5a) Magazine Fall 2012 (4 articles)

Mrs. Ban Ki Moon
The United Nations First Lady's Historic Visit
The Genius Learning Method
Christian Opitz's visit to Dar Al-Hekma
Giving Back
Speech, Language and Hearing
Science scores thrice

Table of Contents
Letter from the Editor
“My Name Is” Workshop
MBA Launch
Graduating Class of 2012
Dar Al-Hekma’s Big Win
An Exclusive Interview with
Professor Aliaa Khidr
Mrs. Ban Ki Moon
International Business Development
Workshop
Alumnae Achievements
Exhibitions
Diabetes Awareness Day
A Forum to Encourage Fitness
Sports Team Achievements
Water Conservation
Breast Cancer Awareness
Women As Global Leaders
Conference
Morningside Academy
Harvard Model United Nations
19th Annual Willem C. Vis
Arbitration Moot
Further Achievements at-a-Glance
A Final Word
Noor Al-Hekma is the official Dar
Al-Hekma magazine produced by
the department of Marketing and
Communications at the Institutional
Advancement Division. In addition to
publishing news and views relevant to
the College, Noor Al-Hekma aims to
place local issues in a global context.
Editor-in-Chief
Samar Al-Sayed
Graphic design
Farah Mahfouz
Assisting design
Hadia Abdulkareem
Photography
Hiba El-Dada
Mourad Afifi
Samar Al-Sayed
Editorial coordinator
Zeina El-Hoss
Contributing editors
Samina Mushtaq
Dr. Saleha Abedin
Zeina El-Hoss
Senior Arabic editor
Dr. Saida Shehab
Letter from the Editor
The transient nature of life has many of us pondering the point of
restraint and self-discipline. From the very moment we set foot
on the walkway of history, we are told what is good and what is
bad, what we should and should not indulge in, what will help
and what will hinder. The battle for self-betterment rages on and
we have all experienced the desolation of our internal struggles
and the sweetness of victory. Knowing that our greatest flaws
can often be a reflection of our deepest gifts provides solace
to those of us who have not yet fulfilled their potential out of fear and resistance. Our
worth lies not in tangible achievement but in our power to abandon expectation,
practice compassion and bask in contentment. Indeed, after darkness reaches its
pinnacle, the light of perspective prevails, and what a perspective that is.
Samar Al-Sayed
The Genius Learning
Method
Narratives on Urbanization
and Heritage
Contemporary Art,
Modern History
A People’s Princess:
An Interview with HRH
Princess Mashael Bint
Faisal Al-Saud
Christian Opitz, a German-born
teacher of alternative methods,
sheds light on ground-breaking
accelerated learning in a 3-day
workshop at Dar Al-Hekma.
Iranian-born contemporary artist
Rose Eissa talks about her life-
long career giving Eastern art
presence in the West.
A young princess facing
challenges in a selfless endeavor
to make a change.
Rassem Badran, a
distinguished architect
of world class innovation
and recognition, offers a
contemporary understanding
of heritage in his workshop.
Features
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The architect who designed the Dar Al-Hekma premises used dome-shaped glass ceilings in order to harbor positive
energy and to induce relaxation through sunshine (Photography by Dina Al-Amoudi).

Opitz wearing an Arabian-style turban given to him by a shop owner in the old souq. Opitz and his wife both gave presentations during the
3-day workshop at the College (photography by Samar Al-Sayed).
The Genius Learning Method
The Christian Opitz Workshop at Dar Al-Hekma
Samar Al-Sayed
Who would have thought that conventional methods of learning stunt the width of our imagination,
put a lid on our natural rate of assimilation and oppress our primitive gifts?
Christian Opitz, a German-born teacher
of alternative methods of learning and
nutrition, has just that to teach the world.
Like many mutations in life, in the case of
learning, someone has finally uttered the
words that primitive is best. Yes, running
wild and just being have their perks.
Unscathed by criticism, deadlines and
comparison, toddlers have admirable
cognitive ability. Wide eyed and ready
to receive color, image and word by the
dozen, they then walk into a bustling,
disciplinary world with their backpacks
and are reprimanded for not being able
to sit still for the entire 50-minute duration
of math class (yes, the subject often
adds to the pain of the duration). Yet it is
the duration alone that is a provocative
test of willpower and that has many
wiggling restlessly in their seats in an
obvious case of what the modern school
of thought on schooling often diagnoses
as ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) or
ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyper-Disorder).
By adolescence, you would have
been subjected to years of intellectual
oppression, limiting originality to the
confines of a linear system where one
size pretty much fits all.
Thus it was much to my delight to learn
that what is a ‘short attention span’
may just translate to an innate thirst
for assimilation being capped by the
passageway of a traditional, ‘disciplined’
system. Reading for longer than 20
minutes at a time induces ‘tunnel vision’
and dooms retention. Circumstantial
learning – attributing fact to event – aids
in the retention of facts and figures.
Productivity for a deadline spurs
unproductivity. Being away from the land
of deadlines and obligations – on holiday
for instance, or a trekking expedition,
or just in serene, undemanding silence
– gets the creative and much awaited
creative juices finally flowing.
Some live these realities – or lack – in
full force. As adults, the echoes of the
reprehensible school child return and
those of us who just can’t focus resign
themselves to a life of operational
mediocrity.
Along comes a man (yes, all good
sentences start like that) whose
realization of these powerful
paradoxes was a breath of fresh air,
whose endorsement as having one
of the highest IQs at age 5 gains
explicit leverage in persuading both
traditionalists and nonconformists that
old is out. It turns out that your deepest
insecurities and flaws actually reflect
your deepest gifts.
As we sit on the terrace of the House
of Nassif, a dated, traditional house in
the Old City of Jeddah awaiting the call
to prayer, the mood is set for vintage,
primitive talks. The big picture awaits us
and I’m wondering what the last 3 days
of workshops at Dar Al-Hekma with the
Berlin-born thinker have reaped.
“Most people know this experience very
well. They try to learn something, but
despite their best effort, the information
feels like a foreign object in their minds.
It doesn’t matter how hard one tries or
how much one repeats the learning
process. If informationdoesn’t become a
natural part of ourmind that feels familiar,
thebrain will erase this information very
quickly. Hard work, effort and repetition
are not triggering an effective learning
process in the brain. If we assimilate
information in the sense that we feel
natural and at ease with it, the brain will
remember it easily. This iswhysignificant
events from years ago are often
remembered much better than study
material fromlast week.”
That, in a nutshell, is the premise from
which the principle of ‘accelerated
learning’ takes off.
“I have never let my learning get
in the way of my education.”
Mark Twain, American Author (1835-1910)
TheGeniusLearningMethod
German-born Christian Opitz had one of the highest IQs at age five and began studying physics and biochemistry aged just 7. Behind Opitz sits his wife Ruth.
3 4

