Editorial Team Arabic English Design - ALHOSN University

ContentsIssue 8 | May 2010Alhosn News――AHU supports the AbilitiesDevelopment Centre――AHU signs an MoU with ADIB――AHU hosts the Arab Associationof Collegiate Registrars &Admission Officers――AHU at the Institute of AppliedTechnology in Fujairah――AHU signs MoU with UAESociety of Engineers――ALHOSN Breakfasts――Library News――ALHOSN’s StudentAppreciation Day――Delegates from the Universityof Salford visits AHU――Carleton’s International Directorvisits ALHOSN――AHU hosts two distinguishedmembers, recipient of OSWALDFellowships――MOHESR organizes a workshopat ALHOSN――AHU joins accreditationworkshop in the US――Prof. Sabouni calls for moreInvestments into EducationAlhosn Events――ALHOSN celebrates a Five Yearsof Education Gala Dinner――AHU joins the Syrian Exhibitionof Universities――AHU Joins ZADCO EducationFair――ALHOSNN @ GETEX 201023456789101112Academic News――Architectural Engineering Dept.hosts the “Foundation for theFuture Forum”――Promotion of Two of ALHOSN’SFaculty members――Seminar for Regional Managerfrom Emerald Group Publishing――MIS Department hosts ICTsecurity workshop――Urban Planning Seminar Series――IIE @ ALHOSN 2010――ALHOSN’S 1st Annual iDesignSummitStudent Activities――Saleh Al Yarabi receivesDistinguished Abu Dhabi Award――AHU Celebrates the 4thInternational Day――AHU holds 1st Annual Career Fair――Experimental Learning atALHOSN――Urban Planning DepartmentActivities――ALHOSN launches a ReadingClub――A Story of Talented Young IraqiWriter――ALHOSN’s students at CityscapeAbu Dhabi 2010――AHU’s Annual “Open Day”――Students wins DesignCompetition at ALHOSN13141516171920212223――Special Cultural & EnvironmentalActivities at ALHOSN24Editorial TeamNadine KanjWafa MoussaArabicDr Mohamed Hasab El NabyNada Matsumura HajwanEnglishNada Matsumura HajwanDesignMehdi Al TayebALHOSN NewsletterSemi-annual Newsletter Issuedby the Marketing and PublicRelations DepartmentTo subscribe or inquire, pleasecontact the Marketing & PublicRelations DepartmentPhone: +971 2 407 0700Fax: +971 2 407 0799E-mail: connect@alhosnu.aewww.alhosnu.ae

Alhosn NewsDelegates from the University of Salfordvisited ALHOSN UniversityTwo distinguished visitors fromthe University of Salford, UK,Prof. Martin Hall, Vice Chancellorand Prof. Ghassan Aouad, Pro‐Vice Chancellor for Research& Innovation, visited ALHOSNUniversity on February 18, 2010.During their visit, they conductedmeetings with members ofALHOSN’s University including:Prof. Abdul Rahim Sabouni,Vice Chancellor, Dr HamdiSheibani, Provost, Prof. AhmadZohdi, Assistant Provost forAdministrative & Financial Affairs,Prof. Raymond Tennant, Headof Effectiveness & AccreditationCenter and Prof. Hassan Mustapha,Professor and MEd ProgramCoordinator. Prof. Sabounidelivered a welcome speech that was followed by an introduction aboutALHOSN University by Prof. Tennant. The visitors gave an introductionabout the University of Salford. This was followed by a discussion aboutpotential fields of collaboration between the two universities.Carleton’s International Director visits ALHOSNDr Randy Zadra, Director ofCarleton International Office,Carleton University, Canada,visited ALHOSN UniversityIssue 8 | May 20106 on March 8, 2010 to discuss Dr Zadra was welcomed by studies.Professors Alzahabi and the US and UAE in an effort to7possible collaborative activitiesand program tie-ups. Dr Zadra’soffice handles initiatives relatedto international partnerships andjoint ventures.Prof. Abdul Rahim Sabouni ViceChancellor & CEO, Dr HamdiSheibani, Provost, Prof. AhmadZohdi, Assistant Provost forAdministrative & Financial Affairs,Prof. Raymond Tennant ,Headof Effectiveness & AccreditationCenter, and Prof. Roshdy Hafez,Professor of Software EngineeringDepartment.During his stay, Dr Zadra wasgiven a tour of ALHOSN’s Campusand facilities.Carleton University is acomprehensive university locatedin the Canadian capital Ottawa,Ontario. It offers over 65 programsin diverse disciplines including:public affairs, journalism, filmstudies, engineering, hightechnology, and internationalALHOSN University hosts two distinguishedfaculty members from Kettering University,recipient of “OSWALD” FellowshipsALHOSN University was chosento host Kettering University’sOswald International FacultyFellowship. Two distinguishedProfessors from KetteringUniversity (Flint, Michigan, UnitedStates) visited ALHOSN fromMarch 21 to 26, 2010 to participatein a weeklong series of lecturesand discussions related to theiracademic fields.During their stay, Prof. BasemAlzahabi, Professor of MechanicalEngineering, and Prof. DavidStrubler, Associate Professor ofBusiness met with ALHOSN’sadministration and facultymembers to discuss opportunitiesfor collaboration and partnershipbetween the two universities,especially in the areas of studentand faculty exchange, and thesharing of ideas to improve theacademic programs in engineeringand business. The visit is expectedto foster closer relationshipsbetween higher educationalinstitutions in the West and theEast.Strubler are recent recipients ofthe Oswald International FacultyFellowship. The fellowship isawarded to Kettering facultymembers with a passion to pursueinternational teaching and researchopportunities. The Fellowship wasestablished through a generousgift from Kettering alumnus andtrustee Bob Oswald and his wifeMarcy. The couple also supportThe Oswald International StudentFellowship program, whichprovides financial grants to covertravel and living expenses for 10Kettering students involved in theuniversity’s international exchangeprogram.Prof. Strubler studied Arab andIslamic cultures, their businesspractices, and their possibleinteraction with the WesternBusiness World. Prof. Alzahabi,on the other hand, a differentseminars from an internationalperspective and participated inspecial discussions. The hosting ofthe American educators providesan opportunity to share andexchange cultural values betweenbridge differences between Arabnations and the West, in line withthe spirit of cooperation, friendshipand understanding as clearlydefined by President Obama duringhis 2009 speech in Cairo, Egypt.“The fellowship arrangementwith Kettering University affirmsALHOSN’s commitment toexpose our students and facultyto international views. Our guestprofessors provide valuable insightson their respective fields and howto align western practices with theunique cultural, social and economicgoals of the UAE and the MiddleEast. This initiative complementsefforts to bring Muslim and Westerncountries closer together throughpeaceful dialogue and collaboration,especially in socially relevant fieldssuch as education,” said Prof.Sabouni, Vice Chancellor & CEO,ALHOSN University.Prof. David StrublerAlhosn News

