
tudents of the practical education program honored
the school administration, teachers and supervisors in
the presence of the school administrators and students’
supervisors, Dr Bassem Al Badirat and Dr Saleh Nuseirat. The
students expressed their gratitude and appreciation to all persons who contributed to the success of the practical education.
In his speech, Dr Saleh Nuseirat, Acting Dean of the Faculty of
Arts and Social Sciences, thanked the school administration, the
supervisors and teachers for their continued support of the program, and for offering the necessary assistance and guidance
to students. He added that ALHOSN University is pleased to
cooperate with local schools, which is a testament of the active
role played by ALHOSN University in supporting the educational
community in the UAE by providing highly qualified teachers.
In his turn, the school principal, Mrs Oumaya Oulwan,
expressed her pleasure for the constructive cooperation
between the school and the university.
Coincidently, the ceremony was conducted on the UAE
National day, which saw active
students participation in the
event. ALHOSN student, Afra Al
Mansouri, read a poem praising
the late leader Sheikh Zayed Bin
Sultan Al Nahyan, may Allah
rest his soul in peace, and the
wise leadership of H.H Sheikh
Khalifa Bin Zayed, President of
UAE, may Allah protect him.
The Department of Education Holds its Third Annual Teaching
Practice Exhibition
T
he Education Department held its Third
Annual Teaching Practice Exhibition on
Wednesday, 11 December, 2011 at the
Female Campus Cafeteria. The exhibition, which
featured the Teaching Practice graduation projects of the senior students in the Department,
was kicked off by H.E. Professor Abdul Rahim
Sabouni, in the presence of Professor Raymond
Tennant, the Provost, and Teaching Practice
Supervisors, Dr. Saleh Al Nusairat, Acting Dean
of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Dr.
Mohamed Hasab El Naby, the Department
Chair, Dr. Teirab AshShareef, and Dr. Bassem Al
Bdairat. A large number of University faculty,
staff, students and families of the graduating
students attended as well. Also present were
school inspectors and teachers from the participating schools in the training of ALHOSN
student teachers: Al-Nahda, Ashbal Al-Quds, alManhal International and Al Bateen.
The graduating students displayed educational aids, games and paraphernalia they have
used in their practical training in the participating schools. This year’s exhibition was bigger
than last year’s because of the larger number
of participating student teachers. Those who
attended the exhibition commended the students’ work and their creativity in the design
and production of educational aids and games,
which contributed to making the learning process more lively, interactive, and enjoyable.
19
Academic News
Professor Abdul Rahim Sabouni, ViceChancellor and CEO, said that ALHOSN
University is doing its best to support student
activities and extra-curricular events. The students’ efforts, whose results were reflected in
the exhibition, demonstrate students’ creative
abilities, which would be a rich addition to the
field of education.
At the close of the exhibition, the Education
Department presented a certificate of appreciation to H.E. Professor Sabouni in recognition
for his continuous support for the Department
and its activities. Certificates of appreciation
were also awarded to the faculty who supervised the Teaching Practice for their laudable
efforts during the training period.
Faculty of
Business News
Research Paper of by Two Business Faculty Professors Wins
Outstanding Research Award at Costa Rica Conference
T
he research study conducted by two
Business Faculty professors, Dr. Somkiat
Mansumitrchai and Dr. Candy Chiu,
won an Outstanding Research Award at the
2011 Costa Rica Global Conference on Business
and Finance that was organised in San Jose,
Costa Rica, by The Institute for Business and
Finance Research.
The winning paper titled ‘Adoption of
Internet Banking in UAE: Factors Underlying
Adoption Characteristics’ focuses on identifying
20
the characteristics of UAE consumers and
their attitudes vis-à-vis internet banking. The
article was also selected for publication in
the International Journal of Management and
Marketing Research.
and CEO, ALHOSN University, said, “On behalf
of the University, I congratulate Dr. Somkiat and
Dr. Candy on winning this prestigious award,
which contributes to ALHOSN University’s stature at the international level. This award reflects
the quality of our core faculty,
which is a key factor that has
enabled us to become one of
the most sought-after universities in Abu Dhabi.”
Commenting on the
award, Dr. Somkiat, Assistant
Professor in the Business
Administration Department,
said, “This award underlines
UAE’s growing contribution
to research in business and
Academic News
finance. We believe that our
paper which focused on the
adoption of internet banking
in the UAE could shed light on
the challenges being faced in
this domain and the corrective
steps to push up internet banking usage. We thank ALHOSN
University for all the support
extended to us, which was
very crucial in preparing a high
quality research paper.”
