English Version - ALHOSN University

Contents 

Issue 9 | December 2010 

ALHOSN News ALHOSN Events Academic News Student Activities 

ALHOSN’s Faculty of Business signs MOU with France’s Grenoble Ecole de Management_________________ 2 

Cooperative Memorandum of Understanding signed with UK’s University of Salford______________________ 2 

ALHOSN University Signs Paper-Less Day Charter__________________________________________________ 3 

AHU reaffirms support for ADEC’s 10 Year Strategic Plan during Marina Mall campaign____________________ 3 

National Transport Authority commissions AHU to conduct comprehensive UAE road safety study__________ 4 

ALHOSN showcases world-class programs at Al Nahda National School for Girls’ ‘Open Day’______________ 4 

4 th batch of Emirati trainees graduates from ‘TOMOOH’ program_____________________________________ 5 

AHU signs 5-year education & research agreement with University of Michigan-Dearborn_________________ 6 

University of Detroit Mercy professor joins university accreditation lectures & discussions at AHU__________ 7 

Kettering University & ALHOSN University sign International Articulation Agreement____________________ 7 

Society of Women in Engineering explores vital role of women engineers in construction AWACS summit____ 8 

ALHOSN supports employment of people with special needs at Takaful exhibition_______________________ 8 

DuPont Bright Ideas Eco Challenge hosted by ALHOSN University____________________________________ 9 

American Concrete Institute’s UAE Chapter holds concrete design seminar____________________________ 10 

Society of Women in Engineering leads university delegates in buildingSMART ME-endorsed workshop____ 10 

AHU pursues international training & career opportunities for its students at NAJAH 2010________________ 11 

AHU obtains full accreditation for Industrial Engineering & Software Engineering undergraduate programs_____ 12 

‘Weird Trick’ play uses theatre to hone skills of students____________________________________________ 14 

Industrial Engineering Department organizes student trip to Aramex_________________________________ 14 

Software Engineering team wins Best Oral Presentation Award______________________________________ 15 

Software Engineering Department celebrates its Final Accreditation and honors outstanding students_____ 15 

Business Administration Department Activities Series______________________________________________ 16 

Civil Engineering students tour high-rise buildings under construction in Dubai_________________________ 17 

Dept. of Architecture hosts a seminar to discuss the experience of the students in BDP stand for Cityscape__ 17 

Industrial Engineering faculty and students visit SIEMENS and Abu Dhabi Ship Building__________________ 18 

Architecture students develop projects for campus improvements___________________________________ 18 

Master of Education Seminar Series____________________________________________________________ 19 

Urban Planning Department hosts forum on urban planning practice & education in the UAE_____________ 19 

New Appointments__________________________________________________________________________ 20 

Green Club assists in dissemination of water & energy saving techniques______________________________ 23 

Students visit Special Care Center in Abu Dhabi to show support for children with special needs___________ 23 

ALHOSN students show concern for autistic youths during visit to the Gulf Autism Center________________ 24 

ALHOSN University holds first-ever poetry competition____________________________________________ 24 

AHU continues community awareness campaign with visit to‘Estirahat Al Shuwwab’____________________ 25 

Reading Club hosts Poet Naima Hasan Dhaif_____________________________________________________ 25 

ALHOSN University marks 39 th UAE National Day with exhibits by UAE Women Union ___________________ 26 

Nadine Kanj 

Wafa Moussa 

Design 

Mehdi Al Tayeb 

Editorial Team 

English 

Dr Hassan Belhiah 

Arabic 

Dr Mohamed Hasab El Naby 

ALHOSN Newsletter 

Semi-annual Newsletter Issued 

by the Marketing and Public 

Relations Department 

For inquiries, please contact the 

Marketing & Public Relations Department 

Phone: +971 2 407 0700 

Fax: +971 2 407 0799 

E-mail: connect@alhosnu.ae 

www.alhosnu.ae


ALHOSN News 

ALHOSN’s Faculty of Business signs MOU with 

France’s Grenoble Ecole de Management 

ALHOSN University’s Faculty of Business 

has entered into an undergraduate double 

degree Memorandum of Understanding 

(MoU) with the Grenoble Graduate School of 

Business (GGSB) operating under Grenoble Ecole 

De Management, one of the top 10 business 

schools in France. The agreement was signed by 

Prof. Ahmad Zohdi, Dean of ALHOSN’s Faculty of 

Business; Thierry Grange, Dean and Director General 

of Grenoble Ecole de Management; and Judith 

Bouvard, Dean and Director of the GGSB. 