Alhosn NewsMOHESR organized a Quality AssuranceWorkshop at ALHOSN UniversityOn April 17, 2010, ALHOSNUniversity hosted at its men’scampus a special workshop entitled“Internal Quality Assurance inHEIs”. The workshop was deliveredby the renowned researcher,Professor Hilary Winchester, ProVice Chancellor for Strategy &Planning at the University of SouthAustralia . The event was organizedby the Commission for AcademicAccreditation (CAA) from the UAEMinistry of Higher Education andScientific Research.Prof. Winchester deliveredsimilar workshops during the10 th Biennial Conference of theInternational Network for QualityAssurance Agencies in HigherEducation (INQAAHE) that was heldlast year in Abu Dhabi. INQAAHE isa world-wide association of around200 organizations dedicated toadvancing quality assurance theoryand practice in higher education.The CAA has invite Prof.Winchester to provide valuableinsights on Quality Assurance tothe country’s non-federal highereducation institutions.The Ministry of HigherEducation has welcomed thefollowing representatives fromALHOSN to join the workshop:Prof. Raymond Tennant, Professorof Mathematics and Head of theEffectiveness and AccreditationCenter; Prof. Kamel Ghorab, Deanof Graduate Programs and DirectorAHU joined accreditation workshops in the USof the Institutional Research Office;Prof. Ahmad Zohdi, Dean of theFaculty of Business and AssistantProvost for Administrative andFinancial Affairs; Dr MustaphaTajdin, Acting Dean and AssistantProfessor of the Faculty of Artand Social Sciences; and Dr NohaHassan, Assistant Professor of theFaculty of Engineering and AppliedSciences and Head of the UniversityGeneral Requirement Unit (UGRU).ALHOSN University participated ina professional meeting hosted by theCommission on Colleges (COC) of theSouthern Association of Colleges andSchools (SACS) at its headquarters inDecatur, Georgia, USA. SACS-COC is one ofsix regional accrediting agencies that accreditinstitutions of higher education in the USas well as internationally. Prof. RaymondTennant, Head of ALHOSN’s Effectivenessand Accreditation Center, represented theuniversity in a series of workshops thatwere held from April 22 to 23, 2010 coveringthe accreditation process and the properIssue 8 | May 20108 assessment of institutional effectivenessNew Beginning Realized, the benefits of investing in higher9and included institutions from US southernstates as well as several international colleges anduniversities.One workshop focused on the structure of theSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools andthe concept of regional accreditation. It also includedthe COC accreditation process including steps forcompliance with the standards as covered by theSACS publication ‘The Principles of Accreditation:Foundations for Quality Enhancement.A second workshop centered on the assessmentof institutional effectiveness as a key to develop andimprove academic and administrative programs.Participants shared the overall planning and evaluationcycles of their respective institutions and how thesefacilitate the achievement of the institution missionand goals. Specific examples of best practices wereProf. Sabouni calls for a Higher Investment intoEducation at Entrepreneurship 1 st SymposiumAHU Vice Chancellor & CEO, Prof.Sabouni, discussed the importanceof investing in the education sectorand encouraging entrepreneurshipamong students during a speechdelivered on April 26, 2010 at theEmirates Palace in Abu Dhabi aspart of the Entrepreneurship FirstSymposium.Held under the theme ‘FromU.A.E. to Washington D.C.: ASymposium was conductedparallel to the PresidentialSummit on Entrepreneurship inWashington, D.C. Around 250successful entrepreneurs frommore than 50 countries discussedways to advance economical andsocial entrepreneurship and tobuild networks and partnershipsamong stakeholders. The eventfulfilled the pledge made by USPresident Barack Obama during hisvisit to Cairo, Egypt last year that asummit dedicated to strengtheningties between Americanbusiness leaders, foundationsand entrepreneurs and theircounterparts in Muslim countrieswill be organized by USA. In the UAEsymposium, Prof. Sabouni joined11 other distinguished speakerswho spoke on topics ranging fromentrepreneurship developmentthrough Public Private Partnershipsto the enhancement of regionalSmall and Medium Enterprises.In his speech, Prof. Sabouni talkedabout the economic and academiceducation: “The misconceptiongiven to demonstrate methods that can be used tofurther develop institutional effectiveness.