Department of Management Information Systems Organizes
Field Trip to GITEX
T
he MIS department at ALHOSN University is keen on
keeping its students updated on the current state-ofthe-art technology and information edge. To that end,
a field trip for course instructors, TAs and students was organized on Wednesday, October 12th, 2011 to visit GITEX.
GITEX is the largest and most sophisticated Information
Technology exhibition in the Middle East, and is held annually
in Dubai, every October. The 2011 GITEX marks the 31st edition. The students were accompanied
by Dr. Fadia Hegazy, Dr. Mohamed Zineddine, Ms. Huda Kindi and Ms. Nahla Arafa. During the
trip, the MIS students were exposed to the latest technology in the field of information systems
security, hardware and software, and mobile and e-government technology advances. The group
also visited GITEX Shopper at the Airport Expo Dubai and enjoyed a late snack.
Department of Business Administration & Abu Dhabi Council
for Economic Development Organize Financial Workshop
A
LHOSN University’s Department of
Business Administration in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Council for
Economic Development (ADCED) recently
hosted the ‘Dirhami Day Financial Workshop’
at the university’s Male Campus. The workshop
was especially developed to train university
students on how to manage their personal
finances and was conducted by renowned
financial expert and TV host, Salah Al-Halyan.
21
Academic News
Al-Halyan, the host of the financial advice show
‘Amwalukom: Your Money’ at CNBC Arabia TV, taught
students how to budget and save, set realistic goals
and targets, use bank accounts and credit cards, invest
wisely, avoid or manage debt, and avoid financial fraud.
The workshop was presented in English and Arabic to
ensure that all the information was conveyed in a clear
and transparent manner. All attendees received an
official Dirhami Certificate personally signed by Salah
Al-Halyan and ADCED afterwards.
Faculty of
Engineering News
Architecture Students Visit the General Authority of Islamic
Affairs and Endowments in Abu Dhabi
O
22
n Thursday October 6th, the students of Studio
III in architecture accompanied by Dr. Naima
Benkari, the course instructor, visited the
General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
headquarters in Abu Dhabi. They had an informative
meeting with H.E. Mohammed Obaid Al Mazroui,
Executive Manager of the Authority, and Mr. Ali Al
Seraidy, Director of mosques. The visit was conducted
in the framework of the studio III curriculum about the analysis and Design
of mosques in UAE. “We have been
generously received and thoroughly
informed on the Authority’s activities
and responsibilities by H.E. Mohammed
Obaid Al Mazroui,” said Dr. Naima
Benkari. The Authority accepted to
be the official client for the students’
project and showed great interest in
adopting the students’ designs, which
are a good fit to its requirements.
Academic News
Mosques for a New Era in the UAE
Studio IV Students
Visit Rotana Yas
Hotel
S
I
n the framework of the studio III Architecture curriculum,
Arch. Hatam Fariborz, Director in Aedas limited, has been
invited to introduce his project of Mosque for a New Era
in UAE. The lecture was presented in the American Corner in
front of an audience composed of students in Architecture and
Interior Design.
Arch Hatam spoke about the circumstances that led to
his idea of a new type of mosque for UAE. His development
of the concept behind this unique form of mosque captured
audience’s interest and generated numerous questions and
comments. “Arch. Hatam has presented a step further in the
development of studio III content for this fall. The aspects that
Hatam illustrated in his talk enlightened the students and
helped them discover more possible options for their project
of mosque, ” said Dr. Naima Benkari, Assistant Professor, and
organizer of the event.
tudents of the Department
of Architectural
Engineering, led by Dr.
Marko Savic, paid a visit to Yas
Rotana and Yas Centro hotels.
Thanks to the hospitality of
Rotana Hotel Management
Corporation, especially Mr.
Hesham Hassan and Mr.
Nelson Fernandes, students
had a wonderful opportunity
to visit all of the hotel facilities
including back-of-the-house
areas, which are not usually
accessible to the regular hotel
guests. The visit was organized
to help Studio IV students
become acquainted with the
design of 3-Star and 5-Star
hotels.
Interior Design Students Meet Warps and Wefts Representative
O
n Tuesday 29th November, Ms. Veenu
Kanwar, an architect from Warps
and Wefts, a Dubai- based company,
gave a very informative lecture to students
in INT 304 ‘Colour and Materials II’. The lecture covered several areas including different
types of weaves and finishes, methods of construction, materials, and appropriate use of
different types of fabrics in Interior Design.
23
Academic News
Student Outreach Event
O
n the fifth and sixth
of October, 2011, in
yet another successful student outreach event
organized by the SWE department, an open forum between
students and faculty tackled a
wide range of topics. Dr. Adel
Khelifi, the Department Chair,
took the floor to discuss with
students the future outlook of the SWE Department, and Dr.
