Study in the UAE - Higher Education

https://www.facebook.com/HigherEdUAE https://www.instagram.com/highereduae
New app being developed by Reinhardt Miller and Riccardo Francia
will give students unparalleled access to their higher education
ecosystem in the UAE
N b i d l d b R i h dt Mill d Ri d F i
HOW
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IT’SSUNNY,
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From suede skirts
and culottes to
saddlebags and
off-shoulder
dresses get the
shimmy on how
to kit out your
summer wardrobe
https://twitter.com/highereduae
ISSUE 02, APRIL 2016
STUDY THEUAE
MAJOR
DILEMMA
Top universities
help confused
students get
back on course

DUBAI
ALL THAT YOU CAN
BEGINS
MODUL University is the first and only Austrian university in the Middle East. For more than 100 years, MODUL University
oﬀers a range of internationally-recognized undergraduate and postgraduate business degrees in the areas of tourism
and hospitality, international management and new media technology.
General MBA
MBA major in Tourism and Hotel Development
MBA major in New Media and Information
Postgraduate
ACADEMIC OFFERINGS
International Course in Hotel Management
Hospitality Backstage Program
Corporate Backstage Program
VOCATIONAL OFFERINGS
Admissions Open for September 2016 IntakeFor more information: 04 562 3838, 052 646 1870
Undergraduate
Foundation Program
BBA in Tourism and Hospitality Management
BSc in International Management
Permitted by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority. The academic qualifications
granted by this institution and certified by KHDA shall be recognised in the Emirate of Dubai by all
public and private entities for all purposes
www.modul.ac.ae

PUBLISHING DIRECTOR, GN PUBLISHING: James Hewes | EDITOR: Anshuman Joshi | SUBEDITOR: Krita Coelho | ART EDITOR: Nicholas D’Souza
PRODUCTION EDITOR: Keith Langford | ADVERTISING CONTROLLER: Gordon D’souza | PRE-PRESS OPERATOR: Yousaf Naeem
HEAD OF ADVERTISING SALES: Tripti Singh | ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER: Shahida Khan, Tel: 04 406 7645, Mobile: 056 113 6877, Email: skhan@gulfnews.com |
CONSULTANT (SALES): Highereducation.ae
Published and printed by: Al Nisr Publishing LLC
A GULF NEWS SPONSORED SUPPLEMENT
SUMMEROF2016
Pack your wardrobe with
statement pieces that announce
your presence in the campus
24
INTHIS
ISSUE
THEGEARSHIFTERS
UAE’s first Formula One SAE teams find
the top gear in its race to recognition
16
22
COMINGUPACES
SP Jain’s one-year
Global MBA program
enables students to
find diverse careers
MAJORSOLUTIONSFOR
MINORDILEMMAS
Universities help students
choose a major that suits
their career aspirations
04
AHEADFORFIGURES
Phoenix Financial
Training gives accounting
a boost in the country
20
‘BEMALLEABLE,
BEADAPTABLE’
Students should take
their time in getting their
education priorities right
30
SWOT’SUP
Murdoch University’s Business
Cup Challenge draws schools
from all over the GCC
12
22 ANTIGRAVITY
29 WHAT’SUPANDWHERE
33 CONNECTECHED
+
18
THEMODULFORSUCCESS
Tourism and hospitality students
get a helping hand from Austria’s
leading private university
THESTUDENTHUB
We speak to the
creators of edUhub,
a unique mobile
application for
students
08
23
THEPOWERTOINSPIRE
Arab Excellence provides students
with the perfect launch platform
STUDY THEUAE
3April 2016 | STUDY IN THE UAE

?
4 STUDY IN THE UAE | April 2016
[TOP GRADE]

M
ickael Assaf, an affable 18-year-old
Lebanese student, enrolled for a
major in computer security at
Dubai’s prestigious Rochester
Institute of Technology after
completing his secondary education from Al
Mawakeb High School in 2013.
While he was happy with his major, Assaf never
really stopped to ponder about whether he really
enjoyed what he was studying. “When I started
working at R.I.T during the summer as a student
admissions representative and was asked to give
tours of the university to future students, I was
impressed with my social and communications
skills. It was then that I realised that my social
skills and energy would be more suitable for
marketing,” he says.
Assaf is among the hundreds of students who
realise — sometimes a tad too late — that their
true vocation lies in a subject that they have
unfortunately chosen not to pursue for their
major. According to the National Center for
Education Statistics in the United States, about
80 per cent of students in the US end up changing
their major at least once.
Choosing a major to graduate is a hard decision
as it determines a student’s future prospects.
Brad Hilbrich, Associate Director of Admissions
& Recruitment at RIT, says: “Switching a major
midway is very normal… I myself changed my major
twice when I was an undergraduate student.”
While there may be a number of reasons to
change the major, the most common one is
parental pressure. “Many students take a major
based on what their parents want them to study
BRAD HILBRICH,
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
OF ADMISSIONS &
RECRUITMENT AT RIT
SWITCHING A
MAJOR MIDWAY
IS VERY NORMAL.
I MYSELF
CHANGED MY
MAJOR TWICE
WHEN I WAS AN
UNDERGRADUATE
STUDENT
?
MAJOR SOLUTIONS
FOR MINOR
Universities toss out lifelines to students caught between a rock
and a hard place in their choice of majors
By Chiranti Sengupta
[TOP GRADE]

even if they have no interest in the field. This
often leads to poor performance and either failure
or a change of major,” says Dan Adkins, Academic
Director, Murdoch University — Dubai Campus.
A large number of students also do not research
properly what they will be studying in a particular
major and therefore begin to regret their choice
when the subject matter goes awry. Many others
choose a major with unrealistic expectations
of themselves.
“They often misjudge their capabilities and they
are hit with the brutal reality that they are not
exceptionally gifted and that their chosen major
involves lots of hard work,” points out Adkins,
adding, “We have had a number of students who
took a single unit of a subject in the secondary
school, which they enjoyed, and they, therefore,
chose the subject as their major. However, they
later found out that in-depth study of that
subject was not as interesting to them as they
had imagined.”
According to Adkins, there are also students
“who select a major because they think that they
can make a lot of money in that field even though
they really have no interest.
“Usually about two teaching periods into their
studies, they realise that doing something you
don’t really like [or even hate] is not worth the
extra money that they believe they can earn.”
While sometimes a change could be as simple
as going from mechanical to electrical engineering
or from marketing to international business,
sometimes students can also opt for a more
comprehensive change, possibly from engineering
to business or liberal arts and vice versa.
The difficulty of changing majors is dependent
upon the curriculum and how far the student is
into their major. In most universities, however, it
is possible to change a major in the first year of
studies without losing any credits.
“After the first year, there will often be credits
that cannot be transferred as electives to the new
major,” says Adkins.
While RIT Dubai is flexible with regard to a
change in programme, Hilbrich warns: “The
farther into a programme a student is, the
more he risks adding semesters to it, when he
changes a major. While we encourage academic
exploration, each of our degree programmes
comes with a set curriculum, including a number
of classes that absolutely must be taken to
complete their majors.”
Challenges of switching college majors
Apart from the loss of credits, a key drawback to
changing majors midway is that it maybe looked
upon as a student’s lack of focus and passion for a
particular field.
It may also indicate a certain measure of
inconsistency in the mind of the student, says Dr
Preeta George, Dean Masters of Global Business
and Professor of Economics at S P Jain School of
Global Management.
“At SP Jain, each such request is carefully
evaluated by the dean, department head and
corporate relations teams before it is approved.
The number of requests for changes after the
start of the programme is usually minimal as the
interview panel, comprising faculty and industry
experts, counsels a student during the interview, if
they find any discrepancy between the candidate’s
profile and selection of a major,” she explains.
The best way to minimise any issues with
changing majors is to prevent them in the first
place, says Adkins of Murdoch University. “Our
student services team spends time with each
student discussing their life goals and interest
so they can be advised on majors. If a student is
unsure, we encourage them to take units from
their “second choice” major as electives for their
major, so they do not lose any credits if they
decide to switch majors later.”
Given that it’s not always easy for a student,
especially when he is fresh out of school, to assess
which major best suits his career aspirations, it
is never too late to switch streams midway. “If
a student is considering changing his degree
program, this usually means that he has found
a major that sparks a passion in him. Students
who change their majors at RIT Dubai tend to be
happier and more successful, simply because they
are switching into a programme that matches
their strengths or passions. I always say that one
extra year at the university is, in the long run,
better than a career spent in an industry that a
student doesn’t absolutely love,” says Hilbrich.
And who could agree with this more than Assaf.
He says, “I’m still young and despite the fact that
time is money, I believe that it is better late than
never. While I was content with my computer
security major, I have found more satisfaction
with my new major in marketing. n
PREETA GEORGE,
DEAN MASTERS OF
GLOBAL BUSINESS
AND PROFESSOR OF
ECONOMICS, S P JAIN
SCHOOL OF GLOBAL
MANAGEMENT
A KEY DRAWBACK
TO CHANGING
MAJORS MIDWAY
IS THAT IT MAYBE
LOOKED UPON AS
A STUDENT’S LACK
OF FOCUS AND
PASSION FOR
A PARTICULAR
FIELD
STUDENTS SELECT
A MAJOR BECAUSE
THEY THINK THAT
THEY CAN MAKE A
LOT OF MONEY IN
THAT FIELD EVEN
THOUGH THEY
REALLY HAVE NO
INTEREST
DAN ADKINS,
ACADEMIC DIRECTOR,
MURDOCH UNIVERSITY,
DUBAI CAMPUS
[TOP GRADE]