Under the terms of the MoU, ALHOSN students 

can be admitted into the third year of the French 

university’s Bachelor program in International 

Business and obtain two Bachelor degrees: Business 

Administration from ALHOSN University and 

International Business from GGSB. 

“The MoU avails our students of a world-class 

business education from one of the most prestigious 

universities in France and provides them with 

a competitive edge in their professional growth 

through the two degrees that they will receive. 

This agreement affirms our utmost commitment 

of providing ‘Global knowledge with local vision’ to 

our students and further strengthens our ties with 

the French educational system,” said Prof. Ahmed 

Zohdi, Dean of ALHOSN’s Faculty of Business. 

Students interested in the double degree 

program will become upon their graduation GGSB 

alumni and benefit from the same services enjoyed 

by regular GGSB graduates, including access to 

career services and to the alumni database. 

Founded in 1984, Grenoble Ecole de Management 

is the first French business school to propose 

curricula based on technology management. 

It offers 30 national and international programs 

from the undergraduate to the doctoral level for 

students and executives. It has four campuses in 

France with students from 96 different nationalities 

and manages 10 internationals sites. ■ 

Cooperative Memorandum of Understanding signed 

with UK’s University of Salford 

ALHOSN University signed a Memorandum of 

Understanding (MoU) with the University of 

Salford in Manchester, England, to promote 

cooperation between both institutions. 

Under the terms of the MoU, the two universities 

will engage in joint research activities, develop new 

degrees and training programs, exchange visits by 

teachers, students and staff, exchange relevant 

information, and co-develop student progression 

pathways. The agreement will take effect for three 

years, with specific details for the implementation of 

the activities to be mutually developed on a ‘projectby-project’ 

basis. ALHOSN Vice Chancellor and CEO 

Prof. Abdul Rahim Sabouni and University of Salford 

Vice Chancellor Prof. Martin Hall signed the MoU 

on June 2, 2010. 

“Salford University has been instrumental in 

developing and promoting university education 

through its research and development activities and 

exceptional academic programs. This partnership 

between our two universities will enable us to 

consolidate our strengths and maintain our 

distinctive status as leading institutions in our 

respective areas and our fields of specialization,” 

said Prof. Sabouni. 

Salford University was founded in 1896 as the 

Royal Technical Institute, Salford. At the time the 

university contributed significantly to the great 

industrial revolution which began in the North 

of England, producing internationally renowned 

engineers, scientists, and technologists. The UK 

Government’s latest Research Assessment Exercise 

indicated that 83 per cent of Salford’s research is 

of international quality, with 12% being judged 

as cutting-edge and pioneering. Its world-famous 

graduates include the painter Laurence Stephen 

Lowry, the actor Ben Kingsley, and Andy Bond, the 

former CEO of the British supermarket chain ASDA ■ 

2


ALHOSN University Signs Paper-Less Day Charter 

ALHOSN University, represented by Vice 

Chancellor and CEO, Prof. Abdul Rahim 

Sabouni, signed a Paper-Less Day Charter 

initiated by the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi 

(EAD). The charter is a symbol of UAE’s commitment 

towards protecting the environment and will be 

presented to the United Nations Environment 

Program (UNEP) to help spearhead the Paper-Less 

Day campaign globally next year. 

The signing of the charter follows ALHOSN 

University’s recent participation in the ‘Paper-Less 

Day 2010’ campaign organized by EAD as part of 

week-long international activities marking the UN 

World Environment Day on June 5, 2010. 

ALHOSN joined more than 100,000 individuals 

and organizations in abstaining from all nonessential 

printing and copying of paper during the 

day. The university urged staff and faculty to print 

only essential documents, use electronic means 

whenever possible, print on both sides of paper to 

prevent wastage, and mail a record of their paper 

use to ALHOSN’s Student Records Officer at the end 

of the day to analyze paper consumption patterns. 