Samia Loucif emphasized the need for students to be more
interactive and take initiative
in extracurricular activities.
Dr. Khelifi also emphasized the
important fact that the SWE
department has doubled its
student entry quota this year
and even more importantly is excited about the prospects of
achieving the highly coveted ABET Accreditation.
Software Engineering Department Students Visit Dubai Metro
and the RTA
O
n Wednesday 12 th of October 2011, team for their efforts in sensitizing students to
Software Engineering students visited the importance of linking their academic trainDubai Metro and the Road Transport ing to the industry.
Authority (RTA). The trip started from Jabal Ali
Metro Station where students were greeted by
Mr. Ahmed Salem Al Zaabi, Protocol Officer at
the RTA, Ms. Maryam Khalil Al Saffar, Passenger
Service Supervisor, and Ms. Mona Sale, Public
Relations Executive.
After the warm reception, the students
were taken on an exciting trip inside the metro
around Dubai. The RTA team then proceeded
to show students interesting facts such as the
Metro’s history, how to drive manually in case
of emergencies and the controlling systems.
Mr. Ahmed Mohammed Hammadi, the
Software Process Engineer, explained the
mechanics of the metro control system in
terms of software and the applied networks.
At the end of the visit the male and female
students who participated in the trip under the
guidance of Dr. Samia Loucif and Mr. Murad
Al-Rajab, thanked the RTA and the welcoming
24
Academic News
SWE students Visit IBM Headquarters
T
he Software Engineering Department male and female students visited IBM Headquarters in Abu Dhabi on Thursday,
November 24th, 2011 supervised by Dr. Adel Khelifi, Ms.
A m a l A b o a z i z a a n d M r.
Murad Al-Rajab. After a warm
welcome from the IBM team,
Mr. Denny Punnoose, from
IBM Middle East, delivered
an illuminating presentation
which sparked the interest of both students and
faculty members. The presentation started by introducing an enthralling video of the
Centennial celebration of IBM. Mr. Denny explained why IBM
is still running strong in comparison to other IT companies.
The main reason is IBM’s slogan “THINK”, which encourages
their employees not only to work but to “listen”, “observe”
and “think”. The presentation
concluded with Mr. Punnoose
explaining where IBM is now,
its current position in the
market place, and the management strategies which keep
IBM running strong and beating the competition.
The trip concluded with
the ALHOSN Software
Engineering Department presenting a gift as a token of
appreciation to the IBM team
for their exceptional reception
and kind hosting.
IIE Student Chapter Trip to Ghuzlan International Group
T
he Institute of Industrial
Engineers (IIE) Student
Chapter in coordination with the department of
Mechanical and Industrial
Engineering have organized a
field trip to a local, leading furniture manufacturing company,
Ghuzlan International Group,
located in ICAD 1 in Abu Dhabi.
This visit reinforces the continued effort to bridge the gap
between academia and industry, and introduce students to
real-world applications of industrial engineering.
During the visit to Ghuzlan,
faculty and students met with
the GIG’s CEO, Mr. Yousef
Ghuzlan, Factory Manager, Eng.
Faleh Alhajjaj, and a group of industrial engineers and technicians.
After a brief introduction about Ghuzlan’s mission, vision, and
core values, Eng. Alhajjaj guided the visiting students and faculty
through an informative tour to learn more about Ghuzlan production system. The students learned about the dynamic interaction
between several production departments such as inventory, manufacturing, quality, sales, and
final assembly.
After the tour, two ALHOSN
students, Ibrahim Abu Saleh and
Abdallah Yassin, who completed
their internship at Ghuzlan last
summer, presented part of their
work on “time study” and “job
training”. Subsequently, the students and faculty discussed with
the GIG’s managers and engineers industrial engineering-related
solutions and suggestions to help improve production, minimize
cost, and satisfy customers. At the end of the visit, ALHOSN students and faculty expressed their gratitude to Ghuzlan International
Group for their time, collaboration, and hospitality.
25
Academic News
Soil Investigation and Material Testing Field Trip
I
n an attempt to expose ALHOSN’s Civil Engineering
students to In-situ activities, Dr. Reem Sabouni,
Assistant Professor in the Civil Engineering
Department, arranged a “Soil Investigation and Material
Testing” field trip, in coordination with the Matrix
Laboratory, which is one of the leading soil investigation and material testing labs in Abu Dhabi. The
participating students attended a soil boring procedure
on a working site in Khalifa City. Following that, students saw first-hand soil investigation tests performed
in a standard laboratory. Eng. Ahmed Amer, Technical
Manager, Matrix Laboratory, shared his experience in
the field of material testing with students. He also gave
a detailed presentation on the common martial tests
used. The presentation was supplemented with further
practical demonstrations of the tests involved. The students’ comments on the field trip asserted it to be an
enriching and riveting experience. During the field trip
the students were accompanied by Civil Engineering
Department faculty members and teaching assistants:
Dr. Reem Sabouni, Dr. Rafik Al Sakkaf,
Dr. George Markou, Eng. Ahmed
Mousa, Eng. Israa Hammouda and Eng.
