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All-Female Team of Emirati Students from Zayed University Grabs Top Prize at Business for Better 2014

    Shamma Alfahim and Sumaia Alharthi’s business plan of Multi-Gym facility for pregnant and elderly women wins AED 90,000 worth of scholarship
Teams from Manipal University and Abu Dhabi University stood second and third place respectively,  2014 edition introduces three new categories–‘Most Innovative Idea,’ ‘Most Socially Responsible Business’ and ‘Best Presentation Skills’

 

UAE, June 3, 2014 – An all-female team of Emirati students from Zayed University in Abu Dhabi won top honors at this year’s Business for Better competition for their business concept of a Multi-Gym facility for pregnant and elderly women. The winning team, comprising of Shamma Alfahim and Sumaia Alharthi took home AED 45,000 worth of scholarships each. The competition, which is organized by Western Union, a leader in global payment services, and Al Ansari Exchange, a UAE-based foreign exchange and worldwide money transfer company, held the awards ceremony recently at the Address Hotel, Dubai Marina. The winners were determined after 13 shortlisted teams that represented various reputed universities from the UAE, presented their business concepts to a panel of judges earlier in the day.
The 13 student teams made detailed presentations of their plans for sustainable business. Judges reviewed the presentations based on the criteria of ‘Originality of the Idea,’ ‘Business Concept and Description,’ ‘Proposed Implementation and Methodology,’ and ‘Financial Planning and Corresponding Budgets.’ Aside from Hatem Sleiman, Regional Vice President, Western Union, and Kamal Asif, Head of Business Development, Al Ansari Exchange, and the judging panel comprised of Imad Ghandour, Founder & Managing Director, CedarBridge Partners and Lisa Labonte, Founder & Chief Executive Office, Arab Youth Venture Foundation.  
Rashed Ali Al Ansari, General Manager, Al Ansari Exchange, said: “We are very proud of the students who have joined this year’s ‘Business for Better 2014’ competition, whose entries have demonstrated creativity, potential and key marketability. Al Ansari Exchange has remained true to its commitment of implementing CSR initiatives. This year’s competition has allowed us to work closely again with our partners at Western Union to provide practical guidance to all participating students to help them shape their entrepreneurial skills and try to make a difference in the UAE’s education and business sector. We congratulate all the winners and wish them great success in theor academic and professional careers.”
Hatem Sleiman said: “All the participants in ‘Business for Better 2014’ competition presented viable business plans and it was a tough call for the judges to select the three winners. The winning team had successfully identified the need for a specialty gym with a focus on expectant mothers and elderly women. They presented their business concept effectively, covering all aspects of a thriving business such as the implementation of the idea, marketing plan, and a well thought off revenue model.”
“At Western Union we understand that education is one of the surest paths to financial inclusion. The Business for Better competition which we have organized for the 3rd year with our Agent Al Ansari Exchange demonstrates our commitment to support education, grow young minds and to create opportunity for all. We are proud of the achievements of the UAE’s students and thank all the participating universities and their students for their enthusiastic engagement with the competition. We congratulate all the winners for a job well done” Sleiman continued.
Eight universities, including the American University in Sharjah, the American University in Dubai, Zayed University, Heriot Watt University, Abu Dhabi University, University of Sharjah, Amity University and Manipal University participated in the ‘Business for Better 2014’ competition. Beside the shortlisted teams and judges, the family and friends of the students, university representatives, and senior executives from Western Union and Al Ansari Exchange, also attended the award ceremony.
The winning concept was the business proposal for a multi-gym especially for pregnant and elderly women along with teenagers and children. The proposed gym offers fitness programs, including yoga, aerobics and weightlifting for expectant mothers in order to keep them fit and healthy all through their pregnancy. In addition, there are specially designed Wii game programs for children and teenagers suffering from obesity. Other special features include exercises for elderly ladies to help fight age-related ailments such as arthritis and osteoporosis, fish pedicure, and a child center.
Grabbing second place was the team composed of Ahmed Abdur Rahman, Abdul Jabbar and Muhammed Anas from Manipal University, who were awarded AED 30,000 each as the prize money. The Abu Dhabi University’s team of Israr Ahmed, Muhammed Abdulla and Waleed Ihsan was placed third in the competition and received AED 20,000 each. The judging panel also handed over special awards for ‘Most Innovative Idea’ to the team of Khaled Gaber and Ahmed Elsayed from the American University of Sharjah, ‘Most Socially Responsible Business’ to the team of Nikhil Kumar, Meghna Nambissan and Shyair Ganglani from American University in Dubai and ‘Best Presentation Skills’ to the team of Yasmeen Rwaished and Mohanad Rwaished from American University of Sharjah. Participating students were presented with Certificates of Participation and Certificates of Appreciation in recognition of their efforts. 


