YOUSUF JASSEM AL DARWISH
SINDHU NAIR AYSWARYA MURTHY AARTHI MOHAN KEERTANA KODURU
VENKAT REDDY M HANAN ABU SAIAM
JASSIM BIN YOUSUF AL DARWISH
PRATAP CHANDRAN BIKRAM SHRESTHA ARJUN TIMILSINA BHIMAL RAI, BASANTHA
AYUSH INDRAJITH MAHESHWAR REDDY B
FAISAL FOUAD SAKALA A DEBRASS SONY VELLATT JASMINE VICTOR
MATHEWS CHERIAN IRFAAN A H M DENZITA SEQUIRA ANIS MANSOURI
J U N E - J U LY 2 0 1 6 THE GRADUATION FEVER IS JUST SETTLING DOWN ACROSS QATAR’S UNIVERSITIES AND YOUNG HEARTS ARE BRIMMING WITH OPTIMISM. IT FEELS LIKE ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE. WE TALK TO STUDENTS ABOUT THEIR GRADUATION STORIES, THEIR HOPES AND DREAMS. TO KEEP THIS OPTIMISM TRAIN GOING, WE’VE PUT TOGETHER SOME INSPIRING STORIES – FROM AN OLYMPIC CHAMPION IN-THE-MAKING TO A REFUGEE WHO BRAVED ALL ODDS. WE ARE ALSO HAPPY TO SHARE THE STORIES OF THE SCHOOLS WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH FOR THE PAST YEAR THROUGH THE THIRD EDITION OF THE GREEN PROGRAMME FOR SCHOOLS. THESE YOUNG STUDENTS ARE ENGAGED AND ACTIVE IN SPREADING THE GREEN MESSAGE AND HAVE COME UPON UNIQUE WAYS TO DO SO. FOR THESE STORIES AND MORE, JUST TURN OVER.
Address all correspondence to CAMPUS, Oryx Publishing & Advertising Co. W.L.L., P.O. Box 3272 Doha-Qatar. Tel: (+974) 44672139, 44550983, 44671173, 44667584. Fax: (+974) 44550982; Email: campus@oryxpublishing.com. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. The publisher does not accept responsibility for advertising contents. Licensing/Republishing CAMPUS content: To obtain permission for text syndication in books, newsletters, magazines, newspapers and web or to use images/pictures carried in CAMPUS, please contact our syndication and licensing department on the numbers given above. Permission is also required to photocopy a CAMPUS article for classroom use, course packs, business or general use. Custom reprints: Any previously published article/s to be used as stand-alone pieces can be reprinted by us on special request. The reprint cost is based on the length of the article and the quantity ordered. Contact our custom publishing division on the numbers given above for more information.Previous issues (January 2004 onwards) of CAMPUS are available for sale, contact our library department. To subscribe to CAMPUS call our subscription department on the numbers given above.
Published by Oryx Publishing & Advertising Co. W.L.L., P.O. Box 3272 Doha-Qatar. Tel: (+974) 44672139, 44550983, 44671173, 44667584. Fax: (+974) 44550982. Email: campus@oryxpublishing.com website: www.oryxpublishing.com
“THE HAMMER” HEADS TO RIO
Qatar’s hammer thrower Ashraf Elseify heads to the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games as a champion. He shares his story.
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14 CELEBRATING OUR GREEN WARRIORS ISSUE 33 JUNE - JULY 2016
At the third successful edition of the Green Programme Schools that was conducted at the Birla Public School auditorium on May 17, The Cambridge School was announced as the Eco School of the year.
18 KNOWLEDGE IS KEY In a quest for knowledge and a perseverance to be something other than just a refugee, Vahid Sujlic pushed himself towards achieving the unthinkable.
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THINK AND ACT TOWARDS A BRIGHTER TOMORROW Campus spoke to Abdulla Al Mansoori, Director of the Qatar Career Fair Centre, about the aspirations of the younger generation and ideas to improve the role of education in the student community.
READING IS DREAMING WITH YOUR EYES OPEN With a will to expand your imagination and a passion for gaining intellect, our young writer says reading could change your mind!
THE LOST PARADISE Tunisian student Alaa Laabar talks about her research, which delves into how the medieval Muslim territory of Al Andalus continues to be a source of pain and inspiration for Arab Muslims.
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STARS OF QATAR’S FUTURE A look at this year’s ORYX GTL Student Awards which was founded to work towards increasing competitive spirit in the country’s technical and scientific professional circles.
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CAMPUS NEWS
ACS DOHA ANNOUNCES NEW CAMPUS THE 2,470-STUDENT STATE-OF-THE-ART CAMPUS WILL BE READY BY SEPTEMBER 2019, THE SCHOOL SAID IN A STATEMENT.
The 60,000 square meter site in Al Kheesa is five times bigger than the present campus and is just off the Al Shamal Road and near to the main junction after IKEA. Designed by internationally renowned architects, Broadway Malyan, the new campus will enhance the school’s academic and extracurricular offer, boosting its International Baccalaureate Middle Years, Diploma, and US High School Diploma programs. The new campus will be well connected to the school’s existing community, located only 10 kilometres north of the current Al Gharrafa campus. In addition, the move will take advantage of a metro stop to be built close by as part of Doha’s growing public transport network. The new location also provides an opportunity for ACS Doha to serve the educational needs of a significant number of mega projects including Lusail, the Pearl and the fast-expanding suburb of Umm Salal. Chris Johnson, Managing Director of ACS International Schools, commented: “ACS Doha is focused on making a significant contribution to the growth of Qatar. We are honored that this expansion resonates strongly with the human development goals of Qatar’s 2030 National Vision, and with our own goal to make an ACS education available to more students around the world. ACS Doha is deeply dedicated to creating a legacy in Qatar. The new campus will enhance our strong reputation, ensuring we continue to attract the very best teachers and educational leaders from around the world.”
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RESEARCHING ROOTS
TWO STUDENTS FROM NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY IN QATAR WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY THIS SUMMER TO FURTHER THEIR RESEARCH ON IDENTITY AND MIGRATION, THANKS TO GRANTS PROVIDED BY THE UNIVERSITY. Northwestern’s Office for Undergraduate Research and the Buffet Institute have provided Basmah Azmi and Meher Matab financial support to fund their research project on Pakistani identity. Matab and Azmi, students in NU-Q’s journalism program, plan to use the grants to research the cultural assimilation of Pakistani migrants in the United Kingdom and its implications on identity. The grants will allow Mehtab and Azmi to travel to Great Britain to conduct qualitative research on generations of British-Pakistanis who have lived in the UK since the country’s separation from India in 1945. The students say that they were fascinated by the very concept of how strong cultural identity can be for diaspora. “We found that Pakistanis who migrated right after the India-Pakistan partition and had no real sense about Pakistan as a country would clearly identify themselves as British-Pakistanis,” Mehtab said. “We wanted to understand what it meant to be BritishPakistani,” she said.
GRADUATION GARB READ QATAR, READ QATAR FOUNDATION IS SET TO LAUNCH A NATIONAL READING CAMPAIGN THAT IS DESIGNED TO INCUBATE A LOVE OF LITERATURE AMONGST ALL RESIDENTS, WITH A SPECIAL FOCUS ON CHILDREN. QF will seek to unite the individual literacy efforts of relevant organisations countrywide to create one, consolidated platform that will enable entities to collectively promote a passion for reading throughout the entire community. Through a series of innovative and interactive projects, the nationwide initiative will make books readily accessible to the people of Qatar, and encourage their uptake. The first stage of the year-round National Reading Campaign, focusing on schoolchildren across Qatar, is already underway. Regular reading sessions are taking place at many local schools, in coordination with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, to help engender a love of reading from an early age. A dynamic schedule of activities and events will be launched in the months ahead, which include the Reading Truck, which is a dedicated vehicle that will operate as a mobile library; Vending Machines, which will be circulated around schools and allow children to exchange up to ten books at a time; and interactive, immersive storytelling sessions and nationwide competitions.
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF LONDON IN QATAR’S GRADUATION GOWNS HAVE THEIR OWN UNIQUE STORY TO TELL. The shape and color of UCL’s graduation gowns and hoods are a remnant of the medieval and Tudor ‘sumptuary laws’ which limited who could wear certain colours and accoutrements such as swords, ruffs and cloaks. Scarlet, being a royal colour, was confined to judges, bishops and the highest university officials, including the holders of doctor’s degrees. Other gowns were required to be black. Over time, the shape and color of gowns and hoods were defined for specific degrees, such as BA, MA and doctorates. UCL changed the colours of their gowns to match the colors of the University when it was given the right to issue its own degrees instead of having them issued by the University of London. Now undergrad degrees have black robes with purple hoods, and doctorates have silver robes with blue, purple or orange-lined hoods (depending on which doctorate degree was awarded).
