Study in the UAE - Higher Education

https://www.facebook.com/HigherEdUAE https://www.instagram.com/highereduae

Newappbeing developed byReinhardtMiller andRiccardo Franciawill give students unparalleled access to their higher education

ecosystem in theUAE

N b i d l d b R i h dtMill d Ri d F i

HOWAPPROPRIATE

IT’S SUNNY,HONEY!

Fromsuede skirtsand culottes tosaddlebags andoff-shoulder

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https://twitter.com/highereduae

ISSUE 02, APRIL 2016

STUDY THEUAEMAJOR

DILEMMATop universitieshelp confusedstudents getback on course

DUBAI

ALL THAT YOU CAN

BEGINS

MODUL University is the first and only Austrian university in the Middle East. For more than 100 years, MODUL Universityoffers a range of internationally-recognized undergraduate and postgraduate business degrees in the areas of tourismand hospitality, international management and newmedia technology.

General MBAMBAmajor in Tourism and Hotel DevelopmentMBAmajor in NewMedia and Information

Postgraduate

ACADEMIC OFFERINGS

International Course in Hotel ManagementHospitality Backstage ProgramCorporate Backstage Program

VOCATIONAL OFFERINGS

Admissions Open for September 2016 IntakeFor more information: 04 562 3838, 052 646 1870

Undergraduate

Foundation Program

BBA in Tourism and Hospitality ManagementBSc in International Management

Permitted by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority. The academic qualificationsgranted by this institution and certified by KHDA shall be recognised in the Emirate of Dubai by all

public and private entities for all purposes

www.modul.ac.ae

PUBLISHING DIRECTOR, GN PUBLISHING: James Hewes | EDITOR: Anshuman Joshi | SUBEDITOR: Krita Coelho | ART EDITOR: Nicholas D’SouzaPRODUCTION EDITOR: Keith Langford | ADVERTISING CONTROLLER: Gordon D’souza | PRE-PRESS OPERATOR: Yousaf Naeem

HEAD OF ADVERTISING SALES: Tripti Singh | ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER: Shahida Khan, Tel: 04 406 7645, Mobile: 056 113 6877, Email: [email protected] |CONSULTANT (SALES): Highereducation.ae

Published and printed by: Al Nisr Publishing LLC

A GULF NEWS SPONSORED SUPPLEMENT

SUMMEROF 2016Pack your wardrobe with

statement pieces that announceyour presence in the campus

24

INTHISISSUE

THEGEAR SHIFTERSUAE’s first Formula One SAE teams findthe top gear in its race to recognition

16

22COMINGUPACESSP Jain’s one-year

Global MBA programenables students tofind diverse careers

MAJOR SOLUTIONS FORMINORDILEMMAS

Universities help studentschoose a major that suits

their career aspirations

04

AHEAD FOR FIGURESPhoenix FinancialTraining gives accountinga boost in the country

20

‘BEMALLEABLE,BE ADAPTABLE’Students should taketheir time in getting theireducation priorities right

30

SWOT’S UPMurdoch University’s BusinessCup Challenge draws schools

from all over the GCC

12

22 ANTI GRAVITY29 WHAT’S UPANDWHERE33 CONNECTECHED

+

18THEMODUL FOR SUCCESS

Tourism and hospitality studentsget a helping hand from Austria’s

leading private university

THE STUDENTHUBWe speak to thecreators of edUhub,a unique mobileapplication forstudents

08

23THE POWER TO INSPIREArab Excellence provides studentswith the perfect launch platform

STUDY THEUAE

3April 2016 | STUDY INTHEUAE

?

4 STUDY IN THEUAE | April 2016

[TOPGRADE]

Mickael Assaf, an affable 18-year-oldLebanese student, enrolled for amajor in computer security atDubai’s prestigious RochesterInstitute of Technology after

completing his secondary education from AlMawakeb High School in 2013.While he was happy with his major, Assaf never

really stopped to ponder about whether he reallyenjoyed what he was studying. “When I startedworking at R.I.T during the summer as a studentadmissions representative and was asked to givetours of the university to future students, I wasimpressed with my social and communicationsskills. It was then that I realised that my socialskills and energy would be more suitable formarketing,” he says.Assaf is among the hundreds of students who

realise — sometimes a tad too late — that theirtrue vocation lies in a subject that they haveunfortunately chosen not to pursue for theirmajor. According to the National Center forEducation Statistics in the United States, about80 per cent of students in the US end up changingtheir major at least once.Choosing a major to graduate is a hard decision

as it determines a student’s future prospects.Brad Hilbrich, Associate Director of Admissions& Recruitment at RIT, says: “Switching a majormidway is very normal… I myself changed my majortwice when I was an undergraduate student.”While there may be a number of reasons to

change the major, the most common one isparental pressure. “Many students take a majorbased on what their parents want them to study

BRAD HILBRICH,ASSOCIATE DIRECTOROF ADMISSIONS &RECRUITMENT AT RIT

SWITCHING AMAJOR MIDWAYIS VERY NORMAL.I MYSELFCHANGEDMYMAJOR TWICEWHEN I WAS ANUNDERGRADUATESTUDENT

?MAJOR SOLUTIONSFOR MINOR

Universities toss out lifelines to students caught between a rockand a hard place in their choice of majors

By Chiranti Sengupta

5April 2016 | STUDY IN THEUAE

[TOPGRADE]

even if they have no interest in the field. Thisoften leads to poor performance and either failureor a change of major,” says Dan Adkins, AcademicDirector, Murdoch University — Dubai Campus.A large number of students also do not research

properly what they will be studying in a particularmajor and therefore begin to regret their choicewhen the subject matter goes awry. Many otherschoose a major with unrealistic expectationsof themselves.“They often misjudge their capabilities and they

are hit with the brutal reality that they are notexceptionally gifted and that their chosen majorinvolves lots of hard work,” points out Adkins,adding, “We have had a number of students whotook a single unit of a subject in the secondaryschool, which they enjoyed, and they, therefore,chose the subject as their major. However, theylater found out that in-depth study of thatsubject was not as interesting to them as theyhad imagined.”According to Adkins, there are also students

“who select a major because they think that theycan make a lot of money in that field even thoughthey really have no interest.“Usually about two teaching periods into their

studies, they realise that doing something youdon’t really like [or even hate] is not worth theextra money that they believe they can earn.”While sometimes a change could be as simple

as going from mechanical to electrical engineeringor from marketing to international business,sometimes students can also opt for a morecomprehensive change, possibly from engineeringto business or liberal arts and vice versa.The difficulty of changing majors is dependent

upon the curriculum and how far the student isinto their major. In most universities, however, it

is possible to change a major in the first year ofstudies without losing any credits.“After the first year, there will often be credits

that cannot be transferred as electives to the newmajor,” says Adkins.While RIT Dubai is flexible with regard to a

change in programme, Hilbrich warns: “Thefarther into a programme a student is, themore he risks adding semesters to it, when hechanges a major. While we encourage academicexploration, each of our degree programmescomes with a set curriculum, including a numberof classes that absolutely must be taken tocomplete their majors.”