Health & Nutrition: The X Factor
Opitz creates some commotion. In a
seminar of its own, Opitz dishes out
some uncomfortable truths about the
state of the modern world. Citing his own
experience of having been diagnosed
with an incurable disease at age 13 that
has since disappeared, the mood is set
for inspiration.
First comes his assertion that the US
health system is currently ranked 128
out of 170 systems worldwide. This was
a stellar reminder of the shortcomings
of the developed world where health is
concerned. Referring to the 1971 Nixon
‘war on cancer’, we learn that at the
time, one in 7 were dying of the disease
where this figure has now risen to 1 in
4. According to Opitz, 40 percent of
Europeans suffer cavities due to the
overuse of refined sugar following the
agricultural revolution.
In contrast, Opitz alludes to Weston
Price, a theorist of the 19th and 20th
centuries, on the relationship between
nutrition and dental and physical health.
Here we learn of the commonality that
binds the South Indian and South Pacific
peninsulas, mountainous countries such
as Bulgaria, the Scottish islands and
Switzerland, in addition to the forests of
Latin America and parts of Canada.
“What these differing regions of the earth
enjoy together is a harmony with nature
that induces longevity and a life free of
physical pain associated with modern
malignancies such as tuberculosis,
angina and heart disease. In developed
nations, we see the narrowing of the jaw
within one generation due to the ‘soft
food’ phenomenon. This invasive human
intervention with primitive and therefore
natural living is a gravely mistaken and
misinformed phenomenon. Mammals
can potentially live up to twice as long
as their natural lifespan. Yet the average
130 grams of sugar Europeans and
Americans are currently ingesting daily
has induced cravings and ailments that
culminate in an ongoing struggle to
simply feel OK.”
Enter cellular regeneration. We are told
that if you induce satiation (fullness) at a
cellular level, your pleasure instincts shall
move in alignment. We are encouraged
to recognize hunger not as a queue to
pile up on energy-filled foods but as a
healthy state of being. An opponent of
big breakfasts, Opitz’s suggestion is not
to have solid food upon awakening but
to drink a glass of lukewarm water with
lemon and fresh mint, which cleanses the
bloodstream and regulates blood sugar
levels.
His fondness for hunger inevitably
reminds me of studies I had previously
read citing the benefits of fasting (such
as the recent article published on
February 27 in the Daily Mail claiming
that fasting can reduce dementia) and
I couldn’t help but recall the obligatory
and strenuous fasting regimen of the
Islamic faith (Ali, cousin of the Prophet
Mohammad, said ‘hunger nourishes the
soul’. Equally so, the Prophet narrated
that ‘we are a people who eat not until we
are hungry and who never reach satiety
when we do [eat].’) Welcome to the
twenty-first century.
So now for the real scoop which was at
once absurd whilst somehow seeming
reward to anyone who could produce
and acceptable form of butter or its
derivatives.”
Lunch, therefore, consists of raw coconut
oil or one to 2 raw eggs in a high-speed
blender with fruit, cardamom and honey.
Outrageous, yes. Yet it always seems
to be such extremities that reap fruit.
Dinner could be a free meal of choice. In
addition, eat monounsaturated fats in the
form of nuts and avocado.
For those who can stomach it, the high-
speed blender undoubtedly maximizes
nutritional assimilation and the foods to
be blended do come from the ground,
trees and poultry after all, so you cannot
really go wrong given the variety and the
quality of the food groups in question.
The lesson that can be reaped from
this set of unconventional teachings is
that primitive is best. That, indeed, is a
conclusion that many in the West, from
yoga and meditation gurus to alternative
medicine proponents, are reaching in
their search for the equation to health
and happiness.
Further Opitz Teachings:
• Use aluminum-free deodorant (the
brand Vichy was mentioned in a
group discussion).
• Substitute mammograms for
traditional hand examinations. The
mammogram machine was allegedly
conceived during a competition to
invent a device that would minimize
radioactive material. The team that
invented the mammogram machine
won, the prize reportedly being
worth $100,000. Paradoxically,
the radiation produced by these
machines could be cancer-causing.
• A Swiss physician reported that of
150 breast cancer patients, 140 of
them (98%) had at least one root
canal tooth “on the same meridian
as the original breast cancer tumor.”
• Ultrasounds, a modern day
technique to visually witness the
development of a baby in uteri, can
affect the baby’s hearing.
• Sun-gazing at sunrise and sunset
enhances dopamine – the hormone
that increases efficiency – as well as
serotonin, the hormone responsible for
feelings of happiness and well-being.Employees participate in the workshop
Dar Al-Hekma hosted Opitz in the House of Nassif, a historic family residence with vintage antiques, in the
heart of the Old City in Jeddah.
“Mammals can potentially live up
to twice as long as their natural
lifespan. Yet the average 130
grams of sugar Europeans and
Americans are ingesting daily has
induced cravings and ailments
that culminate in an ongoing
struggle to simply feel OK.”
The Concepts
Opitz outlines that there are three
cognitive states that define our trajectory:
the reptilian state, which depicts basic
survival instincts, the limbic state, which
is the social and developmental center
of the brain, and the frontal cortex, the
final stage of brain development to where
signals from the reptilian and limbic
brains flow.
“The importance of the limbic state lies
in its developmental capacity for the
brain and our conditioning as children.
This development is disrupted by the
academic system. The final state of
brain development, that of the frontal
cortex, is where sensory integration
takes place. The idea here is that
attention should be spacious and full of
awareness contrary to common belief
that it should be exclusive. It is from
the frontal cortex that we are taught
how to assimilate and retain information
naturally. The mind is elastic yet
ironically, our use of it is limited by pre-
defined systems. In relaxing the reptilian
and limbic brain, neurotransmitters
naturally flow into the frontal cortex and
enhance its functioning.”
The Framework
The 3-day seminar entitled ‘The Genius
Learning Workshop’ launched its agenda
under three main headings. The first of
the Opitz principles is encouraging the
right use of the body during learning.
“Long sessions of mental activity reduce
neurotransmitter output, resulting in
mental tension and ineffective learning.
Where sitting and focusing for long
periods of time is praised as a skill, it
actually undermines learning. Relaxation
techniques and movement practices
encourage sensory integration to
induce relaxed alertness during learning
sessions.”
A sample exercise: clockwise and anti-
clockwise body rotation
The idea here is to rotate the body fully
in both directions with the eyes at three
different angles three times respectively,
totaling 18 rotations (the three angles
for the eyes are to the side above, to the
side directly and to the side below). The
clockwise body rotation as you gaze in
these three directions 3 times each is
intended to create positivity in thought
where the anti-clockwise rotation aids in
getting rid of negative thoughts.
Assimilation techniques are the second
of the principles that Opitz proposes,
where the natural (and not forced)
assimilation of information which includes
attributing facts to experiential events
and incidents, in addition to building
memory in an unconstrained setting, is
said to release feel-good endorphins
in the brain. “This, in turn, provokes the
brain to allow one’s own unique thoughts
and insights about a field of knowledge”
asserts Opitz.
Aiding assimilation: the smile-and-dip
technique
Smiling, position eyes at the upper
left corner, then dip eyes in a smiley
movement to the upper right corner.
Repeat 6 times.
The last of the learning techniques is
that of visual reading. Opitz’s contention
is that reading for more than 20 to 25
minute segments induces tunnel vision,
which, on a larger scale, seems to
reflect the current human state. Being
bound by routine and an endless series
of time-sensitive tasks, the mind has
little time to look up and become aware
of its surrounding. This, in essence,
accounts for the majority of people being
‘creatures of habit’.
“Our visual system can assimilate
information much faster than we can
speak. Yet most people are bound by
their speed of speaking when they read
because they only learned to read while
mentally speaking the words. Instead,
what I teach is reading with a sense of
awareness of one’s surrounding without
becoming fixated on individual words
and clauses.”
Speed-reading: skimming without
skipping
The idea here is to look at sentences
as an interrelated whole and to not
get bogged down in the literal sense.
In essence, one can imagine the eye
gliding over the text in a swift fashion
to keep the sentences intact. Getting
a general sense of the page actually
induces retention of the broad meaning
of the text.
Opitz at Dar Al-Hekma during a three-day seminar entitled “The Genius Learning Workshop”.
“If we assimilate information in the
sense that we feel natural and at
ease with it, the brain will remember
it easily. This is why significant
events from years ago are often
remembered much better than study
material from last week.”
5 6
irrefutable. Green leaves account for 80
per cent of the diet of chimpanzees and
gorillas (one can’t help but admire their
energy). Chlorophyll condenses energy
from the sun. Therefore, when eaten,
natural energy is released. Enter green
smoothies. Raw, green leafy vegetables
are to be blended in a high-speed
blender with your fruit of choice and
condiments to taste – coriander, mint
and parsley to name a few. This should
produce a smooth yet chewable texture.
This is food for the cells (and soul it
seems) that should see you through
to lunch, which should consist of raw,
saturated essential fatty acids (the war
on saturated fats has taken a new front).
This was a second note of
unconventional teaching (after having
eliminating breakfast). Treading on thin
and isolated ground from his fellow
nutritionist colleagues, Opitz resorts to
history once again. “In pre-revolution
France”, Opitz says, “Napoleon III
wrote letters to the poor and offered

R
assem Badran’s visit provided
students at the School of
Design and Architecture the
chance to interact with and
train under a distinguished
architect in the world of innovation
and one whose edge over his fellow
colleagues in the region lies in his
determination to preserve heritage.
Of Palestinian descent, Rassem Badran
was born in Jerusalem in 1945 in British
Mandate Palestine. He was educated
in the West Bank town of Ramallah and
went on to pursue higher education in
Germany where he received his degree
in architecture. Badran has been a
practicing architect in the neighboring
country of Jordan since 1973 where
cobblestone housing distinctly dots the
desert landscape.
Amongst the numerous rewards received
by this distinguished architect is the Aga
Khan Award for architecture (awarded
for his work on the Great Mosque of
the capital city Riyadh), as well as the
redevelopment of the Old City Centre, a
heritage site that had previously began to
disappear amidst the urbanization of the
once barren city.
Entitled ‘Narratives’, the workshop
sought to instill a sense of responsibility
to history and heritage in eager young
future builders. Along came a man who
was to remind up and coming designers
that whilst urbanization has catered for a
great many, the vertical revolution should
nonetheless not dilute the charm and
originality of history and tradition.
James Steels of the University of
California wrote a biography about the
pioneer where he defines his purpose
beautifully:
“Badran designs buildings and
environments that stand in stark
contrast to self-conscious, anonymous
architecture devoid of any reference
to people, place or culture. He
offers a humane option to the
deliberately commodified, blatantly
branded, aesthetically objectified and
environmentally inarticulate architecture
that is becoming the norm in the
developed world today.”
“His well-balanced education, beginning
with a travelling apprenticeship with
his father and continuing through a
fertile and exciting time of experimental
architecture in Europe has allowed him to
weave a systematically rational, Western
methodology with the intuitive traditions
inherent in his own cultural background.”
Badran presented at the Hassan
Fathy Award for Architecture in 2010,
a fellow colleague of the 20th century
and acclaimed Egyptian architect
who re-established the use of mud
brick traditional building layouts as
an alternative to the Western building
prototype, in addition to his acclaimed
publication ‘Architecture for the Poor.’
As I sit down with the astute and modest
pioneer, I expect a little more than an
informative treatise of his trajectory.
Instead, I am educated in building
behavior and its relationship with social
change.
“Urbanization has expanded to become
an irrevocable global force. Housing
and development projects continue
to perpetuate with no understanding
of building behavior as part of an
interrelated whole with culture, history,
heritage and most importantly,
geophysical landscape. With the global
population boom, focus has inevitably
become placed on the quantitative
rather than the qualitative. Giving a
contemporary understanding of heritage
is of dire importance if we are to preserve
what is left.”
“In Riyadh, there has been a clear
erosion of the mud fabric used to build
houses. I have worked closely with the
Riyadh Development Authority to ensure
continuity of culture through history as
exemplified in the Prince Selman grand
mosque and the revival of the old city.”
Badran asserts, for instance, that historic
parts of the holy city of Medina, the place
of burial of the Prophet Mohammad, had
to be demolished for the expansion of the
mosque, which occupies roughly 16000
square meters.
A panoramic view of Jeddah’s old city, the ‘balad’. This is the historical epicenter of Jeddah, the second largest city of Saudi Arabia (photography
by Samar Al-Sayed).
Narratives on Urbanization and Heritage:
Rassem Badran’s Exclusive Visit to the Hekma
School of Design and Architecture Samar Al-Sayed
NarrativesonUrbanizationandHeritage
8
The heart of Jeddah’s old city incorporates
heritage, culture and spiritual symbols
(photography by Samar Al-Sayed).
Photography by Samar Al-Sayed

A remodeling project completed by Badran for Kuwait National
Bank in Amman, Jordan. Here, differing materials usually
associated with certain genres are used in conjunction with
one another in what he refers to as “skin morphology.”
“With regards to the holy city of Makkah, there is a fundamental need to re-evoke its
inherited excellence in terms of housing structure.”
Where the Old City in Jeddah is concerned, Badran asserts that it is one of the first
cities to be part reactivated in terms of the dated quarters. “The importance lies in
giving an old city new life and reviving its spirit as it was when it was in its prime.”
Badran continues, “in a smaller Saudi city like Najran which has allegedly been
‘neglected’, there has been minimal infrastructural interference and as such it has
been largely kept as it was.”
In a part of the world where families seldom recognize the arts as a legitimate path
owing to the relative scarcity of career opportunities and it perception as not granting
a ‘solid’ path that will ‘guarantee’ food on the table, Badran’s father was one of the
few who encouraged early contact with tools and colors and openly welcomed
expression through art and the abstract.
“The fact that I have been invited here is a highly positive indication to me that this
is an institution that is seeking the essence of the meaning of real architecture. As a
matter of principle, the female audience with which I have interacted these past few
days seem much more serious, dedicated and passionate than some of the male
audiences I have presented before regionally. It is heartening to see students of
this caliber engaging in my narrative and goal to reinstate qualitative dwellings and
residential quarters.”
To learn more about Badran’s initiatives and work, go to www.badrandesign.com.
Premier universities such as MIT and
Harvard in the United States have
accepted post-graduate students to
submit research on Badran’s work.
Pictured above is Badran with Dr.
Mona Helmy, Architecture Program
Director at Dar Al-Hekma.
Photography by Hiba El-Dada
10