TRANSFORMING LIVES THROUGH EDUCATION Reach Out To Asia (ROTA), in collaboration with the Commonwealth of Learning (COL), is bringing quality education to the students and teachers living in the remote Swat region of Pakistan through its mobile learning services project. Providing access to electronic learning materials, the Aptus system, designed by COL, consists of a server that enables students and teachers to access educational resources on chargeable tablet devices, which can be used on a local server without connecting to the internet. This initiative has been successfully implemented in Grade 8, 9, and 10 classrooms across the Swat region, providing students with a flexible learning system that includes drills and practice exercises, tutorials, and project and problem solving-based learning opportunities.
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SPOTLIGHT
UP, UP & AWAY It’s that time of the year when black caps are flung into the air in celebration of the accomplishments achieved over four years of hard work, grueling assignments and time management. Campus spoke to the first graduating class of 2015 from ACS Doha about their rite of passage.
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FATHI AL ALAMI
The hardest part was the assignments and getting them done on time and attending classes with my busy schedule of playing U19 football for the Qatar National Team. The professors were a great help and my friends dragged me through all the way. They not only helped with my studies but also with basic things in life like doing my laundry and cooking. I learned how to give interviews, thanks to my Arabic teacher who said if you want to look good, you’ve to be polished in your speaking. I will continue to play for Qatar while studying electrical engineering with Qatar University now.
EBBA TYRLING
Graduation is a really exciting part of everyone’s life and is a big achievement for us. We are finally done with high school. We are grown up now! Our professors have been a big part of this journey and we couldn’t have done it without their help. We all have each other’s back, no matter what.
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PAULENE GUECO
Most of us moved between different schools before finally coming to ACS and this has been home to us. We’re going to miss our friends and teachers here but look forward to moving out and starting a new life. twelve years of hard work paid off which is going to be followed by another four years fun and hard work. We would skip classes to finish another assignment. We only mastered the tricks of completing assignments in the 2nd year. College is going to be a new ball game where we will be experiencing first and learning next.
OLUWAKOREDE AKINKUOLIE
Graduation is a starting point and gateway to adulthood. No more mom and dad holding your hand, we have to be very careful in making decisions. We are all a family now, being together the whole time. Submitting assignments on time has been the toughest part making, us learn time management. We had study groups which went on late into the night and constant chats on Whatsapp about how we were going to complete these projects. It was terrifying to jump from subjects to classes to assignments but it taught us time management and discipline. I hope to be a lawyer in the fashion field before starting my own empire.
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I want everything to be perfect. So, I stress out a lot and also cause stress on others too. It’s going to be a different experience and we will have freedom! No more deadlines. We also went on a service trip to Cambodia. We went through exams and kept wondering when it would be over. We’ve already done such long assignments throughout school that we feel prepared for college. A 2,000 word essay on any subject? Done – in three days! I plan to go into the design field. GABRIELA STRACHMAN
A few of us took higher levels of certain subjects to cope better with college-level education. Towards the end, all you’re left with are great memories and long-lasting friendships. I hope to be an aerospace engineer. FARES ELMANAKHLY
I want to be a musician and will work my way into the production of music in the future. I love playing instruments and listening to music.
ROBERT HILDEBRAND
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READING IS DREAMING WITH YOUR EYES OPEN
With a will to expand your imagination and a passion for gaining intellect, our young writer says reading could change your mind!
“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies, the man who never reads lives only one.”
BY AL GHADIRANI SHAIB
R
eading is the most beautiful thing a person can do, it’s a gift that we have, an ability that not everyone has. Without books, we wouldn’t be able to learn and read; they complete each other in a way. Books have changed many things in the world and have created a billion things, things that have become reality. Some people might say why should I be bothered to pick up a book and read, I already read while I study! The answer to this is: educational books and novels are two completely different things; however, both are very important! When in school or university we learn from textbooks, these textbooks educate us and create a bank of knowledge, they simply build us and through these we start thinking of what we might be interested in. On the other hand we have novels in many genres to suit the interests of every individual, as not everyone is the same. There is nothing more beautiful than
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buying a new novel, smelling the fresh pages of a new and old book, identifying with the characters, creating scenes of the story in your imagination and losing yourself in it. What’s magical about reading is that it keeps you focused on the subject, taking you away from this world by being lost in words. Reading is not only for entertainment, but has also been used for soul therapy as well. A lot of us have become very interested in self-improvement books that help people in the different arenas of life. It proves that the power of words has an impact on the thought process and outlook. ‘The Secret’ is a book that talks about how to attract and bring positive energy into our lives. Reading also helps a person have a wider imagination; it makes a person become creative because after reading many books you start to look at things from different angles too. The reason for this is, as they say, ‘there are always two sides to a story’ which is found in novels, and proves
the statement is correct. In addition, reading helps in improving a language. If one reads more English books, over time the way of speaking, the pace of reading, learning and, most importantly, writing improves as well. Every writer has a different voice and style of writing from which we start to sense the differences in language, grammar and sentence formation which could be applied while writing and is seen as subconscious self-learning. The greatest movies and T V series that have been awarded for their success stories were creations based on books. It all goes back to the creativity, imagination and the style of writing to cater to the needs of the reader. Reading books is very important to everyone living in this world because without them we wouldn’t be able to have all the amazing things we have today. Not to forget a very important point, some thoughts that can’t be said can be expressed in books by writing.
CAMPUS TALK
RECOGNISING ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS
The third successful edition of the Green Programme for Schools (GPS) was conducted at the Birla Public School Auditorium on May 17. The Cambridge School was announced as the Eco School of the Year.
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initiative by Qatar Today, GPS aims at spreading the message of sustainability among students and inculcating green habits during their formative years. Through unique programmes, GPS enhances studentsí understanding of the environmental challenges and gives them the tools to make a positive change, while initiating a dialogue between students and their peers and parents on ways to conserve energy, water and electricity. Posters and contextual stickers are placed at relevant points constantly reminding students of the obligation they have towards the environment and how something as simple as turning the lights off in an empty classroom and not wasting water in the bathroom is more meaningful than it seems at first. For more than six months, awareness campaigns and competitions were conducted in various schools encouraging students to come up with green initiatives to contribute and make their support system a greener place to live in, putting the responsibility directly on the students. The idea was to start from the grassroots level where it matters the most. This year, three ‘green warriors’ were introduced through GPS – Electra, Ekon and Hydrox. These mascots encouraged students to be thoughtful and mindful of the environment we live in. Their goal was clear – Ekon was created to spread the word on the three R’s of reduce, reuse and recycle whereas the other two, Electra and Hydrox speared ahead in their goal of saving electricity and water respectively. The Paper Bag project by The Cambridge School (TCS) was the winner of the day. The project involves secondary school students and promotes the importance of reusing paper to make paper bags for internal use on the premises. What started off as a small project with old newspapers from the library later on
progressed to the massive use of brown paper bags in the school cafeteria. When they were approached for this campaign, they wanted to involve students from all grades to make them socially aware and accountable of their responsibility towards the environment. “Our school has been using plastic and we thought there should be a better way to reduce the use of plastic, if not completely stop it. To spread awareness on an important concept like this, we wanted to involve students directly. We started with integrating this project with the 8th graders and now the 9th grade students also do this during art hour. This was our way to make students understand that recycling is good in a fun way. The usual painting in art class was not enough to motivate students to excel. If it was integrated into their everyday lives, it would make a bigger difference to our school,” said Sunnyvale, art teacher at TCS. A major part of the campaignís goals was to spread awareness and engage students in forms of art that would help the environment and also teach students how to utilize paper that wasn’t being used any longer. “At first they were confused as to why they were doing this. We integrated this into their art class so they can be aware of recycling and its importance. In the initial stages, the design ideas from students were very creative. We did the first batch with newspapers to get the project started and to test the waters. We then moved into brown paper bags to encourage students to also use their painting talents on brown paper. At present, some of the paper bags are painted by year nine as they really like to paint as well. This form of craft is helping the students understand a part of origami as well. Instead of buying gift wrappers, they could use these to keep it more personalized.” These paper bags are used in the school cafeteria
which has been very helpful in engaging students in forms of art that would help the environment. The school students create around 200 paper bags per day for use in the cafeteria. Looking at this initiative, the school’s official caterers, The Holiday villa, supplies additional paper bags to match the demand in the cafeteria. “All of this came from the kids. We managed to convince our caterers. What’s really kept it for me is today our caterers have moved away from plastic to paper and we are trying to move away from plastic bottles as well. It’s important for children to know where theyíre headed. The influence that people have is the key to their success,” said Principal David Throp. “Art isn’t just about painting and drawing anymore. If you’re doing something different, it has to be motivating and inspire their imagination. I’ve been doing this job as a principal for 26 years, there’s always something new to learn everyday and it never ceases to amaze.” From a generation that was focused on grades to a generation that is dedicated to exploring the individual talent of every child, TCS believes all their students are winners. “Winning is not about coming first but about being the best version of them.” A year 12 student said, “Campaigns like these are helpful but people out there are striving for education on this topic. We should provide education not only to those struggling for it but to everyone so as to supply a theoretical point of view on this in order for younger generations to bring to into action.” The students and staff of TCS aim at trying harder and achieving all their green goals. They have laid the foundation for change and are at the earliest stages to bring to their school a better, greener future.
