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2/13/2014

Latest news, comments and reviews from The Gulf Today | gulftoday.ae

AUS hosts environment conference By a staff reporter

February 13, 2014

SHARJAH: Sheikh Abdullah Bin Salem Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah opened the International Conference on Sustainable Systems and the Environment (ISSE14) at the American University of Sharjah (AUS) on Wednesday. The conference, being held under the patronage of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member, and Ruler of Sharjah and President of AUS, brought together researchers from around the world to share their research findings and address issues in sustainability research and education. ISSE14 was organised by the AUS College of Engineering in collaboration with the Centre for Engineering in Sustainable Development at the University of Cambridge. The conference attendees had an excellent opportunity to hear from researchers, academic experts, educators and practitioners about the latest developments in sustainable systems.

The conference focused on a number of important themes and topics, which included sustainable transportation systems; sustainable sciences; sustainable design, construction and the built environment; infrastructure management; benchmarking sustainability; water and environmental systems; economic transparency; energy efficiency; wildlife conservation; and sustainable manufacturing.

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AUS holds Second International Conference on Sustainable Systems and the Environment

Wednesday, February 12, 2014 16:20:03

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AUS holds Second International Conference on Sustainable Systems and the Environment Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qassimi, Supreme Council Member, Ruler of Sharjah and President of American University of Sharjah (AUS), His Excellency Sheikh Abdullah Bin Salem Al Qassimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah opened the International Conference on Sustainable Systems and the Environment (ISSE14) at AUS today, February 12. The conference brought together researchers from around the world to share their research findings and address issues in sustainability research and education. ISSE14 was organized by the AUS College of Engineering in collaboration with the Centre for Engineering in Sustainable Development at the University of Cambridge. “We are very fortunate to have a distinguished panel of international and national experts taking part in this forum,” said AUS Acting Chancellor Dr. Thomas Hochstettler during his welcoming remarks. “Keeping in mind global trends as well as the international marketplace, the importance of focus of this conference cannot be underestimated. I truly hope this forum will engender a lively debate and lead to a rewarding and productive exchange of ideas.” Professor Malcolm Bolton of the University of Cambridge also spoke on the occasion. He highlighted the strong bond between AUS and Cambridge and talked about the crossover of research between the two institutions. The keynote speakers at this year’s conference were Harbinder Singh, Chief Performance Officer, Bee’ah; Sedat Kadioglu, Deputy Undersecretary, Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs, Republic of Turkey; and Gil Penalosa, Executive Director, 8-80 Cities. In their respective addresses, Harbinder Singh discussed Bee'ah's strategy towards achieving zero waste to landfill by 2015, Kadioglu talked about environmental projects in Turkey, and Penalosa discussed how healthy and vibrant cities could be created around the world. “Sustainability is something we all need to adopt as a mission and this conference is bringing that need to life,” said Dr. Leland Blank, Dean of the College of Engineering. “Though many of us want to be more sustainable, we may feel that it is not significant in our narrowly defined avenue of life. However, we cannot avoid it anymore and if we don’t start being more conscious of our surrounding environment, we will find ourselves short of the most important resources including water, air or mobility. The organizers have put together an excellent conference and I am very pleased with our partnership with the University of Cambridge.” The conference attendees had an excellent opportunity to hear from researchers, academic experts, educators and practitioners about the latest developments in sustainable systems. The conference focused on a number of important themes and topics, which included sustainable transportation systems; sustainable sciences; sustainable design, construction and the built environment; infrastructure management; benchmarking sustainability; water and environmental systems; economic transparency; energy efficiency; wildlife conservation; and sustainable manufacturing. Two plenary sessions and a post-conference workshop on sustainability mobility were also part of the event, which will continue until tomorrow, February 13.