Contemporary Art, Modern History:
Samar Al-Sayed
Art meets history. Art meets memory.
Art gives nostalgia visual form. Art
expresses a plethora of dated emotion,
mirroring pain and desire. Art gives
voice to what Freud describes as wish
fulfillment, offering farfetched hope
just that: hope. Art is silence, art is
eloquence. Art annihilates verbal clutter.
Art says it all.
Having spent the better part of her
career giving Arab and Persian art a
platform, Rose Issa, curator, producer
and writer, stood on the Dar Al-Hekma
stage with all the grace and humility of
a true intellectual. That observation is
a genuine one, one honestly and truly
rarely witnessed in the creative industry.
In addition to a presentation of the
diverse range of work she has helped
make famous, it was the sheer cultural
volume that refreshed and revived the
preoccupied mind. Simply put, the
multi-ethnic dimension of Ms. Issa herself
that evokes my envy. Persian yet Arab,
Arab but francophone, French-educated
yet a resident of the UK, that is the type
of existence that, to me, is a golden
minefield of novelty and one that I wish
greatly to entertain one day.
Born in Iran, Issa spent the last 30 years
of her career in the cosmopolitan city
of London after having lived in France,
Iran and Lebanon. There she has her
own project space in the borough of
Kensington where she brings Eastern
art to life and facilitating the sanctioning
of many Eastern artists to the Western
spotlights of fame and legitimacy.
In addition, Issa launched the first-ever
Arab Film Festival in 1982 in Paris and
subsequently went on to liaise with
foreign delegations at the Cannes Film
Festival. For a further 26 years after
that, she curated Arab and Iranian
film seasons in Britain and abroad.
Issa serves as an advisor to numerous
international bodies in their acquisition of
Eastern Art, including the Smithsonians
and the World Bank in Washington DC,
and the British Museum and Imperial War
Museum in London.
1) Can you tell us your view on the role art plays particularly in the Arab world
(and perhaps compare with its role in Europe if any).
The role of art in the Arab world is the same as the role of art elsewhere, except that
the struggle for artists and gallerists is harder, as we have no public institutions with
clear policy of supporting arts.
2) What is the importance of art in addressing socio-political and socio-
economic issues?
The two are inextricably linked, yet nobody is obliged to cater for politics or other
such issues. It is only if it comes naturally to the artist and is a part of the context
of the life which he/she chooses to share through image. Indeed, many may be
interested in abstraction, conceptual, aesthetic aspect of their culture or other culture.
3) Can you highlight what in your view were your most important exhibitions and
if there are any patterns or themes that were particularly powerful.
When I first got a proper catalogue and documentation of the exhibition in 1995,
along came a series of exhibitions in London - “Signs, Traces, and Calligraphy” and
several solo shows such as Chant Avedissian and Khaled ben Slimane. in addition,
there was a series of shows at Leighton House Museum, from Rachid Koraichi, Nja
Mahdaoui, to Zenderoudi, to group shows.
Even more so than the exhibitions, like the most recent ones in Beirut Exhibition
Center, I enjoyed doing the catalogues and recent monographs and publications so
there will be clear documentation of the work showcased.
4) What do you think the future holds for art in this region and how can more
appreciation for the silent word be garnered in a region filled with logistical
difficulties that allow little room for the imagination.
Everything can inspire a good artist; the proof is that even the desert towns and
countries had poets.To become inspired, you have to have a need to express
yourself, whether verbally, in writing, in painting or in architecture. In short, you need
to shine through your work, which should be hard work coupled with sincerity in order
to become original and really make your mark. As Jallaudin Rumi said 'whatever
comes, comes from a need, a sore distress, a hurting want.'
5) Can you elaborate on issues of self, gender, war and exile and their relation to art?
Orson Wells, in “The Third Man,” said: “In Italy for 30 years under the Borgias they had
warfare, terror, murder, and bloodshed, but they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da
Vinci, and the Renaissance. In Switzerland they had brotherly love - they had 500 years
of democracy and peace, and what did that produce? The cuckoo clock.”
Iranian-born Issa (pictured left) has spent the better half of her career giving
Eastern talent weight and presence on the Western artistic stage.
Iranian Artist Rose Issa
ContemporaryArt,ModernHistory
ContemporaryArt,ModernHistory
A picture by Iranian-born (photographer Shadi Ghadirian) from the ‘Qajar Series’Rose Issa gives a presentation on an array of works which she has curated at her studio in London.
11 12
Below is an excerpt from Rose Issa’s book Contemporary Art published by Booth-Clibborn:
"Representing significant trends of the Iranian art scene, Iranian Contemporary Art covers a wide range of styles,
from calligraphic or abstract to figurative, and includes video photography and installations. It takes as a starting
point a moment in the early 1960s when artists from Iran, fully acquainted with western art, sought inspiration
from their own rich cultural heritage to produce distinctive forms of modern art. More recent works by a younger
generation are shown, amongst them pieces that explore a conflict between modernism and tradition, or take a
light-hearted look at the paradoxes of contemporary life."
For more information about Rose Issa’s exhibitions, visit www.roseissa.com
The Intellectual Crossroads

An excerpt from the book 'Edge of Arabia: Contemporary Art from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia'
"An Englishman and a group of Saudi artists met in southern Saudi Arabia under the glow of a neon palm tree, and they
began to talk. All sorts of things might have happened next. They could have argued about each other’s politics, or, like so
many conversations, they might have chatted amiably before going their separate ways. But this exchange was different. It led,
ultimately, to this project.
The Englishman, Stephen Stapleton, had arrived in Saudi Arabia from Yemen in late March 2003, on the eve of the start of the
last Iraq War. By chance, he had been invited to a little known artists’ village in Abha called Al-Meftaha, and it was here that he
became friends with Ahmed Mater, Abdulnasser Gharem and a group of Saudi artists calling themselves Shattah (meaning: to be
broken up or dismantled). On leaving Al-Meftaha they agreed to work together, and over the next nine years they created an arts
initiative called Edge of Arabia. In time this would involve over sixty Saudi and Arab artists, lead to exhibitions around the world,
an educational program reaching hundreds of schools and universities, and twelve publications translated into five languages.
Now, in 2012, it is tempting when thinking about how best to introduce Edge of Arabia to focus on the recent past, their exhibitions
in Jeddah, Berlin and Istanbul, their work with institutions like the British Museum and Venice Biennale, or their collaboration with
Abdul Latif Jameel Community Initiatives. But the best introduction is smaller and simpler: it is to focus on that initial encounter
in 2003. This is not out of sentimentality, but because that meeting will tell you more about the character of Edge of Arabia than
anything else can."
For more information, visit www.edgeofarabia.com.
"My Name Is" Workshop
comes to Dar Al-Hekma
Edge of Arabia, an independent curator, launched the most
significant survey of Saudi contemporary art ever held in the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia this past spring.
The symposium and talks were held at the Jeddah Chamber
of Commerce.
The initiative fosters and incubates contemporary Arab art
and culture with particular focus on Saudi Arabia. A social
enterprise, Edge of Arabia contributes to the ultimate aim
of promoting cross-cultural understanding through a range
of platforms that include exhibitions, publications and
educational programs that target schools and universities
regionally and internationally.
Samia Khashogji, Assistant Professor at the Hekma School
of Interior Design and founder of the 'Saudiaat Women Artist
Group', took part in the workshop which came to the Dar Al-
Hekma campus.
“As the founder of the 'Saudiaat' Women Artists Group, I
believe and strive to support women and their achievements.
Empowering women and young artists is an important
direction and goal in my life now.
The workshop was entitled 'My Name Is’, aimed to use
symbolism to define and assert the principle of identity.
During the workshop, participants were shown a short
movie interviewing a diverse age group of the Saudi male
population.
Much to our surprise, the older generation has fewer
reservations in naming their mothers, wives, sisters and
other female loved ones, while the younger generations
were complacent of even mentioning their mothers’ name."
Speaking of her experience, Samia says:
“Manal took us through the workshop in an informal
atmosphere that got our creative juices flowing. The group
spirit was refreshing. Each of us was given a large bead on
which to write her name. Mine is proudly centered in one
of the praying beads (Subha) that were showcased at Edge
of Arabia’s recent exhibition ‘Let Us Talk’ at the Park Hayat
Hotel.”
“The venue and diverse collection of conceptual artists work
was impressive and promising. I hope that Edge of Arabia
diversifies in supporting other types of Saudi Art that may
not be as atypical or contemporary but yet still represent
authentic Saudi art.”

15 16
Sheikh Saleh Kamel, founder and owner of Dallah Al-Barakah Group. Sheikh Kamel is the official sponsor of the MBA launch at Dar Al-Hekma.
The Ceremony
The launching ceremony featured a dialogue moderated by Mr. Hussein Shobokshy between Dr. Abdullah Al-Turkstani and Dr.
Faisal Al-Utbani, the Dean and Vice Dean of Islamic Economics at King Abdul Aziz University respectively, and Sheikh Saleh
Kamel. In the seminar entitled “Islamic Finance: Practices and Challenges”, Sheikh Kamel explains that Islamic Finance dates back
to the days of Prophet Abraham since interest is also prohibited in Christian and Jewish faiths, and being such an encompassing
system of finance, restricting it to Islamic banking or merely interest prohibition limits its use. The dialogue also covered some of the
hindrances facing Islamic banks today, such as the client-bank relationship and the lack of support from central non-Islamic banks,
proposing solutions to underlying problems.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, the President of Dar Al-Hekma, Dr. Suhair Al-Qurashi remarked, “Dar Al-Hekma is an unconven-
tional educational institution boasting an internationally acclaimed curriculum and over 100 extra-curricular activities. Our students’
learning is richer, hence their religious, intellectual, physical, personal, and social dimensions thrive. In addition, Dar Al-Hekma is
a medium that encourages cultural diversity and has students, faculty, and staff from over 38 different nationalities - a chance to
broaden horizons that is not offered in other higher learning institutions. We are proceeding with our expansion and growth plans
with our eyes set on a single goal: to graduate accomplished women, leaders and entrepreneurs, and so this program was brought
forth to lay the ground for the additional graduate programs in the college in the near future.”
The Official Launch of the Dar Al-Hekma MBA Program
About the MBA Program
Building on the success of its popular undergraduate programs and owing to the scar-
city of qualified business managers and innovative leaders, the Hekma School of Busi-
ness launched the MBA program to serve the needs of aspiring professionals working
in diverse fields to enrich their knowledge and enhance their expertise. This qualifica-
tion aims to fulfill the requirements of employers in the private and public sectors, as
well as those individuals aiming to start their own entrepreneurial ventures.
The MBA Program at the Hekma School of Business has been developed under a
program delivery agreement with UC Berkeley Center for Executive Education at the
Haas School of Business. MBA courses are taught by a group of committed, high-
caliber faculty members from various international backgrounds and are delivered
through diverse teaching strategies which comprise case studies, projects, role plays,
field trips, and regular classroom lectures. In addition, MBA students get to engage
in workshops and trainings to develop a superior edge in the workplace and enhance
their chances for employment, an end to which Dar Al-Hekma provides numerous
means, namely through organizing career events and job placements.
An exciting upcoming addition to the Hekma School of Business graduate program’s
portfolio is the MBA in Islamic Finance. Sponsored by Sheikh Saleh Kamel, the pro-
gram combines deeply-rooted theories with modern practices and skills. As a part of
its aim to become a center of excellence in Islamic Finance, Dar Al-Hekma will provide
advanced knowledge and skills to those wishing to develop their career in the field as
financial consultants or managers.
MBALaunch
MBALaunch
Dar Al-Hekma launched its Master of Business Administration (MBA) program in a grand ceremony held on May 27th of
this year. The guest of honor was the Arab world’s business and Islamic finance expert, Sheikh Saleh Kamel, chairman of
Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, founder of Dallah Al-Baraka Group and owner of the ART television network.
Keynote speaker at the event was Professor Emeritus Andrew Shogan, the Dean of the Center of Executive Education at
the Haas School of Business, University of California Berkeley.
Dr. Zuhair Fayez, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees (pictured right) with Professor Andrew Shogan of the Haas Business School of the
University of California at Berkeley (pictured left)
“I would highly
recommend The MBA
program offered at Dar
Al-Hekma to females in
the region.’’
Professor Emeritus Andrew
Shogan, Former Dean of the
Haas School of Business,
University of California
Berkeley.
Dr. Inass Ali, Business School Program Director (pictured left) and Dr. Amal El-Tigani, Vice
Dean of Finance & Administration (pictured right)
Dr. Amani Mohammad, Graduate Studies
Program Director speaking at the launch