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The University of Salford Launches Plans to Help Drive Abu Dhabi 2030 Vision

New representative office will make teaching, research and professional development in vital skills more widely available across Abu Dhabi
  
UAE, May 13, 2014 – In the presence of H.H. Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, The University of Salford (United Kingdom) last night (12 May) launched plans to significantly increase its impact and presence in Abu Dhabi over the coming months, with the aim of driving the development of public and private-sector skills within Abu Dhabi to meet the demands of the 2030 Economic Vision.

Speaking at the launch of the University’s representative office in Abu Dhabi, attended by senior business people and officials, Salford’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Martin Hall announced plans for the development of a wider portfolio of postgraduate and CPD programmes, new educational and industry partnerships, collaborative projects and research initiatives in close consultation with industry and government.
Inaugural cake cutting ceremony: Salford’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Martin Hall,   H.H. Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development.
A newly-focused suite of postgraduate and professional programmes will be developed for Abu Dhabi, to be delivered through a combination of on-line and face-to-face learning. This will cover areas in which Salford has an international reputation for excellence – the built environment, business, energy, healthcare, media and digital, and science and technology – and will include:
  • The expansion of postgraduate programmes in Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Integrated Design, to drive the development of the highly-skilled workforce required to meet the goals laid out in the Smart City agenda. Since the degree was launched, a number of the large engineering firms transforming the region have received training from Salford in this leading-edge technology, including Arup, whose projects have included the development of the Abu Dhabi Investment Council HQ
  • A suite of programmes in key skills areas, including Construction Law and Practice, Construction Management, Clinical Gait Analysis, Financial Services Management, Global Management, Marketing, Occupational Therapy, Quantity Surveying and Fashion Innovation
  • A wider range of professional-development courses, from business and law to health, media and energy, and the built environment, which will be made available to both individuals and organisations 
Professor Martin Hall, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Salford, said: “The launch of our representative office will significantly enhance our rich history of working with educational partners and industry in Abu Dhabi, to deliver high-quality, postgraduate professional education in priority areas for the region and our own areas of expertise.
“Over the past 15 years, we have contributed to the region’s knowledge economy by providing robust degree programmes in partnership with other prestigious universities, government bodies, hospitals, charities and major firms from the private sector. Our academics are ideally positioned to equip the Abu Dhabi’s public and private-sector organisations with the skills they’ll need to respond to the demands set out by the 2030 Vision, which is why we have committed to greatly expand our presence and investment in the region over the next few months.”
The university will also embark on new, cutting-edge collaborative research that addresses the real-world problems of today and tomorrow and helps industry to harness research and development for the future competitiveness of Abu Dhabi and the UAE.
Professor Hall added: “As the city seeks to respond to the pace of technological change and harness the capabilities of research and development for future competitiveness, there has never been a greater industry requirement in Abu Dhabi for real-world research.
“Our increased presence in Abu Dhabi will also mean wider access to our modern, dynamic and exceptionally-equipped research centres and support from our teams of highly-experienced academics.”
Employees from firms in Abu Dhabi, the UAE and the wider Middle East, regularly come to Salford to attend executive summer schools and block-intensive CPD delivery. On-site delegates can train at the Salford campus and unique digital learning, teaching and research space in MediaCityUK – home to the BBC and one of the hotbeds for creative and digital innovation in Europe.
Industry partners within the Abu Dhabi over the past few years have included Malfraq hospital, to which Salford specialists have provided consultancy and training to ensure best practice and management of diabetic foot-care, to the significant benefit of the local population.


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UAE Ministry of Education Launches Integrated National Learning Standards Project

Program aims to prepare and provide students with skills needed for the 21st century
UAE, April 19, 2014 – The UAE Ministry of Education (MoE) announce today the launch of “Creating the General Framework of the Integrated National Learning Standards”, an unprecedented project under the theme “National curriculum towards a high class education” that aims to equip young Emiratis with world-class skills and knowledge that are in line with the UAE’s educational objectives and requirements geared towards attaining sustainable development and future growth. The program, which is one of MoE’s key initiatives, will determine clear scientific indicators to monitor the progress of public high school students in various stages. It will define the set of skills and capabilities that they must acquire for each level before graduation.
The framework will include general standards and learning outcomes, subject matters that should be integrated into all curricula and a comprehensive list of competencies that will make all public high school students competitive in the 21st century. It will also cover performance indicators, teaching and assessment strategies, professional development and training courses, study plans and recommended manuals, and evaluations, teaching and learning methods and resources.