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2/12/2014

Inspirational AUS alumni nominated for hall of fame | GulfNews.com

February 12 2014 | Last updated 1 minute ago

gulfnews.com UAE | Education

Inspirational AUS alumni nominated for hall of fame

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5 AUS nominees with highest number of votes will enter hall of fame By Noor Nazzal Staff Reporter Published: 21:00 February 9, 2014

Image Credit: Supplied

Ahmad Barghouthi

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Inspirational AUS alumni nominated for hall of fame | GulfNews.com

Palestinian Ahmad Barghouthi has survived his battle with leukaemia four times, all while maintaining a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.33 out of 4 and engaging in extra-curricular activities. Because of his positive attitude during his university years, Barghouthi, an alumnus from the American University of Sharjah (AUS), was one of the first to be nominated in the AUS Alumni Wall of Fame. The new initiative, recently launched by the university, aims to recognise the legacies of alumni who contributed to making a difference during their time as students. “I was shocked when I was nominated, I did not even know about the initiative as it is still new. It made me feel appreciated and admired by people,” said the 25- yearold who was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 12. Barghouthi who graduated from AUS two years ago and now works as a finance consultant; hopes to leave a message of optimism, believing that positive energy is what helped him succeed both academically and in treatment. “With whatever obstacles you face it is all a matter of mindset. At times when my immunity was zero I would think in my head that the next day it will get better. I would focus on my plan to get better whether it is meditation or treatment.” Related Links Brave 21-year-old loses battle with cancer Photographer encourages bone marrow donations Cancer warrior, 8, needs your help

Bargouthi graduated with a finance degree in a period of five and a half years because he would have to take six http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/education/inspirational-aus-alumni-nominated-for-hall-of-fame-1.1288508

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Inspirational AUS alumni nominated for hall of fame | GulfNews.com

months off for treatment. He would then take six courses per semester to catch up on what he missed. Another alumni who also shone during her time at AUS was Emirati Sarah Al Agroubi, a freelance designer and artist who has received awards for her work. Sara won first prize in the design category (Dh50,000) in The Shaikha Manal Young Artist Award as well as third prize in the fine art category (Dh20,000). The Emirati was the first AUS student whose work was accepted at Dubai Film Festival’s professional category, which resulted in her being invited to speak about dreaming big at Tedex Talk. “I think it is amazing to be recognised, especially from the university that gave me all these opportunities.” The 24-year-old said she did not feel any cultural restrictions being an Emirati as she was raised in Belgium and Turkey and because her family was supportive. “I want to be remembered as fearless and not afraid of pushing the envelope. I believe that I was able to achieve so much because I am not afraid of failure. It is part of being successful, it is part of growing.” Also among the nominees is a former staff reporter of XPRESS, a sister publication of Gulf News and an AUS alumni, Habiba Ahmad Abd Elaziz, who was shot at the Rabaa Al Adawiya Square in Cairo last year. Sixteen other alumni were also nominated by other students to enter the AUS Alumni Wall of Fame. Students were then asked to vote for the candidates http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/education/inspirational-aus-alumni-nominated-for-hall-of-fame-1.1288508

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Inspirational AUS alumni nominated for hall of fame | GulfNews.com

they believed have left a memorable mark. The five nominees who get the highest number of alumni testimonial votes will enter the hall of fame, which will initially be included online with plans for a physical platform in the future. The five finalists will be announced during the universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Alumni Reunion Dinner on February 13.

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Latest news, comments and reviews from The Gulf Today | gulftoday.ae

AUS student launches book exchange application By a staff reporter

February 10, 2014

SHARJAH: American University of Sharjah (AUS) student Khashayar Nikravesh has developed the first and only book exchange app in the UAE. BookSwap.ae is an easy-to-use system that connects buyers and sellers of second-hand university textbooks. In order to reduce some of the costs they incur during each academic year, university students often seek to buy second hand academic books. In the UAE, however, there are not many bookstores that deal with used textbooks. This is where Bookswap tries to fill the gap. Bookswap is a free-to-use service and can be accessed via its website, Bookswap.ae, or on the iOS mobile platform as an app. It helps students find the relevant books and post their books for sale with ease. “Bookswap is an online service, much like the classifieds,” said Nikravesh, currently in his second year of Management Information Systems with a minor in Actuarial Mathematics. “Students who have books to sell simply post their book along with their contact details and the price of the book. Students who wish to buy a book can search the system and contact the seller directly. “No money is exchanged online. The students meet directly and are responsible for the transaction.” When asked why he decided to create the app, Nikravesh said, “I wanted to learn iOS programming, and this seemed like a good project to do, as it had the right mix of databases and interface design. This was my first app and I learned a lot while making it.” According to Ali Khawaja, Instructor in Management and Nikravesh’s adviser, “The objective was to provide a simple and easy-to-use solution for secondhand textbooks, and the app does just that. “The feedback from the users has been tremendous. One of our users asked if the app could include textbook cover images; that was taken a step further by Khashayar in developing an ISBN barcode scanner that will be made available to users in the next update.” This new feature would allow users to upload information on the book by simply providing the ISBN number or scanning the book’s barcode using the app and the cellphone’s camera.