Last year, the EAD initiative helped prevent the 

emission of 157 kilograms of CO2 and saved the 

equivalent of two trees. ■ 


AHU reaffirms support for ADEC’s 10 Year Strategic 

Plan during Marina Mall campaign 

ALHOSN University showed its full support for 

the Abu Dhabi Education Council’s (ADEC) 

10-Year Strategic Plan to raise the quality of 

educational services during its annual Promotional 

Campaign held at Marina Mall in Abu Dhabi this year 

from May 27 to June 26. 

ADEC is implementing a decade-long program 

that will ensure the delivery of quality education to 

all students of the emirate within a healthy and safe 

environment. ALHOSN students assisted in various 

activities that demonstrated how the university’s 

academic and extracurricular programs are aligned 

with ADEC’s Strategic Plan. ALHOSN marketing 

staff and students introduced the university’s 11 

undergraduate and 7 graduate programs accredited 

by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific 

Research to the visitors who frequented the 

university’s booth seeking information on ALHOSN 

programs. 

“ALHOSN is following ADEC’s lead in initiating 

and promoting activities and programs that foster 

our students’ academic excellence and personal 

growth. Because it is important for our students to 

embody our vision we always invite them to join us 

in campaigns such as the one we are organizing at 

Marina Mall. We believe this kind of cooperation will 

help us achieve higher levels of success that benefit 

our institution, students and the community,” 

explained Mrs Ghada Qabha, Director of Student 

Affairs at ALHOSN University. ■ 

Students Disseminate Key Programs 

Geared Towards Academic And 

Personal Excellence 

3



ALHOSN showcases world-class 

programs at Al Nahda National 

School for Girls’ ‘Open Day’ 

ALHOSN University was invited along with 60 other 

prominent local, regional and international universities 

to Al Nahda National School for Girls’ ‘Open University 

Day’ last November 9, 2010. The school is part of the 

internationally accredited Abu Dhabi based network of Al 

Nahda National Schools, which educates approximatly 6,000 

students. ALHOSN took this opportunity to showcase its worldclass 

programs and its philosophy of ‘global knowledge with 

local vision,’ while networking with students, parents and 

educators from the UAE, the Gulf, and other foreign countries. 

National Transport Authority commissions AHU to 

conduct comprehensive UAE road safety study 

4 

ALHOSN University has been commissioned 

by the UAE’s National Transport Authority 

(NTA) to conduct a comprehensive 

nationwide road safety study. The results will be 

used to formulate better strategies, standards 

and policies, and to redefine the role of various 

institutions in developing an advanced national 

land transport program. 

The NTA is the government entity that oversees 

the efficiency and safety of the UAE’s land and sea 

transport networks. The Authority signed a contract 

with ALHOSN University to perform a study that 

involves the compilation of traffic accident data 

over the past few years, an analysis of the causes 

of accidents, preventive measures, the economic 

effects of accidents, optimal speed limits, road 

and vehicle safety standards, and a comparison 

between U.A.E, GCC and global road practices and 

conditions. 

ALHOSN appreciats the NTA’s tireless efforts to 

improve road safety in the Emirates. Just recently 

the Authority unveiled plans to enhance the National 

School Transport System so their activities have 

direct effects on the welfare of our community. 

ALHOSN’s partnership with the NTA is thus a 

welcome opportunity to support the Authority in 

its admirable work while contributing to the wellbeing 

of our community. 

The NTA aims to sustain improving road 

conditions by implementing progressive traffic 

safety initiatives and collaborating with various 

institutions, including AHU, which is actively 

engaged in various road safety campaigns. ■



4 th batch of Emirati trainees graduates from ‘TOMOOH’ program 

The 4th batch of UAE Nationals graduated 

from the ‘TOMOOH’ (‘Aspirations’) training 

program developed by the university in 

cooperation with the Office of H.H. Sheikh Sultan 

Bin Zayed, the representative of H.H. the President 

of the UAE. 

Around 90 people were in attendance to 

witness the commencement exercises for 20 male 

Emiratis who studied HR Management and 28 

female nationals who were trained in Executive 

Management. ALHOSN Vice Chancellor and CEO, 

Prof. Abdul Rahim Sabouni, the Representative of 

H.H. Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Representative 

of H.H. UAE President and Dr Hassan Younes Al- 

Samarrai, Director of Training and Continuing 

Education Centre at ALHOSN and TOMOOH 

Program Implementation Official, delivered inspiring 

speeches during the occasion. 

TOMOOH Program was officially launched in 

January 2010 with the goal of training UAE nationals 

in human resources and executive management. 