“Our success as an educational institution reliessignificantly on our quality control. Accreditation andperiodic assessments of our organizational effectivenessare crucial to ensure maintaining high levels of qualitythat constitute ALHOSN’s obligation to students, theirguardians, and other stakeholders. Our representationin the SACS-COC workshops reflects our commitment toadopt world-class standards in all our processes, policiesand standards,” said Prof. Tennant.ALHOSN University constantly engages in local,regional and global dialogues to improve the qualityand delivery of its 11 undergraduate programs and 7graduate programs. These programs are accredited bythe CAA and are open to students of all nationalities.that private universities are oftenassociated with purely commercialenterprises fails to account for theoptimization, efficiency, qualitycontrol and assurance that arenecessary for their continuedoperations in an increasinglycompetitive environment. Selfdependentprofitable academicinstitutions, by default, must rely onefficient utilization of resources sothat they can continue to produceacademically rigorous programs fortheir students.”“As the UAE continues todevelop at such a rapid pace,investing in private education canbe both economically sustainableand academically rewarding.Federal policies and regulationsmust continue to support bothindividual and corporate initiativesand foster a culture of innovativeentrepreneurship in all sectors,especially in higher education,” headded.Alhosn News

Alhosn EventsA Gala Dinner Celebrated ALHOSN’s FiveYears of Education LeadershipIssue 8 | May 2010AHU joined the 9th Specialized Exhibition of Universities,Institutes and University Equipments in SyriaAlhosn EventsAHU hosted a Gala Dinner on February 28, 2010.The dinner celebrated ALHOSN’s 5 th anniversaryand was held at the Beach Rotana Hotel in AbuDhabi. During the dinner, ALHOSN reaffirmed itscommitment to address the needs of the society,raise awareness of critical environmental issues,and maintain its leadership in the educational field.Employees that have significantly contributed inachieving ALHOSN’s goals have been honored duringthe dinner. Prominent Arab media personality, MrsNashwa Al Ruwaini, CEO of Pyramedia and Director ofthe Middle East International Film Festival, was invitedas a guest speaker. Mrs Al Ruwani was among the “30Awesome Women” list developed by the ArabianWoman Magazine.Utilizing the theme of the dinner “5 Years: PromotingExcellence”, ALHOSN’s major achievements weresummarized. They include:• Partnership with distinguished organizationssuch as the UAE Society of Engineers and the 7iInstitute.• Expansion of ALHOSN’s national and internationalpresence through active participation in highprofileevents such as the NAJAH educationalexpo, GETEX Dubai, and the internationalconference that was organized by the IllinoisInstitute of Technology Council on Tall Buildingsand Urban Habitat.• Encouragement of the participation of women intechnical fields by holding the First Annual Womenin Engineering Event in the UAE.“We would not have attained this level of successin five years if not for the hard work and commitmentof our community members, our dedicated staff andprofessors, and our visionary management. Our studentsare at the core of our motivation, and so I would like toacknowledge their inspirational role as well. I wouldalso like to extend the University’s gratitude to ourpartner organizations, the media, the local governmentespecially the Ministry of Higher Education and ScientificResearch, and the public. You are all in our thoughtsas we celebrate our fifth year,” said Prof. Abdul RahimSabouni, Vice Chancellor & CEO, ALHOSN University.ALHOSN University joined the 9th SpecializedExhibition of Universities, Institutes and UniversityEquipments (EDU, 9, 2010), held from March 9 to 11,2010, at the Sheraton Hotel in Damascus and fromMarch 13 to 15, 2010, at the Sheraton Hotel in Aleppo.ALHOSN’s representatives discussed our leadingacademic programs to more than 16,000 Syrianstudents.Held under the patronage of Syrian Minister ofHigher Education, H.E. Dr Ghiath Barakat, andorganized by Al Haitham Exhibitions and Conferencesin coordination with the Ministry of Education, theevent is regarded as the largest gathering of publicAHU joins UAE’s Top Academic ServicesProviders at ZADCO Education Fairand private educational institutions from Syria andother Arab and foreign countries. Over 40 universitiesfrom countries including the UAE, Jordan, Egypt,Malaysia, France, Canada, North Cyprus, and Chinadiscussed their respective programs, policies, specialactivities, and services. Aside from exposure tovarious international schools, participants were alsoinvited to view the products and services of around 50exhibitors.ALHOSN representatives met with students fromthe top schools in Damascus, Aleppo, and surroundingprovinces and informed them about the realities ofhigher education and ALHOSN’s unique curricular andextra-curricular approach.“Since we opened our doors, five years ago, we areaccepting students regardless of their race, gender, ornationality. EDU.9 provided us with the opportunityto explain why talented Syrian students can gain acompetitive edge in their chosen line of studies by joiningALHOSN. During our stay, we realized and appreciatedthe Syrian’s efforts to provide the youth with variouseducational options. Moreover, we interacted with ourpeers from abroad and shared our views on how tofurther improve the quality of education,” said NadineKanj, Marketing & PR Manager, ALHOSN University.AHU demonstrated how itsengineering programs complementenergy developments in Abu Dhabiand across the UAE during theZakum Development Company(ZADCO) Education Fair which washeld from the 17 th to the 24 th March,2010 at the Sheikh Khalifa Complexin Abu Dhabi.ALHOSN was chosen along with26 other educational institutionsto familiarize ZADCO and thelocal community with the UAE’s10 top education providers. The 11University exhibited its programs