H.E. Humaid Mohammed Obaid Al Qatami, Minister of Education, said: “MoE is on the verge of a very important stage in preparing Emirati students to become competitive in the international arena. We have implemented measures to improve the quality of scientific knowledge, abilities, and talents of our students, with special focus on innovation and creativity. Our final goal is to train future UAE leaders and scientists in various fields and disciplines.”
He explained that world-class curricula, state-of-the art technology and equipment, and paradigm shift in education – all of which will be incorporated into the final Integrated National Learning Standards – are essential in achieving this goal. 
Al Qatami stressed that the program will ensure that students – from kindergarten to high school – will gain scientific expertise and necessary skills and abilities early on to prepare them in their college education and future careers.
H.E. Khawla Ibrahim Al Mualla, Assistant Undersecretary for Educational Policies, Ministry of Education, has already started working on action plans and reviewing the suitability of education outputs and requirements of some universities, colleges and related organizations to determine the qualifications of high school graduates needed to prepare them in practical life.
She stated that MoE is encouraging active participation of school management and officials, faculty members, business owners, government institutions, parents, community members, and stakeholders in developing the project plan. The ministry has also started implementing a series of special workshops in order to reach the final framework of the Integrated Learning Standards. The first workshop was conducted in early January of this year to develop the standards for the first group of the target students. The second workshop for the second group was held in March.
The final phase of the project work plan will witness a framework of National Learning Standards (for Curriculum and Assessment) for each subject, grade level and classroom.  This includes subjects that should be merged in all curricula as well as lists of skills for 21st century high school students. It will also identify the characteristics and attributes of an ideal public high school graduate, degrees of perception ability, performance indicators, and criteria of estimating this performance. 


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ALHOSN University joins KM Middle East Conference 2012 as Academic Partner

University supports empowerment of knowledge workers in the Middle East
Abu Dhabi, UAE, MArch 26th, 2012 –  ALHOSN University, a leading Abu Dhabi-based university dedicated to high-quality value-based education, joined regional discussions on the empowerment of knowledge workers in the Arab World during the 2012 Knowledge Management (KM) Middle East Conference held recently at the Fairmont Bab Al Bahr in Abu Dhabi.

The KM Middle East Conference aims to become the premier knowledge management event in the Middle East. This year’s edition included an academic symposium for the first time. ALHOSN, the event’s official Academic Partner, shared insights on the challenges associated with the management of knowledge and participated in workshops facilitated by KM experts from five continents. The university delegates also met and collaborated with business and government leaders from across the region.

“The field of knowledge management is very relevant to our university’s mission as encapsulated by the motto ‘global knowledge with local vision.’ Although KM is a relatively new discipline, it has already been incorporated successfully in many private businesses and non-profit organizations for a better yield in business strategy, IT, or human resource management. We fully support this paradigm as a means to enhance the capabilities and productivity of the region’s growing pool of talented knowledge workers, and we intend to integrate some of its core aspects into our own academic programs,” said Prof. Abdul Rahim Sabouni, Vice Chancellor and CEO, ALHOSN University.
Knowledge management encompasses organizational strategies and practices for identifying, creating, representing, distributing and enabling the adoption of insights and experiences. It emerged as an established discipline in 1991, with courses taught in the fields of business administration, information systems, management, and library and information sciences. Other fields such as media studies, computer science and public health have also started contributing to KM scholarship.
In addition to the speeches and academic tracks, KM Middle East Conference 2012 also featured regional KM case studies, examples of KM tools, techniques and technology, and interactive workshops.
Named after Abu Dhabi’s historic ALHOSN Palace, ALHOSN University was founded in 2005 by the Abu Dhabi Holding Company in response to growing local demand for high-quality, value-based educational institutions. It currently offers 12 undergraduate and 7 graduate programs under the Faculties of Engineering and Applies Sciences, Business, and Arts and Social Sciences. ALHOSN accepts students of all nationalities and also accommodates youths with special needs. All of its programs are accredited by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.
About ALHOSN University:
ALHOSN University is a leading private university dedicated to high-quality, value-based education under the slogan “Global Knowledge with Local Vision.” The Abu Dhabi-based institution is owned and supported by the Abu Dhabi Holding Company and is fully accredited by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.
ALHOSN University manages accredited programs (11 undergraduate and 7 graduate) in three faculties, all of which were developed by top North American educational experts. Undergraduate academic degrees are offered as four-year programs and taught in English, except for the Arabic education component.
The University’s City Campus includes the Men’s Campus, the Women’s Campus, the Engineering Lab Building, the Library Building, and the Lectures Building, all located at the heart of Abu Dhabi. A main campus with world-class, state-of-the-art facilities will soon be constructed. ALHOSN is open to students from all nationalities.