Ahmed Al Ghazali.
Urban Infrastructure Systems Field Trip
I
n line with the educational
objectives of the ALHOSN
University Civil Engineering
Department, several field trips
have been organized to bring
the students in contact with
civil engineering field activities and professionals. On
November 24, 2011, Dr. Rafik Al Sakkaf organized a field trip under the theme “Urban
Infrastructure Systems” to Bawabat Al Sharq
Project in coordination with The Project
Manager, Eng. Khalid Mahmoud of Abu Dhabi
Municipality. Upon departure the group was
seen off by Prof. Mohammed Sobaih, Dean
of the Faculty of Engineering and Applied
Sciences. At their arrival to the site, the group
26
was greeted by the project
manager, AECOM engineers,
the project consultant, Al Jaber
engineers, and the project contractor. Baniyas Investment
Company is the owner of the
project. This field trip, which
focused on the infrastructure
parts, gave students the opportunity to see
the field activities of constructing water supply networks, sewage networks, stormwater
networks and service roads. Students were
accompanied by faculty members of the Civil
Engineering Department, including Dr. Rafik Al
Sakkaf, Dr. George Markou, Eng. Ahmed Mousa,
and Eng. Ahmed Al Ghazali.
Academic News
One Day in the Future Field Trip
O
n the occasion of the 40 th UAE National Day
faculty members and students of the Civil
Engineering Department participated in the
event “One Day in the Future” upon invitation from
Abu Dhabi Ports Company (ADPC). The event took place
on Tuesday, November 29 from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, at
Ports Zayed and Khalifa. The event included a presentation on the mandate of ADPC at ADPC Headquarters,
a field trip to Port Zayed, a visit to Kizad and a field
trip to Port Khalifa. During these field trips, attendees
became acquainted with the operations of the ports as
well as the activities at Kizad. Students had the opportunity to meet with the ADPC Executives and celebrate
the UAE National Day by viewing the tremendous
growth and prosperity that the UAE has achieved across
various social and economic sectors. The students
were accompanied by ALHOSN Civil
Engineering Department faculty members and teaching assistants: Prof.
Mohammed Sobaih, Dr. Rafik Al Sakkaf,
Eng. Ahmed Mousa, and Eng. Ahmed Al
Ghazali.
Building Information Modeling Workshop
A
LHOSN University has
conducted a Building
Information Modeling
(BIM) Workshop in cooperation with building SMART ME
(BSME), the regional arm of
the non-profit international
alliance representing construction-related businesses.
The event is the first of a series
of BIM workshops and events
that will mold ALHOSN into
Abu Dhabi City’s BIM center.
The university’s Society
of Women in Engineering
(SOWIE) sponsored the init i a t i v e w i t h B S M E . Tw o
workshops were separately
conducted in mid-December
for female and male students
and covered Demolition,
Operation and Maintenance,
Construction Logistics, 4D/5D
Construction, Fabrication,
Documentation, Analysis,
Detailed and Conceptual
Design, Programming, and
Renovation.
Workshop participants
qualified for a Certificate in
Building Information Modeling
(BIM Level I) and will be able
to enroll in future higher-level
27
Academic News
BIM training programs. ALHOSN’s Departments of Civil and Architectural Engineering jointly
coordinated the BIM events at the ALHOSN Campus.
“BIM is becoming a major platform for project management and engineering as it represents
a new way of approaching the design and documentation of building projects. It offers numerous time, quality and profitability advantages over traditional methods such as computer-aided
design. As a member of BSME, ALHOSN feels privileged to be sharing key concepts of the BIM
paradigm, especially among female faculty and students whom we highly encourage to take
active roles in the engineering field,” said Dr. Reem Sabouni, Assistant Professor at the Civil
Engineering Department and Vice President of SOWIE.
World Environment Day Marked with Special Session on
‘UniverCity’ Programme
A
s part of its commitment to raising
public awareness on its various developments, programmes and initiatives,
the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC)
outlined its youth-oriented ‘UniverCity’ programme for raising awareness on its urban,
economic, environmental and social development activities under its ‘Estidama’ initiative
during World Environment Day celebrations
held in partnership with ALHOSN University.