Scholarships awarded to outstanding students. Limited seats for September 2015 intake(Starts in Singapore)
P: +971 4 56 16 700 | E: admissions.dxb@spjain.org | W: www.spjain.org
Undergraduate COURSES
Bachelor of Business Administration
Bachelor of Business Communication
Bachelor of Economics
POSTgraduate COURSES
Master of Global Business
Global MBA
Executive MBA
Venue:
Date:
Time:
Venue
:Date:
Time:
Graduate with an
Australian degree
SMS ‘MBA’ or ‘BBA’ to 3811 or
Call: +971 52 251 3936
- DUBAI - ABU DHABI
S P Jain Dubai Campus, DIAC
Friday, 22nd
April 2016
10:00 am onwards
Beach Rotana Hotel, AbuDhabi
Saturday, 30th
April 2016
4:00 pm onwards
Visit us at GETEX, Dubai World Trade Center - Stand E102
25-100%

A
s students pursuing their degree in
business and ﬁnance in the UAE,
Reinhardt Miller and Riccardo
Francia have created edUhub, a
mobile application that aims to
establish the UAE as one of the most important
centres of education in the world.
Spurred on by the struggles of their own
student lives, the idea for the app came from the
need for a platform for students to share their
experiences about their universities, which in
turn could help others make that critical decision
to join a particular institution or program. The
app covers everything from institutions, courses,
events, seminars and entertainment.
Abu Dhabi-based Miller, a South African,
has been living in the UAE for close to 13
years. Francia, an Italian, has been here for
the last three and a half years. The boys have
a mentor in Arsalan Yunus, Founder and CEO,
Highereducation.ae, who supports them as
strategy director.
We chat with the team of edUhub to learn
more about the work that went into the making
of the application.
Where did the idea of edUhub come from?
MILLER: The idea basically came from friends.
They were complaining about a lot of things
within the education sector and there weren’t
any solutions for them. That’s when we decided
to create a platform whereby you can express
yourself, gain the latest information and grow as
a student.
Reinhardt Miller and Riccardo Francia’s edUhub app
will establish UAE as one of the best destinations for
higher education
By KritaCoelho
HUB
The Student
“WE DECIDED TO
CREATE A PLATFORM
WHEREBY YOU CAN
EXPRESS YOURSELF,
GAIN THE LATEST
INFORMATION AND
GROW AS A STUDENT.”
[INNOVATION MATTERS]

What is it and what does it do?
MILLER: It’s a platform where students can get
the latest information on events, seminars and
music. They can also rate and comment on
any institution of choice. It reflects what we as
students want to see in the education system.
We are more interested in the student voice and
projecting that to the general public.
ARSALAN: Once it’s driven through the student
voice, I think the market will react very well to it
and it will be a good way for universities to adapt
their student services counselling strategies.
How did you go from having the idea to
building the app?
MILLER: It was a lot of time management to start
with, perseverance and also networking. An
aspect of edUhub’s growth and evolution comes
from Highereducation.ae’s side as well. Also our
developers Etcon Middle East have provided us
with a lot of advice and consultation with regard
to the technological aspect of development which
has helped us a lot.
ARSALAN: We also did a lot of research. Reinhardt
and Riccardo have been to education expos,
interviewed students and found out their needs.
It’s not just what students think the problem
is; we interacted with a lot of focus groups and
conducted surveys to find what would drive
the student to come to the app and what the
apps utility will be. We compiled all the
feedback, talked to our technology
partners and then created the app in a
way that would be very beneficial to
higher education students and even
high school students in the UAE.
Any obstacles you faced on the way?
MILLER: We had one obstacle and
that is gaining access to the market and
obviously speaking to a lot of institutions
because we are a small-time start-up. We have
a partner in Highereducation.ae who has been
instrumental in our success from the very
beginning and so we are really positive about the
next few months...actually the year and we hope
to expand further.
What was the hardest part about creating
the app?
FRANCIA: Honestly it was probably gathering
all the ideas. We have gone through an extra
expansion, which is our homepage and it’s going
to come out in mid-April with the app itself. It
was interesting to see how we could fit it properly
with the original idea which was the university
system rating. The homepage will be populated
using content from Highereducation.ae as also
From left
to right:
Reinhardt Miller,
Arsalan Yunus and
Riccardo Francia