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GREEN HOUSE PROJECT Building a greenhouse for indoor plants was the chosen project for Gheras International School which secured the Diamond Award for its contribution to energy conservation and recycling. The reuse of plastic bottles to create a greenhouse for pot plants was a way to show the world that global warming is a serious issue and needs to be dealt with quickly. The plastic bottles used to create the greenhouse were transparent and would absorb heat like glass. Students cut the remaining bottles to create plant pots and asked their teachers and parents to contribute seeds to their project. After a week, they had the first shoot come through.
GHERAS INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
These students used their music and P.E lessons to create this project. “In science we learnt about plants and how to say carbon dioxide properly. For the project we recycled everything we used. We recycled plastic bottles and made our own plant pots. We went outside our school and collected soil to plant our seeds. We have learnt so much about recycling and we can help our world,� says Samar Talballa of Year 3. The greenhouse also represents the beauty of plants taking in carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen showing the students how easy it is to start saving the planet.
WATER CONSERVATION Al Ahnaf Bin Qais Independent School were the recipients of the GPS 2016 Platinum Award for their well-thought-out awareness campaign on water conservation that empowers each and every student to make a difference in their immediate surroundings, like avoiding overwatering, stopping leaks and replacing old fixtures. They have put together well-researched information that both raises awareness and calls people to action. AL AHNAF BIN QAIS INDEPENDENT SCHOOL
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BIRLA PUBLIC SCHOOL
SAVE WATER, SAVE ELECTRICITY
Following our green warrior, Ekon, the Eco Club of Birla Public School received the GPS 2016 Gold Award for their contribution to spread awareness about saving electricity and water not only in the school premises but also in the homes of the students, convincing the parents to reduce wastage. Through this movement, students succeeded in keeping tabs on the energy costs and quickly spotted irregularities and rises and were also encouraged to think creatively as they applied their knowledge to real, everyday thinking.
VISION INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
RAJAGIRI PUBLIC SCHOOL
ART LOVERS
REUSE AND RECYCLE
The little ones of Vision International School won hearts and also the GPS 2016 Silver Award for creating vases out of newspapers and decoration items out of plastic water bottles and colored paper. The kindergarten students decided to create art from plastic bottles and decorated their classrooms, creating beautiful objects like penguins, fish tanks, vases and so much more, with the help of their teachers showing us that recycling can be fun and creative.
The GPS 2016 Bronze Award was awarded to Rajagiri Public School for their conservation project where they demonstrated the importance, methods and benefits of sustainable living. With a small scale model of an eco village, the students have shown how technologies like desalination, solar, windmills, rain water harvesting, bio-sand filter, sewage water treatment, etc., can contribute to a green way of life where we can live in harmony with the environment.
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CAMPUS TALK
BY NA KEERTARU KODU
KNOWLEDGE IS KEY In his quest for knowledge and to be something other than just a refugee, Vahid Sujlic pushed himself towards achieving the unthinkable.
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ahid Sujlic had the same dreams and aspirations as any other child: to be a good student and in turn be of value to his community and family. Currently part of a research team working on a three-year leading study titled “Governance of Natural Resources in Africa: Advancing a Qatari Perspective and Economic Diversification” that is being supported by Qatar National Research Fund and co-led by QFIS faculty at Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Vahid thinks the world could be a different place only if people were to seek out opportunities that are available
abundantly. He thanks Qatar for who he is today. His journey wasn’t easy and his struggle wasn’t the same. Speaking about his childhood and early years, his story will shock anyone. “Everyone is familiar with the Bosnian genocide; 1992-1995 were some of toughest years of our life. We were attacked and massacred by Serbians, the world community had a delayed reaction in Bosnia’s rescue and we were under constant military fire, the population was starving, hospitals were lacking in medical supplies and people died every day. I was marked as a ‘Lost Generation’ member, and so was my
entire generation that surfaced to life during the war, without hopes and prospects until a dream came through. The world’s politicians neglected us for almost five years during the aggression on Bosnia and I had no option but to seek refuge for education in foreign countries, which brought me to Qatar.” His prayers were answered in the form of a scholarship to study at the College of Business and Economics at Qatar University. About studying abroad he says, “Graduating from college was another key milestone, and such a transformation. This taught me about responsibility, indepen-
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dence, accountability. It sharpened my critical thinking and communication skills. Studying abroad is a serious challenge and most amazing experience that will arm you with skills and competencies you never thought you had. The icing on the cake was doing this in Qatar.” Hungry for knowledge coupled with a freedom to explore, Vahid went out of his way to prove that anyone can learn and everyone must take advantage of the opportunities and facilities provided. “During my studies I had the opportunity to participate in numerous competitions,
conferences and events such as the World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE), World Humanitarian Summit, Qatar Debate, Doha Youth Forum, Public Diplomacy & Global Policy Program (PDGP), Harvard Institute for Global Law and Policy, etc., and yes, all here in Qatar. Thanks to the quality of education, effective teaching and other facilities.” Aiming at changing the world one step at a time, Vahid took an interest in the field of public policy. “Public policy was always a great interest of mine because the subject is oriented towards concrete solutions to practical problems. We use theory and evidence to design, implement and evaluate policies to improve living conditions for the citizens of our country and the world.” Then employment came through and he decided to continue his
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education in Public Policy in Islam at the Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies (QFIS), a college of Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU). “In Qatar, I got my life back on track and my dreams that were stolen from me.” Vahid believes that being an active student in Qatar opens gateways to accomplishing much more than you aimed for. “As an active member of the Association of World Citizens (AWC), the QFIS Student Council and Student Leadership Council of Education City/EBDA Institute, Qatar University Debate Club and Qatar University Alumni Debate Chapter, I am always trying to motivate and encourage other students to be more involved and to actively contribute towards community development.” This is how the online student club, Campus & Student Life in Qatar (C&SLQ) came into existence. “I’ve been playing with this over in my mind a lot and thanks to my classmates over the years, I came up with C&SLQ which is promoting student life in Qatar and outside of Qatar, and offers services free of charge to all students. This portal is a real hub of critical and filtered information including general information about studies, application requirements, scholarship programs, internship program, part-time jobs and volunteering. My target was to create community that could be used by any student in Qatar or international students who are interested in joining our educational community.” This portal opens a great opportunity to high school students and their parents for a more closer and realistic look inside the actual university that they might choose for their kids as well. Inspiration, aspiration, gratitude and the will to do the right thing for society are the four pillars that Vahid stands by. Advising fellow education seekers, Vahid says, “This is a rare spot on the planet that presents a beautiful melting pot of cultures, respecting differences and celebrating diversities. It offers excellent opportunities in higher education in every field of study, and the facilities are simply amazing. Here, you have the opportunity to learn from the best professors in the East and the West. Qatar Foundation is an oasis of knowledge.”