Challenges of switching college majorsApart from the loss of credits, a key drawback tochanging majors midway is that it maybe lookedupon as a student’s lack of focus and passion for aparticular field.It may also indicate a certain measure of

inconsistency in the mind of the student, says DrPreeta George, Dean Masters of Global Businessand Professor of Economics at S P Jain School ofGlobal Management.“At SP Jain, each such request is carefully

evaluated by the dean, department head andcorporate relations teams before it is approved.The number of requests for changes after thestart of the programme is usually minimal as theinterview panel, comprising faculty and industryexperts, counsels a student during the interview, ifthey find any discrepancy between the candidate’sprofile and selection of a major,” she explains.The best way to minimise any issues with

changing majors is to prevent them in the firstplace, says Adkins of Murdoch University. “Ourstudent services team spends time with eachstudent discussing their life goals and interestso they can be advised on majors. If a student isunsure, we encourage them to take units fromtheir “second choice” major as electives for theirmajor, so they do not lose any credits if theydecide to switch majors later.”Given that it’s not always easy for a student,

especially when he is fresh out of school, to assesswhich major best suits his career aspirations, itis never too late to switch streams midway. “Ifa student is considering changing his degreeprogram, this usually means that he has founda major that sparks a passion in him. Studentswho change their majors at RIT Dubai tend to behappier and more successful, simply because theyare switching into a programme that matchestheir strengths or passions. I always say that oneextra year at the university is, in the long run,better than a career spent in an industry that astudent doesn’t absolutely love,” says Hilbrich.And who could agree with this more than Assaf.

He says, “I’m still young and despite the fact thattime is money, I believe that it is better late thannever. While I was content with my computersecurity major, I have found more satisfactionwith my new major in marketing. n

PREETA GEORGE,DEAN MASTERS OFGLOBAL BUSINESSAND PROFESSOR OFECONOMICS, S P JAINSCHOOL OF GLOBALMANAGEMENT

A KEY DRAWBACKTO CHANGINGMAJORS MIDWAYIS THAT IT MAYBELOOKED UPON ASA STUDENT’S LACKOF FOCUS ANDPASSION FORA PARTICULARFIELD

STUDENTS SELECTA MAJOR BECAUSETHEY THINK THATTHEY CAN MAKE ALOT OF MONEY INTHAT FIELD EVENTHOUGH THEYREALLY HAVE NOINTEREST

DAN ADKINS,ACADEMIC DIRECTOR,MURDOCH UNIVERSITY,DUBAI CAMPUS


[TOPGRADE]

Scholarships awarded to outstanding students. Limited seats for September 2015 intake(Starts in Singapore)

P: +971 4 56 16 700 | E: [email protected] | W: www.spjain.org

Undergraduate COURSESBachelor of Business AdministrationBachelor of Business CommunicationBachelor of Economics

POSTgraduate COURSESMaster of Global BusinessGlobal MBAExecutive MBA

Venue:Date:Time:

Venue:Date:

Time:

Graduate with anAustralian degree

SMS ‘MBA’ or ‘BBA’ to 3811 orCall: +971 52 251 3936

- DUBAI - ABU DHABI

S P Jain Dubai Campus, DIACFriday, 22nd April 201610:00 am onwards

Beach Rotana Hotel, AbuDhabiSaturday, 30th April 20164:00 pm onwards

Visit us at GETEX, Dubai World Trade Center - Stand E102

25-100%

As students pursuing their degree inbusiness and finance in the UAE,Reinhardt Miller and RiccardoFrancia have created edUhub, amobile application that aims to

establish the UAE as one of the most importantcentres of education in the world.Spurred on by the struggles of their own

student lives, the idea for the app came from theneed for a platform for students to share theirexperiences about their universities, which inturn could help others make that critical decisionto join a particular institution or program. Theapp covers everything from institutions, courses,events, seminars and entertainment.Abu Dhabi-based Miller, a South African,

has been living in the UAE for close to 13years. Francia, an Italian, has been here forthe last three and a half years. The boys havea mentor in Arsalan Yunus, Founder and CEO,Highereducation.ae, who supports them asstrategy director.We chat with the team of edUhub to learn

more about the work that went into the makingof the application.

Where did the idea of edUhub come from?MILLER: The idea basically came from friends.They were complaining about a lot of thingswithin the education sector and there weren’tany solutions for them. That’s when we decidedto create a platform whereby you can expressyourself, gain the latest information and grow asa student.

Reinhardt Miller andRiccardo Francia’s edUhub appwill establish UAE as one of the best destinations for

higher education

By Krita Coelho

HUBThe Student

“WE DECIDED TOCREATE A PLATFORMWHEREBY YOU CANEXPRESS YOURSELF,GAIN THE LATESTINFORMATION ANDGROW AS A STUDENT.”


[INNOVATIONMATTERS]

What is it and what does it do?MILLER: It’s a platform where students can getthe latest information on events, seminars andmusic. They can also rate and comment onany institution of choice. It reflects what we asstudents want to see in the education system.We are more interested in the student voice andprojecting that to the general public.ARSALAN: Once it’s driven through the studentvoice, I think the market will react very well to itand it will be a good way for universities to adapttheir student services counselling strategies.

How did you go from having the idea tobuilding the app?MILLER: It was a lot of time management to startwith, perseverance and also networking. Anaspect of edUhub’s growth and evolution comesfrom Highereducation.ae’s side as well. Also ourdevelopers Etcon Middle East have provided uswith a lot of advice and consultation with regardto the technological aspect of development whichhas helped us a lot.ARSALAN: We also did a lot of research. Reinhardtand Riccardo have been to education expos,interviewed students and found out their needs.It’s not just what students think the problemis; we interacted with a lot of focus groups andconducted surveys to find what would drivethe student to come to the app and what the

apps utility will be. We compiled all thefeedback, talked to our technologypartners and then created the app in away that would be very beneficial tohigher education students and evenhigh school students in the UAE.

Any obstacles you faced on the way?MILLER: We had one obstacle and

that is gaining access to the market andobviously speaking to a lot of institutionsbecause we are a small-time start-up. We havea partner in Highereducation.ae who has beeninstrumental in our success from the verybeginning and so we are really positive about thenext few months...actually the year and we hopeto expand further.

What was the hardest part about creatingthe app?FRANCIA: Honestly it was probably gatheringall the ideas. We have gone through an extraexpansion, which is our homepage and it’s goingto come out in mid-April with the app itself. Itwas interesting to see how we could fit it properlywith the original idea which was the universitysystem rating. The homepage will be populatedusing content from Highereducation.ae as also

From leftto right:

Reinhardt Miller,Arsalan Yunus andRiccardo Francia


[INNOVATIONMATTERS]

Infusion magazine, a UAE-based music andnightlife guide. This content will be updated ona regular basis.

Did you conduct market research whendesigning it?FRANCIA: We’ve have gone through multiple exposand we have given out surveys to students frommany schools, not just in Dubai, but from Ajmanand Sharjah too. We targeted people comingfrom different systems and different backgrounds.Most people these days use the phone more thanthe computer and research indicates that theyspend an average of four hours on social mediaevery day. Technology has them wired completelyand plays a huge role in influencing their livesand choices.

Whatmakes it different from other sucheducation apps?MILLER:We have not come across similar apps.This is the first of its kind whereby studentshave an integrated platform of social events anduniversity programs. It hasn’t happened before sowe are trying to provide students with discounts,latest information, more opportunities, and part-time jobs. The app expectedly will go through itsstages of evolution.

How has your experience in the UAE asstudents been?FRANCIA: It is successful because we got to meetmany people around the place and this helped usget an insight into their cultures and habits.MILLER: We have integrated a lot of opinions bothfrom an educational as well as the cultural pointof view. Students using the app should feel likethey are learning something from their peers..