Infusion magazine, a UAE-based music and
nightlife guide. This content will be updated on
a regular basis.
Did you conduct market research when
designing it?
FRANCIA: We’ve have gone through multiple expos
and we have given out surveys to students from
many schools, not just in Dubai, but from Ajman
and Sharjah too. We targeted people coming
from different systems and different backgrounds.
Most people these days use the phone more than
the computer and research indicates that they
spend an average of four hours on social media
every day. Technology has them wired completely
and plays a huge role in influencing their lives
and choices.
What makes it different from other such
education apps?
MILLER: We have not come across similar apps.
This is the first of its kind whereby students
have an integrated platform of social events and
university programs. It hasn’t happened before so
we are trying to provide students with discounts,
latest information, more opportunities, and part-
time jobs. The app expectedly will go through its
stages of evolution.
How has your experience in the UAE as
students been?
FRANCIA: It is successful because we got to meet
many people around the place and this helped us
get an insight into their cultures and habits.
MILLER: We have integrated a lot of opinions both
from an educational as well as the cultural point
of view. Students using the app should feel like
they are learning something from their peers..
What are your individual roles?
FRANCIA: Originally Miller was meant to be
the CEO and I had primed myself for the CFO’s
position. However, once Arsalan joined us we
went back to the drawing board and allocated
specific objectives for each of us. We created a
responsibility matrix where Miller is heading the
organisation in terms of business development,
marketing and strategy, and I look after the
financial part of it.
ARSALAN: My job is to give support to both
these guys as a strategy director. And as
Highereducation.ae we are trying to support
these two entrepreneurs to get their app up
and running.
When is the launch happening?
FRANCIA: We are just in the phase of finishing
with the technology part of it. Now we are going
into beta testing it by the end of this month. So
our target is to launch it by mid-April.
How has this project contributed to your
student experience?
FRANCIA: As a student you normally don’t
improve that much unless you collaborate with
people who have clear business objectives.
MILLER: We are trying to understand student
behaviour at a more intricate level because
unless you know what they really want you can’t
create a product like this. Many have made that
mistake and we were in no mood to repeat those.
Since we are students it was very easy for us to
step into that zone.
Was it easy along the way to balance both?
FRANCIA: It isn’t easy when you are trying
to balance both your academic and business
objectives. Time management is critical and so
there are some things that you need to give up
on — things that are considered “fun” as far as
student life is concerned. But when you have
something that you are passionate about — like
edUhub — it’s all worth the sacrifice.
How do you plan to generate awareness and
drive downloads?
ARSALAN: The idea of the partnership between
edUhub team and Highereducation.ae is to help
them develop contacts within the industry, and
assist them with the content and marketing
strategies. As Highereducation.ae we work
with 30 universities and through us they will
get all support required to create awareness
across all platforms. We have also got our
digital marketing strategy as well and they
can hitch a ride on our platform to push their
announcements through social media.
Was is very expensive to create this app?
FRANCIA: Anything to do with innovation and
technology comes at a price. We tried to be very
creative with our app because we didn’t want it
to be another average product in the market.
You need a lot of money to be adaptable in this
market. So yes, building this app has been an
expensive proposition.
Do you plan make money from your
application?
ARSALAN: Of course any business has to have
some kind of revenue structure. It is not a non-
profit organisation. There’s a business plan to it.
At the moment, we’re not looking to raise any
money. We think that whatever we have collected
together as a group will be enough to sustain
us for the next six months to a year. We look at
raising money may be next year if we require it,
but for now it is “customers first”.
What advice do you have for others who have a
great idea for an app?
MILLER: This is why we are creating edUhub.
We are here for you and we want to create
more entrepreneurs from this venture and we
plan to make Dubai the number one destination
for students. n
FEATURES
THAT MATTER
SOCIAL
NETWORKING
MUSIC
RELEASES
EDUCATION
UPDATES
SOCIAL
EVENTS
+MORE

T
here’s excitement in the air as
Murdoch University Dubai gets
ready for their acclaimed Business
Cup Challenge. Running for the fourth
time since its initiation, the competition is
open to all secondary school students in
their last two years of learning. With an
increased level of interest the event has
grown beyond home grounds with
submissions and participation coming in
from schools across the GCC.
“In order to thrive a business must
maintain an intense focus on customer
satisfaction, be agile in setting the pace
for their competitors, hire and retain
the right team, and exercise strong fiscal
management,” says Dan Adkins, Academic
Director, Murdoch University, Dubai
Campus. “The same holds true when you
participate in a competition such as BCC.
It’s about being present and managing
your time, resources and team.”
Speaking about this unique CSR
initiative by their university he said,
“BCC is often the first opportunity that
the students get to compete with their
contemporaries academically. Students
participating in the BCC are challenged
to analyse and provide solutions to real
time business cases and issues using tools
such as SWOT analysis, PESTEL, Porter’s
5 Forces, and BCG Matrices to analyse the
business situation.
“They are encouraged to use lateral and
creative thinking to develop solutions and
use financial modelling to showcase the
viability. Teams that don’t make it to
the top 10 by the day of the finals
also have to make an “elevator pitch”,
something that comes in handy if they
are approaching angel investors or
venture capitalists,” he added.
The Business Cup Challenge draws schools from all over the GCC and gives
students their first taste of corporate excellence
By RuqyaKhan
SWOT’SUP!
[WINNING PERSPECTIVE]

Real world solutions
The Australian International School (AIS)
which participated in the competition
in 2014 is looking forward to bettering
its fourth place position from the last
time around. Mathew Anderson, Senior
School Maths and Business teacher from
AIS who led the team says, “It was an
incredible experience for our students
and they still talk about the BCC and the
influence it has had on their thinking,
their careers and their academic
pathways. One of the highlights for me
personally as the teacher was seeing
some of our work come to fruition. My
wife (who was also our mentor) and I
were invited by National Bonds for the
launch of their financial index. Three of
our concepts from the National Bonds’
case study have been implemented and
that is a fantastic achievement and huge
profiling for our school. Also the Expo
2020 case study saw one of our branding
concepts being implemented on taxis as a
promotional strategy.”
The competitive spirit
Lynda Fernandes, Faculty Leader at The
Cambridge International School, Dubai
seconds the opinion that the BCC can
be a really rewarding experience. The
school has now won the challenge three
years in a row!
“It was amazing to see our students in
all three years working their way through
the inter-school competition with saw
participation from 40-50 schools from
all over the GCC. From preparing case
studies to pitching ideas, the BCC is a
brilliant showcase of entrepreneurial
skills. It helps students to demonstrate
free thinking, creativity, co-operation, a
can-do attitude, tonnes of enterprise and
enables students to develop skills suited
to the workplace,” says Fernandes.
She says empowering students to
create, innovate, tinker, and make
their ideas and solutions into reality is
integral to The Cambridge International
School, Dubai. “We encourage our
students to participate in entrepreneurial
competitions like these so that they
develop creative solutions to real
life problems and come up with
amazing projects.”
Fernandes says this competition is
definitely a time crunch. It is essential
to plan out time effectively so there is
room to do everything students need to.
“Try to find people who have different
strengths to make up the team. The Q&A
session after the presentation is the most
important part of the whole experience.
If you can’t articulate the solution to the
problem your company intends to fix
and how much customers will pay for
it, you’re probably not ready to take the
stage. I would encourage students to be
confident, creative and innovative.
It is a combination of having
innovative students who are willing to
take risks, have the discipline to work as
a team, to help each other and ultimately
to care about finding a solution to the
case. We’re looking forward to competing
again this year. Actually, I think that
this year will be even more challenging
for us with higher expectations going
in!” concluded Lynda. n
STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN
THE BCC ARE CHALLENGED
TO ANALYSE AND PROVIDE
SOLUTIONS TO REAL TIME
BUSINESS CASES AND ISSUES
DAN ADKINS, ACADEMIC DIRECTOR,
MURDOCH UNIVERSITY — DUBAI CAMPUS
[WINNING PERSPECTIVE]