The ‘UniverCity’ presentation highlighted
the importance of the Estidama programme
developed and managed by the UPC. Although
the main purpose of Estidama is to create a
new sustainability framework for all developments in Abu Dhabi, it is built under the
four comprehensive pillars of environment,
economy, society and culture. Held under the
theme ‘Planning for the Next Generation,’ the
session covered the Capital 2030, Al Ain 2030
and Al Gharbia development master plans
28
and outlined the UPC’s role as a government
entity in overseeing the physical master planning for Abu Dhabi. UPC planners conducted
the presentation.
“All members of Abu Dhabi’s community
have both the right and the responsibility
to learn more about the emirate’s development agendas. The Abu Dhabi Urban Planning
Council’s ‘UniverCity’ program is an excellent
platform for educating students and youths
in general on where their future is headed
and what key roles they can play in it. It also
demonstrates the strategic role that Estidama
plays in Abu Dhabi’s future development which
ALHOSN is committed to fully support,” said
Dr. Adnan Husnéin, Assistant Professor, Urban
Planning Department.
The Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council is
tasked with initiating, driving and supporting the emirate’s urban development strategy
under Abu Dhabi Vision 2030. The Council’s
responsibilities cover evaluation and management of land availability and use, urban and
environmental issues, mobility, infrastructure,
and urban services. Its Estidama initiative
aims to transform Abu Dhabi into the sustainable capital of the Arab World. UniverCity
complements this goal by tapping educational
partnerships to demonstrate and promote sustainable development throughout Abu Dhabi.
ALHOSN Outlines 2011-2012 Agenda to New Faculty Members
A
LHOSN University
presented internal
policies and the university’s agenda for the
2011-2012 school year during an Employee Orientation
held on 7 th September 2011.
The latest batch of educators
reflects ALHOSN’s commitment to excellence across all
its programs.
The 18 new faculty members have been deployed
at ALHOSN’s Mechanical
and Industrial Engineering,
Civil Engineering, Urban
Planning, Architecture,
Software Engineering,
Interior Design, Management
Information Systems, Business
Administration, and Education
Departments. Participants
were treated to a social breakfast at the Male Campus
Cafeteria with their department chairs, after which they
were personally welcomed
by ALHOSN’s Vice Chancellor
and CEO Prof. Abdul Rahim
Sabouni. A series of orientation
sessions on key areas such as
admissions and registration
and IT and library services
then followed. The sessions
were facilitated by the university’s PR, Registration, IT, and
HR teams.
“We want our students to
be the best, so we regularly
assess our teaching personnel
to see to it that we have the
best on board. We have a good
group joining our community
this year and we are confident
they will sustain the strong
performance displayed by our
institution last year. Judging
from their enthusiasm and initiative during the sessions, we
expect ALHOSN to reinforce
its growing image as a leading
education provider at the local
and national levels,” said Prof.
Abdul Rahim Sabouni.
Special Congratulations
Staff Promotions (2011 - 2012)
Ms Wafa Moussa
Promoted to Marketing & Events Manager
29
Faculty New Appointments
New Faculty Members Appointments
(2011 - 2012)
Dr Banchongsan Charoensook
Assistant Professor
Business Administration
Dr Ali Ali Hussein Al Amaireh
Professor
Interior Design
Dr Georgios Markou
Assistant Professor
Civil Engineering
Dr Munther Talal Ahmad Momany
Professor
Dr Hassan Amoud
Visiting Assistant Professor
Civil Engineering
Dr Abdulla Alhemoud
Associate Professor
Dr Hisako Kobayashi
Assistant Professor
Urban Planning
Dr Adnan Ahmad Moh’d Bashir
Associate Professor
Mechanical & Industrial Engineering
Dr Maher Ragheb Moh’d Abur-rous
Dr Belal Barhem
Associate Professor
Dr Mohamed El Baradie
Assistant Professor
Dr Khaled Hesham Hyari
Associate Professor
Civil Engineering
Dr Rafik Al-Sakkaf
Assistant Professor
Civil Engineering
Dr Teirab AshShareef
Associate Professor
Education
Dr Taimur Sharif
Assistant Professor
Assistant Professor
Software Engineering
Faculty New Promotions
Faculty Members Academic Promotions (2011 - 2012)
Dr Abdelaziz Soufyane
Promoted to
Professor
30
Dr Hassan Belhiah
Promoted to
Associate Professor
Dr Sharaf Al Khedher
Promoted to
Associate Professor
Student Activities
‘Tathqeef’ Traffic Safety Awareness Vehicle Arrives on Campus
A
LHOSN University hosted a special demonstration of the new ‘Tathqeef’ traffic
safety awareness vehicle at its Female
Campus and Male Campus. The event is part
of university efforts to establish community
partnerships supporting its own Safe Driving
Awareness Campaign for its students.