Participants are taught administrative, technical, 

professional, cultural, and organizational content 

four hours a day over four months. ■ 

Abu Dhabi Education Council renews 

Continuing Education Center license of AHU 

The Abu Dhabi 

Education 

C o u n c i l 

(ADEC) has renewed 

ALHOSN University’s 

license as a Continuing 

Education Center 

(CEC). The Center is 

thus authorized to 

continue delivering 

Vocational Training, 

Languages Learning, 

and Administrative 

Training. 

5



AHU signs 5-year education & research agreement with 

University of Michigan-Dearborn 

AHU has signed a Memorandum of 

Understanding with the University of 

Michigan-Dearborn. The memorandum sets 

forth a framework for the sharing and exchange of 

teaching and research expertise particularly in the 

field of engineering. 

The MoU, which will remain in force through 

2015, provides an initial platform for enhanced 

information and knowledge sharing between the 

faculty of both institutions. It will build strong 

relations and develop academic and cultural 

interchange in education, research, and other 

activities; enhance the international outreach 

objectives of both parties; improve the educational 

experience of the engineering students of both 

universities by embracing and integrating innovative 

teaching models and state-of-the-art instructional 

materials; and achieve success through a close 

working relationship between the universities on 

all aspects of their partnership. 

“UM-Dearborn is renowned for its elite 

engineering and management programs and will 

thus offer a vital source of information and expertise 

for both our faculty and students. As one of the 

top public masters’ universities in the American 

Midwest, our new partner offers opportunities in 

advanced learning and specialization. ALHOSN 

is committed to exploring mutually-beneficial 

ventures with UM-Dearborn which will satisfy the 

commitment of both our institutions to world-class 

education for our students, and to exceptional 

growth opportunities for our educators,” said 

Prof. Sabouni, Vice Chancellor and CEO, ALHOSN 

University. 

Founded in 1959, the University of Michigan– 

Dearborn is a public university located in Dearborn, 

Michigan, USA. It has almost 9,000 students enrolled 

across its College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters, the 

College of Engineering and Computer Science, the 

College of Business, and the School of Education. 

UM-Dearborn is renowned for its community 

engagement within the city of Detroit, and is 

part of The Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan 

Universities. It is ranked as the 4th best public 

masters university in the USA’s Midwest. ■ 

6


University of Detroit Mercy professor joins university 

accreditation lectures & discussions at AHU 

ALHOSN University has invited Prof. Nizar Al- 

Holou, professor of Electrical and Computer 

Engineering at the University of Detroit 

Mercy in the United States, to participate in a weeklong 

series of lectures and discussions related to 

university accreditation. 

During his stay, Professor Al-Holou conducted a 

workshop on international accreditation processes 

in general and ABET accreditation in particular. 

ABET is the recognized accreditor for college and 

university programs in applied sciences, computing, 

engineering, and technology. It is a federation of 28 

professional and technical societies representing 

these fields. As one of the most respected 

accreditation organizations in the U.S., ABET has 

provided leadership and quality assurance in higher 

education for over 75 years. ABET currently accredits 

some 2,800 programs at more than 600 colleges and 

universities around the world. 

Prof. Al-Holou is an ABET program evaluator 

(PEV). He has been teaching for over 20 years 

in the US. He was awarded over USD 1 million 

in funding for research in 

wireless technology from 

government agencies, 

institutions and industries. 

His areas of research interest 

include Next Generation 

Vehicle Networks (NGVN), 

Intelligent Transportation 

Systems (ITS), Wireless 

Sensor Networking, and 

Distributed Processing 

Systems with an emphasis 

on automotive applications. Dr. Nizar Al-Holou has 

published over 100 refereed articles. 

“Quality control at ALHOSN University is a top 

priority, and our success as an educational institution 

relies significantly on that. Our involvement in 

activities related to accreditation reflects our 

commitment to adopting world-class standards 

in our university,” said Prof. Abdul Rahim Sabouni, 

Vice Chancellor and CEO of ALHOSN University. ■ 


Kettering University & ALHOSN University sign 

International Articulation Agreement 

AHU has signed an International Articulation 

Agreement with US-based Kettering 

University to promote and expand 

international understanding, development and 

friendship between the two institutions. 