YOUNG TURKS
“The Hammer” heads to Rio Qatar’s hammer thrower Ashraf Elseify heads to the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games as a champion after winning two consecutive World Junior Championships titles in 2012 and 2014 – and currently holds the Junior World Record with an impressive 85.57 m. He shares his story. 2016
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t was thanks to the keen eye of experienced Coach Alexey Malyukov that Ashraf Elseify’s unmistakable talent was quickly recognized. “In 2010, the head coach asked me to test Ashraf and so I gave him a few exercises and after his first attempt I was sure he had potential to become an incredible athlete. I had promised the federation that Ashraf would throw over 80 meters but I was wrong,” said coach Malyukov. “He threw over 85 meters.” Ashraf, who lost his father at a young age, has a close bond to Coach Malyukov and it is this relationship that forms the basis of the hammer thrower’s success. “I started training with Coach Alexey Malyukov in 2010, when I first took up the hammer throw. He is not just my coach, he is like a father to me. I learned so much from him, and every day I learn something new. He taught me what the hammer throw really is and about proper technique and training.” The young hammer thrower is one of three
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Aspire Academy alumni that have qualified for Rio 2016, the other two being high jumper Mutaz Barshim and middle distance runner Abubaker Hayder Abdulla. Ashraf credits the world-renowned Aspire Academy for his massive development as an athlete. “My experience in Aspire Academy started in 2010 when I was still young and I learned a lot from it. I matured in Aspire Academy and developed my academic and sporting skills,” he said, adding that “It felt like home to me. I learned how to be a leader, how to deal with people in my life and I also learned English at Aspire Academy.” Under the tutelage of Coach Malyukov, who coached the Russian throwing team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Ashraf went from strength to strength; he won gold in the 2012 Asian Junior Championships in Colombo, Sri Lanka, set a new world junior record with an incredible 85.57m, and won consecutive World Junior titles in Barcelona in 2012 and Eugene, USA, in 2014. After winning gold in Barcelona Ashraf received a special call. “I
was very happy when HH Sheikh Tamim called me after the championship and he had been following my progress. If I had known that, I would have thrown farther! There’s an expression that goes ‘The world is smiling at you’ and after my win in Barcelona I really felt like the whole world was smiling at me - I had never felt that way before.” His success has not come without sacrifices, which Ashraf is quick to point out that he is happy to make. “I started training at a young age and I sacrificed a lot of things like going out with my friends, staying out late – I missed out on a lot of social gatherings for my sport,” Ashraf said, adding that “But ultimately once you win, you don’t feel like you sacrificed anything at all. It is an amazing feeling.” “I want people to know that professional athletes are under tremendous pressure in training and in life as athletes have so many responsibilities. Athletes have a responsibility to succeed so that they can make everyone who has supported them proud.”
The 21-year-old athlete will head to his first ever Olympic Games with a plethora of experience under his belt, having set history yet again in the 2015 IAAF World Championships after becoming the first Qatari athlete to qualify for the hammer throw final. “I qualified for the Rio 2016 Olympics during a championship in Germany in 2015.I competed against the German champion, who was an excellent competitor, and defeated him. I threw 78m which is the qualifying mark for Rio. As soon as they announced the number, 78m, and I found out that I had qualified, my coach and I were exuberant that I would take part in the Olympics for the first time.” For Rio 2016, Elseify has one goal in mind. “Competing in my first Olympic Games is
really important to me. I will give everything I have in Rio and my goal is to make Qatari people happy. It is an honor for me to represent them.” You can follow Ashraf Elseify’s Olympic Dreams on the Qatar Olympic Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube channels under the hashtag #YallaQatar. The Rio 2016 Olympic Games take place from August 5 to August 21. Over 10,000 athletes from 206 nations will descend on Rio de Janeiro for South America’s first Olympic Games. A global T V audience of 4.8 billion will share the raw emotion, intense drama and unrivalled pride as athletes stretch themselves to the absolute limit of their ability and showcase the very best of humankind in the true spirit of Olympism.
Amongst them will be the biggest team that Qatar has ever sent to an Olympic Games since the country’s debut in Los Angeles 1984. Thirty four athletes will compete across six sports - athletics, swimming, shooting, handball, equestrian and table tennis. As they finalise their preparations to compete in the most important competition of their young lives, the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) has launched a #YallaQatar public support campaign across its social media channels to encourage the whole nation to get behind Team Qatar’s athletes and celebrate their incredible feats. The Olympic Dreams film series will profile each team and athlete, and explore the highs, lows, motivations and dreams of Qatar’s Olympians on their journeys to Rio.
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EXPERT TALK
THINK AND ACT TOWARDS A BRIGHTER TOMORROW Campus spoke to Abdulla Al Mansoori, director of Qatar Career Fair, about the aspirations of the younger generation and ideas to improve the role of education in the student community.
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perating under the auspices of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, Qatar Career Fair’s sixth successful year of holding its annual fair is not solely limited to recruitment drives but also focuses on the development and implementation of programs and initiatives that aim at spreading career awareness and establishing a career culture in society.
WHAT DOES THE CURRENT GENERATION ASPIRE TO? At this critical stage in Qatar’s fast paced development, I believe the current generation, given their access to technology and information, has very big aspirations. They want to be successful members of the community and want to contribute their skills to the development of the nation. This is where Qatar Career Fair comes in. We want to play a leading role in guiding them towards the careers that best suit their skills, interests, and that also are important professions for Qatar’s growth.
knowledge and skills that will enable them to succeed eventually. Our training courses are varied and specialized for each of our audiences. For example, we are training students on how best to prepare for universities and their future careers by providing them with accurate information about the professions they are most interested in. For young graduates and other employees, we provide them with the knowledge and skills which they need to succeed in the workplace. For career counselors and parents, we are providing them with information, tools, and tips on how to most effectively guide students toward success. This is in addition to our continuous research into the field through organizing and participating in discussions in Doha and abroad.
HOW CAN QATARI STUDENTS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE COURSES HERE TO OBTAIN BETTER CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN QATAR?
As Qatar transforms into a knowledge-based economy in line with the National Vision 2030, it is widening the scope of professions that the nation needs. What we are trying to do is to work with students to determine their strengths and discover the route that makes a meaningful contribution from their strengths to the society. As long as students find a meaningful profession that they are interested in and have the capability to succeed in, then they will be contributing to the development of Qatar.
Qatari students have access to a wide range of options when it comes to higher education. Whether through the branch campuses at Education City, at Qatar University or any of the other educational institutions, there are many opportunities available that provide high-level education for a fulfilling career in Qatar. Through our various events and activities, we ensure to inform all participating students of the study path that they need to follow to qualify for professions in Qatar, which universities offer them, in addition to information and tips on how to effectively apply to these schools. We want to ensure that the Qatari youth are aware of the options they can choose from and begin working towards the professions they are interested and capable to excel in, from an early age.
WHAT DO YOU AIM AT ACHIEVING THROUGH THE TRAINING COURSES?
WHAT IS THE BEST CAREER ADVICE FOR A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT?
In each of our training courses, we aim at equipping participants with the highest
I would advise high school students to start thinking about their preferred career and
WHILE CONSIDERING THE QATAR NATIONAL VISION 2030, WHAT CAREERS CAN ONE CHOOSE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF QATAR?
professions early. Research the possibilities, know your competencies as well as strengths and weaknesses, explore your interests and begin making concrete steps towards achieving your ambitions. The future is bright, and you are in a prime time to begin developing and honing your skills towards a fulfilling and meaningful career.
CAREER ADVICE FOR UNIVERSITY/COLLEGE STUDENTS? I advise university students to study hard and learn as much as they can. What you learn in university will significantly affect your career. By virtue of being in an institution of higher education, you gain access to knowledge and information easily, so make use of your time because whatever you learn will only make you more equipped to succeed in your career upon graduation.
HOW IMPORTANT ARE EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES FOR STUDENTS IN THEIR CAREER? I think extracurricular activities perfectly complement an education, making students better rounded and differentiated. It is a way to learn and experience things that you can’t read in books. It is also a way to start practicing your leadership skills, through embarking on initiatives and projects on the side. I recommend that all students take up activities that are relevant to their interest and will allow them to learn lessons that could possibly not be learnt in the curriculum. T he Career Advisor Training Course (CATC) was recently created and brought into Qatar and the GCC region by the Qatar Career Fair (QCF) which is the first bilingual training course for career advisors. Reach out for a brighter future!
For more information: Website: www.qatarcareerfair.com.qa Facebook: QatarCareerFair Twitter: @QACareerFair
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THE LOST PARADISE Tunisian student Alaa Laabar talks about her research at UCL Qatar, which delves into how the medieval Muslim territory of Al Andalus continues to be a source of pain and inspiration for Arab Muslims.