17 18
one with special needs and whose day-
to-day quality of life is unnecessarily
unpleasant due to a lack of catering for
their problem. That is why I completed my
PhD on quality of life and communication
in patients with progressive neurological
conditions.
There is a direct correlation between
changes in communicative ability and
quality of life. With illnesses such as
Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis and
Lou Gehrig’s disease, all forms of
neurodegenerative disease, deterioration
can span several years or it can be
sudden. The grief and the logistical
difficulties associated with such a
diagnosis can be debilitating for entire
family units.
During the course of my study, I got
to gauge quality of life using different
measures to observe how patients
interact and how they change over time
and how best to go about catering for
these changes.
4) How would you rate progress in the
speech language field in Saudi Arabia as
compared to the UK or the USA?
This is a relatively new field and progress
is slow. There are a lot more people
working in the domain in the capital
Riyadh than in other areas.
There are linguistic & communicative
factors that are specific to the culture.
A People’s Princess
Her Royal Highness Princess Mashael bint Faisal Al-Saud
Graces Graduation Ceremony Devoted to Speech, Language and Hearing
Samar Al-Sayed
Princess Mashael bint Faisal al Saud is the crème de la crème of aristocracy. Born to affluence and royalty, this young princess
opted to strive with the masses, for the masses, making her one of the few who use privilege exclusively to the advantage of
others. In fact, her academic and professional road precludes any comfort, showcasing level-headedness and an opulent desire for
real, substantial difference.
The domain of special needs requires resilience. It requires a level of selflessness and pragmatism that not many people would
willingly indulge in. Which makes it all the more bewildering to learn that a young Saudi woman who had countless other career
choices chose one that requires unprecedented groundwork, indeed, as it is still in its embryonic phase with much to be established.
Dar Al-Hekma caught up with the rare
and ambitious princess to learn more
about the road to a new horizon.
1) Coming from the privileged
background in which you grew up, what
inspired you to continue your education
to the very end of the line?
Upon my completion of high school, I
wondered what to do. I didn’t have a clear
vision of where I was going but I knew
that I did not want to take on a routine
job or office work. I wanted to enter the
medical field without having to go down
the path of medicine. I enrolled in at the
College of Allied Medical Sciences at
King Saud University in Riyadh where I
completed my bachelor’s degree. They
have a number of programs within the
college, including speech language
pathology, physical therapy, nutrition and
other such allied professions.
2) What inspired you to choose this field
in particular?
My introductory year to the field took
place at King Faisal Specialist Hospital
in Jeddah. I spent the day toying with
different professions within the field.
My encounter with speech language
pathology proved to me that this is where
I belong and essentially what I want
to do. I had the opportunity to watch
clinicians work and interact with different
clients. What touched me was how
involved the profession requires you to
be with the education, family environment
and schoolwork of the client. In other
words, as a speech language pathologist,
you have to look at the holistic spectrum
of the client’s life in order to make a
significant difference and I thoroughly
enjoyed the prospect of such a level of
involvement.
The following year, I enrolled in the
speech language pathology program.
I moved to Boston in 2000 to study for
an MSc in Communication Science
Disorders at the Institute of Health
Professions, an independent graduate
school founded by Massachusetts
General Hospital that offers speech-
language pathology.
Following the completion of my masters,
I came back in 2002 and worked at the
King Faisal Specialist Hospital until 2008
when I left to complete my PhD at the
University College of London.
I thoroughly enjoyed my PhD years. It
differed from the undergraduate and
postgraduate degrees in that I got to
conduct my own research that was based
solely on the Saudi population. It was a
far cry from the lab work I had previously
undertaken. It was a highly individualist
experience and I got privileged one-
on-one time with my professors.
Nevertheless, being scarcely involved
at the university campus made it a very
lonely experience.
3) What was your objective in entering
the field that you did?
My main concern was catering for
families in the country who have a loved
The2012Graduation
The graduating class of Speech, Language and Hearing
The graduating class of Interior Design
The graduating class of Legal Studies
The graduating class Banking and Finance
The graduating class of Graphic Design
The2012Graduation
Presenting The
Graduating Class of 2012

19
Dr. Suhair Hassan Al-Qurashi,
President of Dar Al-Hekma,
inaugurates the 2012
graduation which had as its
theme speech, language and
hearing sciences.
That, combined with a scarcity of
knowledge, amounts to a challenge that
we have yet to conquer. In particular, we
have a more challenging framework for
sound development, as our phonetics
are unique. As such, we must devise our
own tests and measures suited to our
language. Thankfully, the Internet age
has allowed us to transcend boundary
and culture to engage in the exchange
of ideas online, not least through social
networking.
5) What accounts for the lack of
awareness of this very prevalent and
dated problem and how can this be
rectified?
There is a stigma that is slowly but surely
being eradicated. During the course of
my career, interviewing adult patients
has regularly been part of my job. I often
heard the answer “I don’t want to go out
because I don’t want people to think
I’m different; I don’t want to be judged.”
Nevertheless, a great many patients in
Riyadh came in and sought assistance.
The key to creating lasting change in any
domain is through educational awareness
and more importantly, having something
to offer.
For example, one way to create
immediate improvement in any
community is to provide augmentative
devices and to improve the immediate
environment of those in need. The
only factor that is difficult to address
is the matter of speech as it pertains
to the direct environment. Those who
accept the initial methods of help must
eventually receive long-term treatment,
or at the very least, management for the
condition. This is especially true of the
degenerative and terminal illnesses that
I have worked with. There is definitely a
window of space to improve, or at least
maintain, the quality of life of patients with
special needs.
6) As you know, disabilities of this kind
are often diagnosed too late owing to
a lack of acknowledgement of such a
condition within family and professional
circles from the early onset. In what
ways can we involve the general public
to engage them to improve the collective
quality of life of individuals suffering from
this impairment?
At this stage, I would stress on the need
for awareness campaigns. There was
a student club at King Saud University
that embarked on an extensive media
campaign. They set up camp at big
shopping centers in Riyadh and remained
there for a week. They addressed voice
problems but also raised awareness
about speech knowledge. They
approached members of the public, set
up big banners and stands and created
informative, informal, mini-sessions with
children. This was a supervised student
club. They had organized the event
through Facebook, which just goes to
show the power of social media and its
ability at creating momentous change.
This reminds us that if the family of a
special needs child is unaware of their
child’s issue, they would not know how to
address it, which makes such campaigns
all the more vital.
7) How important is the presence of
qualified Speech, Language, and Hearing
Science professionals in schools?
Speech language pathology is becoming
increasingly viewed as a medical
profession so you often see this specialty
at hospitals. Sixty percent of cases
are children. I would like to see further
involvement in school systems. In fact,
several schools should cover this domain
across all geographical locations. There
should also be a clear-cut system to refer
them to a speech language pathologist.
Above all, we need to teach teachers to
recognize the symptoms. Children who
are diagnosed with language disorders
need to be seen two to three times per
week. Hospitals cannot accommodate for
this as they more involved with in-patients
immediate problems.
In the U.S., it is a legal requirement
for schools to either provide or to be
provided with special needs services and
speech therapists, either physiological or
occupational. Each district has a therapist
who goes around into the classrooms
of different schools. While we are
miles away from this, we must strive to
normalize such a practice within schools
and battle its stereotype as a medical
condition.
8) Do you think this is a gender-based
domain?
The ratio of female interns where I
worked was 6:1. Though swallowing and
voice disorders are often diagnosed in
men, you rarely see males working in the
language & speech domain. In fact, this
seems to be a global phenomenon. There
were over 40 females in the program I
attended in the States and fewer than 5
men.
9) What obstacles have you faced in
reaching your individual aspirations?
Thankfully, I happen to be a hard worker
who is supported greatly by my family. A
memorable challenge is my beginnings
at King Faisal following the completion of
my masters degree. You come back with
an idealistic view and a solid and high
expectation of how things are supposed
to be, but in reality, it turned out to be
too much work so I had to resign myself
to the fact that I can’t do everything, re-
focus myself to the facts on the ground
and remain pragmatic in the face of
the shortages. Essentially, you have to
build up to get to where you want to go
no matter how strong your educational
background is. I thoroughly enjoyed
working with interns and new students
to get them thinking in a productive yet
fun way. People regularly ask questions
so you have to think on your feet. That
helped with the retention of information!
Another major challenge is getting
people to respect your authority and
know-how of the field. I was made head
of the department at a mere 24 years
of age. Being an age-oriented society,
people associate legitimacy not only with
degrees but also with age. It was a major
challenge being heard.
10) Being one of the very few academic
institutions in the Kingdom to offer
speech, language and hearing sciences
at university level, how can we further
liaise with experts such as yourself to
advance our joint mission of developing
this much needed domain?
We are in dire need of graduates in this
field. Now that I have shed light on the
need for speech-language therapists
on the ground in schools, I hope I
have made a case for an academic-
professional liaison that is mutually
interdependent.
The2012Graduation

