K E R A L A M O N I T O R Gulf Education News Computer Associates Expand Gulf operation
Tourism and Hotel College in Oman
Tourism and Hotel College in Oman
IIM Calcutta Management Programme in Dubai
NRIs, foreigners get 15% of seats in engg colleges
Under the direct admission scheme of foreign students in engineering colleges in India (DASA-EC scheme), the Indian government has offered 15% of seats in select engineering colleges to foreign nationals and non-resident Indians (NRIs).A spokesman for the Indian embassy said the seats are available in 17 regional engineering colleges and IIIT Allahabad, IITM Gwalior, School of Planning and Architecture Delhi, SLIET Longowal, NIFFT Ranchi and NERIST Itanagar, in undergraduate engineering courses.
Indian nationals who apply for admission must have completed five years of education, including 11th and 12th or equivalent (not beyond) in a foreign country during the past eight years and pass the qualifying examination from abroad.A tuition fee of $6,000 per annum will be charged from students in this category. In addition, there shall be hostel fee, mess charges and other miscellaneous fees that vary from institute to institute. Candidates must have secured 75% aggregate marks in all subjects of qualifying examination. In case of grades the candidates must have got a minimum GPA of 8 on a 10-point scale. They also must have secured a minimum score of 1800 in SAT II tests (taken on or after March 1999) in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics II-C.Application brochure and forms are available at website www.edcil.co.in.
The forms can be submitted to Educational Consultants India Ltd along with a one-time application-cum-processing fee of $350.Educational Consultants India Ltd is a government of India enterprise in the field of educational consultancy. It helps foreign students in getting admission to Indian colleges. Their address is: Educational Consultants India Ltd, Ed. CIL House, 18 A, Sector A, Noida-201301, UP, India. Ph: 0118-4515366, fax 4512010, email: yaj@edcil.ernet.in
Computer Associates Expand Gulf operation
Computer Associates (CA) is expanding educational services in the Middle East by establishing two new learning Centres in Dubai and Lebanon. CA is also enlarging the Bahrain learning centre from 15 to 30 students. The Dubai centre can handle 30 students while the one in Lebanon seats about 20.Training schedules in the Middle East region for CA products can be accessed on the company's website: http://www.ca-me.com.
Tourism and Hotel College in Oman
Sohar University, the first private University in Oman, will start student registration for the academic year 2001-2002 has started recently. Teaching will start at three colleges. The topics covered by the Universityinclude the following : College of Business Administration,( accountancy, marketing and management), College of Engineering, (Mechanical engineering, industrial engineering, electric engineering and electronic engineering), College of Applied Science (Computer Science and Internet Technology). It awards the B.Sc. certificate and is academically affiliated to the Australian Queensland University. More than 70% of the teaching staff at the University are PHD holders.
Tourism and Hotel College in Oman
Muscat-- Oman's Ministry of Commerce and Industry announced that a Tourism and Hotel academic year will open next November. As many as 200 male and female students of the general secondary school graduates will be admitted in the college. Construction of the college building at a site behind Seeb Novotel, will start during this month. The consultancy tender for the building's second phase will be invited in September. The college will prominently contribute in qualifying Omanis who will work in tourism and hotel sector, as the Sultanate expects active tourism movement during the next years in the light of the expected new investments in the sector.The Ministry had agreed in principle, to establish a tourism college in the Sultanate under the management of the Austrian Salisburg College and the University of Tourism Sciences. The Tourism and Hotel College will be academically affiliated to these two institutions to insure international recognition for their certificate to be awarded by the college. A technical cooperation agreement between the Sultanate and an Austrian group of educational institutions, University of Tourism Sciences, to assist in Managing and establishing the tourism and Hotel College in the Sultanate was signed last month.
New Schools in Oman
Six new schools are constructed at a total cost of RO. 2 million Dakhiliyah region to be opened this year and nine others are being built at a total cost of RO. 2,5 million, said Salim bin Said al Bahri, Director-General for Education in the Bahla region of Oman. The number of students in the region's schools total 80591 pupils. There are 132 primary, intermediate and secondary schools with 3976 teachers. About 7004 new pupils will join primary education in the region this year. The first phase of the basic education system will be applied in 18 schools with 10835 pupils and the second phase in 7 schools with 5102 pupils.