S
adjyot Biswal, Abdul Muqeet,
Azam Barodawala, Yash Patni
and Shobit Deva are all studying
Mechanical Engineering at BITS Pilani
Dubai Campus (BPDC) and as a team
they are driven by their passion for
automotive research.
Together they are Team Gear
Shifters, UAE’s first Formula SAE
team. The Formula SAE is a student
design competition organised by SAE
International (SAE, previously known as
the Society of Automotive Engineers).
This team came into existence three
years ago with the ambition to
design and manufacture a Formula
SAE car from scratch. Together, they
have built an all-terrain vehicle, an
accomplishment that has taken them
to several competition – to the SAE
BAJA competition at Tennessee Tech.
in 2013, the FSAE Michigan and FSAE
Italy. Earlier this year, the Gear Shifters
beat 120 other participants to win the
people’s choice award – a cash prize of
Dh10, 000 - at Innovator Show held in
Abu Dhabi. The team now aims to build
a completely new car for the 2017 season
to take part in FSAE Germany which
would be the team’s fourth project.
Speaking on behalf of his team,
Sadjyot said, “The entire team has had
a wonderful experience throughout the
project phase where we have learnt to
apply the theories learnt in class on
a practical level. The start was tough
as the team lacked both technical
experience and sponsors, but through
Driven by their passion for automotive research,
UAE’s ﬁrst Formula SAE team shifts its priorities into top gear
By RuqyaKhan
THEGEARSHIFTERS
sheer hard work and determination
we have been able to complete three
projects successfully becoming the first
team to represent UAE internationally in
the Formula Student competitions.”
The current car possesses unique
technical features like a camber
curve optimised double wishbone
suspension, lightweight custom
chassis, K&N air filter, aerodynamically
optimised fiberglass body panels,
topologically optimised differential
and drivetrain assembly.
“Our future car would consist
of complete aerodynamic package,
optimized diffuser, carbon fibre body,
lightweight unsprung mass for which
the budget is quite high and a lot of help
would be required from our sponsors in
terms of monetary aid and sponsorship
in kind.
We are highly indebted to our faculty
and our sponsors. As students we would
have never been able to come up with
the Dh500,000 budget that was needed
to fund our projects.” . n
The Gear Shifters pose with
their Formula SAE car and
the prize that they won at the
Innovators Show in Abu Dhabi
B.E. Civil Engineering at
BITS Pilani Dubai
BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus has now
introduced B.E. Civil Engineering
programme. Due approval for this has
been received from the Knowledge
and Human Development Authority
(KHDA).
The 4-year programme will follow
the modular structure with various
flexibilities and options such as
Electives, Practice School components,
etc. The curriculum will provide broad-
based foundation to undergraduates
along with conceptual knowledge and
skills of engineering design, planning,
execution and management.
[TOP CLASS]

Z
aid Maleh is the CEO of DACH
ADVISORY, a fully-fledged
investment and project
management firm headquartered in
Dubai with offices in Vienna and Moscow.
A seasoned investment specialist with
over a decade of experience in emerging
markets, Zaid has led and managed the
establishment of several world-class
entertainment and hospitality assets
throughout his career across multiple
geographies. Today, he oversees a
strategic portfolio of leading hospitality
assets and concepts in the US, Russia,
Austria, Kazakhstan, Georgia and the UK.
To compliment his track-record, Zaid has
led the establishment of a state-of-the-art
With UAE establishing itself as a major hospitality and
tourism hub, MODUL University is helping tourism and
hospitality students step up to the plate
By RuqyaKhan
THE
FORSUCCESS
MODUL
branch campus of Austria’s leading
private university in Dubai. Founded
in 1908, MODUL University is the
world’s oldest and only institution
offering courses in the tourism and
hospitality industry to students who are
as young as 14 and to those pursuing
their doctorate programs.
“In Austria, we grow up with
hospitality from a very early age. It
becomes part of every youth’s DNA
and this is basically reflected in our
philosophy at MODUL University as well.
So, for us, hospitality is an integral part
of the society and it needs to be cherished
and lived from a very early age in order
for it to be sustainable. When looking at
Dubai and the UAE in general, having
positioned itself as a major hospitality
and tourism hub, not only in the region,
but to the wider world, we feel that the
same DNA needs to apply. The growth in
the sector over the last five years has been
quite impressive and we feel that what
the UAE government is doing to sustain
this growth is magnificent. We definitely
would like to be part of it and therefore
we feel hospitality is a very rewarding
sector to be in at this point in time.
More than just theory
“We put particular emphasis on teaching
not only the theoretical part, but also
the vocational aspect of hospitality. In
the absence of a clear and profound
understanding of what it takes for a
hands-on approach in hospitality a big
chunk of that education is missing.
Looking at the current offerings in the
UAE, we felt there is an adamant gap
to address that vocational offering. This
is where MODUL comes in to bridge
that education gap between theory and
practice.
ZAID MALEH,
CEO OF DACH ADVISORY
[LEARNING CURVE]

A recent offering that we have launched
is ‘Hospitality Backstage’. Basically, what
we are doing is we take high school
students backstage into hospitality. We
take them to our partner hotels and
show them the kitchen, make them cook
their own meal, serve it, take them to
the laundry department, the back offices
to do the booking and show them what
it takes to pull up a five star or luxury
hotel as they have experienced with their
family and friends. It makes them fully
capture what goes on behind the scenes.
This program has been very well received
not only by the schooling community, but
also by our partner hotels.”
Addressing the mind-set that the
hospitality is a rather demanding
industry, Zaid said, “Unfortunately, this
profession is not seen as rewarding
and we take it as our mission to change
that perception. Last year in UAE,
over 530,000 jobs were created in the
hospitality sector which makes this
sector the largest employer by far and the
biggest contributor to the GDP. However,
if you look at the higher education only
1% of the students elect hospitality as
their future study program – and this
does not quite make sense. In today’s
environment, you choose a study where
employability is guaranteed. People need
to understand that hospitality can be a
beautiful starting point of anyone’s career.
Expo 2020 opportunities
“In Austria, we have a fully developed
training hotel - it is operated, run and
managed by students. They are at the
front desk, kitchen, and housekeeping
– they learn from doing. Our vision is
to replicate that successful DNA here
in Dubai. We are starting off with a
state-of-the-art campus utilising our
partner hotels and steadily we will build
towards the training hotel with complete
infrastructure.”
Owned by the Austrian Chamber of
Commerce, it is a big step for MODUL
University to go outside the borders
of Austria “Expo 2020 has been a
magnificent boost to that decision-
making by the Chamber. We are already
in touch with the Expo 2020 committee
where we are exploring a mutually
beneficial collaboration of opportunities.
Their target of having over 1,000 hotels
here by then grants us an extraordinary
opportunity,” explained Zaid.
A study without practical knowledge
is half the bill particularly in today’s
competitive environment. Students
have to be multilingual and have
work experience in order to find jobs
- this is where industry tie-ups are an
important part of the contribution. “The
employability of our graduates has been
at three months on average and this is
quite impressive. Here in Dubai, we will
replicate the success that we have back in
Austria,” says Zaid.
Getex2016 is another commitment
that MODUL is excited to be part of.
“Having obtained the license from KHDA,
we intend to use Getex as a platform to
communicate our offering to the Dubai
community and the wider audience. We
have structured great initiatives like our
merit scholarships, Austrian quizzes
where winners can avail great prizes and
scholarships to join MODUL University.” n
COURSE MENU
Academic Offering
• Foundation Program
Undergraduate Programs
• BBA in Tourism and Hospitality
Management
• BSc in International Management
Postgraduate Programs
• General MBA
• MBA major in New Media and
Information
• MBA major in Tourism and Hotel
Development
Vocational Offering
• International Course in Hotel
Management
• Hospitality Backstage Progtam
• Corporate Backstage Program
DUBAI
[LEARNING CURVE]