21
Professor Khidr recieves the DAH Annual Prize for Outstanding Achievements from Dr. Suhair Al-Qurashi, President of Dar Al-Hekma.
We met with Dr. Aliaa Khidr, Professor of
Communication Disorders at the Human
Services Department at the University
of Virginia, who won the Dar Al-Hekma
Prize for Outstanding Achievements.
In her visit to Dar Al-Hekma’s Speech,
Language, and Hearing Sciences
Department, Dr. Aliaa points at the
window of opportunity open to potential
graduates of this department, elaborating
on the challenges that are met by
speech-language pathologists in the
region due to a lack of public awareness
to communication disorders and the
scarcity of facilities that tend to such
problems. Dar Al-Hekma was honored
to have Dr. Aliaa give a speech at the
college’s graduation ceremony this
summer.
What inspired you to choose this field in
particular?
I chose it because at the time of my
graduation in 1983, that field was very
new in Egypt. Part of me really wanted to
make a difference and I realized the only
way I could accomplish that was through
majoring in the youngest specialty in the
field. I was only the 7th faculty member of
this major. I also had another need in me
that had to be met. Having been raised in
England and having traveled extensively,
I loved to connect and being part of the
speech pathology field, I had just that
at my disposal. Due to the scarcity of
people involved in SLHS, there was a
lot of debate raging on. Since speech
pathology is still very new in the Middle
East, graduates of Dar Al-Hekma have
Professor Aliaa Khidr: The Winner of the Dar Al-Hekma Annual
Prize for Outstanding Achievements
the same opportunity to initiate change in
the same way that I did.
Have you had the chance to speak to
some of our students?
I was impressed to have met all 19
students, 4 of which are graduating this
year and who have all shown enthusiasm
for pursuing postgraduate studies. Apart
from Dr. Areej Al-Asseri, Director of
Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences
at Dar Al-Hekma, and HRH Princess
Mashael, I haven’t had the luck of
working with people who have possessed
even a Master’s degree. We are hoping,
however, that there will be more Saudi
women who are seeking higher education
in this field.
What message would you convey to
anyone who might be interested in the
field?
Speech pathology is one of the most
diversified fields. Graduates can serve
a pediatric, adult or geriatric population
within a school setting or a rehabilitation
facility, or invest their clinical expertise
in a medical specialty such as voice and
swallowing, articulation and speech,
or hearing sciences. After meeting the
requirements of the American Speech
and Hearing Association, which is the
only professional organization in the
world so far, the chances of growth and
learning are limitless. Since this is a
diverse with much to be explored field,
a lot of traveling across countries and
continents is involved. A professional
may choose to work for humanitarian
causes, helping people in underprivileged
countries, for instance.
In what ways can we engage the general
public?
Communication disorders in the Middle
East come with a stigma. Raising a child
with a communication disorder is even
harder when parents neither detect nor
admit the problem at an early stage.
Even if help is sought, there is a lack of
facilities offering extensive aid. Raising
awareness is the key. Everyone should
be involved, from high school kids to
university students majoring in the field
to medical staff in hospitals. It should be
noted that as awareness increases, so
will the need for resources and qualified
professionals who speak the native
language of their working environment.
However, our hopes are still high that
there will be a wider coverage in terms of
areas and services.
How can you describe your experience
working in Saudi Arabia?
Having seen the advanced models used
in the USA in every school, university,
hospital, or rehabilitation center, I’d love
to see those in my home country Egypt
and in Saudi Arabia. Sadly, most of the
academic material is translated and not
standardized. We can’t stress enough on
the dire need for professionals with high
qualifications such a Master’s or PhD
degree in a related field in order to initiate
advancement on this pivotal front.
“A lot of people take their hearing for granted; I am not one of those people.
278 million people around the world have hearing loss, including me.
When I’m with my friends, I often don’t hear what is said and miss out on the
laughter.
Sometimes I pretend to hear the words so I can fit in, but often I am told “it’s not
important”.
My mother never lets me walk alone in the street because I do not hear car horns.
Sometimes, I miss out on games with friends.
My friends have to make a conscious effort to look at me and speak slowly for me
to understand.
Because I got my hearing aid at a later age than children today get theirs, I have
speech problems.
I am now a college student trying to move on in my life.
It remains a daily challenge for me to hear words, understand them and learn
them just to fit in.
I am not complaining. I am really thankful for the hearing I have.”
It is never too late.
With the right information, you can diagnose hearing loss early and improve the quality of
life of your loved ones.
Dar Al-Hekma’s Big Win
At The Ministry of Higher Education’s 3rd Scientific Conference
DarAl-Hekma’sBigWin
ProfessorAliaaKhidr
Featured below is the speech, language & hearing script created by Dar Al-Hekma student
Reem Mohammad who earned a first place win in the short film documentary category for
her film “Never Too Late.” Reem was up against 158 contestants in that same category.
The script later went on to be the theme of this year’s graduation ceremony.
Veronica Laughlin,
Lecturer in Speech,
Language & Hearing
Sciences, sheds light
on the new SLHS clinic
where she shall serve
as Clinical Coordinator.
The SLHS Center at Dar
Al-Hekma is the first
center in the Kingdom
to provide speech and
hearing services within a
College campus.
22

24
Mrs. Ban Ki-Moon:
A First-Time Visit by the UN's First Lady
Zeina El-Hoss
A United Nations delegation led by Madam Yoo Soon-Taek, wife of the U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, visited Dar Al-Hekma
last June along with the wives of high-profile delegates from Belgium, Indonesia, Morocco, Algeria and China. They were joined
by Mrs. Füsun Ihsanoğlu, wife of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Secretary General. This exclusive visit to Dar Al-
Hekma highlights the role the institute plays in the region as a premier institution of higher education for women in Saudi Arabia.
The President of Dar Al-Hekma, Dr. Suhair Al-Qurashi, expressed great delight at hosting Mrs. Ban Ki-Moon and her delegation.
“I honor Mrs. Ban Ki-Moon’s commitment to community service through volunteering and empowering women and their families,”
remarked Dr. Al-Qurashi.
During their two-hour visit, members of the U.N. delegation toured the college campus and met with faculty, students and alumnae
who showcased their achievements and expressed gratitude to the College for its support and encouragement throughout their
years both on campus and beyond.
In response, Mrs. Ban Ki Moon thanked Dr. Al-Qurashi, the faculty and staff members for their hospitality, saying she was greatly
impressed by the students’ active participation in international events and activities, as well as their scientific and professional
accomplishments, adding that U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon has always been a proactive supporter of women around the world.
Mrs.BanKiMoon’sVisit
Mrs.BanKiMoon’sVisit
Mrs. Ban Ki Moon (center left) with Mrs. Füsun Ihsanoğlu, wife of OIC Secretary General, Ekmeleddin Ihsanoğlu (left), and
delegates from Belgium and Algeria at Dar Al-Hekma
23
Mrs. Ban Ki Moon with Dina Madani, a Dar Al-Hekma alumna who now serves as Political Officer for Asia Affairs, Department of Minorities,
Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)

26
The Haas School of Business International Business
Development Program at Dar Al-Hekma
A team of four young MBA
professionals from the International
Business Development Program
at the Haas School of Business,
University of California, Berkeley,
delivered a three-day work shop on
entrepreneurial leadership.
The MBA students from Berkeley
came from different educational
backgrounds and expertise with
degrees spanning engineering,
product design, computer science
and economics.
Offering a solid curriculum based
on case studies and interactive
learning, their presentations were
supported by local expertise and
support groups.
Workshop participants had the
privilege of learning the skills
and knowledge needed to launch
and run a successful business
enterprise.
The curriculum included instruction
on entrepreneurship including:
developing a business model, use
of strategic management tools,
customer relations, revenues
streams, pricing strategies, costing
and margin, SWOT analysis,
introduction to key marketing topics,
the Four P’s, working effectively
in groups, developing personal
leadership style, negotiating
effectively and pitching and selling.
Over the course of the workshop,
where a 5-year fundraising plan
was collectively drafted, there
were several interactive breakout
sessions which provided attendees
with a hands-on learning experience
and an opportunity to share their
own views and experiences with
peers and instructors.
Workshop leaders included Alia
Al-Kasimi (center left above), a
Moroccan born MSc graduate in
Computer Science from Indiana
University and former consultant
who is currently working on creating
consumer packaged goods that
manufacture Moroccan products,
Melissa Milan (center), a graduate
of Smith College in Massachusetts
and former consultant who is in
the process of creating an apparel
company for an underserved key
female demographic, and Vanessa
Barros (center right), a Chilean-born
Australian volunteer who helps train
underprivileged women manage
their own business.
IBDWorkshop
IBDWorkshop
Alia Al-Kasimi (left), Melissa Milan (center) and Vanessa Barros (right) gave the 3-day workshop designed to foster skills for launching and
running a successful enterprise.
25

Can you please tell us a bit about the
award and how you came to know
about the competition?
I heard about the competition from my
colleagues at work who encouraged me
to enter the competition.
What did it feel like to win?
Other than the great boost in confidence,
it really felt good to see that other people
appreciate good design.
What effect did Dar Al-Hekma have on
your creativity and motivation which in
turn led to your winning of the prize?
Dar Al-Hekma was the first step. I became
the designer I am today from the growth
I experienced whilst there. Even though
I have learned a lot since I graduated
through work experience, Dar Al-Hekma
was the key to my career in design.
Have you decided what you will spend
the money you've won on?
Not really, but I know that I will endeavor
to help those in need and invest the rest
in my future.
What was the biggest motivational
factor in your entering of the
competition?
All my friends and family around me who
were so sure I was going to win even
when I was sure I wasn't.
I catch up with Dania Basrawi to discuss her big win of 50 thousand Saudi Riyals with Okaz, a Saudi
newspaper in the Arabic language, for innovative excellence in the media. Basrawi won the award after
designing a poster (pictured right), aimed at reducing waste along the shoreline. The poster reads ‘Jeddah:
The Bride of the Red Sea’.
Graphic Design graduate Dania Basrawi wins
SR 50,000 with Okaz for Innovative Excellence
Alumnae
Alumnae
27 28
The poster for which Basrawi won the award reads ‘Jeddah: The Bride of the Red Sea.’