Alhosn Eventsand services alongside prominentinstitutions such as the Ministryof Higher Education and ScientificResearch, the UAE Army, theADNOC Technical Institute, andthe Masdar Institute of Science andTechnology, among others.According to Prof. AhmedZohdi, Assistant Provost forAdministrative & Financial Affairs,ALHOSN University: “ZADCO’seducational fair provides an excellentopportunity for ALHOSN to highlightits significant achievements andsocial contributions in its five yearsof promoting academic excellence”.Prof. Zohdi added that the eventwould also give ZADCO and otherdelegates a chance to assess howthe skills of ALHOSN’s studentscan be aligned with their particularorganizational needs. He expressedthe university’s desire to matchengineering skills acquired by itsstudents to energy developmentneeds in Abu Dhabi and throughoutthe Emirates.ALHOSN joined the 2010 Global Conference forTechnology & Innovation in Education at GETEXAHU participated in the 2010inaugural Global Conference forTechnology and Innovation inEducation at the Gulf Educationand Training Exhibition (GETEX),the largest education fair inthe Middle East and Asia. Theconference held in UAE from April14 to 17 at the Dubai InternationalConvention and Exhibition Centre.The Conference was a jointinitiative between InternationalConferences and Exhibitions LLC(IC&E) and International Societyfor Technology in Education(ISTE). ALHOSN Vice Chancellor& CEO Prof. Abdul Rahim Sabouniattended the conference to judgeon the university’s programs andactivities as compared to thetop international universities.He gained knowledge about thelatest regional and internationaleducational trends. This year’sedition of GETEX Dubai offereda complete networking forumcovering student recruitment,training, education technology,academic alliances, and culturalexpression. It also featured forums,workshops, and seminars that heldconcurrently with the exhibition.“ALHOSN fully recognizes theimportance of acquiring the latestand best academic practices andtools to fulfill its commitment ofproviding world-class education.GETEX, in particular, is an excellentvenue to know more about how theregion is expanding its educationalsystem and constantly adoptingglobal benchmarks. The conference isa welcome addition especially as theregion’s governments are focusingon the creation of digital societies.”said Nadine Kanj, Marketing and PRManager, ALHOSN University.Issue 8 | May 2010ALHOSN’s Department of Architectural Engineeringhosted the “Foundations for the Future Forum”The Department of ArchitecturalEngineering at ALHOSN University,hosted the “Foundations forthe Future Forum” at its MaleCampus. Representatives from toparchitectural firms such as Burt Hill,Atkins (Middle East and India), andArchitects were present.Academic and professionalarchitects discussed issues,trends, and challenges within thearchitectural field. The forumprovided the definition for theskills, educational standards,and best professional practicesrequired from students aspiring tojoin the architectural profession.Prof. Sabouni, opened the forumby welcoming the audience. Thiswas followed by a presentationby Dr Naima Benkari, Chairand Assistant Professor of theDepartment of ArchitecturalEngineering, giving an overviewabout the curriculum andachievements of the Departmentof Architectural Engineering. Asecond presentation by Mr IvarKrasinski, principal, Burt Hill,discussed high and low-techapproaches to achieve efficiency.Sessions concentrating onarchitectural trends in the Gulf andeducating future engineers werethen held and were moderated byDr Mohamed Kashef, AssistantProfessor, Department ofArchitectural Engineering, and DrBenkari. The closing remarks weredelivered by Dr Hamdi Sheibani,Provost and Dean of ALHOSN’sFaculty of Engineering and AppliedSciences. The Forum ended withnominations for the University’sArchitectural Engineering AdvisoryBoard.About the motivations forestablishing the forum, Dr Benkarisaid: “Several factors such astechnological innovations and thecurrent economic recession havecreated numerous challenges forthe architectural profession. Weneed to consolidate our regionalviews so that we can come up withappropriate and creative solutionsand convey them accordingly to thenext generation of practitioners.Moreover, we are confident that thisevent will help pave the way for thedevelopment of better theoreticaland practical foundations for MiddleEastern architecture”.Promotion of Two of ALHOSN’s Faculty membersALHOSN community congratulates both doctorson this career milestone. Their valuable contributionsto the growth and success of their respectivedepartments are mostly appreciated.Academic News12Two of ALHOSN’s Assistant Professors, Dr ShanizKhan from the Department of Business Administrationand Dr Tarik Aouam from the Department of IndustrialEngineering, were promoted to the rank of AssociateProfessor.13

Academic News14Regional Manager from Emerald GroupDelivered a Seminar at ALHOSNAlastair Cook, Regional Managerand Vice President Middle East,Maghreb & Turkey of EmeraldGroup Publishing Limited,delivered a seminar entitled“An Insider’s Guide to GettingPublished in Research Journals”on March 4, 2010 at ALHOSN’sMale Campus. Mr Cook was invitedby the University’s BusinessAdministration Department.MIS Department hosts ICT security workshopAHU’s MIS Department hosteda workshop at its Men and WomenCampuses on February 22, 2010.The workshop title was “Are Youe-Secure? The ICT Security IssuesUrban Planning Seminar SeriesThe Department of Urban Planning hosts thePlanning Lecture Series to facilitate a conversationamongst industry and academia from a variety ofdisciplines and fields. Our hope here at ALHOSN is tohelp raise awareness and ultimately cement a cultureof planning and urban design within the region.and Remedies” and included seminars by Bassam Al-Badawi, Directorand IT Consultant at the Abu Dhabi Naturalization and ResidencyDirectorate, Ali Jamshed Khan Managing Director and InformationSecurity Consultant at eSecure Solutions, and Mohammad Al-Hassan,Abu Dhabi Police General Head Quarter’s Information Technology andTelecom Department. Topics included the application of IT securityto major projects, security awareness, and various forms of hacking aswell as how to detect them. Real-life case studies were presented and apanel discussion was also