New Schools in Bahrain
Manama: A new private school - Hawar International School, in East Riffa -will start functioning from September. The school will initially accept youngsters, aged three to nine years, for its nursery up to Grade Three level. Every year, a new grade will be added, until it eventually reaches the secondary school level. It is a private school for international students. The school will follow the American curriculum for the English language department and the Lebanese and Bahrain curricula for the Arabic language department. Each class will have 10 to 15 children . The school will feature a dedicated department for those with special needs.
Another girls school with an investment of BD1 million with state-of-the art facilities is being built at Hamad Town. The new Hamad Town Secondary School for Girls will consist of 40 classes, science and computer laboratories and an education resource centre. Work is also progressing on an expansion at the Isa Town Secondary School for Girls, consisting of 18 classrooms, an education resource centre, common room and administration offices.
Also Bahrain's first private girls' school will open its doors to new students on September 5. The school, which offers kindergarten and primary education and will eventually take students up to graduation in the American curriculum, also features a nursery for children aged three years and up.Youngsters will have the opportunity to learn more about the Shaikha Hessa Girls School at the orientation day, before beginning classes on September 8.More than two million school books have been printed or purchased and 20 intermediate and primary schools have been equipped with two computer laboratories. Bahrain's secondary schools have been equipped with 1,800 new computers.
Bahrain is recruiting 900 Bahraini teachers to start work at the beginning of the new school year, said media reports. around 100 technical education graduates will be trained so they qualify for teaching positions in all specialities.
Saudis to replace Expatriates in Gold Business
Saudi Arabia implemented a decision requiring the 6,000 jewellery shops in the country to employ only nationals as salesmen, administrators and in financial jobs. The step will create 20,000 new jobs for Saudi nationals over the coming months.The decision was taken last year by Interior Minister Prince Nayef, who also heads theManpower Council, a government body founded to create jobs for Saudi nationals. Saudis represent just 7% of manpower in the jewellery sector which employs more than 50,000 people. The skilled and technical side of jewellery-making, however, will remain in the hands of foreigners. the 6,000 shops, more than 2,000 small factories and workshops deal with an estimated 200 tonnes of gold annually, worth around $2bn.
UAE Imposes restrictions on Schools fee hike, Education Ministry wants student trips notified in advance
Ministry shuts six private schools
Dubai: The UAE Government has imposed severe restrictions on private schools by stipulting that schools wishing to increase tuition fees will have to meet strict criteria set by the Ministry of Education. A UAE Education Ministry official recently announced in Dubai that the revised conditions would be set by the ministry soon. These standares will decidequality of teaching, standard of school buildings and salaries of teachers. Private school fees increase will be evaluated by a special committee from the ministry. Ministry will consider the quality of school buildings, the level of services provided, the curriculum followed, the standard of teaching and the salary levels of teachers.
A delegation from the ministry, headed by General Under-Secretary Dr Jamal Al Muhairi, began inspection visits at the different educational zones in the UAE
to assess how private schools have implemented the Bylaw of Private
Education which was introduced by the ministry last July. Inspectors will examine the Abu Dhabi Educational Zone, Dubai, Al Ain, Sharjah, Ajman and Fujairah.Six private schools in several education districts nationwide have been shut down by a ministerial order issued by Dr. Ali Abdul Aziz Al Sharhan, the Minister of Education.Golden Indian Private School and Green Field Kindergarten in Dubai, Indian Oasis Private School and Shaem Private School in Ras Al khaimah, Qasimiya Private School in Sharjah and Future Generation Private School in Fujairah have been officially closed. The six schools stopped performing their academic functions two years ago and never renewed their licences.
Private schools wishing to send their students on trips abroad now have to notify the Ministry of Education and Youth at least a month in advance.Many private schools send their students to European or Arab countries during the school holidays for different purposes."To avoid any kind of problem, private schools are required to notify the Ministry of Education and Youth about the programme of the trip, including the destination, the purpose, the number of students and their names and contact numbers in case of emergency." He said the ministry, in coordination with the Foreign Ministry, will as a
safety measure also inform the embassy of the country concerned about the trip.Vocal Music Course in Qatar
Qatar based Indian Community Recreation Centre (ICRC) has resumed its vocal music classes from August first week Classes for flute, keyboard and violin would also be started soon. Guitarist Pramod is already offering guitar classes. The vocal music classes were first started in 1995 with the famous south Indian playback singer K P Brahmanandan as the teacher. The lessons were continued by playback singer V T Murali, and later on by Balamurali. Since Ramya is a resident in Qatar, now the classes could be continued without a break, the spokesman said.