Alumnae
Alumnae
Noura Mansouri, MIS graduate, class of 2003, is currently completing
her PhD in environmental innovation at Queen Mary, University of
London.
Zaina Al-Kubaisy, MIS graduate, class of 2005, won the Mark
Treglown Award at the University of Nottingham for the best MSc
dissertation in the MIS and IT domains. Zaina is currently completing
her PhD in management information systems at Nottingham University.
Reem Abuzeid, Interior Design graduate, class of 2012, is the
first alumnae set to graduate from the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology. Reem is currently completing an MSc in architecture.
Wafaa Al-Johani, Special Education graduate, class of 2011,
was appointed by His Royal Highness Prince Khalid Al-Faisal as
ambassador to the Arab Thought Foundation. Wafaa worked at the
Jeddah Institute of Speech & Hearing (JISH) as an applied behavioral
therapist before going on to pursue higher studies in the United States.
Carbothera Technology
Arrives at KSA
Jameela Sawaf, a Banking and Finance
graduate of Dar Al-Hekma and later an MBA
graduate of Waterloo, shares her trajectory
to success
“Upon my return from Canada early last year, I suddenly conjured up a dream of
starting my own business. During 2010-2011, I worked at an investment company
as a financial advisor where I met my partner Summayyah Bahazeq. Summayyah
introduced me to the idea of bringing “Carbothera” technology to Saudi Arabia from
Japan.
Carbothera, or the CO2 foot bath therapy, has been developed in Japan as a means
for healing diabetic foot ulcers caused by ischemic disorders such as arteriosclerosis
obliterans (ASO) and peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD).
Over the course of six months, we carried out extensive market studies in addition to
a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis. Upon filing for legal documentation with our
mother company, Salamat Al-Qadam for medical equipment, we became the sole
representative for the Carbothera machine in the Kingdom.
Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder. More than 100 million people throughout the
world today suffer from various complications of the disease. Among the most severe
complications associated with diabetes mellitus are the deep tissue lesions of the foot
known collectively as “diabetic foot.” Until recently, the lack of an effective therapy for
diabetic foot has led many patients with such complications down an inexorable and
tragic path toward amputation of the foot.
The first clinic treating with Carbothera technology in Jeddah was in the Al-
Khaledeyyah district under the supervision of distinguished orthopedic surgeons from
King Abdul Aziz University Hospital.
The future is bright for diabetic patients suffering this effect of their disease. The
Salamat Al-Qadam company is planning to make the Carbothera form of therapy
accessible to each and every patient at a reasonable cost across the Kingdom.”
For more information, visit www.co2bath.com.
Alumnae Achievements at-a-Glance
29 30
Al-Anoud Al-Zahrani, MIS graduate, class of 2012, came first place
in the Prince Mohamed Bin Fahad Youth Leadership Award. Al-Anoud
currently works at the National Commercial Bank and is the co-founder
of ‘Iqraa Umma’, a book vending that was featured in the ‘Khawaater’
series on MBC.

(From left) A model of a small neighborhood designed by first-year architecture students, an architectural project from the course entitled ‘course generation
& visualization’ (center) and a mosque project which was the fruit of a 3-day workshop headed by renowned architect Rassem Badran (top right).
Dr. Ahmad Bin Muhammad Al-Saif, Deputy Minister of Higher Education, graced the 2012 architectural exhibition.
The 2012 Interior Design Exhibition entitled “Framing the Future” showcased the
works of senior students.
The Dar Al-Hekma Exhibitions
Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Khodairi, Deputy Governor of the Makkah region, launches the annual graphic design exhibition entitled
‘Rock, Paper, Scissors.’
Graphic Design student Rasha Al-Amoudi discusses her project with Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Khodairi, Deputy Governor of the Makkah region.
The 2012 Graphic Design Exhibition entitled “Rock, Paper, Scissors” showcased the work of our senior students.
InPictures....
Exhibitions
Exhibitions
31 32

We all hear of the odd aging relative – or more shockingly, a young and healthy acquaintance – developing “type 1” or
“type 2” diabetes, and we all surely know it has something to do with sugar (the Arabic for diabetes is merely taken from
that very word). But just how does it work?
Dubbed the most rapidly growing illness of the 21st century, the diabetes epidemic is costing global governments and
threatening our quality of life.
The Dar Al-Hekma annual awareness day showcased the indicators and remedies of this century’s most prominent illness.
Diabetes Awareness Day
What is diabetes?
Type one diabetes refers to the destruc-
tion of insulin-producing cells in the body
(insulin facilitates glucose entering into
the bloodstream) where type 2 diabetes
refers to bodies that contain inferior lev-
els of insulin used inadequately (insulin
resistance).
In the Middle East, the figure is as high
as 25% especially in the Gulf countries
where a sedentary lifestyle prevails ow-
ing to hot weather and lack of pedestrian
roads. In North America, large-scale
manufacturers of “the white killer”
refined sugar, one in five men over 50
suffer from the disease. Even in devel-
oping countries such as India, where
morbid obesity rates stand at a relatively
modest rate of 5% as compared to 35%
in developed North America, the figure
for diabetes nevertheless stands at
approximately a staggering fifth of the
population, signaling that this is as much
hereditary as it is lifestyle-related.
Key facts
• 346 million people worldwide have
diabetes.
• In 2008, an estimated 3.4 million
people died from consequences of
high blood sugar.
• More than 80% of diabetes deaths
occur in low- and middle-income
countries.
• Diabetes is predicted to become the
seventh leading cause of death in
the world by the year 2030.
• The WHO projects that deaths from
diabetes will double between 2005
and 2030.
• Healthy diet, regular physical activity,
maintaining a normal body weight
and avoiding tobacco use can
prevent or delay the onset of type 2
diabetes.
• Diabetes is a leading cause of
blindness, amputation and renal failure.
DiabetesAwarenessDay
SportsAchievements
Under the patronage of Her Royal
Highness Princess Seeta Bint
Abdallah Bint Abdulaziz and in
collaboration with Jeddah’s Green
Team, Dar Al-Hekma hosted the
first ever forum on well-being and
exercise.
The first of its kind in the city of
Jeddah, the forum was entitled ‘Al
Haraka Baraka’, or ‘movement is
a blessing’, which aimed to raise
awareness on health, nutrition and
fitness in a region where a wholly
sedentary lifestyle is prevalent.
The forum was attended by over
700 students from the College as
an extracurricular program from
within.
The forum hoped to achieve
a milestone in health-related
awareness and introduce the
benefits and practical steps towards
exercise in an informative yet
recreational manner, which allowed
participants to interact with the
organizers to reap maximal benefit
from their participation.
Did you know?
Walking just three times per week for
30 minutes slashes the risk of heart-
disease-related death by up to 60
percent.
Exercise greatly increases oxygen flow
to the brain, thereby slowing mental
decay and building brainpower in ways
that thinking cannot.
Exercise increases levels of the feel-
good hormone serotonin, the brain
hormone that fights depression naturally.
Exercise helps with the release of
endorphins, neurotransmitters that are
natural stress and pain fighters within
the body.
Strength training in the form of squats,
pushups and lifting weights for 15 to
30 minutes just 3 times a week sharply
protects against osteoporosis, a disease
of the bones that greatly increases risk
of fracture (bone density can decrease
by up to 40% at menopause).
Exercise is a natural combatant to high-
blood pressure as it regulates circulation
and rids the body of toxins and lipids
(fat) in the blood.
150 minutes of cardiovascular exercise
has been shown to be a guaranteed
quota for weight maintenance where 250
minutes of exercise has been proven to
induce significant weight loss.
Exercise is a natural solution to a host
of other health-related issues such as
diabetes (an excess of glucose in the
blood), osteoarthritis (inflammation of
the joints) and cancer of the colon.
Suzanne Zaidan, former Director of Student Development and Academic Support
Services, said the following of the event that drew much praise from academic circles:
“It is truly inspiring to come across an institution devoted to introducing an otherwise
sedentary generation to all-rounded development of the mind, body and soul.
Such was the spiritual nature of the “Al-Haraka Baraka Forum”, which lifted the spirits
of the audience in a rare show of advocacy and interactive learning.
The sports ceremony, the first of its kind, succeeded not only on an operational level
but also in instilling participants with a new attitude towards fitness and its urgency.
It effectively showcased the spirit of determination of girls who have thus far been
guided by Dar Al-Hekma›s Sports Director Maysoon Al-Sowayegh, who heads a
distinguished yoga class at the College, in addition to sports including table tennis and
basketball.
Al-Sowayegh is a medical health specialist who has successfully combined her
medical knowledge with her active life style experience to produce an energetic team
that has engaged in impressive performances thanks to the vast number of training
hours of practice and rehearsals.
The team’s uniqueness lies in its emphasis on the need for balance between the soul
and the body which was the theme of the event. Balance will inevitably rebound to
create young and energetic nurtured minds.”
Movement is a Blessing:
A Forum to Encourage Fitness
Diabetes: Know The Symptoms
Symptoms for diabetes include:
• Increased urination, especially at
night
• Rapid weight loss unattributed to diet
or exercise
• Thirst
• Fatigue
• Regular episodes of thrush (genital
infection)
• Blured vision
• Slow healing of cuts and wounds
33 34
Organizers of the forum were chosen from amongst students to volunteer in this initiative.

Dar Al-Hekma organized the 3rd Annual Sports Tournament, which included
prominent higher education institutions, in addition to both national and international
schools across Jeddah. Participants included students from Effat University, the
Faculty of Medicine, CBA College, Al-Hamra School, Global International School,
Qous Al-Naser International School, and Al-Wadi International School, in addition to
Dar Al-Hekma’s own team and the Jeddah Green Team. The Dar Al-Hekma Team
won first place in basketball, table tennis and badminton. The tournament attracted
an impressive turnout of 500 attendees between participants and spectators.
Dar Al-Hekma Team
Achievements at The Third
Annual Sports Tournament
35 36