held for the guests to entertain questions fromthe audience. The workshop was coordinated by Dr Mhmed Zineddine,Chair and Assistant Professor of the MIS Department and Ms Huda Kindi,Teaching Assistant, MIS Department.The 2009-2010 Planning Lecture Series featuredthe following scholars:April 27, 2010 - “The Art and Science of Planning”:Professor Richard LeGates, Fulbright Senior Specialist,Professor Emeritus of Urban Studies and Planning, atSan Francisco State University.April 1, 2010 - “Quality Urban Spaces”: ProfessorJohn Lang, Emeritus Professor of Architecture at theUniversity of New South Wales.March 4, 2010 - “The Atlas: Tool for the Analysisof Metropolitan Regions”: Professor Philippe Cadénefrom University of Paris 7.February 24, 2010 - “The Legal Fallout of theFinancial Crisis in Dubai”: Dr. Doraliz Ortiz, Al-Sayyahlaw firm, DubaiIIE @ ALHOSN 2010During its second annual meeting, held on April19, 2010 at ALHOSN’s Male Campus, the IndustrialEngineering department introduced the newlyestablished student chapter for the Institute ofIndustrial Engineers (IIE) at ALHOSN University, thesecond IIE student chapter in the UAE.IIE is the world’s largest professional societydedicated solely to the support of the industrialengineering profession. Founded in 1948, IIE is aninternational, nonprofit association that providesleadership for the application, education, training,research, and development of industrial engineering.The objectives of the IIE student chapter at ALHOSNUniversity are:• Promote the profession of IndustrialEngineering through organized efforts instudy, research and discussion of the fields ofIndustrial Engineering and the dissemination ofthe knowledge thereby gained.• Promote membership in IIE by acquaintingthe student body with the ideas, purposes andobjectives of IIE.• Create a link between ALHOSN, local industry,regional schools, and alumni.IE @ ALHOSN 2010 gathered prominent figuresfrom the public and private sectors, as well asregional academia, and students to share insights onhow IE could solve the challenges faced by differentorganizations in the UAE.Prof. Abdul Rahim Sabouni, Vice Chancellorand CEO of ALHOSN University, gave the openingspeech. Mr Mohammed Fakhreddin, Vice-Presidentof ALHOSN University IIE Student Chapter, explainedthe rationale behind the student chapter. Mr MohamedMaged YoussefVisiting Associate Professor / Civil Engineering DepartmentFaculty of Engineering & Applied SciencesIssue 8 | May 2010Ahmed Al Neaimi, Executive Manager of the AbuDhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, delivereda lecture entitled “Abu Dhabi 2010-2030: Supportingthe Growth of the Emirate.”Senior students from the Industrial EngineeringDepartment showcased practical applications of IEconcepts and organized a poster session during theafternoon. Dr Hamdi Sheibani, Provost and Dean,Faculty of Engineering and Applied Sciences, deliveredthe closing address.PhD in Civil Engineering, 2000,CanadaMcMaster University, Hamilton, ON, CanadaThesis: Modeling of Existing and Rehabilitated RC BuildingsNew AppointmentsAcademic News15

Academic NewsALHOSN’s 1 st Annual iDesign Summit discussesFuture of Interior Design Profession in the RegionALHOSN University Graduate receivesDistinguished Abu Dhabi AwardIssue 8 | May 2010Student Activities16ALHOSN University gatheredleading industry professionals andmembers of academia to discussthe role of interior design in theUAE during its 1st Annual iDesignSummit held on April 27, 2010 atthe university’s Male Campus.Hosted by ALHOSN’sDepartment of Interior Design,iDesign extensively assessed therelationship between industryand academia, the practicesand trends affecting the UAE’srapidly growing interior designmarket, and the future of theinterior design profession.Demand for interior designservices is expected to surge withan expected AED 53.8 billion ininterior design contracts and fitoutsto be spent in the Emirateswithin this year.“The development of publicand private spaces in the UAEcontinues to progress at a rapidpace, and so the question forinterior designers is where shouldthe field be heading amidst suchgrowth? There are many policy,practice and academic issuesthat need to be considered inthis regards. “iDesign goal is toprovide a forum for practitionersand stakeholders to start askingcritical questions and come upwith viable answers. The SummitCandy Lim ChiuAssistant Professor of Management / Faculty of Businessalso enables us to emphasizethe importance of establishingcloser ties between industry andacademia, so that the programscreated by educational institutionscomplement actual workplacerequirements,” said Dr Seif Khiati,Assistant Professor and Chairof Interior Design Department,ALHOSN University.Prof. Abdul Rahim Sabouni,Vice Chancellor & CEO,inaugurated the summit withhis welcoming address. Keynotespeakers included Mr FernandoArteaga, Associate Director, HBADesign Consultants; Mr DanielHajjar, Senior Vice President -Regional Manager MENA, HOK;and Arch. Iacopo Mannelli andArch. Cecilia Morosi, from ASZArchitetti, based in Florenceand Abu Dhabi. Representativesfrom industry and academia alsojoined a panel discussion on jobmarket conditions; the gendergap in the design fields; the futureand significance of interior designas a profession in the UAE andthroughout the Middle East; andthe nature of interior design andits relation to architecture. Dr SeifKhiati moderated the discussions.PhD in Economics, 2009, JapanKyoto University, JapanThesis: The Roots of Philippine Automobile Industry Backwardness:Automobile Stranded in TrafficNew AppointmentsSaleh Al Yarabi, a graduate ofALHOSN University, personallyreceived the distinguished AbuDhabi Award from H.H. SheikhMohammed bin Zayed, the CrownPrince of Abu Dhabi and DeputySupreme Commander of theArmed Forces, during a ceremonyat the Emirates Palace. Al Yarabiand eight other individuals receivedthis award, the Emirate’s