What are your individual roles?FRANCIA: Originally Miller was meant to bethe CEO and I had primed myself for the CFO’sposition. However, once Arsalan joined us wewent back to the drawing board and allocatedspecific objectives for each of us. We created aresponsibility matrix where Miller is heading theorganisation in terms of business development,marketing and strategy, and I look after thefinancial part of it.ARSALAN: My job is to give support to boththese guys as a strategy director. And asHighereducation.ae we are trying to supportthese two entrepreneurs to get their app upand running.

When is the launch happening?FRANCIA:We are just in the phase of finishingwith the technology part of it. Now we are goinginto beta testing it by the end of this month. Soour target is to launch it by mid-April.

How has this project contributed to yourstudent experience?

FRANCIA: As a student you normally don’timprove that much unless you collaborate withpeople who have clear business objectives.MILLER:We are trying to understand studentbehaviour at a more intricate level becauseunless you know what they really want you can’tcreate a product like this. Many have made thatmistake and we were in no mood to repeat those.Since we are students it was very easy for us tostep into that zone.

Was it easy along the way to balance both?FRANCIA: It isn’t easy when you are tryingto balance both your academic and businessobjectives. Time management is critical and sothere are some things that you need to give upon — things that are considered “fun” as far asstudent life is concerned. But when you havesomething that you are passionate about — likeedUhub — it’s all worth the sacrifice.

How do you plan to generate awareness anddrive downloads?ARSALAN: The idea of the partnership betweenedUhub team and Highereducation.ae is to helpthem develop contacts within the industry, andassist them with the content and marketingstrategies. As Highereducation.ae we workwith 30 universities and through us they willget all support required to create awarenessacross all platforms. We have also got ourdigital marketing strategy as well and theycan hitch a ride on our platform to push theirannouncements through social media.

Was is very expensive to create this app?FRANCIA: Anything to do with innovation andtechnology comes at a price. We tried to be verycreative with our app because we didn’t want itto be another average product in the market.You need a lot of money to be adaptable in thismarket. So yes, building this app has been anexpensive proposition.

Do you planmakemoney from yourapplication?ARSALAN: Of course any business has to havesome kind of revenue structure. It is not a non-profit organisation. There’s a business plan to it.At the moment, we’re not looking to raise anymoney. We think that whatever we have collectedtogether as a group will be enough to sustainus for the next six months to a year. We look atraising money may be next year if we require it,but for now it is “customers first”.

What advice do you have for others who have agreat idea for an app?MILLER: This is why we are creating edUhub.We are here for you and we want to createmore entrepreneurs from this venture and weplan to make Dubai the number one destinationfor students. n

FEATURESTHATMATTER

SOCIALNETWORKING

MUSICRELEASES

EDUCATIONUPDATES

SOCIALEVENTS

+MORE


[INNOVATIONMATTERS]

T here’s excitement in the air asMurdoch University Dubai getsready for their acclaimed Business

Cup Challenge. Running for the fourthtime since its initiation, the competition isopen to all secondary school students intheir last two years of learning. With anincreased level of interest the event hasgrown beyond home grounds withsubmissions and participation coming infrom schools across the GCC.“In order to thrive a business must

maintain an intense focus on customersatisfaction, be agile in setting the pace

for their competitors, hire and retainthe right team, and exercise strong fiscalmanagement,” says Dan Adkins, AcademicDirector, Murdoch University, DubaiCampus. “The same holds true when youparticipate in a competition such as BCC.It’s about being present and managingyour time, resources and team.”Speaking about this unique CSR

initiative by their university he said,“BCC is often the first opportunity thatthe students get to compete with theircontemporaries academically. Studentsparticipating in the BCC are challenged

to analyse and provide solutions to realtime business cases and issues using toolssuch as SWOT analysis, PESTEL, Porter’s5 Forces, and BCG Matrices to analyse thebusiness situation.“They are encouraged to use lateral and

creative thinking to develop solutions anduse financial modelling to showcase theviability. Teams that don’t make it tothe top 10 by the day of the finalsalso have to make an “elevator pitch”,something that comes in handy if theyare approaching angel investors orventure capitalists,” he added.

The Business Cup Challenge draws schools from all over the GCC and givesstudents their first taste of corporate excellence

By Ruqya Khan

SWOT’SUP!


[WINNINGPERSPECTIVE]

Real world solutionsThe Australian International School (AIS)which participated in the competitionin 2014 is looking forward to betteringits fourth place position from the lasttime around. Mathew Anderson, SeniorSchool Maths and Business teacher fromAIS who led the team says, “It was anincredible experience for our studentsand they still talk about the BCC and theinfluence it has had on their thinking,their careers and their academicpathways. One of the highlights for mepersonally as the teacher was seeingsome of our work come to fruition. Mywife (who was also our mentor) and Iwere invited by National Bonds for thelaunch of their financial index. Three ofour concepts from the National Bonds’case study have been implemented andthat is a fantastic achievement and huge

profiling for our school. Also the Expo2020 case study saw one of our brandingconcepts being implemented on taxis as apromotional strategy.”

The competitive spiritLynda Fernandes, Faculty Leader at TheCambridge International School, Dubaiseconds the opinion that the BCC canbe a really rewarding experience. Theschool has now won the challenge threeyears in a row!“It was amazing to see our students in

all three years working their way throughthe inter-school competition with sawparticipation from 40-50 schools fromall over the GCC. From preparing casestudies to pitching ideas, the BCC is abrilliant showcase of entrepreneurialskills. It helps students to demonstratefree thinking, creativity, co-operation, a

can-do attitude, tonnes of enterprise andenables students to develop skills suitedto the workplace,” says Fernandes.She says empowering students to

create, innovate, tinker, and maketheir ideas and solutions into reality isintegral to The Cambridge InternationalSchool, Dubai. “We encourage ourstudents to participate in entrepreneurialcompetitions like these so that theydevelop creative solutions to reallife problems and come up withamazing projects.”Fernandes says this competition is

definitely a time crunch. It is essentialto plan out time effectively so there isroom to do everything students need to.“Try to find people who have differentstrengths to make up the team. The Q&Asession after the presentation is the mostimportant part of the whole experience.If you can’t articulate the solution to theproblem your company intends to fixand how much customers will pay forit, you’re probably not ready to take thestage. I would encourage students to beconfident, creative and innovative.It is a combination of having

innovative students who are willing totake risks, have the discipline to work asa team, to help each other and ultimatelyto care about finding a solution to thecase. We’re looking forward to competingagain this year. Actually, I think thatthis year will be even more challengingfor us with higher expectations goingin!” concluded Lynda. n

STUDENTS PARTICIPATING INTHE BCC ARE CHALLENGEDTO ANALYSE AND PROVIDESOLUTIONS TO REAL TIMEBUSINESS CASES AND ISSUES

DAN ADKINS, ACADEMIC DIRECTOR,MURDOCH UNIVERSITY — DUBAI CAMPUS


[WINNINGPERSPECTIVE]

S adjyot Biswal, Abdul Muqeet,Azam Barodawala, Yash Patniand Shobit Deva are all studying

Mechanical Engineering at BITS PilaniDubai Campus (BPDC) and as a teamthey are driven by their passion forautomotive research.Together they are Team Gear