Dar Al-Hekma Takes Part in
BMG Foundation Campaign
To conserve water
Did you know?
• 1 child dies every 20 seconds from water-related diseases (United Nation
Human Development Report 2006).
• The world’s supply of fresh water is running out. 1 in 5 persons has no access to
safe drinking water (BBC News).
• About 80% of the world’s population (5.6 billion in 2011) live in areas with
threats to water security (Nature 2010).
• Almost one fifth of the world’s population (about 1.2 billion people) live in areas
where water is scarce (Cape Water Solutions 2010).
To act on these concerns,
one of the Millennium Development
Goals is to reduce the proportion of
people without sustainable access to
safe drinking water and sanitation to half
by 2015. Accordingly, the World Water
Council 2010 proposed the following
measures to achieve the goal:
1. Guarantee the right to water.
2. Decentralize responsibility for water.
3. Develop know-how at a local level.
4. Evaluate and monitor water resources.
The BMG Foundation is a leading
NGO endorsing corporate cultural
responsibility. Earlier this year, the BMG
Foundation invited Dar Al-Hekma to take
part in a GCC-wide student competition
under the theme ‘Our Water, Our Life’.
The competition called on university
students to submit innovative and
creative awareness campaign ideas
aimed at guiding households on how to
apply different efficient methods for water
conservation.
The BMG Foundation toured 10 different
GCC cities including Riyadh, Khobar,
Jeddah, Kuwait ,Dubai, Sharjah, Abu
Dhabi, Manama, Doha, and Muscat to
raise awareness of this critical issue and
to rally up the talents and creativity of
youth that are mindful of our environment
and its safekeeping. The program
provided youth with stark, authentic
statistics on water to inspire and instill a
sense of ownership to do the utmost in
preserving water.
The foundation partnered with the
Ministry of Water and Electricity on this
initiative. The competition gives students
a chance to propose a powerful, eye-
opening and, ultimately, earth-saving
water conservation awareness campaign
that we will run across the Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia. The winning idea will be
implemented for 6 months from July to
December 2012, with credit given to the
winning student and his or her school or
university. Furthermore, the top three
groups will also be granted an internship
or training opportunity.
Alaa Al-Mizyen
Earlier this year, the Istathmir
organization, consisting of a team of
Dar Al-Hekma students, held “The
Raise Awareness Forum” in the Prince
Bandar Bin Sultan Auditorium. Open
free-of-charge to women all over the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the forum
aimed to raise awareness on breast
cancer issues and to familiarize women
with some of the nation’s leading
doctors and specialists in the field. The
forum was exclusively sponsored by
Saudi retail company, Femi9.
Speakers at the forum included Dr.
Ayman Linjawi on “Common Breast
Cancer Misconceptions”, Dr. Modi
Batterjee on “The Journey of Al Bidayah
Center”, Dania Al-Masri on “Saudi
Arabia’s initiatives for Breast Cancer
Awareness 2011”, Said Baaghil on
“Motivation for All” and Inass Zakout on
“The Nurse’s Role in the Fight Against
Breast Cancer”.
Apart from the dynamic line-up of
speakers, the highlight of the forum
was the live X-factor style judging of
the “Raise Awareness Competition”, an
Istathmir initiative which took place in
strategic partnership with Al-Bidayah
Breastfeeding Resource and Women’s
Awareness Center. The center ran
workshops throughout the month of
October urging Saudi Arabia’s youth
to create and develop breast cancer
awareness campaigns via social
marketing. Four finalists, Fayez Iqbal,
Jawaher Zahran, Mohammad Fathallah,
and Diana Al-Khateeb were chosen out
of a pool of competition applicants from
across the Kingdom to present their breast cancer awareness campaign ideas to a
panel of judges and the audience at the forum.
The first place winner was Fayez Iqbal, creator of “The Pink Drive” campaign.
Second place went to Mohammad Fathallah who came up with the idea of projecting
a pink ribbon on the Jeddah fountain, in addition to floating hot air balloons around
the city. Third place went to Jawaher Zahran who presented a campaign for uniquely
designed t-shirts for the cause. Audience members also began initiating ideas
on how the local community could work towards raising awareness while certain
members from the panel of judges offered to undertake and implement some of the
contestants’ campaigns.
Students, speakers, and audience members alike were given the opportunity to
engage proactively in the fight against breast cancer in solidarity with millions of
women who are affected by this disease every single year.
Dar Al-Hekma Hosts Forum on Breast Cancer
Dar Al-Hekma College, in collaboration with Alaa Al-Mizyen, was host to the ‘Raise Awareness
Forum’ on 26th October 2011 to raise awareness about breast cancer. Speakers at the forum
included Dr. Ayman Linjawi, Dr.Modi Batterjee, Mr. Said Baaghil and Ms. Dania Al-Masri.
‘Half the battle is knowing, the other is going. Now you know, go’
WaterConservationCampaign
BreastCancerAwareness
37 38

Facing the ‘C’ Word‘Each time we face our fear, we gain strength, courage and confidence in the doing’ (Anonymous)
Rabia Bokhari
Every woman has fears. Multitudes of
them. The fear of losing a loved one, the
fear for the health, safety and success of
her family, the fear of aging, and scores
more. However, there dwells a fear deep
inside a woman’s psyche, in a box, taped
and padlocked, and marked ‘Do not
open. Ever.’ That is the fear of breast
cancer.
Every woman knows about it, has met
someone who has had it, and deep down,
realizes the possibility that she could get
it. So what preventive measures does
she take? She goes into a mode of denial
and abnegation and adopts the ‘ostrich
mentality’: proverbially burying her head
in the sand and pretending that the risk
doesn’t exist, with good reason too!
Breast cancer is the most common
cancer in the world, and the principle
claimant of womens’ lives globally. It
is a known fact that 1 in 8 women will
develop breast cancer in their lifetime.
In 2010 alone, 1.5 million women in the
world were diagnosed with breast cancer.
Then, there is the stigma. Husbands may
divorce, friends might desert, technicians
and doctors might be male, and then
of course we have the hardship of
chemotherapy. So, women take the easy
way out: they avoid getting a screening
so that they can never be diagnosed,
deny themselves the chance of getting
treatment, and offer themselves as willing
victims to the world’s deadliest killer.
Women forget the superhuman strength
that they have been blessed with.
Women forget that they shine the
brightest in the face of adversity. Women
forget the contributions they have made
to make the world what it is today.
Women forget that history is littered with
the names of women who have shown
tremendous courage and excellence in
every sphere of life that they have set
foot in, whether it is the battlefield, or
the fields of politics, education, trade,
nursing or medicine. Women forget
that they need to care for themselves.
Women forget that without them, there
would be no world.
To care, women need to know: the
highest chance of victory in the battle
against cancer is to diagnose it early. If
diagnosed in its early stages, there is a
95% chance of being cured.
What is breast cancer?
Our body has genes responsible for
regulating the growth of cells and
keeping them functioning healthily.
Cells undergo a natural life cycle where
old cells die and new, healthy ones
take their place. Over time, however,
certain abnormal changes occur in
the genes affecting their ability to
regulate cell growth. The unregulated
cells then gain the ability to keep on
dividing themselves without control, and
producing more cells like themselves
that combine to form a tumor.
Tumors can be benign or malignant.
Benign tumors consist of cells which
multiply slowly, are close to normal cells
in appearance, and do not invade other
tissues or spread to other parts of the
body. Benign tumors are not cancerous,
and therefore, not dangerous. Malignant
tumors, on the other hand, are
cancerous, can spread to other parts
of the body if left unchecked, and are
potentially quite dangerous.
A malignant tumor that has developed
from cells in the breast is termed ‘breast
cancer’.
Who is at risk for breast cancer?
• Anyone can get breast cancer,
whether they have a high or low risk
of getting it. However, knowing that
there is a higher risk of breast cancer
allows one to be more prepared.
• Gender: being a woman is the biggest
risk factor for getting breast cancer.
Men get breast cancer too, but their
risk of getting cancer is 100 times
lesser than that of women.
• Aging: the risk of breast cancer
increases as one gets older. After
the age of 40, women should get
regular screenings to check for any
abnormal growth. Nevertheless,
women younger than 40 may still be
at risk.
• Family History: if close family
members (such as one’s mother,
sister or daughter) have breast
cancer, this doubles the risk.
• Lifestyle: a lack of exercise, regular
consumption of alcohol and
cigarettes increase the risk of breast
cancer.
• Estrogen exposure: if the following
scenarios apply to you, there may
be a higher risk for getting breast
cancer:
• You got your period before the
age of 12.
• You have never had children, or
had them after the age of 30.
• You have not breast fed.
• You entered menopause after the
age of 55.
• You were overweight after
menopause.
• You are taking birth control pills.
• You have used estrogen pills as
part of hormone replacement
therapy.
How can breast cancer be detected?
• The most accurate methods of
detecting breast cancer are
mammograms (X-rays of the
breasts), ultrasounds and MRIs.
However, after the age of 20, it
is very important to conduct self-
examinations of the breasts and
keep on the lookout for the following
symptoms:
• Indentation and/or dimpling
• Skin erosion
• Redness, scaliness or hardening
of the breast’s skin
• Clear or cloudy nipple discharge
• Growing vein
• Nipple retraction (turning inward)
• Asymmetry
• Swelling
• Lump(s)
If you notice any of the above
symptoms, immediately consult your
doctor.
• It is important to note that many
women commonly have lumps in
their breasts which are unrelated to
cancer. The distinction is that normal
lumps feel like soft peas, while
cancerous lumps feel like lemon
seeds. However, it is advisable to
consult with a doctor if any lump is
felt.
• In addition to regular self-
examinations, after the age of 40, it
is important to go for a mammogram
every one to two years.
What are some common myths
associated with breast cancer?
• Antiperspirants cause cancer.
• Underwired bras cause breast cancer.
• Radiation from mammograms or other
forms of cancer screening increases the
risk of breast cancer.
• Getting breast implants increases the
risk of cancer.
How can I reduce my risk of getting
breast cancer?
While the risk of getting breast cancer
can never be completely eliminated,
there are several steps that you can take
to reduce it:
• Maintain a healthy weight. Reduce
extra fat deposits around the belly.
• Exercise regularly. Your minimum
target should be between 3- 5 hours
a week.
• Quit smoking now.
• Eat a nutritious diet with plenty of fruit,
vegetables, fiber and dairy products
whilst limiting your intake of junk and
fatty food.
• Maintain adequate levels of vitamin
D by getting at least 15 minutes
of peak sunshine 3 times a week,
eating foods rich in Vitamin D and
taking supplements if necessary.
• Buy pesticide-free, organic fruits and
vegetables.
• Reduce your exposure to light at
night and avoid night shifts where
possible. While you are sleeping,
your body needs darkness to
produce a hormone called melatonin.
Low levels of melatonin are also
linked to breast cancer.
• Reduce your use of plastic products,
especially containers for food and
drink. Use containers of steel, glass
or ceramic instead.
• Make sure that the cosmetics you use
are free of parabens and phthalates.
Visit the Environmental Working
Group’s (EWG) ‘Skin-Deep’ website
to search for safe cosmetic products.
39 40