Exam Toppers Falicitated in Qatar
Qatar Kasargod Muslim Jamaath felicitated Mohamed Sabik who topped in the All India Secondary School Examination of the Central Board of Secondary Education New Delhi, and Nias Ahmed, who topped in the SSLC examination, 2001.Jamaath president M P Mohamed Shafi Haji chaired the function and presented prizes to the toppers.
UAE Minister Stresses more IT Training
Dubai: The 14th Annual Conference of the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) was held in the UAE. Sheikh Nahyan Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research presided over the function in which more than 1,400 faculty members of HCT institutions across the UAE attended. The Minister stressed the need for more IT education to meet the future demands of the economy. "By using the computer-based networks and the resources on the Internet, they (students) are now free to be more pro-active, and therefore more responsible for knowledge acquisition. With this new freedom, comes numerous mentoring opportunities that enable students to form learning teams, and to access instruction outside the classroom walls," said Sheikh Nahyan Mubarak "Offering these programmes will help us fulfill our mission to train and upgrade our country's workforce. But it also means that we must continue to develop a flexible and fluid curriculum that will meet the diverse learning needs of our adult learners," he said.
"Exploring alliances with business and industry, with local and federal
government, with public schools, and with peer institutions – both within the
country and abroad – will enable us to identify future problem areas as well as areas for growth and development." Managing director of Tejari.comSheikha Lubna underlined the need for a larger pool of UAE national IT specialists. "The role of technology in the Middle East's business environment is that of an enabler, or a means by which businesses can become more efficient, more customer-focused and supplier-friendly, and ultimately, more profitable," she said."One of the most beneficial aspects for students engaged in technology studies is that they are not limited to one industry, as IT crosses all industries and affects all levels of business, from the public to the private, and across the banking, oil and gas, telecoms, medical, aviation, trading, communications and government sectors."First Interactive Children's City Coming Up in UAE
Dubai: Middle East's first interactive Children's City is nearing nearing completion in Creek Park, UAE and is expected to open by the end of this year. Dubai Muncipality is building the 90,000 square foot attraction, which will provide kids with their own learning zone and amusement facilities. Construction work for the Dh77m educational project bagan last February--it has three
buildings that will house a planetarium, cultural centre and study areas. About one million visitors are expected in the first year, as this is the only facility of its kind in the Middle East.Children's City aims to give children a hands-on experience of the theoretical subjects they learn at school and is primarily targeting five to 12-year-olds, although items of interest will also be included for toddlers and teenagers.AUS Scholarships
The American University of Sharjah (AUS) will give around Dh16.7 million to bright and deserving students as part of its financial aid and scholarship programme during the next academic year starting next month. According to a senior University Official, around 40 per cent of the students would get financial aid to continue higher studies. Around 15 to 20 per cent students who were admitted this year will get a fee discount of 25 to 55 per cent. Students with limited financial resources and with a minimum average of 85 per cent marks in the secondary school examination can apply for the financial aid programme.
The university gives scholarships to the top 23 new students enrolled ranging
from 50 per cent to 100 per cent concession on tuition fee. Students who have a minimum average of 95 per cent marks in the secondary school examination and also possess outstanding personal qualities and leadership abilities, are granted this scholarship.IIM Calcutta Management Programme in Dubai
The Indian Institute of Management Calcutta (IIMC) will hold a two-week International Advanced Management Programme (IAMP) in Dubai from September 23.Aimed at senior management executives who are planning a transition to general management function and operating in the Middle East and Asian markets, the programme will provide a holistic, multifunctional and futuristic training to enhance skills, widen perspective and develop right attitude in the face of the changing global business scenario. Dr Ranjan Das, professor of strategic and international management at IIMC, will be the programme director. The IAMP will focus on imparting strategic, functional and people related skills to enhance managerial competencies. The module on strategic skills will include corporate, business and functional strategies, which are essential for dominating the industry of the future and sustaining a strong competitive position. Other managerial issues to be discussed are business ethics, futuristic thinking, creativity and innovation, as well as cross cultural management. Dr Das indicated he will visit various leading companies in Dubai this month to explain the content of the programme to the target group of managers.