The app and website have been under development since September 2013, and have already had 400 users and over 600 books posted on the system. So far, users have come from universities in Sharjah and Dubai.

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The National Digital Edition - The National - News - 9 Feb 2014 - Bridging the culture gap Page 1 of 3

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aalhameli@thenational.ae

Bridging the culture gap Many expatriates in the UAE, even those who have lived here for decades, have not taken advantage of the opportunity to learn about a rich heritage and way of life – or opened up their own cultures to Emiratis. Language could hold the answer, Asmaa Al Ham Success stories when expatriates and Emiratis learn more about each other, Crossing the cultural barrier is hard, no matter what side you find yourself on.

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Mohammed Haneef, from Kerala, who works at the Department of Finance, advises expatriates to respect the local culture. More expatriates spend their time here without ever getting to know the local population, while many Emiratis have little knowledge of the lives of the many foreigners who live among them. The most recent survey on expat life by HSBC bank underlines the issue of integration. The UAE came 32nd out of 37 countries surveyed for integration within the community, 30th for making local friends and 27th for learning the local language. But there are success stories, and in those friendships lessons on how to improve communication in the future. Hessa Al Jarwan, an Emirati, and Rida Faisal, from Pakistan, went to the same private school in Sharjah and have been friends for six years. Emirati classmates were rare at the school, which made it easier for Hessa to mix with non-Arabs. “When I was in Grade 4, it was difficult to blend and play with other groups,” says Hessa, now 19.

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2/12/2014

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“Some of my teachers often gave us talks about non-Arab companions of the Prophet, who were from Persia, Africa and other countries.” As time passed, Hessa mingled more with non-Arabs and learnt to accept the differences. For her, education was also a platform to bridge communities, allowing people to appreciate their differences but also discover their similarities. Hessa was invited to attend Rida’s pre-wedding party held here. It was her first non-Emirati wedding. “I had the chance to see a Pakistani occasion,” she says. “The clothes and amazing jewellery struck me as they looked similar to old Emirati ornaments.” Hessa and Rida now study at the American University of Sharjah. They found common ground first, then worked their way up. They share similar reading interests, discuss contemporary issues and recommend TV series and films to each other. Rida, 20, says it was not difficult for her to make Arab friends, as she believes communication is a twoway street. “How will you live your entire life believing that such-and-such group is not approachable when you haven’t given it a try yourself?” she asks. For expatriates, an important step in gaining better understanding of the local culture can be to learn the language. But finding someone who is qualified to teach the local Arabic dialect is not easy. Hanan Al Fardan has been teaching Emirati Arabic for three years. A local woman, she is behind the new Al Ramsa Institute, the only organisation dedicated to the Emirati dialect. The institute is in the final stages of setting up and plans to open in April, with courses to be taught by Emirati teachers using materials developed by nationals. Ms Al Fardan hopes non-Arabic speaking expatriates will be among her students. “The smallest efforts by foreigners to learn the language will give them a great appreciation,” she says. With Emirati colleagues Abdullah Al Kaabi and Abdullah Abdulrahman, she has developed the first comprehensive phrase book that offers more than 1,500 Emirati words. It introduces learners to useful words and phrases for day-to-day interactions in various settings, and has a curriculum based on local culture and context. “Many Arabic- language programmes focus on reading and writing skills, with less attention given to the speaking skill,” says Ms Al Fardan, 27. “Most modern standard Arabic programmes are irrelevant because no one speaks it.” She estimates she has taught more than 120 different nationalities over the years. “Many students have told me that I was the first Emirati they ever met, though some of them have been here for years,” Ms Al Fardan says. Her classes are a way of breaking down barriers as well as picking up language skills. Students frequently bombard her with questions. “They ask about how we live, what we eat, how we get married, are we allowed to fall in love, or are we forced to wear the abaya,” she says. This curiosity about other cultures works both ways. Only when Mrs Al Fardan started teaching, at the Eton Institute in Knowledge Village in Dubai, did she get the opportunity to mingle with nonEmiratis and make new friends. Now, whenever she has a family wedding she makes sure to invite some of her students. “My students kept asking me many questions about the wedding,” she says. “They were fascinated about all the details.” Several of her students are doctors, bankers and businessmen. Doctors want to communicate betters with Arab patients, while bankers want to learn it to attract more Emirati clients, Ms Al Fardan says. Others hope to broaden their minds and open up new possibilities to network with more people. “I believe the language is one of the major barriers. My main goal is to further the understanding of the Arabic language and culture.” The team at the Al Ramsa Institute aims to give people a thorough and accurate understanding of the local culture, as seen through the eyes and ears of Emiratis. The lack of language skills underlines the often poor integration between local people and expatriates. A survey of expatriate life conducted by HSBC in 2012 found that the country ranked 26th out of 31 countries when it came to learning the local language and 29th in terms of socialising with the Emirati community. Many, despite spending a long time here, still knew very little about the country or its people. Joanne Seymour is better placed than most to understand this. She arrived from the UK in 2007 fluent in Arabic and with many Arab and Muslim friends.