‘Tathqeef’is an innovative idea launched
by the Department of Traffic and Patrol – Abu
Dhabi Police. It is a vehicle from the Abu Dhabi
Police traffic patrol fleet that has been fitted
with special demonstration equipments such
as a rear monitor, a mobile camera and standard safety gear including child seats, first
aid kits and a fire extinguisher. Sporting an
attractive exterior design, the vehicle has been
touring various public places and houses to
instill a responsible traffic culture among families as well as their drivers.
ALHOSN is the first university to be visited by Tathqeef. A Public Relations team
from the Directorate of Traffic & Patrol – Abu
Dhabi Police conducted the demonstration
for ALHOSN students, faculty and staff. ALHOSN
Vice Chancellor and CEO, Prof. Abdul Rahim
Sabouni, and Provost Prof. Raymond Tennant
attended the event.
Traffic safety is among ALHOSN’s major
student advocacies. Many lives are lost every
year due to irresponsible driving. Therefore,
it is important to acquire good driving habits at an early age. The University’s hosting of
Tathqeef is an opportunity to foster a spirit of
responsible driving among students as well
as strengthen university ties with important
community members such as the General
Directorate of Abu Dhabi Police.
ALHOSN University Takes Part in Al Nahda School Open Day
A
LHOSN University has participated in
the Open University Day hosted by the Al
Nahda National School in Abu Dhabi. The
event presented an ideal platform for ALHOSN
University faculty and staff to interact with prospective students and their parents as well as
with academics from UAE and the region. The
event provided ALHOSN University with the
opportunity to showcase the university’s various
course offerings and specializations.
31
Student Activities
ALHOSN University was represented at the
event by the University Provost, Prof. Raymond
Tennant, Dr. Mohammed Saeed Hasab El Naby,
Chair of the Education Department, and Ms.
Ghada Qabha, Director of Students Affairs.
Representatives from the university’s Marketing,
Admissions and Registration Departments were
also present at the event.
Positive Attitude
T
he American Corner at
ALHOSN University and
the Male Student Council
co-hosted a presentation,
“Positive Attitudes” by Ms.
Mahasen Al Mahasneh, Career
Development Coordinator,
on November 22nd 2011 in the
American Corner.
The presentation addressed
topics on self-improvement skills, and included an
inspirational video of two
young brothers overcoming
incredible physical and emotional challenges. Ahmed Al
Suwaidi, President of the Male
Student Council, remarked,
“It is these types of presentations that inspire each and
every one of us. Personally,
I find it stimulating and
thought-provoking.”
After the presentation, Prof.
Raymond Tennant, Provost,
presented Ms. Mahasen
with the crystal logo of the
American Corner. He said, “The
American Corner is looking
forward to more presentations
and workshops which provide
students with opportunities
to develop life management
skills and to achieve a greater
awareness of lifelong learning as a natural progression
of their education beyond the
classroom.”
Key Student Services Fully Automated
A
32
LHOSN University has launched
new online modules for course
registration requests at its website as part of efforts to optimize key
student services.
Students can now avail of the services 24/7 via the university portal.
Each student request is fully processed
online with input from instructors and
the Registration and Admissions Office,
whose staff will monitor all transactions to ensure high-quality service
delivery. ALHOSN has also launched the
Student Activities
Online Academic Advisor (OAA), a new program
designed to enable students to better organize their course schedules. The OAA can help
predict the Cumulative Grade Point Average
(CGPA) and suggest which courses should be
retaken to raise the CGPA. The new services are
part of efforts to further enhance ALHOSN’s
website, which recently recorded 4,915,063
visits to advance closer to the 5-million mark
since being re-launched in July 2009 with more
advanced features and capabilities.
The new online services will make important campus procedures fairer, faster and more
accessible. They reflect ALHOSN’s focus on
technology and how it can make the learning
process more efficient and user-friendly at the
same time. The university is eyeing more strategic improvements to student services that
can draw on the capabilities, reach and convenience of its website.
Appreciation Day Honors Students with Outstanding
Extra-curricular Achievements
A
LHOSN University honored the outstanding
extra-curricular activities of its students during its
Appreciation Day held at the
Male Campus on December 13,
2011 and Female Campus on
December 21, 2011. Awardees
were particularly commended
for their participation in
NAJAH, the UAE’s most comprehensive education, training
and careers event and various
internal activities such as the
40th National Day Celebrations.
ALHOSN Vice Chancellor
and CEO, Prof. Abdul-Rahim
Sabouni, personally handed
out certificates and gifts to
the marquee students for
setting high standards in volunteer work and acting as
role models for their peers.