At Phoenix Financial Training the future seems bright as they train students to
get ready for a new world of financial accounting in the UAE
AHEADFORFIGURES
D
avid Thomasson is the
Managing Director and
Co-Founder of Phoenix
Financial Training (PFT). Set up in
2006, PFT is licensed in DIFC and
delivers courses leading to Personal
Finance Qualifications in ACCA, CIMA,
ICAEW, ACT and CMA. In addition they
offer a range of bespoke wider financial
courses in Financial Awareness Building
and Corporate Treasury.
“At PFT, we are the Phoenix family.
The business structure is informal, a
total 15 staff members, with huge loyalty
and interdependence within the team.
This then translates into how we treat
our students. The tutors provide huge
support to the students, sharing email
and mobile contact numbers, attending
student social events, etc. The idea is
to put students first, both within the
classroom and outside. The customer
support team is also at hand to provide
help, guidance and support to the
student body,” says Thomasson.
“We go the extra mile to support
our students and their families. The
Association of Chartered Certified
Accountants (ACCA) changes exam
structures and content all the time and
we are always adapting our teaching
methodologies to enhance our students
experience. We also deploy technology
in terms of online resources wherever
appropriate, but the emphasis is always
on building the tutor and student
relationship so to maximise the latter’s
chances of success. The courses that we
offer are globally accepted, but it takes a
lot of hard work and persistence to get
through these exams. ACCA which has
nearly half a million students worldwide
is recognised everywhere except perhaps
in the US,” he adds.
Phoenix is known for its consistently
high pass rates - an achievement
embellished by the whole “going the
extra mile” attitude. “We offer a free
lifetime resit and celebrate our students’
successes. In addition we work very
hard with employers to create both
job and internship opportunities for
our students. It is often hard for young
people with a ‘blank’ CV to get a start
– we run workshops to enhance their
skills (CV writing/interview techniques,
etc.) and then find work opportunities
for them through employers – many of
whom are ex-Phoenix students!” says
Thomasson.
By RuqyaKhan
[NUMBER GAME]

One of the reasons that the ACCA is
becoming even more important in the
UAE is that it has now been adopted as
the base for the UAECA (UAE Chartered
Accountant) qualification. A MOU was
signed recently between ACCA and
the AAA (Accountants and Auditors
Association) of the UAE. This effectively
means that a student studying for both
accreditations will be able to apply for
membership of UAECA.
“In the future holding a UAECA
certification will become increasingly
important to accountants working in the
country as regulatory bodies may make
holding the qualification mandatory for
them to sign off accounts. A majority
of our students are expats and it is
hoped that the establishment of the
UAECA qualification may encourage
UAE nationals to look more favourably
upon finance and accountancy as a high
profile career,” he hopes.
“Organisations and businesses in
the UAE are starting to take finance
seriously. An internationally accredited
finance qualification will become the
benchmark for employers wishing
to be sure of the abilities and skillsets
of potential employees. The key thing
is to recognise that a Bachelor of
Commerce or an MBA does not equip
individuals with the practical and
vocational skills needed to be effective
in the workplace.
“A fully recognised accounting
qualification is required to enable
students to effectively deploy the
conceptual skills learnt in universities.
Hopefully over time this will be
increasingly recognised and the
contribution to the success of businesses
and indeed the nation which qualified
accounting professionals can bring will
be harnessed – this process has started
but there is still a long way to go.” n
THE ESTABLISHMENT
OF THE UAECA
QUALIFICATION MAY
ENCOURAGE UAE
NATIONALS TO LOOK
MORE FAVOURABLY
UPON FINANCE AND
ACCOUNTANCY AS A
HIGH PROFILE
CAREER OPTIONS
DAVID THOMASSON, MANAGING
DIRECTOR, CO-FOUNDER, PFT
CHALLENGES POSED BYVAT
The adoption of Value Added Tax
(VAT) by GCC countries in 2018
will bring many challenges for
businesses. In general this should
be seen as a positive step to diversify
government income streams –
there is a downside risk of lower
demand, but the positive economic
build up expected in the lead up
to Expo 2020 in the UAE should be
capable of handling this. However,
the lack of understanding of taxes
generally and VAT in particular
is likely to cause headaches for
businesses. Whilst VAT is sometimes
seen as a straightforward indirect
tax (i.e. collected on behalf of
the government) the key is the
knowledge required to properly
account for and handle the collection,
administration and payment of this
tax. Whilst we do not currently know
exact details, it is possible that
businesses will have to handle:
• The relevant date at which the VAT
on sales must be accounted for or
at which the VAT on expenditure
may be claimed.
• Varying payment schemes based
on cash or an accruals basis.
• Complexities in terms of cut off
and payment dates.
• Issues on what expenditure can
be offset and what is eligible.
• Whether their current accounting
system can handle VAT.
VAT is not a simple one sided sales
tax – we need to account for both
revenue and expenditure and the
complex rules that will inevitably
follow will put businesses in a
serious ‘knowledge gap’ situation.
Remember that most VAT regimes
have significant penalties relating
to non-compliance and that this
is therefore going to present
a significant challenge to UAE
businesses leading up to 2018.
[NUMBER GAME]

SP Jain School of Management’s acclaimed one-year Global MBA program is
helping students ﬁnd careers in diverse industries
By RuqyaKhan
COMINGUPACES
T
he Global MBA program
of SP Jain School of
Global Management
received a Global Top Ten ranking
by Forbes in its Best International
MBAs: One Year Program rankings
(2015-2016).
SP Jain received highest job
acceptance rate of all schools in
the ranking. Three months after
graduation, 97% of its class were
employed. Alumni saw a median
$51,800 gain on their investment
ﬁve years after the MBA. The
truest worth of an institution can
only be measured by the success
of its alumni. On this front the
students have done their university
and themselves proud.
Multicultural exposure
Tomy Augustine, Team
Leader, Inventory
Planning and
Procurement at
Westcon Middle East, he
is a graduate of Global
MBA (GMBA) class of
2011. He said, “The GMBA program has
helped in providing me good business
acumen and exposure to the global
business landscape. The program has
given me a multicultural exposure and
helped develop skills required for
corporate and personal growth. The
faculty and peers have been good
knowledge bases and helped in
understanding business situations in
different industries. The course
pedagogy has a remarkable balance
between theory and application. This
helps students to gain knowledge as well
as develop skills required to take on the
competitive work of business.”
Diverse peer group
Shirish Bansal, Demand
Manager with Etihad
Airways is a graduate of
GMBA Class of 2013.
“The GMBA gave me an
edge in terms of
knowledge and prepared
me to rise up the corporate ladder. The
USP of this course is its multi-city model
and diverse peer group, that exposes you
to different cultures and industries. The
Applied Research Project and Action
Learning Project were the highlights of
the program. They allow you to apply
your learning on real projects and
interact with like-minded professionals. I
got one of those opportunities at Heinz
Africa & Middle East, and within two
years I managed the company’s entire
Demand Planning operations for MENA
region. Then I seamlessly grabbed an
opportunity in the airlines industry, when
I moved to Etihad Airways as Demand
Manager for my next stint.”
Retail industry knowledge
Omar Shabir Qazi,
Senior Buyer with
Mikyajy and graduate of
GMBA Class of 2005
feels very strongly about
the program, “There is
no better Business
school than SP Jain School of Global
Management to develop a global
perspective of the business and shape
your career. At the school, I gained
tremendous knowledge of various
aspects of business. The Retail
Management program gave me in-depth
knowledge about the retail industry and
a wide understanding of all of the
components involved, such as supply
chain, buying, retail strategy, visual
merchandising, marketing, product
development and brand management.
The MBA was designed to promote
critical thinking, and gave students every
chance to build a wide skill set applicable
to many business career paths.”
[BIZ BUZZ]