Shifters, UAE’s first Formula SAEteam. The Formula SAE is a studentdesign competition organised by SAEInternational (SAE, previously known asthe Society of Automotive Engineers).This team came into existence threeyears ago with the ambition todesign and manufacture a FormulaSAE car from scratch. Together, theyhave built an all-terrain vehicle, anaccomplishment that has taken them

to several competition – to the SAEBAJA competition at Tennessee Tech.in 2013, the FSAE Michigan and FSAEItaly. Earlier this year, the Gear Shiftersbeat 120 other participants to win thepeople’s choice award – a cash prize ofDh10, 000 - at Innovator Show held inAbu Dhabi. The team now aims to builda completely new car for the 2017 seasonto take part in FSAE Germany whichwould be the team’s fourth project.Speaking on behalf of his team,

Sadjyot said, “The entire team has hada wonderful experience throughout theproject phase where we have learnt toapply the theories learnt in class ona practical level. The start was toughas the team lacked both technicalexperience and sponsors, but through

Driven by their passion for automotive research,UAE’s first Formula SAE team shifts its priorities into top gear

By Ruqya Khan

THEGEARSHIFTERS

sheer hard work and determinationwe have been able to complete threeprojects successfully becoming the firstteam to represent UAE internationally inthe Formula Student competitions.”The current car possesses unique

technical features like a cambercurve optimised double wishbonesuspension, lightweight customchassis, K&N air filter, aerodynamicallyoptimised fiberglass body panels,topologically optimised differentialand drivetrain assembly.“Our future car would consist

of complete aerodynamic package,optimized diffuser, carbon fibre body,lightweight unsprung mass for whichthe budget is quite high and a lot of helpwould be required from our sponsors interms of monetary aid and sponsorshipin kind.We are highly indebted to our faculty

and our sponsors. As students we wouldhave never been able to come up withthe Dh500,000 budget that was neededto fund our projects.” . n

The Gear Shifters pose withtheir Formula SAE car andthe prize that they won at theInnovators Show in Abu Dhabi

B.E. Civil Engineering atBITS Pilani Dubai

BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus has nowintroduced B.E. Civil Engineeringprogramme. Due approval for this hasbeen received from the Knowledgeand Human Development Authority(KHDA).The 4-year programme will followthe modular structure with variousflexibilities and options such asElectives, Practice School components,etc. The curriculum will provide broad-based foundation to undergraduatesalong with conceptual knowledge andskills of engineering design, planning,execution andmanagement.


[TOPCLASS]

Z aid Maleh is the CEO of DACHADVISORY, a fully-fledgedinvestment and project

management firm headquartered inDubai with offices in Vienna and Moscow.A seasoned investment specialist withover a decade of experience in emergingmarkets, Zaid has led and managed theestablishment of several world-classentertainment and hospitality assetsthroughout his career across multiplegeographies. Today, he oversees astrategic portfolio of leading hospitalityassets and concepts in the US, Russia,Austria, Kazakhstan, Georgia and the UK.To compliment his track-record, Zaid hasled the establishment of a state-of-the-art

With UAE establishing itself as a major hospitality andtourism hub, MODUL University is helping tourism and

hospitality students step up to the plate

By Ruqya Khan

THE

FORSUCCESSMODUL

branch campus of Austria’s leadingprivate university in Dubai. Foundedin 1908, MODUL University is theworld’s oldest and only institutionoffering courses in the tourism andhospitality industry to students who areas young as 14 and to those pursuingtheir doctorate programs.“In Austria, we grow up with

hospitality from a very early age. Itbecomes part of every youth’s DNAand this is basically reflected in ourphilosophy at MODUL University as well.So, for us, hospitality is an integral partof the society and it needs to be cherishedand lived from a very early age in orderfor it to be sustainable. When looking at

Dubai and the UAE in general, havingpositioned itself as a major hospitalityand tourism hub, not only in the region,but to the wider world, we feel that thesame DNA needs to apply. The growth inthe sector over the last five years has beenquite impressive and we feel that whatthe UAE government is doing to sustainthis growth is magnificent. We definitelywould like to be part of it and thereforewe feel hospitality is a very rewardingsector to be in at this point in time.

More than just theory“We put particular emphasis on teachingnot only the theoretical part, but alsothe vocational aspect of hospitality. Inthe absence of a clear and profoundunderstanding of what it takes for ahands-on approach in hospitality a bigchunk of that education is missing.Looking at the current offerings in theUAE, we felt there is an adamant gapto address that vocational offering. Thisis where MODUL comes in to bridgethat education gap between theory andpractice.

ZAID MALEH,CEO OF DACH ADVISORY


[LEARNINGCURVE]

A recent offering that we have launchedis ‘Hospitality Backstage’. Basically, whatwe are doing is we take high schoolstudents backstage into hospitality. Wetake them to our partner hotels andshow them the kitchen, make them cooktheir own meal, serve it, take them tothe laundry department, the back officesto do the booking and show them whatit takes to pull up a five star or luxuryhotel as they have experienced with theirfamily and friends. It makes them fullycapture what goes on behind the scenes.This program has been very well receivednot only by the schooling community, butalso by our partner hotels.”Addressing the mind-set that the

hospitality is a rather demandingindustry, Zaid said, “Unfortunately, thisprofession is not seen as rewardingand we take it as our mission to changethat perception. Last year in UAE,over 530,000 jobs were created in thehospitality sector which makes thissector the largest employer by far and thebiggest contributor to the GDP. However,if you look at the higher education only

1% of the students elect hospitality astheir future study program – and thisdoes not quite make sense. In today’senvironment, you choose a study whereemployability is guaranteed. People needto understand that hospitality can be abeautiful starting point of anyone’s career.

Expo 2020 opportunities“In Austria, we have a fully developedtraining hotel - it is operated, run andmanaged by students. They are at thefront desk, kitchen, and housekeeping– they learn from doing. Our vision isto replicate that successful DNA herein Dubai. We are starting off with astate-of-the-art campus utilising ourpartner hotels and steadily we will buildtowards the training hotel with completeinfrastructure.”Owned by the Austrian Chamber of

Commerce, it is a big step for MODULUniversity to go outside the bordersof Austria “Expo 2020 has been amagnificent boost to that decision-making by the Chamber. We are alreadyin touch with the Expo 2020 committee

where we are exploring a mutuallybeneficial collaboration of opportunities.Their target of having over 1,000 hotelshere by then grants us an extraordinaryopportunity,” explained Zaid.A study without practical knowledge

is half the bill particularly in today’scompetitive environment. Studentshave to be multilingual and havework experience in order to find jobs- this is where industry tie-ups are animportant part of the contribution. “Theemployability of our graduates has beenat three months on average and this isquite impressive. Here in Dubai, we willreplicate the success that we have back inAustria,” says Zaid.Getex2016 is another commitment

that MODUL is excited to be part of.“Having obtained the license from KHDA,we intend to use Getex as a platform tocommunicate our offering to the Dubaicommunity and the wider audience. Wehave structured great initiatives like ourmerit scholarships, Austrian quizzeswhere winners can avail great prizes andscholarships to join MODUL University.” n

COURSEMENUAcademic Offering• Foundation Program

Undergraduate Programs• BBA in Tourism and HospitalityManagement

• BSc in International Management

Postgraduate Programs• General MBA• MBAmajor in NewMedia andInformation

• MBAmajor in Tourism and HotelDevelopment

Vocational Offering• International Course in HotelManagement

• Hospitality Backstage Progtam• Corporate Backstage Program

DUBAI


[LEARNINGCURVE]

At Phoenix Financial Training the future seems bright as they train students toget ready for a new world of financial accounting in the UAE

AHEADFORFIGURES

D avid Thomasson is theManaging Director andCo-Founder of Phoenix

Financial Training (PFT). Set up in2006, PFT is licensed in DIFC anddelivers courses leading to PersonalFinance Qualifications in ACCA, CIMA,ICAEW, ACT and CMA. In addition theyoffer a range of bespoke wider financialcourses in Financial Awareness Buildingand Corporate Treasury.“At PFT, we are the Phoenix family.