They were rewarded for their
active participation in the
university’s first Career Fair,
the recent GETEX exhibition
held in Dubai, and the NAJAH
exhibition.
33
Student Activities
Achievements of UAE’s Founding Father Commemorated
During 40th National Day Celebrations
A
LHOSN University celebrated the UAE’s
40th National Day with a series of cultural events at its male and female
campuses on Wednesday, November 30, 2011.
Among the celebratory highlights were an exhibition of Emirati cuisine and national products
by the UAE Women’s Union.
The celebrations also comprised henna
tattooing sessions, local dances, poetry and
serving of coffee and dessert in a traditional
Emirati tent which was decorated with national
handicrafts. A group of students also organized
a special contest on national UAE poetry as well
as the achievements of the former President
and founding father of the UAE, the late Sheikh
Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Students and
guests alike were treated to an Emirati buffet
with coffee to conclude the celebrations.
“As the UAE celebrates its 40th National Day I
am proud to be part of the festivities at ALHOSN
University. The UAE has achieved so much
in such a short period of time and ALHOSN
University is privileged to be part of its educational growth and development under the
enlightening leadership of the late Sheikh
Zayed, and H.H. Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed,”
said Ahmad Al Suwaidi, President of the Male
Student Council at ALHOSN University.
34
Student Activities
Mohammed Batal Al Qubaisi: Guest Speaker at the 7th Meeting
of the Reading Club
M
r. Mohammed Batal Al Qubaisi,
Candidate to the National Council
2011 and a student at ALHOSN
University, was invited as a guest speaker
during the Reading Club’s 7 th meeting, entitled: “Elections of the National Council 2011:
Experience and lessons learned.” Mohammed
Al Qubaisi reviewed the circumstances and
factors that led him to nominate himself for
the National Council, noting that this decision was something he had contemplated for
a long time. This was due to his compassion
generosity, and ambitious plans for the benefit
of education, health and citizens. According
to him, it was an enriching experience to be
the first student to earn nomination for election to the National Council. Mohammed also
discussed the obstacles that he faced, which
did not deter his ambition. Although his name
was not on the list of accepted candidates, he
decided to nominate himself one more time
at the next elections as he continues his commitment to community service and charitable
work with conviction and faith.
The forum was attended by Prof. Abdul
Rahim Sabouni, Vice Chancellor and CEO
of ALHOSN University, Dr. Ahmed Al Mahmoud,
Associate Professor at the University, who
praised the academic level of Mohammed
Al Qubaisi, and stressed that he holds ambitious and distinct ideas, as well as Ms Nessrin
Shayya, who also commended the capabilities of Mohammed Al Qubaisi and his desire
to serve his community and his country.
Other participants included Ms. Ghada Qabha,
Director of Student Affairs, Ms. Mahasen Al
Mahasna, student activities coordinator, and a
number of university staff and students. Prof
Sabouni expressed his pride in Mohammed Al
Qubaisi’s ambitions, and stressed that the university will do its best to support young UAE
nationals and residents, and that such experiences can be an example to many young people
to undertake causes in the interest of national
and social welfare.
T h e f o r u m w a s m o d e r a t e d b y D r.
Mohammed Saeed Hasab El Naby, Chair of the
Department of Education. He affirmed that the
experience of Mohammed Al Qubaisi is commendable and worthy of discussion, and added
that ALHOSN Reading Club aims to highlight
the acheivements of this group of young ambitious people in view of their crucial role in
social development.
At the end of the meeting, Prof. Abdul Rahim
Sabouni presented Mr. Mohamed Batal Al Qubaisi
with a certificate of appreciation and wished
him and his club more success and progress.
Reading Club Hosts Poet
Hamza Qenawi
T
he poet Hamza Qenawi gave a talk on
Modern Arabic Literature at ALHOSN
University. Mr. Qenawi reviewed features of Modern Arab Literature, the forms
used by Modern Arab writers and the factors
that led to its development. The poet also
recited some of his own poems which met
with the admiration of the audience.
35
Student Activities
In the discussion that followed the talk,
several issues were touched upon including
forms of Modern Arabic and the factors that
contributed to its rise and the language used.
The regression of the poetic form in the face
of other prose forms was particularly raised
and discussed.
and CEO, was in attendance. He expressed his
appreciation of the poet and the contributions
he made. He commented that the technical
and artistic requirements of poetry are different from other forms of arts. This may explain
the popularity of novels in comparison with
the art of poetry.