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2/12/2014

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She worked for the British Council in Dubai, mostly helping Emirati students who were going to the UK to study. The cultural exchange began for Ms Seymour, 34, when she explained British life to the students, but found that it worked in both directions. “I am lucky to be surrounded by colleagues and friends who teach me everything I want to know, from Emirati slang to how to make the best karak tea,” she says. As a non- Muslim, Ms Seymour also had many questions about Islam and how it was practised. Her friends and colleagues have been her best teachers, she says, but she also praises institutions such as the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding in Dubai for its work in bridging the gap between the East and West. “You can go in and ask any questions in a welcoming environment,” she says. Ms Seymour likes to quote the late South African anti-apartheid campaigner Nelson Mandela: “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.”

“A way of having a healthy conversation between different nationalities is to learn their language, even if you don’t become fluent,” she says. Ms Seymour says that when she addresses people in their own language she gets a much warmer welcome. “We all know the stereotype about English speakers not learning other languages. Use that to your advantage to be even more memorable,” she says. “If you are English, talk about the weather. Take the chance to introduce yourself and say hi. Starting your conversation with a marhaba [a greeting that can be used all the time] or hella [Hello], and the whole tone of the conversation changes.” Mohammed Haneef, from India, is an assistant accountant at the Department of Finance. He says he does not have any close Emirati friends but “I am not bothered by that because everyone treats me well in my company. That is enough”. Mr Haneef has lived here for 27 years and advises expatriates to show respect for the local culture. In his experience Emiratis, like any other people, are not difficult to deal with as long as you approach them with the right attitude. Printed and distributed by NewpaperDirect | www.newspaperdirect.com | Copyright and protected by applicable law.

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2/12/2014

The National Digital Edition - The National - News - 10 Feb 2014 - Expatriate parents an... Page 1 of 2

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Expatriate parents and children are missing out Almost 60 per cent say long work hours limit the quality of interaction with their children ABU DHABI // Expatriate parents are spending as little as 50 minutes a day with their children, a new survey suggests. The majority – 59 per cent – blamed long working hours and commuting times, while TV, internet use and household tasks were also contributory factors. Five per cent of families said their children were of an age where they did not want to spend time with them. Experts warned that children who receive little parental involvement and guidance could suffer from low self-esteem, poor academic achievement and social problems. “Fifty minutes is definitely not enough for the child. Both parents should try to spend two hours at least with their children and to communicate without the need for televisions or phones. They must talk to them about school, their friends and social issues or any topic of interest,” said Ahmed Al Omosh, dean of social sciences at the University of Sharjah . “Parents don’t have time to sit with their children any more. That makes the child more dependent on himself, without guidance, or more dependent on another member of the family or sometimes the house maid,” he said. Children who do not have familial interaction will grow to be isolated and antisocial, which will affect their future relationships, he said. Mr Al Omosh said through faceto-face interaction, children will grow closer to their parents and will have high self-esteem, as opposed to those who do not spend time with their families, who will lack family support and grow up to do the same to their children. He stressed the importance of parental supervision to keep track of the child’s interactions and growth. The survey suggests expatriate families spend a little more than 11 hours together in total a week, with weekends considered the best time for family bonding. Of the families surveyed, 62 per cent suggested that even when they got together and spent time with their children in front of the TV, doing homework, reading or playing electronic games, this did not qualify as family time. “Family time, or the lack of it, can shape society. Children who spend more time with their parents and other family members receive good grounding in family values as they learn from their elders,” said Lt Col Awadh Saleh Al Kindi, editor of 999 Magazine, which published the survey. “Family time is important for the child and results in fewer bouts of depression as members feel secure in being part of a supportive family,” he said. One UAE resident, Rakesh, from India, said he had less than an hour to spend with his two daughters because he gets home at 7pm or 8pm and “definitely needs more time” with them. “It does affect my children, I don’t get to see them grow. I try to make some time in the weekends to take them out,” he said. “I wish I got off work earlier, maybe by three or four. It will absolutely make my relationship better with them.” Dr Mehvash Ali, a clinical psychologist who is director for the academic centre at the American University of Sharjah , said family time can be “therapeutic” and act as a deterrent to potentially serious problems. These include attentional issues, acting out behaviour, low self-esteem, low academic achievement and social problems, said Dr Ali, who is from the United States. “In later life, such children are at higher risk of developing mentalhealth issues including mood disorders, anxiety disorders, eating disorders and substance- abuse disorders.