The business structure is informal, atotal 15 staff members, with huge loyaltyand interdependence within the team.This then translates into how we treatour students. The tutors provide hugesupport to the students, sharing emailand mobile contact numbers, attendingstudent social events, etc. The idea is

to put students first, both within theclassroom and outside. The customersupport team is also at hand to providehelp, guidance and support to thestudent body,” says Thomasson.“We go the extra mile to support

our students and their families. TheAssociation of Chartered CertifiedAccountants (ACCA) changes examstructures and content all the time andwe are always adapting our teachingmethodologies to enhance our studentsexperience. We also deploy technologyin terms of online resources whereverappropriate, but the emphasis is alwayson building the tutor and studentrelationship so to maximise the latter’schances of success. The courses that weoffer are globally accepted, but it takes alot of hard work and persistence to get

through these exams. ACCA which hasnearly half a million students worldwideis recognised everywhere except perhapsin the US,” he adds.Phoenix is known for its consistently

high pass rates - an achievementembellished by the whole “going theextra mile” attitude. “We offer a freelifetime resit and celebrate our students’successes. In addition we work veryhard with employers to create bothjob and internship opportunities forour students. It is often hard for youngpeople with a ‘blank’ CV to get a start– we run workshops to enhance theirskills (CV writing/interview techniques,etc.) and then find work opportunitiesfor them through employers – many ofwhom are ex-Phoenix students!” saysThomasson.

By Ruqya Khan


[NUMBERGAME]

One of the reasons that the ACCA isbecoming even more important in theUAE is that it has now been adopted asthe base for the UAECA (UAE CharteredAccountant) qualification. A MOU wassigned recently between ACCA andthe AAA (Accountants and AuditorsAssociation) of the UAE. This effectivelymeans that a student studying for bothaccreditations will be able to apply formembership of UAECA.“In the future holding a UAECA

certification will become increasinglyimportant to accountants working in thecountry as regulatory bodies may makeholding the qualification mandatory for

them to sign off accounts. A majorityof our students are expats and it ishoped that the establishment of theUAECA qualification may encourageUAE nationals to look more favourablyupon finance and accountancy as a highprofile career,” he hopes.“Organisations and businesses in

the UAE are starting to take financeseriously. An internationally accreditedfinance qualification will become thebenchmark for employers wishingto be sure of the abilities and skillsetsof potential employees. The key thingis to recognise that a Bachelor ofCommerce or an MBA does not equipindividuals with the practical andvocational skills needed to be effectivein the workplace.“A fully recognised accounting

qualification is required to enablestudents to effectively deploy theconceptual skills learnt in universities.Hopefully over time this will beincreasingly recognised and thecontribution to the success of businessesand indeed the nation which qualifiedaccounting professionals can bring willbe harnessed – this process has startedbut there is still a long way to go.” n

THE ESTABLISHMENTOF THE UAECAQUALIFICATION MAYENCOURAGE UAENATIONALS TO LOOKMORE FAVOURABLYUPON FINANCE ANDACCOUNTANCY AS AHIGH PROFILECAREER OPTIONS

DAVID THOMASSON, MANAGINGDIRECTOR, CO-FOUNDER, PFT

CHALLENGESPOSEDBYVAT

The adoption of Value Added Tax(VAT) by GCC countries in 2018will bring many challenges forbusinesses. In general this shouldbe seen as a positive step to diversifygovernment income streams –there is a downside risk of lowerdemand, but the positive economicbuild up expected in the lead upto Expo 2020 in the UAE should becapable of handling this. However,the lack of understanding of taxesgenerally and VAT in particularis likely to cause headaches forbusinesses. Whilst VAT is sometimesseen as a straightforward indirecttax (i.e. collected on behalf ofthe government) the key is theknowledge required to properlyaccount for and handle the collection,administration and payment of thistax. Whilst we do not currently knowexact details, it is possible thatbusinesses will have to handle:

• The relevant date at which the VATon sales must be accounted for orat which the VAT on expendituremay be claimed.

• Varying payment schemes basedon cash or an accruals basis.

• Complexities in terms of cut offand payment dates.

• Issues on what expenditure canbe offset and what is eligible.

• Whether their current accountingsystem can handle VAT.

VAT is not a simple one sided salestax – we need to account for bothrevenue and expenditure and thecomplex rules that will inevitablyfollow will put businesses in aserious ‘knowledge gap’ situation.Remember that most VAT regimeshave significant penalties relatingto non-compliance and that thisis therefore going to presenta significant challenge to UAEbusinesses leading up to 2018.


[NUMBERGAME]

SP Jain School of Management’s acclaimed one-year Global MBA program ishelping students find careers in diverse industries

By Ruqya Khan

COMINGUPACES

T he Global MBA programof SP Jain School ofGlobal Management

received a Global Top Ten rankingby Forbes in its Best InternationalMBAs: One Year Program rankings(2015-2016).SP Jain received highest job

acceptance rate of all schools inthe ranking. Three months aftergraduation, 97% of its class wereemployed. Alumni saw a median$51,800 gain on their investmentfive years after the MBA. Thetruest worth of an institution canonly be measured by the successof its alumni. On this front thestudents have done their universityand themselves proud.

Multicultural exposureTomy Augustine, TeamLeader, InventoryPlanning andProcurement atWestcon Middle East, heis a graduate of GlobalMBA (GMBA) class of

2011. He said, “The GMBA program hashelped in providing me good businessacumen and exposure to the globalbusiness landscape. The program hasgiven me amulticultural exposure andhelped develop skills required forcorporate and personal growth. Thefaculty and peers have been goodknowledge bases and helped inunderstanding business situations indifferent industries. The coursepedagogy has a remarkable balancebetween theory and application. Thishelps students to gain knowledge as wellas develop skills required to take on thecompetitive work of business.”

Diverse peer groupShirish Bansal, DemandManager with EtihadAirways is a graduate ofGMBAClass of 2013.“The GMBA gave me anedge in terms ofknowledge and prepared

me to rise up the corporate ladder. TheUSP of this course is its multi-city modeland diverse peer group, that exposes youto different cultures and industries. TheApplied Research Project and ActionLearning Project were the highlights ofthe program. They allow you to applyyour learning on real projects andinteract with like-minded professionals. Igot one of those opportunities at HeinzAfrica &Middle East, and within twoyears I managed the company’s entireDemand Planning operations for MENAregion. Then I seamlessly grabbed anopportunity in the airlines industry, whenI moved to Etihad Airways as DemandManager for my next stint.”

Retail industry knowledgeOmar Shabir Qazi,Senior Buyer withMikyajy and graduate ofGMBAClass of 2005feels very strongly aboutthe program, “There isno better Business

school than SP Jain School of GlobalManagement to develop a globalperspective of the business and shapeyour career. At the school, I gainedtremendous knowledge of variousaspects of business. The RetailManagement program gave me in-depthknowledge about the retail industry anda wide understanding of all of thecomponents involved, such as supplychain, buying, retail strategy, visualmerchandising, marketing, productdevelopment and brand management.The MBAwas designed to promotecritical thinking, and gave students everychance to build a wide skill set applicableto many business career paths.”