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uring my master’s studies at University College London in Qatar, I was exposed to museum management during which we discussed cultural heritage as a discourse. Since then, I decided to look at heritage as a package of symbols and terminology, and a values-loaded concept. I decided to look into the medieval Muslim terrority of Al Andalus, often associated with the Islamic Golden Age where tolerance, justice and freedom prevailed. Moreover, Al Andalus is imagined as a border land separating the progressive Muslim world from the “decadent and infidel� Christian world. It is the lost abode of Islam, or the
house of the West, as it is called in Islamic literature. From this point of departure, I started researching how this particular understanding of Al Andalus manifested itself through various cultural media, including but not limited to, films, soap operas, plays, novels, costume design, architecture and, finally, music. The first chapter of the research commences with a reflection made by Khalid Duran that every afternoon Radio Rabat plays an hour of authentic Andalusian music. This music is deemed authentic as it remained unchanged for centuries, played on inherited instruments belonging to Andalusian diaspora. But the music suffers from an identity crisis in both Morocco and
Left: A poet who advocated Andalusian nationalism, Lorca’s death was greatly lamented in modern Arabic poetry. Top: Nizar Qabbani, a Syrian poet who saw in an Andalusian woman his mother and his home in Damascus.
Filmmaker Naser Khmeer from Tunisia invoked Al Andalus in his movie “The Lost Necklace of the Dove” to express the crisis of identity experienced by a recent African immigrant to France.
Spain, thanks to their geographic proximity. Some Moroccans considered it too “European” for their tastes while some Spaniards turned it off, thinking of it as Arab music. Here began the journey of discovering what Al Andalus meant to Arabs and Muslims. The memory of its loss is constantly cited by public intellectuals and politicians or even extremist thinkers from both sides of the Mediterranean. For example, literary figures from the Arab world, like Egyptian Radwa Ashour in her Granada Trilogy or Lebanese Amin Maalouf in his Leo Africanus depicted the loss of al-Andalus as a political failure that lingers in the minds of present day Arabs and Muslims. Moreover, the celebrated Pakistani poet Muhammad Iqbal lamented the loss of
Al Andalus as a loss of Muslim unity and solidarity through his poem, ‘Mosque of Cordoba’, and was arguably the first Muslim to pray in the mosque of Cordoba since its conversion into a cathedral by the Reconquista in 1492. Mustafa Kamel, a prolific Egyptian writer in 19th-century Egypt, authored a play by the name of “The Conquest of al-Andalus” in order to awaken Egyptians to their glorious identity and fuel their resistance to British colonial rule. On the other hand, the internationally acclaimed movie director Youssef Shaheen invoked an al-Andalus Al Maseer “destiny” as a post-colonial site for resistance between Islamists and seculars, pointing fingers at the Muslim brotherhood as subverting the secular utopia that Al Andalus was in his eyes. In addition, filmmaker Naser Khmeer from Tunisia invoked Al Andalus in his movie “The Lost Necklace of the Dove” to express the crisis of identity experienced by a recent African immigrant to France. These are but a few instances illustrating how a medieval memory of loss is harnessed for current cultural or political agendas. Research has shown that discussions of Al
Andalus as a “lost paradise” are relatively modern, although some alternative arguments do exist of a rather primordial perception of Al Andalus as a loss originating from the earliest of Arab pagane traditions of elegy over destructed or demolished cities or the crying over the beloved’s deserted campsite in pre-Islamic Arabia. This notion is solidified in the minds and hearts of the Arab Muslim masses by political speeches such as the one delivered by former Spanish prime minister Jose Maria Aznar in 2004. In reference to the Madrid bombings he said that the problem Spain had with Islamist extremists began with the unlawful Muslim invasion of Al Andalus centuries earlier and this continues to cause trouble. On the other side of the political spectrum, Ayman Al Zawahri, Osama Bin Laden’s right arm in Al Qaeda contended that restoring Al Andalus would not be possible before cleansing North Africa or the Maghreb of, what he referred to as, the children of France, meaning the liberal or westernized inhabitants. Such statements should be understood in a wider discursive context in which Al Andalus is mutually configured as a loss
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Clockwise from top left: Prince Shakeeb Arsalan who interpreted colonized Indonesia as a second Andalusia; the Rashidiya Institute for teaching Andlausian music in Tunisia; an Andulisian music troup; Pakistani poet Muhammad Iqbal who wrote ‘Mosque of Cordoba’; the author in her Tunisian home.
“More than any other cultural form, Andalsuian music has existed for Arabs as a tangible, living legacy of medieval Islamic Spain.”
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and a struggle for the preservation of a particular identity. During the Spanish civil war, a movement by the name of the Legado Andalus emerged to demand an autonomous identity for the people of Andalusia in southern Spain. This movement gained strength under the leadership of Blas Infante, nicknamed the father of Andalusian nationalism. In the 1930s, this was significant in cultivating the notion of AL Andalus as a “lost paradise” of Arab and Muslim grandeur in need for restoration or revival. Blas Infante held talks and was on friendly terms with many Moroccan guerrilla fighters who fought against Spanish colonialism, asserting primordial affinity and alignment with a Muslim Arab and African iden-
functioned as a museum enabling most Arabs to experience the Andalusian culture directly and readily even after its territorial loss. Reynolds notes that “more than any other cultural form, Andalsuian music has existed for Arabs as a tangible, living legacy of medieval Islamic Spain”. I selected three songs to examine how losing Al Andalus was mobilized in constructing a discourse on Arab and Muslim post-colonial heritage. The first is drawn from Fairouz’s album dedicated to Al Andalus, the second from Marcel Khalife’s album also dedicated to Al Andalus by the name of ‘Concerto Al Andalus’ and the third song was an Arab adaptation of the Spanish song ‘Viva Espana’ by Lebanese folk singer Melhem Barakat. Each of the songs contrib-
tity that was ruptured by a barbaric Spanish invasion. It is within this milieu of assertion or reassertion of identity, that music on Al Andalus comes into play. Particularly interesting is the fact that until the twentieth century, music
utes to naturalizing al-Andalus as a perennial loss, utilizing patriarchal frames and insinuating translational bonds between Muslims from the Atlantic Ocean to the Arabian Gulf. Al Andalus in each song is depicted as a female to be desired and lust-
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fully longed for by an Arab male looking forward to recovering his lost potency that represented a time of youth. The opportunity to do my placement at the Bardo National Museum in Tunisia was so conducive to the research. I had the opportunity to observe first-hand how the Andalusian heritage was harnessed towards the construction of a modern Tunisian identity. I have learnt that the Tunisian variety of Andalsuian music called “Malouf” moved from the courts of the aristocracy to being dubbed as Tunisia’s national music after independence from France. For the Tunisians, this heritage is telling of an age when they were glorious rather than subjugated to colonial rule. Furthermore, we as we stroll through different Arab countries, we are very likely to bump into streets carrying the names of cities of Al Andalus such as Granada or Cordoba. Even some shops and restaurants carry names related to Al Andalus either as time or place, especially in Syria, Jordan and the Gulf.
STARS OF
QATAR’S FUTURE
One way to help Qatar’s race towards a knowledge-based economy is to increase the competitive spirit in the country’s technical and scientific professional circles, which means the continual enhancement of post-graduate education. The ORYX GTL Student Awards were founded to work towards this goal.
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DHABIA AL MOHANNADI
JASSEM AL MEJALI
SAAD ALI AL SOBHI
Degree Bachelors and Masters in Chemical Engineering
Degree Bachelors in Chemical Engineering and Master Degree in Material Science and Technology
Degree Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering; Master of Science in Chemical Engineering and PhD Chemical Engineering
Alma mater Texas A&M University at Qatar Area of Interest Sustainable Development Dhabia is member of Qatar Foundation Qatar Research Leadership Program.
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eveloping students’ postgraduate technical and scientific knowledge is vital for Qatar’s economic and cultural future as a global hub of intellectual expertise and research and development (R&D) up to 2030 and beyond. This is why recognizing students’ achievements through the 3rd ORYX GTL Student Awards 2016 is so important. The awards were held at Qatar University’s Research Complex in April to celebrate five recently graduated Masters and PhD students – four of whom are Qatari – for their academic contribution to Qatar’s future. Kahramaa’s President, HE Essa bin Hilal Al Kuwari, Dr Hassan Al Derham, President of Qatar University and Mr Mohamed Al Enazi, ORYX GTL Chief QHSE Officer, presented the awards in the presence of over 150 senior executives from over 50 entities representing Government, Academia & Industry. “The brightest minds in Qatar will spearhead the country’s mission to become a knowledge economy by 2030. These awards are a crucial step in recognizing that Qatar is on the right path and will succeed,” said Dr Al Derham.