highestcivilian honor that was establishedin 2005, for their valuablecontributions to society. Morethan 16,000 nominees underwenta stringent six-month selection tochoose the nine winners.Al Yarabi graduated fromALHOSN University with aBachelor’s Degree in ManagementInformation Systems on November18, 2009. He originally moved fromOman to Abu Dhabi in 1978 andhas been using a wheelchair sincethe age of 18. The inspirationalawardee has written several booksand newspaper articles and hasregularly delivered motivationalspeeches. H.H. Sheikh Mohammedknelt beside Al Yarabi and kissed hisforehead in a show of admirationfor his remarkable achievementsdespite being handicap.ALHOSN University celebrated the Cultivating of Cross-Cultural Harmony during the 4th International DayAHU organized its 4 thInternational Day on WednesdayFebruary 17, 2010. This day signifiesthe critical importance of unity andmutual respect among differentcultures and nationalities in thedistinctly cosmopolitan society ofthe UAE.Teams made up of faculty,staff, and students deliveredpresentations and conductedexhibitions that representeddifferent countries and cultures.At least sixteen countries wererepresented including: UAE,Algeria, Egypt, India, Iran, Iraq,Japan, Jordan, Korea, Lebanon,Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Sudan,Syria and Tunisia.Commenting on the event, MsMahasen Al Mahasneh, Academic& Student Counsellor/ StudentActivity Coordinator, said: “TheUAE features a unique fusion ofpeople from different cultures andnationalities. This fusion reflects thebroadmindedness of the country’sleaders and indicates the lovingand tolerant nature of the Emirates’people”.“The International Day celebrationmanifests ALHOSN University’scommitment to help promote andmaintain the cross-cultural harmonyin our society. The efforts havehelped driving greater awarenessabout the importance of unity andmutual respect among people ofdifferent cultures and nationalities”,added Ms Ghada Qabha, StudentAffairs Director.17

Student ActivitiesALHOSN University holds 1 st Annual Career FairALHOSN University created anopportunity for its students andalumni to meet leading employersduring its recently held 1st AnnualCareer Fair.The fair provided a platform forALHOSN students and alumni tonetwork with local and regionalindustry leaders, learn aboutavailable career opportunities, andexplore various internship and/ortraining prospects. Participatingcompanies and organizations hadthe opportunity to advertise theirvacant positions, identify potentialrecruits, and increase their visibilityamong students, alumni, andthe entire ALHOSN community.Students focused on opportunitiesin Engineering and AppliedSciences, Business, and Arts andSocial Sciences, which form thecore of ALHOSN’s academicprograms.“Regional governments, includingthe UAE, have moved swiftlyto protect their workforce fromthe economic downturn throughinitiatives such as the establishmentof enhanced legal rights for theemployees and the softening oflaws dealing with job transfers.These initiatives helped our regionto keep its position as one of thetop employment destinations inthe Middle East. Our inauguralIssue 8 | May 2010job fair was an excellent venue formatching the skills of our studentsand alumni with the availableemployment opportunities. The fairallowed ALHOSN’s staff to learnmore about the current needs of theevolving regional and internationaljob markets. Thus, they will beable to ensure that our programsare competitive as they allow us todeliver graduates who are ready tomake immediate impacts when theyenter the workforce,” said MahasenAl Mahasneh, Career DevelopmentCoordinator/ Student ActivitiesCoordinator, Academic & StudentCounselor, ALHOSN University.Student ActivitiesALHOSN University: Tapping on ExperimentalLearning to Sharpen Student Skills18The famous scientist AlbertEinstein once said, that “the onlysource of knowledge is experience”.While most of the university classeslay out theoretical groundwork,true knowledge is only gained whenstudents apply the informationthey have accumulated to practicaland real-life situations.Experimental learning is a highlyeffective educational method as itdirectly addresses the needs of thelearner and promotes importantqualities such as self-initiative19

Student Activities20and self-assessment. This processenables students to enhanceexisting skills and acquire newones, adopt new attitudes, and inmany cases even develop new waysof thinking.AHU is a firm supporter ofexperimental learning. It regularlyexposes its students to trainingactivities that closely simulateprofessional environments.Recently, the University invitedstudents from its SoftwareEngineering Department to helpupdate ALHOSN’s website anddevelop a new Library Websiteand a new University Directory.The university could have opted toutilize the services of professionalwebsite developers, but instead ittook the opportunity to immersestudents in an IT departmentsetting.Shaden Khaled Saleh, HussainMohammad Al Bloushi, HebaAdnan Al-Assi, Nadine NabeelShaaban, Sarah Fadel Abdo, andEman Mohamed Daoud werechosen for the project. WhileNadine, Eman, Hussain and Sarahperformed data entry for theUniversity website, Eman andHussain provided the necessaryHTML and CSS coding. Shadendid HTML/ CSS coding and dataentry for the Library Website andthe University Website Directory.Heba analyzed if the universityExam Schedule Generator andthe Transcript Processing systemare achieving their set goals. Theparticipating students had verypositive comments about theirexperiences.Shaden: “My work with theIT Department taught me theimportance of commitment and timemanagement. It also helped me gaintechnical experience and was anopportunity for me to learn how towork on different tasks.”Hussain: “I thankthe IT departmentfor their full supportand for giving methe chance to showmy skills and use them to buildALHOSN’s