[BIZBUZZ]

A rab Excellence is global non-profit organisation based in fivecountries. Through events,

workshops, interviews and educativeprogrammes it aims at inspiring andempowering the young generation usingsuccess stories and role models that theycan relate to. The aim is to help studentsand trainees nurture a mindset ofexcellence and provide them withdifferent ways of achieving it.After launching several programmes

across the world at institutions suchas the Stanford University, AmericanUniversity of Beirut among others, ArabExcellence has made a foray into the UAE.

Hamza Chraibi, Founder and President,Arab Excellence explains the story behindthese programmes and their impact onUAE’s education system.“I grew up in Morocco, and I was very

confident about my country, my culture.Meanwhile, my mother who was a teacherat a local high school, used to tell methat students didn’t want to come toschool anymore because they were not

motivated. This is not something uniqueto Morocco, the feeling is prevalentglobally. Most Arab students believe thatto be successful, they needed to go abroadto pursue their academic goals.”It was to get rid of this feeling of

despondency that Hamza decided toset up Arab Excellence. “We wanted toinspire and empower the next generationthrough role models, pragmatic toolsand transferable skills so as to help themto grow both professionally and on apersonal level,” he adds.

In the very first year after he setup Arab Excellence Hamza ended upmeeting amazing achievers from theregion who had started from scratch— entrepreneurs, CEOs, artists, sportschampions, etc. Some were famous,others not so much. But they wereall willing to help — people like FadiGhandour, Founder and CEO, Aramex;the late Zaha Hadid, the first woman towin the Nobel Prize for Architecture;and Nawale El Moutawakkel, the firstArab woman to win an Olympic gold

and current Vice-President of theInternational Olympic Committee.Prominent figures from the UAEincluded, Ahmed Al Qahtani, Presidentand Founder, AQ Skin Solutions and BadrJaffer, Chief Executive Officer of CrescentEnterprises and President of CrescentPetroleum, among others.“While talking to high schools,

universities, and educational institutions,we found that there is a need forprogramming to bridge the gap betweeninspiration and empowerment — so wedecided to create it,” says Hamza. “First, ithad to be leadership-focused, leveragingin an unambiguous way stories of positiverole models to help students get someconfidence. The second step was to deliverspecific tools to help students convert theirdreams into reality.”

Arab Excellence uses role models to inspire and empower high school and universitystudents to become leaders of the next generation

THEPOWERTOINSPIRE

To learn more or get involved:visit their website: arabexcellence.comor contact Hamza [email protected]


[ROLEMODELS]

This season’s fas

hion for the youth has a

newmaximalist spirt, one that is al

so fun,

flirty and fab! Packyour war

drobe with

statement pieces that an

nounce your presence16

ummerof

The

FORHERIt’s a new season, a cleanslate, and the perfect timeto update your wardrobewith quality pieces and freshsilhouettes. Be bold and reachfor those snakeskin mules orsilk bomber. You’re reinventingyourself and your closet so lookout for what’s new. Here’s whatyou will be seeing on campusesand on the chic streets.From touches of boudoir lace,big bows as embellishmentsand a ’90 inspired revival on therunway that saw clean angularcuts to ruffles, pleats and arelaxed beach-wear vibe, thisseason’s fashion staples for theyouth are fun, flirty and fab.Even though the weather isedging up on the Fahrenheitscale, the bomber jacket, whichhas recently taken over thefashion world, is still cool.Wear it in lightweight fabricsin unusual colours withembroidered embellishments.The other cool element forthe season that’s here to stayare oversized stripes. Theyare all over from tights totunics and help add drama toyour wardrobe without beingoutrageous.The slip dress is everywhereand on everyone from CalvinKlein to Celine and Rihannato Jennifer Lawrence. If youdon’t like the clinging, slinkysilhouette, try the A-lineversion of this trend thatis just as chic and a mucheasier wear.

YOU’RE

REINVENTIN

G

YOURSELF AND

YOURCLOSE

T SO

LOOKOUT FOR

WHAT’S NEW.

DIESELDenim dressDH1,299

LONGCHAMPPink shortsPRICE ONREQUEST

PAULE KAOptic printtopPRICE ONREQUEST

PAULE KADual-fabricA-line dressin sequins andsatin-backedcrepePRICE ONREQUEST

H&M STUDIOPantsDH199


[INSTYLE]

LA CHATEAUGeo print crêpede chine blouse

PRICE ONREQUEST

PAULE KAA-line dress inlarge zig zagprint twillPRICE ONREQUEST

ICONICPink jacketDH180

PAULE KASleeveless A-linedress in BayaderetechniqueorganzaPRICE ONREQUEST

DIESELBandana-printmaxi dressON REQUEST

ICONICDenim shortsDH90

MANGO AT NAMSHIEmbellished shortsDH199

LONGCHAMPIridescentleather hoodedsleeveless jacketON REQUEST

AEROPOSTALEJumpsuitDH150

[INSTYLE]


16ummer

of

The

FORHIMThere is nothing more attractivethan a guy who knows how tostyle himself. Boys are by nomeans exempt from fashionjudgment, so a well put togetherlook can alter your appearance.You’re in college; say goodbye toold school sweatpants, basketballshorts and cargo shorts. Adddenim into your wardrobe. If youare in excellent physical shapethen go for the low-rise jeans.Skinny jeans compliment alanky build. Team your denimswith basic classy sweatshirts,cardigans or a graphic tee.Trendy sportswear will continueto be seen in the gym andon the sidewalk in 2016. Thegym-clothes-gone-luxury trendwill continue to gain steam,sometimes intermingling withother aesthetics. For footwearleather shoes come in a rangeof styles or you can easily slip ona pair of cool moccasins. Trendycanvas sneakers are also easyto pull off.

PEDROSlip-onsDH399

ALDORed slip-onsDH445

COSBlue sweatshirtDH130

DIESELTapered jeans

DH4,999

H&M STUDIOSweatshirtDH249

GUESS ATNAMSHIT-shirtDH205

G-STAR RAWAT NAMSHIRipped jeansDH679

TUMITan Hexagon PrintChambers SlgDouble Billfoldwith IDON REQUEST

BOYS ARE BY NO

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FROMFASHION

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CAN ALTERYOUR

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GUESS AT NAMSHIDenim jacketDH480

LONGCHAMPBackpacksON REQUEST

[INSTYLE]


ACCESSORIESThe bags, the boots, theearrings, the pumps, theheadpieces: Keeping up withthe season’s accessoriescan take as much time asthe ready-to-wear itself. Thisseason in particular founddesigners embracing a headymix of accouterments, fromtiaras and funky graphic bagsto dangly shoulder dustersand more, all right in stepwith clothing’s newfoundmaximalist spirit.Glitter, sparkles, beads, lace,bows and ribbons or poppingcandy are just some of theways to fun-up your footwear,while the ever-present laceupsare showing no signs of waningin popularity. Statement neck-pieces continue to be the go-tosolution to glam up any outfit.And bags are graphic, funky,bright and in every conceivableshape and size, but somethinghas to be said about the softslouchy bags that are fun tocarry around. In the mood tochannel your inner princess,don’t leave the house withoutsomething sparkly in your hair.Headbands, hair pieces andtiaras are all the craze.Accessories are no longercontent to be relegated to thesidelines and this season is allabout statement pieces thatshout out your style, ratherthan subtly whispering it.