Dar Al-Hekma Hosts
Morningside Academy,
the first workshop of its kind on a college campus
“Our son holds his head up now. He smiles, and according to him, he’s gaining knowledge. He’s
gone up three grade levels, and we’re all thrilled. For years he was so frustrated by all that he
wanted to learn, but couldn’t. Now, he stands proud of the work he has accomplished, has mastered
the keys of learning and for the very first time, sees real possibility.”
Such was the sentiment of hopeful
parents whose child attends Morningside
Academy, a not-for-profit organization
founded in 1980 in Seattle, Washington.
The institution helps both elementary
and middle school students with learning
disabilities such as dyslexia, dysgraphia,
dyscalculia or attention deficit disorder
(ADD) get ahead.
There are no failure cases at Morningside
Academy, which helps intelligent and able
elementary and middle class children fill
their learning gaps. It offers individualized
and small group instruction to students
who were not able to pass grade levels
because of their learning difficulties.
For the first time in Saudi Arabia, the
Special Education Department at Dar
Al-Hekma hosted the Morningside
Academy to provide guidance to students
at the department, as well as members
of staff, on how to bridge and extend the
Morningside model to their own needs
during the course of their career.
The full five-day workshops covered
research-based teaching methods such
as Precision Teaching, Direct Instruction,
Curriculum-Based Measurement and
Fluent Thinking Skills.
Kris Melroe, the Assistant Director of
schools and agencies of the Morningside
Academy, came along with Deb Brown,
Morningside Teacher’s Academy
Consultant, where they coached around
35 members at Dar Al-Hekma in using
evidenced-based practices in instruction,
practice, assessment and measurement.
Hala Al-Atiyat
Privilege seldom comes, especially in
the form of opportunity. Thus it was
much to our delight to be afforded a
platform in 'The Women as Global
Leaders Conference', an initiative by
the Zayed University in Abu Dhabi in
the United Arab Emirates, to present a
comprehensive case for Dar Al-Hekma's
capacity to create competitive advantage
through social responsibility.
This year's conference theme, entitled
'Creating a Sustainable Future for The
World' saw us highlight our initiative as a
corporate strategy that creates strategic
benefit for the College as well as for
stakeholders.
Sarah Al-Sahibabi, Rawan Jumbi and
Basmah Somali, all Banking and Finance
graduates of this year and members of
the Strategic Management class, were
part of the team of presenters. Sarah
and Rawan had their own parts in the
presentation and they handled the
Q&A session with eloquence worthy
of pride.
Being an international conference
for female students with more than a
thousand participants representing
100 universities from 40 countries
worldwide multiplied the benefits
to our students. They underwent
an intensive course that included
understanding different cultures,
practicing professional networking,
decision-making, negotiation,
brainstorming, communication,
leading and time management skills
within three days.
Topics included corporate social
responsibility, stakeholders approach
(symbiosis view), competitive
advantage and continuous
development, all under the banner
of strategic management. This work
is currently being reviewed, edited
and will be published soon upon final
approval.
I had never expected such a level of
impact on the girls as they flew solo for
the very first time. Confident, happy and
passionate about the academic institution
to which they belong, they expressed
gratitude to what it afforded them in terms
of self-development.
“Our presentation enjoyed great success”
Sarah said. “The participants loved our
research and the achievements of our
College. The experience of presenting
in front of these people boosted my
confidence and instilled in me a sense of
great pride.”
Rawan added, “It felt good to present
in front of many people from different
countries and different cultures. As a
student, I feel repeatedly empowered
when presenting multiple times.”
Hala Atiyat is a Lecturer at the Hekma
School of Business in Management
Information Systems.
Dar Al-Hekma Shines at the “Women as
Global Leaders” Conference in Abu Dhabi
WomenasGlobalLeadersConference
Kholoud Al-Haddad
41 42
MorningsideAcademy

The First Ever Team to Represent Saudi Arabia
Dar Al-Hekma Students Win “Honorable Mention List” at The 19th Annual
Willem C. Vis Arbitration Moot in Vienna
Members of the jury of the abritation moot with legal studies students from Dar Al-Hekma (pictured left) and other students from
internationally renowned universities
Zeina El-Hoss
For the first time ever in the history of
Dar Al-Hekma and Saudi Arabia at large,
Dar Al-Hekma students Nada El-Ostaz,
Nada Bashammakh and Shaima Atabani
were afforded the rare opportunity of
participating at the 19th Annual Willem C.
Vis International Commercial Arbitration
Moot under the supervision of Dr. Olga
Nartova, Assistant Professor of Law at
Dar Al-Hekma.
The competition, referred to as the
“Olympics of international trade law”,
has been drawing participation from
many law schools from all over the
world since 1994. This competition has
been gaining popularity over the past
decade as it grants law students the
remarkable opportunity of interacting with
fellow students from other countries and
cultures, which is no doubt an asset to all
concerned.
With the participation of 282 teams and
around 1600 students and participants
this year, the Dar Al-Hekma team was the
first to represent Saudi Arabia amongst
Dar Al-Hekma Delegation Wins Two Honorable Mentions
at the Harvard Model United Nations Conference
Arwa Bayoumy
A delegation of fourteen Dar Al-Hekma students, two of which received Honorable Mention awards, participated in this year’s
Harvard University National Model United Nations (HNMUN).
In its 58th session, the conference spanned four days, witnessing the participation of 3,100 delegates from around 50 countries.
Being the first-ever delegation from a Saudi-based institution, the Dar Al-Hekma delegation was assigned to represent the nation
of Bangladesh in a number of councils including the Security Council, the Human Rights Committee, the Historical Committee, and
the General Assembly.
When asked what this experience has reaped, Mazza Farajallah, a student in Banking and Finance and winner of one of the
two honorable mentions awarded to the Dar Al-Hekma group said, “The experience was incredible and completely exhilarating.
It motivated and inspired my team and myself for years to come!” Farajallah went on to explain that the experience taught her
endurance and how to deal with different types of people whilst representing her country to the best of her abilities. “It was as
though we were at the real UN,” she added.
The group attended the conference through their role in the Dar Al-Hekma Model United Nations Club (DAHMUN). DAHMUN
provides its participants with the opportunity to discuss world issues in the same way debates are held at the United Nations and
other international organizations. Dr. Chaman Rahim, Assistant Professor at Dar Al-Hekma and DAHMUN Club Advisor, said the
conference provided an opportunity for students to interact with delegates from around the world, explore new ideas, learn about
different cultures and bring their own experiences to the table for others to learn from.
Arab teams that included Bahrain, the
United Arab Emirates and Egypt. The
team found itself competing against
students from world-renown universities
in Brazil, Austria, India, and Germany, to
name a few. The students were thrilled
to be recognized by the moot’s director
Professor Eric Bergsten and the arbitrator
of the American Arbitration Association
Dr. William Zucker, who was impressed
by their commitment, hard work and
confidence.
Having gone through months of rigorous
preparation, investing hours of fruitful
effort writing the two memorandums
and rehearsing for the oral rounds they
presented at Vienna, the young team
expressed gratitude to the college and its
President, Dr. Suhair Al-Qurashi for her
belief in their capabilities and for granting
them the opportunity to participate in
such a prestigious event. Team member
Shaima Al-Tabani explains, “It is totally
different to experience an official court
environment, meet arbitrators and
compete with universities worldwide
rather than learning about it in regular
classes. The two experiences are
incomparable.” Her teammates Nada
Al-Ostaz and Nada Bashammakh
also dedicated their success to their
mentoring Professor Dr. Olga Nartova,
who spent long hours coaching them,
in addition to their families for their
support and their country, Saudi Arabia
which they were honored to represent
at the event. “Being able to undergo
this challenge has made me understand
that nothing is impossible to achieve.
It is all within us and we need to find it
and pursue it to the very end,” remarked
Nada Al-Ostaz.
TheHarvardModelUnitedNations
The19thAnnualWillemC.VisArbitrationMoot
43 44

Dar Al-Hekma won first place in the
Unilever Idea Trophy among other teams
from Effat University and CBA. The team
was awarded iPads and trophies for
their success in coming up with a sound
business plan.
The Dar Al-Hekma team was represented
by team leader Faiza Rizvi, Bedor Salem,
and Rawaa Abdul Karim.
Azza Al-Ghamdi, lecturer in the General Education department, presented
a research paper during the 6th International Technology, Education and
Development Conference (INTED 2012) this past March. The research paper,
entitled “The use of Social Media Among Female Students in The Gulf Region:
An Empirical Study”, was completed in with collaboration with Dr. Subhasish
Dasgupta, Program Director of the Information Systems Technology MSc Program
at George Washington University. Using the 'Unified Theory of Acceptance and
Use of Technology' (UTAUT) model, the research paper discussed the rate of
user acceptance in using social networks in Saudi Arabia amongst female youth.
Over 50 scholars from numerous international educational institutions attended
Al-Ghamdi's presentation. The research paper has also been published in the
electronic journal of INTED 2012 conference. INTED is an annual international
conference and a forum for educators who wish to present their project and
innovations granting participants the opportunity to discuss the main aspects and
the latest results in the field of education and research. The general aim of the
conference is to promote international collaboration in education and research in
all educational fields and disciplines.
The Unilever Idea Trophy officially took
off last semester. Fifty teams qualified
for the first phase, out of which 25 were
selected for the second phase, with only
5 of these admitted to the final phase.
The teams were tasked with preparing
a business plan to establish daily
consumption of Lipton green tea among
women above the age of 20 years.
In the first phase, the team brainstormed
for ideas and submitted their idea
followed by a detailed business and
execution plan. They also conducted
extensive market research for consumer
and market understanding.
“It has been an amazing learning
experience. We gave it our best and I’m
proud of the effort that my team members
have put in that helped us win the first
place. It is a dream come true,” said
Faiza Rizvi about her success.
The Dar Al Hekma team presented
before a panel of 7 judges comprised of
marketing professionals and members of
higher management.
“We had no debate over the winning
team. Their presentation was so
impressive that we were sure from the
outset that they would be the recipients of
this award” said one of the judges.
Further
Dar Al-Hekma Achievements
at-a-Glance
FurtherAchievementsat-a-Glance
Dar Al-Hekma team members Bedor Salem
(right) and Faiza Rizvi (left)
45
Dar Al-Hekma students win first place in Uniliver Idea Trophy
Azza Al-Ghamdi presents paper on “Social Media
Use” at INTED 2012
FurtherAchievementsat-a-Glance
46
College Preparation Program (CPP) Organizes Annual Event
The College Preparation Program (CPP) event “Every Minute is A Learning Experience” aimed to promote
collaborative learning by encouraging students to teach skills they’ve mastered in any preferred field of
interest. Booths showcased quick-to-learn tutorials, uniting diverse moods and personalities, from techies to
beauty addicts to art and music enthusiasts.
Community Service hours total 103,800
Since the launch of our social responsibility initiative to encourage staff, faculty and students to contribute
to a better society, an impressive 103,800 hours have been dedicated to various events and programs in
the Kingdom and abroad on personal initiatives made by our students.

5a) Magazine Fall 2012 (4 articles)

5a) Magazine Fall 2012 (4 articles)

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