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Alma Mater Qatar University, Qatar; University of Leeds, UK. Area of Interest Engineering Sciences Jassim has just been promoted to Senior Booster Developing Engineer at Qatar Aluminium Company.
It’s worth noting that 18 Qataris were nominated for this edition of the awards, which has increased three-fold since the 2015 campaign.
QATAR’S BRIGHTEST MINDS Dhabia M Al Mohannadi won an award for her Masters in Chemical Engineering from Texas A&M University at Qatar where her research focused on the systematic assessments of low-carbon technologies, including sustainable design and process integration – critical work that she plans to explore further through a PhD. “Reducing our carbon footprint is a multidisciplinary goal and involves different decision-making processes, as well as the need for regulations and policies,” said Al Mohannadi, who is also a member of Qatar Foundation’s Qatar Research Leadership Program (QRLP). “This problem is not only important to Qatar but also for the world as we face ambitious emissions reduction targets, depleting resources and a growing demand for energy as the global population grows.” Jassim Al Mejali won an award for his first-class Masters in Material Science and
Alma Mater Qatar University, Qatar; Texas A&M,Qatar; University of Waterloo, UK Area of Interest Modeling, simulation, and optimization of natural gas processes Saad is an Assistant Professor in the Chemical Engineering Department at Qatar University.
Technology from Qatar University. Al Mejali also works at Qatar Aluminium Company (Qatalum) as a Process Engineer in reduction electrolysis and was recently promoted to Senior Booster Developing Engineer. There is a valuable link between Mejali’s two worlds – his professional expertise and his studies – as all companies in Qatar are keen to streamline their expenditure and become as efficient and cost-effective as possible. “In aluminum smelters, impurities are one of the critical factors that significantly impact companies’ financial results and my studies have helped Qatalum’s management solve this technical aspect,” said Al Mejali. Tejvir Singh, who won an award for his PhD studies in Sustainable Energy at Hamad Bin Khalifa University, said the industry’s recognition of his postgraduate work has bolstered his confidence to pursue his professional ambitions. Singh’s previous experience studying abroad, including in Europe and India, has sharpened his multidimensional knowledge. In India, for example, Singh worked with government officials and developed proposals for the sustainable development of villages. “Within
THE ESTEEMED INTERNATIONAL SELECTION COMMITTEE MR. MOHAMED AL ENAZI
Chief QHSE Officer, ORYX GTL
DR. RASHID ALAMMARI
College of Engineering, Qatar University
YOUSEF AL JABER
TEJVIR SINGH
Degree Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering; and Executive Master of Energy and Resources
Degree Bachelor of Technology in Mechanical Engineering and European Joint Masters in Management and Engineering of Environment and Energy
Alma Mater Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar; Texas A&M University at Qatar and HEC Paris
Alma Mater Rajasthan Technical University, Kota; UPM Madrid, EMN France and KTH Royal Sweden
Area of Interest Energy analysis
Area of Interest Water-food energy nexus
Yousef Al Jaber is currently Head of Corporate Social Responsibility and Institutional Relations at Total E&P Qatar, reporting to the VP of HR, Communication, and CSR
Tejvir is pursuing his PhD in Sustainable Energy at Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Qatar
the next five years, I hope to set up an organization in collaboration with GTL to work on the water-food-energy nexus, as these are crucial issues on our road to sustainable development,” said Singh. “My target is to help various countries around the globe – including Qatar – resolve their national sustainability issues. There are various new technologies and policies that must be scaled up to an industrial level to fulfill Qatar’s National Vision 2030.” Yousef Al Jaber won an award for his Executive Masters in Energy and Resources from Hamad Bin Khalifa University in partnership with Georgetown University, Texas A&M University and HEC Paris. Al Jaber is currently working as Head of Corporate and Social Responsibility and Institutional Relations at Total E&P Qatar. Saad Ali Al Sobhi’s award celebrated his PhD from Canada’s University of Waterloo, which focused on modelling, simulation and the optimization of natural gas processes. Al Sobhi is also an Assistant Professor in Qatar University’s Chemical Engineering depart-
DR. MOUNIR HAMDI
Dean, College of Science, Engineering & Technology, Hamad Bin Khalifa University
DR. EYAD MASAD
Vice Dean, Texas A&M University at Qatar
DR. BHANU CHOWDHARY
Associate VP for Research & Strategic Initiatives, Qatar University
DR. IAIN MACDONALD
Senior Program Manager, Qatar Carbonates and Carbon Storage Centre, Imperial College London
QATAR: A GLOBAL INTELLECTUAL HUB Qatar’s National Vision 2030 outlines three Key Challenges: securing Qatar’s energy security, cyber security and water security. To become a knowledge-based economy, numerous factors have to work in parallel. Putting in place infrastructure, fostering innovation and facilitating research and technology developments are some of the essential building blocks that are being employed to realize the country’s vision. The need to continually enhance postgraduate education sits at the heart of this vision. The postgraduate contributions made by the award winners all contribute to Qatar’s push to establish Doha as a global hub of intellectual activity and innovation by 2030. Qatar has focused on becoming an energy R&D hub since 2006, when the government decided to allocate 2.8% of GDP annually to promote technology and innovation via the Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF). Since then, Qatar has invested heavily in developing its education – including bolstering students’ appetite for postgraduate studies – and R&D capabilities by opening the Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP) and unveiling the Qatar National Research Strategy (QNRS). Qatar hosts more tier-one US universities than any other country in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), which have largely been championed by the non-profit organisation, Qatar Foundation.
ment. “We have been highly impressed by the depth and complexity of the studies submitted by the winners of this year’s awards, plus all the nominees,” said Mohamed Al Enazi,
ORYX GTL’s Chief Quality, Health, Safety and Environment (QHSE) Officer. “We look forward to discovering more innovative ideas from the brightest and most talented young minds in Qatar for next year’s awards.”
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CAREER TRIVIA
6 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT JUGGLING WORK AND SCHOOL 01
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It’s about working smarter not harder
Be strategic with your vacations
The most successful students don’t just work harder – they also work smarter. For example, you may have to complete research or thesis projects as part of your classwork. Why not try to tie your school project into something you’re already working on at your 9-to-5? For example, if you’re a part-time graphic designer you could be revamping your company’s website as part of your graphic design program at school. This way, you would spend paid hours working on homework, and your boss would be just as excited about the idea as you would. It’s a win-win situation really, especially considering the all-nighters and weekend homework marathons you’d need to pull if you were completing such a huge project in your free time.
While we’re on the topic of working smarter, let’s talk about vacation days. While it’s tempting to use your two weeks of paid time off to unwind in Dubai after a tough semester, you may be better off using your vacation days strategically. Consider planning ahead and scheduling a day or two off to focus on school before a big midterm or project is due. This will help you avoid a string of all-nighters leading up to the test or due date. Most bosses are happy to let you take a few days off for school if you request them in advance.
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03 Asking for help is OK It’s okay to ask for help. Actually, everybody needs help and I’m sure your friends, colleagues and classmates would be glad to help. If you can delegate a task to someone who can do your job as well as you want, don’t hesitate to ask them to help you; and if someone can help you with your exams and homework, take the chance. People like to help.
Whether you’re thinking of continuing your studies or are already doing so, here’s some advice to make your life easier and help you successfully manage your time between school and work. Juggling school and work is no easy deal. As a working student, you have to be ready to adapt to new assignments, unexpected errands and sudden work crises that need to be addressed immediately.
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Sleep is the best motivation The Bayt.com ‘Distractions at Work in the Middle East and North Africa’ poll of 2013 shows that a third (33%) of professionals in the region say they feel tired or sleepy at work on a regular basis. Sleep is very important for your brain and body to function properly. Yes, coffee might give you a 2-hour boost but the exhaustion you’ll experience when the two hours are over will be worse than before. Remember, you need at least 7 hours of sleep if you are to function as you want during the day.