LONGCHAMPSandalsON REQUEST

MISSYDenimembellishedhandbagDH129

H&M STUDIOYellow sandalsDH179

SASHA BELLDangler earringsDH19

SPLASHSunglassesDH20

PAULE KAZig zag

print scarfON REQUEST

ICONICDrop earringsDH30

LONGCHAMPBackpackON REQUEST

PAULE KAScarfON REQUEST

ICONICBracelet

DH40

SPLASHNecklaceDH45

KANGAROOSSneakersDH189

LONGCHAMPTote bag

ON REQUEST

THIS SEASON IS ALL

ABOUTSTATEM

ENT

PIECESTHAT

SHOUT OUT YOUR

STYLE,RATHER

THAN SUBTLY

WHISPERING IT.

April 2016 | STUDY INUAE 27

[INSTYLE]

T hrowing a spotlight on the thrivingeducation sector in the GCC is the GulfEducation and Training Exhibition

(GETEX), the region’s leading and the mostcomprehensive education and training expo.Serving as a significant networking and

learning platform for students, teachers,trainers and professionals, the 2016 edition ofthe prestigious exhibition, running from April13-15 at the Dubai International Conventionand Exhibition Center, will bring together 300exhibitors from 40 countries, showcasing morethan 2,500 study programmes.More than 35,500 visitors attended the 2015

edition to check out study options from 400institutions. A total of 22,365 students registeredat the 2015 event, with the combined number oflearners and parents reaching 8,165, apart from710 faculties and 4,263 other participants.“Exhibitors from GETEX 2015 generated

unprecedented on-the-spot applications as wellas back-to-back student inquiries with highconversion potential. Several leading universitiesand academic institutions were also able toestablish strong relations with their targetaudiences, particularly parents and students,

Getex 2016will bring together 300 exhibitors from40 countries,showcasingmore than 2,500 study programmes

By Sanaya Pavri

GET MORE, GETEXTRA

from across the region,” says Anselm Godinho,Managing Director, International Conferences andExhibitions (IC&E), the organisers of the event.

Top attractionsApart from focusing on the key topics suchas general education, residential schools,undergraduate and postgraduate education thisyear’s edition introduces two new segments toenhance its relevance in the local education sector.“While the University Panel Discussion

and Q&A Session provides an ideal platformfor students, parents, faculty and admissionofficers to participate in a series of moderatedpresentations, the Professional DevelopmentInformation Exchange segment will givehuman resources and training professionalsan opportunity to connect with post-graduatestudents and offer their advice on careerdevelopment,” says Godinho. “The GETEXCounsellors Forum is set to host over 100 careerguidance counsellors this year from across theregion. Here, we look at arming counsellorswith the information and knowledge to source,research and deal with situations that are criticalto students’ career choices.”

“THE GETEXCOUNSELLORSFORUM IS SETTO HOST OVER100 CAREERGUIDANCECOUNSELLORSTHIS YEARFROM ACROSSTHE REGION”

ANSELM GODINHO,MANAGING DIRECTOR, IC&E


[EVENTPROFILE]

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UNIVERSITY IS A KEYPART OF THIS JOURNEY.SUCCESS AS A STUDENT ISFAR MORE ACHIEVABLEWHEN YOUR INTERESTSARE ALIGNEDWITHWHAT YOUR ENDEMPLOYMENT GOALS ARE.

DR. AYOUB KAZIMMANAGING DIRECTOR OF DUBAIKNOWLEDGE VILLAGE (DKV) AND DUBAIINTERNATIONAL ACADEMIC CITY (DIAC)


[CAREERCHOICES]

Making the right university and degree program choice can sometimes be an overwhelmingprocess, and students should take their time to get it right

W e are fortunate to live in timeswhere the range of highereducation programmes that

students can access has never beengreater. As the new academic year getsunderway, the myriad of options availablecan make selecting the right university,out of the hundreds of institutions, anoverwhelming process.In making such a important decision,

one that shapes future careers, there area number of factors that need be takennote of.Firstly, take the time to consider where

the future demand for jobs lies and buildyour higher education program aroundthis. For the UAE, a good guide are theseven national priorities of the country’sNational Innovation Strategy: Renewableenergy, transportation, education, health,technology, water and space. Large-scaleevents such as Dubai Expo 2020 willrequire thousands of workers from a widerange of industries such as tourism andhospitality, construction, and transportand logistics. Dubai’s quest to become thecentre of the Islamic economy will alsonecessitate a growing number of financialservice industry professionals.Above all, employability should be

considered a top priority when decidingon a university and education program.Being adaptable and malleable to thechanging needs of industry will greatlyimprove the chances of workplace successafter graduation.Business and career success is often the

result of hard work and having a passionfor your chosen profession. As Steve Jobsfamously said, “the only way to do greatwork is to love what you do”.University is a key part of this

journey. Success as a student is far more

By Dr. Ayoub Kazim

‘BEMALLEABLE,BEADAPTABLE,ANDBEPASSIONATE’

achievable when your interests arealigned with what your end employmentgoals are.I am a firm believer that a school

that places a strong emphasis oninnovation, nurtures talent by unlockingpotential, encourages critical thinking,and promotes entrepreneurship,should be high on the list of schools forprospective students.When looking for a particular

university, focus your search on academicinfrastructure, school facilities, academichistory and performance, reputation, andwhere possible the university’s ranking.Assessing a university by its partnershipswith major industries and governmentdepartments is important as well, as isits level of engagement with the widercommunity. University location andconvenience should also be consideredas travelling long distances can provedraining on a student’s time and energy.Cost is another important element

in selecting the right university andeducation program. Tuition fees shouldbe closely studied to establish whethervalue for money exists and whether theprogram fits within a set budget. Students

should avoid overburdening themselvesfinancially. If a preferred educationprogram is beyond financial reach, it isworth investigating what scholarshipprograms at the school are available.If possible, contacting alumni of the

university you are interested in willhelp immensely in the decision makingprocess. These former students will havevaluable first-hand experience of campuslife from both an academic and socialperspective. Perhaps more importantly,alumni are best placed to advise on thekind of job opportunities available forgraduates. This is a great way to assesswhether the career path you arepursuing will lead to meaningfulemployment after graduation.In this rapidly evolving world, the

demand on graduates to be able tooperate in a diverse workplace continuesto grow. Selecting a university thatpromotes and embraces nationaldiversity, while challenging studentsto discover and understand differentcultures, will help ease the transition intotoday’s corporate lifestyle.At Dubai Knowledge Village and Dubai

International Academic City, we remaincommitted to providing opportunitiesto bring together industry experts,government and academia to discussways to improve education, trainingand knowledge development. Only byresponding to the needs of industrycan we ensure that students enter theworkforce with the necessary skills tosupport the UAE’s development andunderpin economic growth. n

Dr. Ayoub Kazim is Managing Directorof Dubai Knowledge Village (DKV) andDubai International Academic City (DIAC)

DR AYOUB KAZIM, MANAGING DIRECTOR,DUBAI KNOWLEDGE VILLAGE


[CAREERCHOICES]

COMBAT READYThere’s no better way to let off steamthan going into full-on fight mode.Get a bunch of friends together andhead to a paintball arena for an hourof serious action. For the uninitiated,paintballing is a popular sport playedin a controlled environment whereteams are formed to take opponentsdown by shooting paint pellets.There are several sets of rules andgames you can opt for, dependingon the arena you’re at. Protectivesuits, helmets and fighting gear areprovided, but you need to get yourhead in the game if you want towin — paintballing is as much aboutstrategy as it is about physical fitnessand being a good shot.