Website. This experiencehas helped me a lot in learning manywebsite development techniquesand skills.”Heba: “Working with the ITprojects gave me a good glimpse ofhow it would be like to have a careerin software engineering. I had theopportunity to understand numeroustesting concepts and handle differentUrban Planning Department Activities:ALHOSN Students VisitedHistoric BastakiyaOn March 8, 2010, theDepartment of Urban Planningorganized a trip to two historicdistricts in Dubai, Al Bastakiya andAl Shindagha. Students from thedepartments of urban planning,architecture, and interior designaccompanied by Dr Adnan Husnéintook a step back in time to theissues and situations.”Nadine: “This was such agreat experience. I gained a lotof knowledge and learned theimportance of planning andorganizing a job.”Sarah: “This was a highlysatisfying experimental activity.I acquired valuable experience inediting HTML code and handlingweb-based applications.”Eman: “The projectshelped enrich my skillsand provided me withpractical and technicalexperience. They alsotaught me how to properly schedulemy time and manage availableresource to achieve satisfying resultsin my work, study and social life.”This student-supported projectreflects ALHOSN’s commitmentto create a learning modelwhere students get to work withprofessional departments. Theresults benefit both the studentsand the departments involved andstrengthen ALHOSN’s image as acenter for ‘Global knowledge withlocal vision’ as well.days before electricity and airconditioningand explored thedistricts’ traditional courtyardhouses and winding streets. AlBastakiya, a historic center thatdates back to the mid-nineteenthcentury, is renowned for its classicbarjeels or wind-catchers. Today,some of these structures havebeen converted to museumsdisplaying local culture andheritage while some house modernart galleries. At Al Shindagha,students took a memorable abracruise along Dubai’s creek (Khor) .As students were eager to recordtheir experiences, some sketchedor took snapshots of their favoriteurban design elements and othersjust soaked it all in.A special ‘Thank you’ goes toour tour guide, Mr Waleed Nabil,of the Sheikh Mohammed Centerfor Cultural Understanding,Mr Abdullah of the House ofTraditional Architecture and ourown staff members, Ms MahasenAl Mahasneh and Arch. AhmadDhiaeldeen, who came along toassist students during the trip.Al Mirfa PlanningDesign StudioStudents enrolled in the PlanningDesign Studio II (UPL 305) workedon a master plan for the town of AlMirfa in the western region. As partALHOSN Launches a Reading ClubALHOSN University establisheda Reading Club. Dr MohammedSaeed Hasab Al Nabi, AssistantALHOSN Reading Club reviewed the workof a Talented Young Iraqi WriterALHOSN University’s ReadingClub recently analyzed the work ofthe gifted young Iraqi writer, LouayKhalid. The group discussed theyoung boy’s exceptional literarypiece entitled “My Iraqi Friend”,which narrates the experiences andimpressions of both Khalid and hisIraqi school friend .The session was headed byDr Mohamed Saeed Hasb Al-Nabi, Assistant Professor at theDepartment of Education and theclub’s supervisor. Dr Hasb Al-Nabiinitially discovered Khalid’s uniquewriting skills and introduced himto the media two years ago. ThisIssue 8 | May 2010of their research, they conducted asite visit to the area on February 9,2010 to collect data and explorethe town’s physical, biologicaland cultural attributes. Planningstudents met with officials fromthe Western Region Municipality(WRM) and discussed their futureprojects and the ongoing planningprocess. Students learned how themunicipality in partnership withthe Urban Planning Council hadsolicited public input by holdingcommunity majlises throughoutthe process. WRM’s Mr MusabahAlmarar helped facilitate the trip.Professor at the Department of Education, is acting as the supervisor andcoordinator for the club activities. The newly-formed club will encouragestudents to read more, which will further expand their knowledge as wellas broaden their cultural awareness.Several university students, faculty members and employees havesigned up with the club. An introductory seminar is to be held to outlinethe club activities, goals and programs.was shortly after the publication ofthe young boy’s first literary work,“There is a Cat in Our House.”Dr Hasb Al-Nabi gave a detailedpresentation of the story’s mainstruggles and pointed out Khalid’sskillful expression and theiraspects. He also talked aboutfactors that nourish Khalid’s talent,how a person’s environmentStudent Activities21

Student Activities22can stimulate creativity, and thevital role of the family in thedevelopment of the skills oftheir children. Female students,instructors and universityemployees listened attentively toDr Hasb Al Nabi’s remarks.ALHOSN University shoulderedthe costs for publishing LouayKhalid’s “My Iraqi Friend” throughthe patronage and sponsorshipof Vice Chancellor and CEO,Prof. Abdul Rahim Sabouni, andProvost and Dean of the Faculty ofEngineering and Applied Sciences,Dr Hamdi Sheibani. The two officialsextended their full assistance tomake the literary piece availableto the public, reflecting theUniversity commitment to identifyand nurture extraordinarily giftedmembers of society.During the recent Abu DhabiBook Expo, Louay Khalid happilyautographed copies of “My IraqiALHOSN’s Students build a Display Areaat Cityscape Abu Dhabi 2010ALHOSN University announcedthat BDP, one of the top architecturalfirms in the UK, commissionedALHOSN architecture studentsto participate in designing andbuilding a display area for entriesto ‘Places for People’ competition.The display area was part of theprestigious Cityscape Abu Dhabi2010, International Real EstateInvestment and DevelopmentEvent, that ran from April 18 to 21,2010 at the Abu Dhabi’s NationalExhibition Centre (ADNEC).BDP Abu Dhabi’s Director,Nadine Nackasha, visitedALHOSN’s Studio Buildingto outline the project to theparticipating students, who aregranted a summer internship atBDP. Nackasha explained that thedisplay area houses entries to the‘Places for People’ regional schoolcompetition that is organized byBDP and reflects design elementsneeded to create special placesfor people to live. The entireconstruction process of the displayarea was covered by local media.Participants received a specialaward from the BDP CEO Councilduring Cityscape Abu Dhabi’sFriend” at the Algerian Educationwing in the presence of the Algerianambassador, Prof. Sabouni, DrHamdi Sheibani, Dr Hasb AlNabi, ALHOSN instructors, theheadmaster of Al-Nahda Schoolwhere Khalid is currently studying,and a number of his teachers. Manypeople have been expressing theirdelight at the publication of thestory.Opening Ceremony.