A
rab Excellence is global non-
profit organisation based in five
countries. Through events,
workshops, interviews and educative
programmes it aims at inspiring and
empowering the young generation using
success stories and role models that they
can relate to. The aim is to help students
and trainees nurture a mindset of
excellence and provide them with
different ways of achieving it.
After launching several programmes
across the world at institutions such
as the Stanford University, American
University of Beirut among others, Arab
Excellence has made a foray into the UAE.
Hamza Chraibi, Founder and President,
Arab Excellence explains the story behind
these programmes and their impact on
UAE’s education system.
“I grew up in Morocco, and I was very
confident about my country, my culture.
Meanwhile, my mother who was a teacher
at a local high school, used to tell me
that students didn’t want to come to
school anymore because they were not
motivated. This is not something unique
to Morocco, the feeling is prevalent
globally. Most Arab students believe that
to be successful, they needed to go abroad
to pursue their academic goals.”
It was to get rid of this feeling of
despondency that Hamza decided to
set up Arab Excellence. “We wanted to
inspire and empower the next generation
through role models, pragmatic tools
and transferable skills so as to help them
to grow both professionally and on a
personal level,” he adds.
In the very first year after he set
up Arab Excellence Hamza ended up
meeting amazing achievers from the
region who had started from scratch
— entrepreneurs, CEOs, artists, sports
champions, etc. Some were famous,
others not so much. But they were
all willing to help — people like Fadi
Ghandour, Founder and CEO, Aramex;
the late Zaha Hadid, the first woman to
win the Nobel Prize for Architecture;
and Nawale El Moutawakkel, the first
Arab woman to win an Olympic gold
and current Vice-President of the
International Olympic Committee.
Prominent figures from the UAE
included, Ahmed Al Qahtani, President
and Founder, AQ Skin Solutions and Badr
Jaffer, Chief Executive Officer of Crescent
Enterprises and President of Crescent
Petroleum, among others.
“While talking to high schools,
universities, and educational institutions,
we found that there is a need for
programming to bridge the gap between
inspiration and empowerment — so we
decided to create it,” says Hamza. “First, it
had to be leadership-focused, leveraging
in an unambiguous way stories of positive
role models to help students get some
confidence. The second step was to deliver
specific tools to help students convert their
dreams into reality.”
Arab Excellence uses role models to inspire and empower high school and university
students to become leaders of the next generation
THEPOWERTOINSPIRE
To learn more or get involved:
visit their website: arabexcellence.com
or contact Hamza at
hamza.chraibi@arabexcellence.org
[ROLE MODELS]

This season’s fashion for the youth has a
new maximalist spirt, one that is also fun,
flirty and fab! Pack your wardrobe with
statement pieces that announce your presence
16
ummer
of
The
FORHER
It’s a new season, a clean
slate, and the perfect time
to update your wardrobe
with quality pieces and fresh
silhouettes. Be bold and reach
for those snakeskin mules or
silk bomber. You’re reinventing
yourself and your closet so look
out for what’s new. Here’s what
you will be seeing on campuses
and on the chic streets.
From touches of boudoir lace,
big bows as embellishments
and a ’90 inspired revival on the
runway that saw clean angular
cuts to ruffles, pleats and a
relaxed beach-wear vibe, this
season’s fashion staples for the
youth are fun, flirty and fab.
Even though the weather is
edging up on the Fahrenheit
scale, the bomber jacket, which
has recently taken over the
fashion world, is still cool.
Wear it in lightweight fabrics
in unusual colours with
embroidered embellishments.
The other cool element for
the season that’s here to stay
are oversized stripes. They
are all over from tights to
tunics and help add drama to
your wardrobe without being
outrageous.
The slip dress is everywhere
and on everyone from Calvin
Klein to Celine and Rihanna
to Jennifer Lawrence. If you
don’t like the clinging, slinky
silhouette, try the A-line
version of this trend that
is just as chic and a much
easier wear.
YOU’RE
REINVENTING
YOURSELF AND
YOUR CLOSET SO
LOOK OUT FOR
WHAT’S NEW.
DIESEL
Denim dress
DH1,299
LONGCHAMP
Pink shorts
PRICE ON
REQUEST
PAULE KA
Optic printtop
PRICE ON
REQUEST
PAULE KA
Dual-fabric
A-line dress
in sequins and
satin-backed
crepe
PRICE ON
REQUEST
H&M STUDIO
Pants
DH199
[INSTYLE]

LA CHATEAU
Geo print crêpe
de chine blouse
PRICE ON
REQUEST
PAULE KA
A-line dress in
large zig zag
print twill
PRICE ON
REQUEST
ICONIC
Pink jacket
DH180
PAULE KA
Sleeveless A-line
dress in Bayadere
technique
organza
PRICE ON
REQUEST
DIESEL
Bandana-print
maxi dress
ON REQUEST
ICONIC
Denim shorts
DH90
MANGO AT NAMSHI
Embellished shorts
DH199
LONGCHAMP
Iridescent
leather hooded
sleeveless jacket
ON REQUEST
AEROPOSTALE
Jumpsuit
DH150
[INSTYLE]

16
ummer
of
The
FORHIM
There is nothing more attractive
than a guy who knows how to
style himself. Boys are by no
means exempt from fashion
judgment, so a well put together
look can alter your appearance.
You’re in college; say goodbye to
old school sweatpants, basketball
shorts and cargo shorts. Add
denim into your wardrobe. If you
are in excellent physical shape
then go for the low-rise jeans.
Skinny jeans compliment a
lanky build. Team your denims
with basic classy sweatshirts,
cardigans or a graphic tee.
Trendy sportswear will continue
to be seen in the gym and
on the sidewalk in 2016. The
gym-clothes-gone-luxury trend
will continue to gain steam,
sometimes intermingling with
other aesthetics. For footwear
leather shoes come in a range
of styles or you can easily slip on
a pair of cool moccasins. Trendy
canvas sneakers are also easy
to pull off.
PEDRO
Slip-ons
DH399
ALDO
Red slip-ons
DH445
COS
Blue sweatshirt
DH130
DIESEL
Tapered jeans
DH4,999
H&M STUDIO
Sweatshirt
DH249
GUESS AT
NAMSHI
T-shirt
DH205
G-STAR RAW
AT NAMSHI
Ripped jeans
DH679
TUMI
Tan Hexagon Print
Chambers Slg
Double Billfold
with ID
ON REQUEST
BOYS ARE BY NO
MEANS EXEMPT
FROM FASHION
JUDGMENT, SO
A WELL PUT
TOGETHER LOOK
CAN ALTER YOUR
APPEARANCE
GUESS AT NAMSHI
Denim jacket
DH480
LONGCHAMP
Backpacks
ON REQUEST
[INSTYLE]

ACCESSORIES
The bags, the boots, the
earrings, the pumps, the
headpieces: Keeping up with
the season’s accessories
can take as much time as
the ready-to-wear itself. This
season in particular found
designers embracing a heady
mix of accouterments, from
tiaras and funky graphic bags
to dangly shoulder dusters
and more, all right in step
with clothing’s newfound
maximalist spirit.
Glitter, sparkles, beads, lace,
bows and ribbons or popping
candy are just some of the
ways to fun-up your footwear,
while the ever-present laceups
are showing no signs of waning
in popularity. Statement neck-
pieces continue to be the go-to
solution to glam up any outfit.
And bags are graphic, funky,
bright and in every conceivable
shape and size, but something
has to be said about the soft
slouchy bags that are fun to
carry around. In the mood to
channel your inner princess,
don’t leave the house without
something sparkly in your hair.
Headbands, hair pieces and
tiaras are all the craze.
Accessories are no longer
content to be relegated to the
sidelines and this season is all
about statement pieces that
shout out your style, rather
than subtly whispering it.
LONGCHAMP
Sandals
ON REQUEST
MISSY
Denim
embellished
handbag
DH129
H&M STUDIO
Yellow sandals
DH179
SASHA BELL
Dangler earrings
DH19
SPLASH
Sunglasses
DH20
PAULE KA
Zig zag
print scarf
ON REQUEST
ICONIC
Drop earrings
DH30
LONGCHAMP
Backpack
ON REQUEST
PAULE KA
Scarf
ON REQUEST
ICONIC
Bracelet
DH40
SPLASH
Necklace
DH45
KANGAROOS
Sneakers
DH189
LONGCHAMP
Tote bag
ON REQUEST
THIS SEASON IS ALL
ABOUT STATEMENT
PIECES THAT
SHOUT OUT YOUR
STYLE, RATHER
THAN SUBTLY
WHISPERING IT.
April 2016 | STUDY IN UAE 27
[INSTYLE]