Worrying will get you nowhere Stress is a tricky matter; it can take over your thoughts all day long. “Did I do that project?” “Did I finish that homework correctly?” “Did I forget anything?” In fact, our Bayt.com poll on ‘Work Satisfaction in the Middle East and North Africa’, November 2012, revealed that 74% of polled respondents feel stressed by their job. You need to learn to focus on the task you’re given. If you’re working on a work project, think of that alone and the same goes for school projects, otherwise, you’ll end up giving your professor a SWOT analysis and your manager a 3,000-word essay. Another good practice would be to switch off all electronic devices so you can devote your full attention to whatever you are working on.
06 Take care of your health Early mornings at the office, followed by late nights doing homework, topped off by a few caffeine-and-pizza-fueled study sessions? Sounds like a recipe for a health disaster. According to the Bayt. com poll on the ‘Health and Eating Habits of Professionals in the Middle East and North Africa’, April 2012, 31.7% of respondents see their eating habits as unhealthy, while 48.1% consider their eating habits to be healthy, but only to some extent. Make eating properly, getting enough sleep, and exercising a priority– even if it means taking a lighter class load or cutting back on social obligations. After all, if you’re sick in bed or too tired to focus, you won’t be any good at work or at school.
Bayt.com is the #1 job site in the Middle East with more than 40,000 employers and over 24,500,000 registered job seekers from across the Middle East, North Africa and the globe, representing all industries, nationalities and career levels. Post a job or find jobs on www.bayt.com today and access the leading resource for job seekers and employers in the region.
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TECH TALK
YOUR BEST FRIEND IN THE WORLD
37%
of participants rate their smartphone as more, or equally, important as their close friends
29%
of participants said their smartphone was equally important, or more important, to them than their parents
The results came from an experiment conducted by the universities of WĂźrzburg and Nottingham Trent, on behalf of Kaspersky Lab
GREAT TECH, EARLY There is perhaps nothing more frustrating for an early adopter than being unable to obtain the latest gadgets as soon as they are released in the US market. Many tech products are first introduced to the United States, leaving international consumers unfairly waiting months or even years for gadgets to hit their local shelves. Big Apple Buddy is a new start-up designed to level the playing field by bringing the latest gadgets to early adopters around the world in just a few days. Clients tell the company what they would like to purchase via an online form on the Big Apple Buddy website. Big Apple Buddy then provides the client with a quote within 24 hours. If the client accepts the quote, Big Apple Buddy takes it from there – personally sourcing the item for the best price, repackaging the item to reduce shipping costs, preparing all shipping and customs documentation, and safely shipping the product to the client in as little as 2-4 business days.
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APPLE TO PAY OFF E-BOOK SETTLEMENTS E-book buyers affected by Apple’s alleged price-fixing scheme will receive either credits or checks for twice their losses soon. In August 2011, a lawsuit filed by two individuals accused Apple of conspiring to fix e-book prices with five publishers: Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins Publishers, Holtzbrinck Publishers, Penguin Group and Simon & Schuster. Apple is on the hook for $400 million in damages plus an additional $30 million to pay the legal fees for Hagens Berman and $20 million to the state attorney generals who became involved in the case. Consumers who purchased e-books from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo and Apple between April 1, 2010 and May 21, 2012 are eligible to receive credits deposited directly in their accounts or checks sent through the mail.
MOST CONNECTED COUNTRIES
ZUCKERBERG HACKED!
Yes, he’s worth a squillion dollars and basically wears the same outfits all the time. But he still has his accounts hacked just like everyone else because of weak password security. According to reports, the hacking group OurMine Team has taken responsibility for breaking into Zuckerberg’s Twitter and Pinterest accounts this weekend. Zuckerberg likely doesn’t use either account very much since, you know, he has his own social network. Still, one would think he (or his assistants) would employ stronger security measures to stop anyone with a password from getting in. “Hey @finkd we got access to your Twitter & Instagram & Pinterest,we are just testing your security, please dm us,” read a tweet on OurMine’s Twitter feed.
With 277 million Internet users, India surpassed the United States in 2015 as the world’s second-most connected nation behind China, according to a report from the KPCB law firm. The firm estimated total global Internet use at three billion people, or 42% of the world’s population. India and other developing nations are adding Internet users at a much faster rate than their developed counterparts. India’s 2015 growth rate was 40%, compared to global growth that has hovered around 10% for the last four years. In rural areas where broadband connectivity is low, smartphones are the only option. It has helped that their cost is not as prohibitive. In India, the average retail price of a smartphone was $158. That’s 10% of the country’s per capita income. In Ethiopia, the average smartphone costs $262, 47% of per capita income. In developed countries, average smartphone prices are more expensive but they represent a tiny fraction of per capita income, usually less than one percent, according to KPCB.
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FITNESS
ARE YOU A FITNESS
TRENDSETTER? OxFitness Lab details some fun new workout trends at the cutting edge of the fitness lifestyle.
The fitness industry is dynamic and fast-paced. More people than ever before are subscribing to gym and health club memberships to stay fit and healthy. Workout clothes have become statement fashion pieces to be showcased on Instagram, where they gain thousands of followers looking to seek out the latest styles, smoothie recipes or trending workouts. To be a fitness trendsetter you must be at least willing to try new fitness trends. Some trends are grounded in traditional sports, such as gymnastics or weightlifting, often with a unique twist added, making it fun and accessible for everybody. These popular trends offer the opportunity to learn fresh skills and techniques while meeting new people, enhancing the whole experience.
SO WHAT IS TRENDING NOW AT OXFITNESS LAB?
ANKOR A SAFE WAY TO BUNGEE JUMP Ankor is a harness that can be attached with multiple bungee cords. You can even lock another harness and battle it out with a friend. Here you can develop explosive power and speed through resistance exercises, agility drills, and ballistic movement training is taken to the next level. Agility and speed can be addressed concurrently by incorporating resistance drills emphasizing all major muscle groups through an overload effect.
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TRAPEZE DANCE LIKE THERE IS NO ONE WATCHING A Static Trapeze is a bar connected by two ropes used to perform a combination of dance, gymnastics and pilates where your central core muscles are crucial in maintaining pretty much all the positions. Yet with a diversity of moves you get an entire body workout sculpting not just your core but upper body and legs too.
AERIAL YOGA HAVE YOU EVER HUNG UPSIDE DOWN? Aerial Yoga is a type of suspension training originating from New York, which combines traditional yoga poses, pilates and dance with the use of a hammock. More freedom of movement means that you can move your body into new positions, resulting in deeper and more fulfilling stretches. Aerial Yoga places you in a more challenging situation than usual and with gravity pulling you harder, your muscles work harder.
SQUIRE TEST YOUR STRENGTH The squire is a strong man multitool that can be used for farmer’s walk, tire flips and more! This activates nearly every muscle group especially the core which stabilizes the entire body. Grip strength in the hands, wrists and forearms is a necessity and the upper back also works hard to keep the shoulders and chest from sagging. The legs propel the walk, and the cardiovascular system is engaged throughout the entirety of the movement. As a result, your entire body is put to work burning fat and creating lean muscle mass.
REAL RYDER THE REAL CYCLING EXPERIENCE Real Ryder bikes have a unique articulating bike frame allowing you to lean, turn, steer and balance through three planes of motion so that you become fully engaged with the bike and overall riding experience. Real Ryder bikes create much superior biomechanical, physiological and emotional benefits over your everyday stationary bike.
OxFitness prides itself on being a fitness trendsetter and provides an extensive list of classes by expert international trainers. To receive a full list of the fitness classes, personal training or other services, contact them at info@oxfitnesslab.com
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THE HAND OF THE KING
GET GADGETY
Despite only being featured in the first season, Eddard “Ned” Stark is still a favorite Game of Thrones character for many of us. He is strong and honorable and that’s why we let him protect our devices with these Eddard Stark Mobile Cases. Choose the iPhone for your iPhone 6 / 6s or the iPad for your iPad Air 2. Both come with interior card pockets, a magnetic closure, and the Hand of the King affixed to the outside, along with other metal details.
ARE YOU A THRONEHEAD? With the current season of Game of Thrones pushing the action to the next level, here are some awesome gadgets and collectibles that will help you show off your allegiance. All products are available on thinkgeek.com GET ALL THE BOOKS! With five books already out and two on the way, they are a perfect escape for those who want more of thrones once the series comes to its inevitable end. But seven huge volumes represent a significant investment of both your time and bookshelf space. Don’t those books deserve to have their own, dedicated bookend? This hand-painted collectible is ready to prop up these books, the seat of your knowledge for all of Westeros and the lands beyond. And hopefully they won’t fight over which book gets to be closest to the throne.