“The BDP project is a greatopportunity for ALHOSN’sarchitecture students to showcasetheir world-class skills. At the sametime, it provides an opportunityfor our university to help promoteour talented architectural programto a regional audience. Moreover,as the UK’s top architectural firm,BDP is an excellent partner for us toadvance our institutional philosophyof global knowledge with localvision,” said Dr Naima Benkari, Chairof the Department of Architecture,ALHOSN University.AHU’s Annual “Open Day” Highlights Support forAbu Dhabi Educational Council Development PlanALHOSN University affirmed itscommitment to support Abu DhabiEducational Council’s (ADEC) fiveyear development plan during itsannual “Open Day” that was heldon Wednesday March 3, 2010 at theGround Floor of its Male Campus.Last year, ADEC outlined acomprehensive plan to develop thelocal educational sector by focusingon multiple factors such as humanresources, technology, leadership,communication with societymembers, students’ assessment,and school environment. ALHOSNexplained its methods forpromoting development in theseareas to visitors and prospectivestudents. The universitydepartments set up booths toshowcase their programs, courses,activities, and student projects.An on-site tour was conducted tointroduce key personnel and to visitmajor facilities.“I often encourage thoseinterested in joining ALHOSN’sfamily to share our goal of upholdingALHOSN University Architecture Studentwins Design CompetitionIssue 8 | May 2010the UAE’s rich tradition whilefostering a culture of creativethinking and global awareness.Our annual Open Day enables usto send this message across whileaffirming our active participation inthe emirate’s long-term educationaldevelopment goals. We once againinvite the youth of Abu Dhabi whowant to make a difference to joinus in pursuing our vision of globalgrowth with local vision,” said GhadaQabha, Director of Student Affairs,ALHOSN University.ALHOSN University hasannounced the winners of a designcompetition held as part of theDubai leg of the Gulf Educationand Training Exhibition (GETEX)2010. The exhibition is the largesteducational fair in the Middle Eastand Asia and took place fromApril 14 to 17, 2010 at the DubaiInternational Convention andExhibition Centre.ALHOSN’s students werechallenged to design innovativedisplay spaces that wouldcommunicate effectively withexhibition participatnts. EachStudent Activities23

Student Activitiesentry had to include a small conference area alongwith other defined display elements. Around 25sophomores from ALHOSN’s Interior Design andArchitectural Engineering departments participatedin the competition. A panel of judges composedof faculty from the Interior Design, ArchitecturalEngineering and Urban Planning departments as wellas members of the University’s marketing departmentselected the top three entries.According to the Vice Chancellor of the university,Prof. Abdul Rahim Sabouni,“GETEX guests wereimpressed with the quality and unique concept of thewinning entries. This proves the exceptional designskills of our interior design and architectural engineeringstudents. We intend to launch similar competitionsto broaden the exposure of our students and motivatethem to be more innovative and inspired in their chosenfield. We would like to commend the interior designand architectural engineering departments for fullysupporting the works of their students”The winners were Bushra Shurrab (First Place), ReemZaidan (Second Place), and Khawla Madi (Third Place), allrepresenting ALHOSN’s Department of ArchitecturalEngineering. Although some modifications were madeto the winning design to facilitate manufacturing, theprincipal design elements provided by the student willremain unchanged.Speak Louder, Student Council & Green Club hold SpecialCultural & Environmental Activities24ALHOSN’s Speak Louder, Student Council andGreen Club held a number of activities in support ofculture and the environment during the last week ofApril 2010.The three student organizations jointly sponsoreda ‘Green Week’ during which they encouragedmore awareness on the dangers of global warming,highlighted by the screening and review of twodocumentaries: ‘Home’ and ‘An InconvenientTruth.’ Home (2009) uniquely portrays the Earthas an organism, while thecontroversial Oscar-winningAn Inconvenient Truth(2006) documents formerUS Vice President Al Gore’scampaign to make globalwarming a priority issue forhumanity. The films were shownseparately at the Men’s andWomen’s Campuses on April 27 and 29.Speak Louder, ALHOSN’s Humanitarian Club,gave away baked goods and promoted its programsand activities at the Women’s Campus last April 28.Members were stationed at the foyer of the firstfloor offered free desserts and encouraged studentsto join the club and to support student activities.Speak Louder also launched the ‘Palestinian RecipeCollection,’ a special cookbook celebrating the cultureand traditions of Palestine. They will be collectingrecipes throughout the month of May.For more information about Speak Louder pleasecontact: speak.louder4all@alhosnu.ae