T
hrowing a spotlight on the thriving
education sector in the GCC is the Gulf
Education and Training Exhibition
(GETEX), the region’s leading and the most
comprehensive education and training expo.
Serving as a significant networking and
learning platform for students, teachers,
trainers and professionals, the 2016 edition of
the prestigious exhibition, running from April
13-15 at the Dubai International Convention
and Exhibition Center, will bring together 300
exhibitors from 40 countries, showcasing more
than 2,500 study programmes.
More than 35,500 visitors attended the 2015
edition to check out study options from 400
institutions. A total of 22,365 students registered
at the 2015 event, with the combined number of
learners and parents reaching 8,165, apart from
710 faculties and 4,263 other participants.
“Exhibitors from GETEX 2015 generated
unprecedented on-the-spot applications as well
as back-to-back student inquiries with high
conversion potential. Several leading universities
and academic institutions were also able to
establish strong relations with their target
audiences, particularly parents and students,
Getex 2016 will bring together 300 exhibitors from 40 countries,
showcasing more than 2,500 study programmes
By SanayaPavri
GET MORE, GETEXTRA
from across the region,” says Anselm Godinho,
Managing Director, International Conferences and
Exhibitions (IC&E), the organisers of the event.
Top attractions
Apart from focusing on the key topics such
as general education, residential schools,
undergraduate and postgraduate education this
year’s edition introduces two new segments to
enhance its relevance in the local education sector.
“While the University Panel Discussion
and Q&A Session provides an ideal platform
for students, parents, faculty and admission
officers to participate in a series of moderated
presentations, the Professional Development
Information Exchange segment will give
human resources and training professionals
an opportunity to connect with post-graduate
students and offer their advice on career
development,” says Godinho. “The GETEX
Counsellors Forum is set to host over 100 career
guidance counsellors this year from across the
region. Here, we look at arming counsellors
with the information and knowledge to source,
research and deal with situations that are critical
to students’ career choices.”
“THE GETEX
COUNSELLORS
FORUM IS SET
TO HOST OVER
100 CAREER
GUIDANCE
COUNSELLORS
THIS YEAR
FROM ACROSS
THE REGION”
ANSELM GODINHO,
MANAGING DIRECTOR, IC&E
[EVENT PROFILE]

UNIVERSITY IS A KEY
PART OF THIS JOURNEY.
SUCCESS AS A STUDENT IS
FAR MORE ACHIEVABLE
WHEN YOUR INTERESTS
ARE ALIGNED WITH
WHAT YOUR END
EMPLOYMENT GOALS ARE.
DR. AYOUB KAZIM
MANAGING DIRECTOR OF DUBAI
KNOWLEDGE VILLAGE (DKV) AND DUBAI
INTERNATIONAL ACADEMIC CITY (DIAC)
[CAREER CHOICES]

Making the right university and degree program choice can sometimes be an overwhelming
process, and students should take their time to get it right
W
e are fortunate to live in times
where the range of higher
education programmes that
students can access has never been
greater. As the new academic year gets
underway, the myriad of options available
can make selecting the right university,
out of the hundreds of institutions, an
overwhelming process.
In making such a important decision,
one that shapes future careers, there are
a number of factors that need be taken
note of.
Firstly, take the time to consider where
the future demand for jobs lies and build
your higher education program around
this. For the UAE, a good guide are the
seven national priorities of the country’s
National Innovation Strategy: Renewable
energy, transportation, education, health,
technology, water and space. Large-scale
events such as Dubai Expo 2020 will
require thousands of workers from a wide
range of industries such as tourism and
hospitality, construction, and transport
and logistics. Dubai’s quest to become the
centre of the Islamic economy will also
necessitate a growing number of financial
service industry professionals.
Above all, employability should be
considered a top priority when deciding
on a university and education program.
Being adaptable and malleable to the
changing needs of industry will greatly
improve the chances of workplace success
after graduation.
Business and career success is often the
result of hard work and having a passion
for your chosen profession. As Steve Jobs
famously said, “the only way to do great
work is to love what you do”.
University is a key part of this
journey. Success as a student is far more
By Dr. AyoubKazim
‘BEMALLEABLE,BEADAPTABLE,
ANDBEPASSIONATE’
achievable when your interests are
aligned with what your end employment
goals are.
I am a firm believer that a school
that places a strong emphasis on
innovation, nurtures talent by unlocking
potential, encourages critical thinking,
and promotes entrepreneurship,
should be high on the list of schools for
prospective students.
When looking for a particular
university, focus your search on academic
infrastructure, school facilities, academic
history and performance, reputation, and
where possible the university’s ranking.
Assessing a university by its partnerships
with major industries and government
departments is important as well, as is
its level of engagement with the wider
community. University location and
convenience should also be considered
as travelling long distances can prove
draining on a student’s time and energy.
Cost is another important element
in selecting the right university and
education program. Tuition fees should
be closely studied to establish whether
value for money exists and whether the
program fits within a set budget. Students
should avoid overburdening themselves
financially. If a preferred education
program is beyond financial reach, it is
worth investigating what scholarship
programs at the school are available.
If possible, contacting alumni of the
university you are interested in will
help immensely in the decision making
process. These former students will have
valuable first-hand experience of campus
life from both an academic and social
perspective. Perhaps more importantly,
alumni are best placed to advise on the
kind of job opportunities available for
graduates. This is a great way to assess
whether the career path you are
pursuing will lead to meaningful
employment after graduation.
In this rapidly evolving world, the
demand on graduates to be able to
operate in a diverse workplace continues
to grow. Selecting a university that
promotes and embraces national
diversity, while challenging students
to discover and understand different
cultures, will help ease the transition into
today’s corporate lifestyle.
At Dubai Knowledge Village and Dubai
International Academic City, we remain
committed to providing opportunities
to bring together industry experts,
government and academia to discuss
ways to improve education, training
and knowledge development. Only by
responding to the needs of industry
can we ensure that students enter the
workforce with the necessary skills to
support the UAE’s development and
underpin economic growth. n
Dr. Ayoub Kazim is Managing Director
of Dubai Knowledge Village (DKV) and
Dubai International Academic City (DIAC)
DR AYOUB KAZIM, MANAGING DIRECTOR,
DUBAI KNOWLEDGE VILLAGE
[CAREER CHOICES]