The forum was chaired by Dr. Mohammed
Saeed Hasab El Naby, Chair of the Department
of Education and Supervisor of the Reading
Club. In his welcoming note, Dr. Hasab El
Naby said that the poet’s contribution to literature and poetry is of great significance. He
added that modern literature reacts to social
and other literary issues of our times. Modern
poets are also exposed to translated work of
international cultural trends. Poetic creativity
requires specific psychological and emotional
conditions that lead to expressive poetic works
which may not be raised in other genres.
Professor Sabouni presented a certificate of
appreciation to the poet wishing him continuous success and prosperity, and expressed his
good wishes for the Reading Club.
The poet Hamza Qenawi has published
a number of collections. Some of these are:
“Thirsty Questions” (2001), “Happiness Leaving:
The Lie” (2003), “The Stranger: Poems of Paris”
(2008). He also published two novels: “The
Intellectuals!” (2009) and “From the Papers of
an Egyptian Young Man,” an autobiography
that came out last year.
Among the prizes that the poet won were
“Suaad Al Sabbah for Creative Literature” for
the best poetic collection in the Arab World:
“Happiness Leaving: The Lie”. His novel “From
36
the Papers of an Egyptian Young Man” won
him the Ahmad Bahaa El Din prize for intellectual creativity. He was also selected as one of
a hundred Arab writers under forty in the bibliography published in Frankfurt in 2009.
Reading Club Organizes
an Exhibition of Artistic
Photography
T
he Reading Club organized an artistic
photography exhibition by the talented
artist Mohammed Al Marzouki in collaboration with the American corner from
October 26th to 27th, 2011. Several students and
faculty, as well as a large number of photography aficionados attended the exhibition.
The exhibition was kicked off with opening
remarks by Prof. Abdul Rahim Sabouni, Vice
Chancellor and CEO, who praised the artistic
quality of the work exhibited. He also emphasized that this is a talent that deserves serious
attention and encouragement.
The exhibition was attended by Dr.
Mohammed Saeed Hasab El Naby, Chair of the
Department of Education and Supervisor of the
Reading Club, Professor Abdullah Marzouqi,
Director of Cultural Relations at the Diwan of
H.H Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, as well
as Dr. Walid Eko and Mr. Ibrahim Hassan from
the Center of H.H Sheikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al
Nahyan, who expressed his admiration for the
exhibition and praised the talents and refined
skills of the artist Mohammed Al Marzouki.
At the end of the exhibition, Prof. Abdul
Rahim Sabouni handed Mohammed Al
Marzouki a certificate of appreciation in recognition of his outstanding artistic abilities and
contribution to the Reading Club . Mohammed
Al Marzouki was so kind as to donate the artifacts displayed in the exhibition to ALHOSN
University as a token of appreciation for its
active role in encouraging young talents within
the UAE.
Gibran Khalil Gibran:
A Creative Experience
T
he Reading Club arranged for Dr. Joseph
Habib Al Helou from the Lebanese
University in Beirut to give a talk entitled “Gibran: a creative Experience”. In the
talk Dr. Al Helou dealt with Gibran’s childhood
and early years in the northern city of Bsharri.
Student Activities
The city left its imprint on Gibran’s character.
Gibran’s mother also played a major role in his
life and writing.
At the same time Gibran suffered a great
deal from the way his father treated him, but
Mary Haskell whom he met in the USA, had a
distinct impact on him throughout his life in
the country.
Dr. Al Helou presented examples from
Gibran’s sayings and artistic images as well as
his museum in his birthplace.
The presentation was attended by Professor
Abdul Rahim Sabouni, ALHOSN University Vice
Chancellor and CEO, and Professor Raymond
Tennant, the Provost. A number of staff from
the University as well as female students
from the Department of Education were also
in attendance.
Professor Sabouni pointed out that Gibran’s
writings, in particular “The Prophet,” firmly
established him as a leading creative writer.
Professor Sabouni recalled quotations from
Gibran’s writing that left a lasting impression
on him.
On this occasion, Dr. Mohamed Saeed Hasab
Al Naby, Chair of the Department of Education
and the Reading Club Supervisor, acknowledged the support offered to the Club by the
University. He also pointed out the thoughtprovoking nature of Gibran’s work. In-depth
studies of his creative literary writing, artistic images and sculpture revealed an endless
search for life’s greatest secrets.
Professor Sabouni presented a certificate
of appreciation from the Reading Club to Dr.
Al Helou.
Lebanese-born Gibran is an American philosopher, a poet and a painter. He was born on
6th January 1883. He immigrated to the USA in
1895 together with his mother and other members of his family. He studied art and in 1923
published “The Prophet.” Gibran Khalil Gibran
passed away in New York on April 10, 1931.
37

News - ALHOSN University

Transcription

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