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POWER IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND Knowledge is power, right? This egg holds 8 GB of power. When you break open the shell of this dragon egg, it reveals a removable, ultra-fast, ultra-thin, waterproof USB flash drive on which you can keep all your complicated flow charts about the family structure in Westeros.
WEAR YOUR FANDOM
SHOW YOUR COLORS Make it clear to the visitors to your room which house has your allegiance. Will you answer the call of the North or assemble behind the lion’s roar? Or do you skin guests who annoy, like a typical Bolton? These colorful house banners with their sigils and words can brighten up any wall (pun intended) and your guests will know exactly how to speak and behave when under your roof. Better still, confuse them by hanging up multiple banners.
Cover many bases with this lightweight infinity scarf, proclaiming your allegiance to House Baratheon, Baratheon of Dragonstone, Greyjoy, Lannister, Stark, Targaryen, and Tyrell – all at the same time. You’re going to have to be one crafty political player to pull this off. Good luck with that. Or you can tout your neutrality with this Game of Thrones Map Print Infinity Scarf which will solve that problem once and for all. Wear it around and you’ll be able to follow the action as you read (and reread) all of the novels or watch the show.
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WHAT’S COOL
DESERT COUTURE Inspired by the boundless freedom and adventure that is promised from a journey through the desert, this limited edition Couture Palette by Yves Saint Laueant’s Savage Escape is cloaked in sun-bleached blue suede which is richly contrasted by a stylized rose gold signature. Within the palette, shimmering golden browns and blues are complemented by a warm pink highlight, effortlessly blending together to create an illuminating eye look. FRENCH EYES
Get the Parisian Ultra-Black look and dare to have all eyes on you with these three Bourjois tools. Get the perfect curve with the Ultra-Black Liner Pinceau high-precision liquid and its 0.5mm applicator. The Khol & Contour Ultra-Black Intensity inside and out Pureblack pencil contours yours eyes with extraordinary intensity thanks to its black pigments. The Twist Up The Volume Ultra-Black Edition Mascara helps you show off your lashes, thanks to the 2-in-1 brush that lengthens, separates and coats lashes for a complete result.
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THE POWER OF ALMOND Harnessing the exceptional beautifying power of almond from the south of France, the various products in L’Occitane’s Almond range are designed to care with a triple dose of almond goodness to ensure protection, rejuvenation and moisturization. With a new addition to L’Occitane en Provence’s range of almond-inspired salves and creams, beautiful hands will continue to look gorgeous through the summer months.
BE BOLD, BE BRIGHT Urban Decay’s Vice Lipstick announced its biggest line-up yet – with 100 shades of bold, bright, dark, and sultry colors. Whether it’s a new super-versatile neutral to a cult favorite, every shade applies smoothly (without dragging or skipping) and hugs lips. The proprietary Pigment Infusion System gives the formula its super-creamy texture, rich payout and superior color dispersion while the butter blend comforts, hydrates and enhances, leaving lips soft and conditioned, never dry. Aloe vera, jojoba, avocado and abassu oils nourish and soften lips. Illipe butter (derived from Malaysian illipe trees) provides long-lasting moisture. Vitamin C and vitamin E provide a hit of antioxidants.
CREATE AND COMMEMORATE The Ascia loves Riva’s summer collection is a modern contemporary line inspired and designed by the lovely blogger Ascia, using lots of graphics, geometrical shapes offering an edgy look. Colors used are mostly navy, whites, metallic silver and vibrant yellow hues which have added joy and summer spirit to the collection. The campaign was shot in Maxxi Museum in Rome as a commemoration to Zaha Hadid. Ascia’s Exclusive collection is available in ll Riva stores for a limited period.
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AROUND TOWN
TECHNOLOGY FOR THE GOOD OF HUMANITY
THE QATAR COMPUTING RESEARCH INSTITUTE (QCRI), ONE OF HAMAD BIN KHALIFA UNIVERSITY’S THREE RESEARCH INSTITUTES, WAS INVITED TO SHOWCASE SOME OF ITS TECHNOLOGY AT THE INAUGURAL WORLD HUMANITARIAN SUMMIT IN ISTANBUL. The summit, organized by the United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), aims at proposing solutions to humanitarian challenges around the globe. It brought together governments, people affected by humanitarian crises, humanitarian organizations and businesses. QCRI’s Artificial Intelligence for Disaster Response (AIDR) technology and MicroMappers were featured at the summit’s Innovation Marketplace during the event on May 23 and 24, a stage which was shared by 100 selected global innovations. Here, QCRI highlighted the difference that partnerships between researchers, digital humanitarians and communities could make, as well as collected input on how the technology could support other attendees at the summit.
GIVING ARABIC WINGS
MORE THAN $115,000 IN GRANTS HAS BEEN AWARDED TO TEXAS & OHIO SCHOOLS TO STRENGTHEN IN-SCHOOL ARABIC PROGRAMS, EXPANDING QATAR FOUNDATION INTERNATIONAL’S PARTNERSHIP TO 24 US SCHOOLS. Qatar Foundation International (QFI) has awarded two separate grants – a total of $115,000 – to schools in Austin, Texas and Chagrin Falls, Ohio. Arabic has seen an explosion of interest among American students over the past decade, but in-school programs have struggled to keep pace. The program will start by offering level 1 Arabic at all schools, and increase the number of levels offered each year at the high schools in response to student enrollments. The grant includes funding for teacher salaries, curriculum development, and materials/resources.
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ROTA’S RAMADAN FESTIVITIES REACH OUT TO ASIA (ROTA) OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED ITS RAMADAN 2016 PROJECT, ‘10 YEARS OF SERVICE’, WHICH WILL INCLUDE ACTIVITIES THAT SUPPORT CONSTRUCTION WORKERS, THE ELDERLY, AND OTHER LOCAL GROUPS IN QATAR. The ROTA Ramadan 2016 Project has, for the 10th consecutive year, featured a series of volunteer-led activities designed to contribute to community development in Qatar. More than 200 volunteers have so far signed up for the Ramadan Project, sponsored by Occidental Petroleum of Qatar. ROTA also delivered comprehensive house renovations for families living in a number of areas around Qatar through its ‘Reach Into Qatar’ project. The community project, now in its third year, imparts a positive social contribution by transforming the living conditions of families, creating a sustainable impact with the help of Da’am, the Social and Sports Activities Support Fund. In collaboration with partners such as the Gulf Contracting Company and the Social Development Centre (SDC), ‘Reach Into Qatar’ carries out a number of renovations with the invaluable help of ROTA volunteers who undertake a variety of tasks, including interior and exterior painting, general repairs and installation of new furniture and electrical appliances.
QF CELEBRATES GARANGAO
QATAR FOUNDATION INVITED THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY TO JOIN ITS GARANGAO CELEBRATIONS AT AL SHAQAB’S INDOOR ARENA ON JUNE 17. Garangao, a children’s festival celebrated across the Gulf region and deeply rooted in local culture, traditionally marks the 14th night of Ramadan. This year, QF hosted a variety of activities for the whole family, including pony rides, traditional games, and arts and crafts, among other events. Qatar Solar Technology (QSTec), a QF member, facilitated creative lantern-making sessions using solar panels, while children blended their own healthy smoothies by cycling to generate energy through ‘Sahtak Awalan: Your Health First’, an initiative of Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q). The Qur’anic Botanic Garden (QBG) offered planting activities, as well as 3D puzzles and virtual reality games, while Qatar Green Building Council (QGBC) staged a puppet show and storytelling session in conjunction with Qatar National Library (QNL).
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LEARNING FROM THE PRESENT HEC Paris and KPMG organized a joint event on “Leading Change through Turbulent Times” which focused on what managers and leaders must do to adapt their way of working to manage the changing economic circumstances cautiously and wisely in times of instability. The event was led by Roger Hallowell, HEC Paris Affiliate Professor of Strategy and Business Policy. In his keynote address, Professor Hallowell outlined the best practices for driving permanent or short-term change. His two overarching themes were ‘What organizations can do to prepare for turbulence’ and ‘What not to do 99% of the time during turbulence’. Other critical topics Professor Hallowell discussed included exploring the probability for turbulence, financial strategies for companies anticipating turbulence (both structural and conditional) and ways to safeguard operations before turbulence sets in.