COMBATREADY
There’s no better way to let off steam
than going into full-on fight mode.
Get a bunch of friends together and
head to a paintball arena for an hour
of serious action. For the uninitiated,
paintballing is a popular sport played
in a controlled environment where
teams are formed to take opponents
down by shooting paint pellets.
There are several sets of rules and
games you can opt for, depending
on the arena you’re at. Protective
suits, helmets and fighting gear are
provided, but you need to get your
head in the game if you want to
win — paintballing is as much about
strategy as it is about physical fitness
and being a good shot.
INTHE DEEP
If you’re a water baby, go for
a spot of scuba diving off the
coast of Musandam. The marine
life here is spectacular, and the
currents aren’t too sharp, so
it’s perfect for a summer’s
day. From stunning coral
reefs and every conceivable
colour of fish to whale sharks,
dolphins, rays and turtles, the
seascape offers a variety
of sights. Just three hours away
from Dubai, Musandam has
several dive sites depending on
the depths you’re comfortable
with. Join one of the numerous
all-inclusive diving trips that are
offered across the UAE and get
everything from transportation
to accommodation and
certified instructors.
AIR LIFT
Challenge yourself and take to the
skies as you hurl yourself towards
earth from a ramp or plane. Bungee
jumping and skydiving may seem as
popular as sporting a tat these days,
but there’s no denying the electrifying
rush that pulses through you at
hundreds or thousands of feet above
sea level. It may all be over in a few
seconds, but the experience will last
you a lifetime. Plus, it’ll teach you a
lot about yourself – how far you can
push, how much stress you can take,
and the extent to which you follow
through with what you’ve set your
mind on. You’ll gain confidence and
an appreciation of life – not bad for a
lesson, right?
In Dubai, a
tandem bungee
jump at www.
gravityzone.co costs
Dh490, while a tandem
skydiving experience at
www.skydivedubai.ae
is Dh1,999.
Hit up www.
sheesabeach.com
for a day/overnight
scuba diving trip to
Musandam.
Prices
at www.
paintballuae.com
in Sharjah start
from Dh90.
Letting your hair down is thus vital for your sanity, so we’ve drawn
up a roster of adventures that will work wonders for your well-being
ANTIGRAVITY
Tania Bhattacharya
[ADVENTURE ZONE]

W
here do cool gadgets go for their annual meetup? Well, every January, they hop over to Las Vegas for the world’s largest gadgets
gathering — the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Apart from wowing visitors with the latest and greatest in consumer tech,
the event also acts as a crystal ball for where the industry is headed, and the trends consumers will be rocking to. As in previous
years, CES 2016 showcased an eclectic mix of technologies that were creative, game-changing and, in some cases, totally crazy! Here we
present a roundup of innovations that could help students acquire an edge over their peers and future competitors.
CONNECTECHED
BrainBit
Think of it as a fitness tracker, but for your
brain. In the shape of a headband that you
wear the entire day, the BrainBit claims to
help you “discover the infinite potential of
the mind”. It uses four EEG touch points
and three reference sensors to extract “high
fidelity spatial resolution and insights into
brain activity”. The data is then sent to a
smartphone app, where it is analysed and
used to “optimise your brain performance
and monitor your cognitive health and
wellness”. So will this upcoming wearable
rocket you from the bottom of the class
right to the top? Will it help you ace
the Maths exam or turn you into
Einstein 2.0? Well, it is too early
to say, but this is one gadget
intriguing enough to watch
out for this year.
IT USES FOUR
EEG TOUCH
POINTS
AND THREE
REFERENCE
SENSORS
TO EXTRACT
“HIGH
FIDELITY
SPATIAL
RESOLUTION
AND INSIGHTS
INTO BRAIN
ACTIVITY”.
LittleBits STEAM
Student Set
Another great way to expand your creative
horizons is littleBits STEAM Student Set.
Launched this March after CES, the set
offers eight “fun” challenges that get
progressively tougher — you get to try
your hand at whipping up a self-driving
vehicle, an automatic “artistic assistant”,
a security device, and even a “throwing
arm” — which, it seems, teaches you
“forces of motion through a fun game of
projectile-launching”. And once you have
perfected your projectile launching skills,
you can take up tougher challenges like
“hacking your classroom, inventing for
good, and hacking your habits”. Overall, the
set aspires to be “a powerful toolbox for
invention-based learning” that empowers
students to “think creatively and design
and engineer solutions to real-world
problems”. Besides, as littleBits points
us, “Today’s students are extremely tech
savvy, but much of their relationship with
technology is one of consumption. We
believe we need to encourage students
to be creators, so that they can thrive in a
complex, fast-moving and rapidly changing
technical world.”
By Deepak Karambalkar
TECH FOR THE SMART PEOPLE

LEGO WeDo 2.0
Seems the time has come to go beyond merely building cute structures with
LEGO blocks. The WeDo 2.0 education kit wants you to build robots, instead.
The kit includes tilt and motion sensors, motors and other parts you will need
to DIY your way to a robot that will be the talk of the town. Or at least, the
class. And it is not just hardware — you will also learn to programme the robot
and bake some smarts into it. The underlying goal here is to challenge your
creativity and get you interested in science, technology and a bit of coding.
You could start with the $160 Core Set that will “ignite” your curiosity — and
who knows, you might go on to build a self-aware Skynet that may someday
unleash Terminators upon us!
SENSORWAKE
CLAIMS
TO BE THE
“WORLD’S
FIRST
OLFACTORY
ALARM” THAT
PUTS AN
END TO THE
“BEEPING
DAYS” OF
ALARM
CLOCKS
SCIO Molecular Sensor
As the cliché goes, students will eat just
about anything that comes their way. But
whether you are surviving off unbranded
noodles or enjoying a seven-course meal,
you have to to ensure that the food is
healthy. And for that, you can use sixth sense
— a pocket molecular sensor that scans food
and fetches information about the chemical
make-up. The companion app also pulls out
nutritional facts for dairy products, fruits and
vegetables. Future updates will cover drinks,
meats and salad dressings. Incidentally,
unlike a thermometer, SCIO does not need
to be poked into food — the optical sensor
is a non-intrusive, no-touch affair. And apart
from what you eat, the device can analyse
medications, oil and even fuels.
One of the toughest challenges in a
student’s life is surely waking up early
morning, especially after a late-nighter
with friends. While there are many alarm
clocks that use ‘extreme’ techniques to
force you out of bed, the Sensorwake
takes the rather gentle — but effective —
approach of waking you up to the smell
of coffee. Or even croissant, chocolate,
peppermint, the smell of the ocean or
that of a lush jungle. Sensorwake claims to
be the “world’s first olfactory alarm” that
puts an end to the “beeping days” of alarm
clocks, and replacing them with “beautiful,
delightful” scents. Demoed at CES 2016,
the clock is currently available on pre-order
for $99. A set of two fragrance capsules
will set you back by around $11.
Sensorwake Alarm Clock
XYZ da Vinci Printers
3D-printing has been pegged as the
next big thing, but it remains out of
reach for most consumers. Especially
students hoping to turn their zany
ideas into a tangible reality, but on the
cheap. XYZ Printing hopes to tackle
this limitation with a new range of
affordable 3D printers and accessories.
The da Vinci Mini printer, for example,
claims to be the “ultimate, light-weight
desktop 3D printer for those that value
desk space, simplicity and portability”.
Even better, it will cost just $269 — a
bargain basement price in the world of
3D printers! Or you could ramp up to the
da Vinci Junior, which comes with a 3D
scanner baked in. And if you have some
loose change jangling in your pockets,
the $49 3D Pen claims to be “great for
DIY craft projects”, and works without
a computer. At CES, XYZ Printing also
talked about education solutions like
XYZ STEAM — an online exchange
programme for schools to bring 3D
printing right into the classroom.
CONNECTECHEDTECH FOR THE SMART PEOPLE

Join the fastest growing higher education destination in the UAE. Choose
from a selection of highly ranked universities and branch campuses of some
of the finest universities from UK, USA and Australia based here in the UAE.
To apply directly for Fall 2016 admission.
Visit our site www.highereducation.ae today!
Or email us at info@highereducation.ae
Are you looking to enroll for a Bachelor’s
or a Master’s degree this year?
Strategic
Academic Partner
Partners
DUBAI

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