New Schools in the UAE
Dubai: Forty new kindergartens and schools will be constructed in different parts of the UAE and will feature well-equipped gymnasiums, laboratories, libraries and spacious playgrounds. According to the UAE Ministry of Education and Youth around 33 public schools located in different parts in the UAE were housed in poor buildings which lacked the essential needs for schooling and were expected to collapse at any time.
The UAE boasts remarkable achievements in education as the number of
students, teaching and administrative staff, and schools in the strategic sector
have been on the rise, thanks to the huge financial and moral support lent by the
government to education as one of the engines of comprehensive development
of the nation.The Ministry of Education and Youth has prepared a plan to establish model schools in all education zones after an experiment showed great success in introducing advanced education services for students.The Education 2020 programme would focus on increasing the number of model schools in the country to replace the current government schools. The model schools will offer special care for talented students in different artistic, sports and literary fields to help them improve their innovative skills.
The model school project, being running now in 12 schools with 4,160 students in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Dubai and Sharjah, has made remarkable achievements. The six-year-old initiative has helped to develop the creative skills of students and improve technical efficiency and performance of the teaching staff. This will produce innovative generations needed to carry out national development in line
with the advanced technologies.The Ministry of Education and Youth has also established the planning,
development and evaluation office, under the direct supervision of minister Al
Sharhan, to design, implement and follow up development plans in the
education sector.The office will be responsible for determining the strategic goals of the
education process and setting up plans and programmes to realise these goals,
in addition to assessing the feasibility of different education projects in the
country and follow up their implementation. It will also prepare national
manpower specialised in educational planning and development, through
contacts and training programmes by international experts in educational issues.The ministry has also established a national centre for the development of
curricula and methodology. The centre will focus on reviewing current curricula and introducing necessary amendments to keep pace with international developments in education services and methodology. It will also introduce modern technologies in the education process to help students acquire basic information and skills required in the labour markets in the future.These development activities are part of the ministry's educational strategy until
the year 2020, which aims to achieve balance between the outcome of the
education process and requirements of the labour markets in the country.
The number of students in the schools run by the ministry, which covers primary, preparatory and secondary schools, is about 322,009 students in the current academic year 2000-2001. These students are taught in some 747 schools, throughout the country from the major centres of population to the small villages and mountain settlements. They are taught by some 23,797 teachers who provide a satisfactory overall teacher-to-pupil ratio. Furthermore, there are some 4,256 staff in schools administration and technicians. The ministry provides special attention to special education to endorse the principle of education for development and offer chances to all categories of the society to have access to education. The total number of students at special education centres reached 1,772 from both sexes.Red Cross Scholarship for Expatriate Students.
The Ras Al Khaimah Branch of the UAE Red Crescent Society will provide needy expatriate students with scholarships to enable them pursue a higher education at local universities.According to Red Crrescent officials there were many needy students who are academically brilliant but lack the financial resources to pursue a higher education. UAE Nationals will benefit from the society's scholarships only if they prove that their families are unable to register them at private universities, if they have sought private education, and if the major they wish to study is not taught by UAE University. To be eligible, expatriate students must score a minimum 90 per cent on their General Secondary Certificate exams. The society provided 12 expatriate students at private universities with scholarships last year, and the number of students to be given scholarships this year will be increased.
Students Arrested for doing part time summer jobs.
Several schoolchildren who took summer jobs were arrested by the Naturalisation and Immigration Department of the UAE. Schoolchildren are prohibited from taking up work during the summer vacation, whether for a wage or for free. Whe a working pupil is arrested, he or she is required to sign an undertaking not to work again while in school, or face deportation if caught a second time. The schoolchildren arrested recently signed the agreement, The Naturalisation and Immigration Department inspects workshops and companies regularly to ensure that the law is enforced.
Ban on soft drinks, sweets use in Schools : Report
A study by the UAE Health Education Section has recommended banning soft drinks and sweets in preparatory and secondary schools. The study targeted schoolchildren 12 to 18 years. Some 669 schoolchildren werecovered by the study. Interviews were also conducted with teachers, social inspectors and principals. The study showed that 94 per cent of the schoolchildren in preparatory schools and 86 per cent of those in secondary school eat large quantities of chocolates, ice cream and soft drinks. The study also discovered that 17 per cent of schoolchildren in secondary school never eat breakfast. Some 29 per cent of the schoolchildren interviewed said they do not eat meat or fish. "Some 37 per cent said they totally depend on fast food for
dinner, while 64 per cent said they did not have enough knowledge of proper
nutrition.