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“They are also at more risk of dropping out of school or college or having lower than expected academic achievement.” The survey was carried in this month’s edition of 999 Magazine, which is published by the Ministry of Interior. Printed and distributed by NewpaperDirect | www.newspaperdirect.com | Copyright and protected by applicable law.

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AUS and Arabtec Construction sign important Memorandum of Understanding |

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AUS and Arabtec Construction sign important Memorandum of Understanding : Tuesday, February 11 - 2014 @ 11:13 American University of Sharjah (AUS) and Arabtec Construction has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at fostering cooperation between the two entities in areas of mutual interest. At a special ceremony held on the sidelines of the recruitment Tawdheef exhibition in Abu Dhabi, Dr. Thomas Hochstettler, Acting Chancellor of AUS, and Dr. Abdul Rahman Al Hammadi, Director of Emiratization at Arabtec Construction, signed the MoU on behalf of their respective institutions. His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Culture, Youth and Development, inaugurated the event and met with senior officials from both AUS and Arabtec. “It gives me great pleasure to sign this agreement with Arabtec, one of the leading construction companies in the region,” said Dr. Hochstettler. “It has always been our goal to partner with institutions that represent the best values of their industry. Arabtec and AUS both share a passion for excellence. We have many areas of mutual interest, and this MoU is a tangible manifestation of our commitment to work together for the benefit of not just our individual organizations but our respective industries as well,” he added. Hasan Abdullah Ismaik, Chairman of the board of directors for Arabtec Construction, commented: “Arabtec has always been keen on supporting the UAE’s socioeconomic development, and attracting local talent to our fast growing business is at the heart of this initiative. The signing of this MoU coincides with a large-scale campaign to recruit ambitious Emirati youth in a wide range of openings. Indeed, this MoU with AUS is an important milestone in this respect and we look forward to attracting scores of AUS graduates to our business and enabling them to marry their quality education with superb practice at our diverse world-class operations.” The MoU will focus on jointly promoting and implementing cooperation in areas where both AUS and Arabtec have common interests. These include activities such as supporting employment of students and graduates; organizing of student-related programs such as summer training programs and work placement programs; customized corporate programs for Arabtec employees as well as mutual site visits. According to the terms decided, the MoU shall remain in effect for a five-year period. The agreement is reflection of the university’s strategic goals and its emphasis on community outreach. AUS is well known for its focus on building bridges with industry leaders and is committed to establishing and enhancing partnerships that play a palpable role in the progress and development of society. The university has well-established forums where industry leaders are invited to share their expertise and experience. As part of the growing relationship between AUS and Arabtec, Dr. Al Hammadi from Arabtec will be joining one such forum, namely the National Advisory Council of the university’s College of Engineering. For more information, please contact: Miriam Kiwan Director of Strategic Communications and Media Nazzal Yousef Director of Media Relations +971 6 515 2157

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2/12/2014

AUS and Arabtec Construction sign important Memorandum of Understanding - Zawya

Feb 05 2014