IN THE DEEPIf you’re a water baby, go fora spot of scuba diving off thecoast of Musandam. The marinelife here is spectacular, and thecurrents aren’t too sharp, soit’s perfect for a summer’sday. From stunning coralreefs and every conceivablecolour of fish to whale sharks,dolphins, rays and turtles, theseascape offers a varietyof sights. Just three hours awayfrom Dubai, Musandam hasseveral dive sites depending onthe depths you’re comfortablewith. Join one of the numerousall-inclusive diving trips that areoffered across the UAE and geteverything from transportationto accommodation andcertified instructors.

AIR LIFTChallenge yourself and take to theskies as you hurl yourself towardsearth from a ramp or plane. Bungeejumping and skydiving may seem aspopular as sporting a tat these days,but there’s no denying the electrifyingrush that pulses through you athundreds or thousands of feet abovesea level. It may all be over in a fewseconds, but the experience will lastyou a lifetime. Plus, it’ll teach you alot about yourself – how far you canpush, howmuch stress you can take,and the extent to which you followthrough with what you’ve set yourmind on. You’ll gain confidence andan appreciation of life – not bad for alesson, right?

In Dubai, atandem bungeejump at www.

gravityzone.co costsDh490, while a tandemskydiving experience atwww.skydivedubai.ae

is Dh1,999.

Hit up www.sheesabeach.comfor a day/overnightscuba diving trip to

Musandam.

Pricesat www.

paintballuae.comin Sharjah startfrom Dh90.

Letting your hair down is thus vital for your sanity, so we’ve drawnup a roster of adventures that will work wonders for your well-being

ANTIGRAVITYTania Bhattacharya

[ADVENTUREZONE]


W here do cool gadgets go for their annual meetup?Well, every January, they hop over to Las Vegas for the world’s largest gadgetsgathering — the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Apart fromwowing visitors with the latest and greatest in consumer tech,the event also acts as a crystal ball for where the industry is headed, and the trends consumers will be rocking to. As in previous

years, CES 2016 showcased an eclectic mix of technologies that were creative, game-changing and, in some cases, totally crazy! Here wepresent a roundup of innovations that could help students acquire an edge over their peers and future competitors.

CONNECTECHED

BrainBitThink of it as a fitness tracker, but for yourbrain. In the shape of a headband that youwear the entire day, the BrainBit claims tohelp you “discover the infinite potential ofthe mind”. It uses four EEG touch pointsand three reference sensors to extract “highfidelity spatial resolution and insights intobrain activity”. The data is then sent to asmartphone app, where it is analysed andused to “optimise your brain performanceandmonitor your cognitive health andwellness”. So will this upcoming wearablerocket you from the bottom of the classright to the top?Will it help you acethe Maths exam or turn you intoEinstein 2.0?Well, it is too earlyto say, but this is one gadgetintriguing enough to watchout for this year.

IT USES FOUREEG TOUCHPOINTSAND THREEREFERENCESENSORSTO EXTRACT“HIGHFIDELITYSPATIAL

RESOLUTIONAND INSIGHTSINTO BRAINACTIVITY”.

LittleBits STEAMStudent SetAnother great way to expand your creativehorizons is littleBits STEAM Student Set.Launched this March after CES, the setoffers eight “fun” challenges that getprogressively tougher — you get to tryyour hand at whipping up a self-drivingvehicle, an automatic “artistic assistant”,a security device, and even a “throwingarm” —which, it seems, teaches you“forces of motion through a fun game ofprojectile-launching”. And once you haveperfected your projectile launching skills,you can take up tougher challenges like“hacking your classroom, inventing forgood, and hacking your habits”. Overall, theset aspires to be “a powerful toolbox forinvention-based learning” that empowersstudents to “think creatively and designand engineer solutions to real-worldproblems”. Besides, as littleBits pointsus, “Today’s students are extremely techsavvy, but much of their relationship withtechnology is one of consumption.Webelieve we need to encourage studentsto be creators, so that they can thrive in acomplex, fast-moving and rapidly changingtechnical world.”


ByDeepakKarambalkar

TECH FOR THE SMART PEOPLE

LEGOWeDo 2.0Seems the time has come to go beyondmerely building cute structures withLEGO blocks. TheWeDo 2.0 education kit wants you to build robots, instead.The kit includes tilt and motion sensors, motors and other parts you will needto DIY your way to a robot that will be the talk of the town. Or at least, theclass. And it is not just hardware — you will also learn to programme the robotand bake some smarts into it. The underlying goal here is to challenge yourcreativity and get you interested in science, technology and a bit of coding.You could start with the $160 Core Set that will “ignite” your curiosity — andwho knows, you might go on to build a self-aware Skynet that may somedayunleash Terminators upon us!

SENSORWAKECLAIMSTO BE THE“WORLD’SFIRST

OLFACTORYALARM” THATPUTS ANEND TO THE“BEEPINGDAYS” OFALARMCLOCKS

SCIOMolecular Sensor

As the cliché goes, students will eat justabout anything that comes their way. Butwhether you are surviving off unbrandednoodles or enjoying a seven-course meal,you have to to ensure that the food ishealthy. And for that, you can use sixth sense— a pocket molecular sensor that scans foodand fetches information about the chemicalmake-up. The companion app also pulls outnutritional facts for dairy products, fruits andvegetables. Future updates will cover drinks,meats and salad dressings. Incidentally,unlike a thermometer, SCIO does not needto be poked into food — the optical sensoris a non-intrusive, no-touch affair. And apartfromwhat you eat, the device can analysemedications, oil and even fuels.

One of the toughest challenges in astudent’s life is surely waking up earlymorning, especially after a late-nighterwith friends.While there are many alarmclocks that use ‘extreme’ techniques toforce you out of bed, the Sensorwaketakes the rather gentle — but effective —approach of waking you up to the smellof coffee. Or even croissant, chocolate,peppermint, the smell of the ocean orthat of a lush jungle. Sensorwake claims tobe the “world’s first olfactory alarm” thatputs an end to the “beeping days” of alarmclocks, and replacing themwith “beautiful,delightful” scents. Demoed at CES 2016,the clock is currently available on pre-orderfor $99. A set of two fragrance capsuleswill set you back by around $11.

SensorwakeAlarm Clock

XYZ daVinci Printers

3D-printing has been pegged as thenext big thing, but it remains out ofreach for most consumers. Especiallystudents hoping to turn their zanyideas into a tangible reality, but on thecheap. XYZ Printing hopes to tacklethis limitation with a new range ofaffordable 3D printers and accessories.The da Vinci Mini printer, for example,claims to be the “ultimate, light-weightdesktop 3D printer for those that valuedesk space, simplicity and portability”.Even better, it will cost just $269 — abargain basement price in the world of3D printers! Or you could ramp up to theda Vinci Junior, which comes with a 3Dscanner baked in. And if you have someloose change jangling in your pockets,the $49 3D Pen claims to be “great forDIY craft projects”, and works withouta computer. At CES, XYZ Printing alsotalked about education solutions likeXYZ STEAM— an online exchangeprogramme for schools to bring 3Dprinting right into the classroom.


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