Under the terms of the agreement, both 

universities will encourage and assist educational, 

professional and intercultural activities and 

projects among their students and staff as well 

as the communities supporting them. Among the 

specific areas of mutual interest identified under 

the agreement are student exchange programs, 

faculty and staff exchanges, faculty participation 

in collaborative research and scholarly publishing, 

and relationship-building with local industry. The 

agreement was signed by ALHOSN University Vice 

Chancellor & CEO, Prof. Sabouni and Kettering 

University President, Dr. Stanley Liberty, and will 

remain in force through 2013. 

ALHOSN recognizes the importance of 

collaborating with North American academic 

institutions to fulfill its commitment of world-class 

education to its students. Kettering University’s 

focus on engineering, math, science and business 

complements ALHOSN’s emphasis on the technical 

and business fields. This agreement builds upon the 

strong ties ALHOSN is already maintaining with 

Kettering University to provide added academic 

and professional growth opportunities for both 

institutions. 

Kettering University was originally founded 

as ‘The School of Automobile Trades’ on October 

20, 1919 and later on became the ‘General Motors 

Institute.’ The university is historically connected 

with the American automotive industry and is in 

fact named after the inventor Charles Kettering, 

the former head of research for General Motors. 

Kettering University is ranked by US News 

and World Report as one of the best schools for 

undergraduate engineering education. Kettering’s 

Industrial and Manufacturing programs have been 

consistently ranked among the best engineering 

programs in the US. ■ 

7


ALHOSN Events 

Society of Women in Engineering explores vital role of 

women engineers in construction AWACS summit 

Representatives from AHU’s Society of Women 

in Engineering (SOWIE) have gained valuable 

insights into their potential contributions to 

construction projects across the region during their 

participation in the Arabian World Construction 

Summit (AWACS) which began on May 24, 2010 and 

ended on May 26, 2010 at the Abu Dhabi National 

Exhibition Centre. The support of Fatima Obeid Al 

Jaber, COO of Al Jaber Group and President of SOWIE, 

was very instrumental in the participation of the 

ALHOSN female faculty and students in the event. 

The Summit, which is organized by the Middle 

East Economic Digest (MEED), is considered the 

region’s leading annual event for the industry. The 

2010 edition focuses on the economic growth in the 

UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. 

The summit program focused on three main 

themes: strategies to beat the slowdown, the new 

realities of funding and financing projects, and 

winning new work. ALHOSN’s female engineering 

students joined SOWIE’s exhibition booth to get 

acquainted with the recent trends in the engineering 

industry, and to network with key industry figures. 

“AWACS 2010 is an excellent platform for AHU 

to emphasize its support for female participation 

in the engineering field as well as its commitment 

to enabling its students to be exposed to major 

industry forums in UAE. We would like to thank 

Mrs Al Jaber for facilitating the involvement of our 

students in the summit and to commend her for her 

invaluable contributions to women empowerment. 

We look forward to discussing with our students 

issues related to the summit ,” said Dr Reem 

Sabouni, Assistant Professor, Department of Civil 

Engineering, ALHOSN University and Vice President 

of SOWIE. ■ 

ALHOSN supports employment of people with special 

needs at Takaful exhibition 

8 

ALHOSN University affirmed its full support for 

the creation of employment opportunities 

for people with special needs through its 

participation in a Technology and Career Exhibition 

organized by Takaful Conferences and Exhibitions 

from 9 to 11 November, 2010 at the Kaser Al Amwaj 

Area in Abu Dhabi. 

Takaful Conferences and Exhibitions has invited 

government and private organizations to the event 

to encourage them to offer suitable positions to 

people with special needs. The event has gathered 

a number of centers and institutes specializing in 

the training of disadvantaged persons to offer their 

services to people with special needs. 

ALHOSN’s participation in the event reflects 

the university’s strong commitment to social 

development. The university plans to expand its 

community awareness and outreach campaigns 

further in the coming years, and thus give a chance 

to its students, staff and faculty to make a difference 

in the lives of the less fortunate citizens. ■



DuPont Bright Ideas Eco Challenge hosted by ALHOSN 

University 

ALHOSN University called on its students 

to play a more active role in the ongoing 

efforts to help save the environment and 

preserve its natural resources, during the awards 

ceremony of the DuPont Bright Ideas Eco Challenge 

(DBIEC), held in June 2010 at the Female Campus 

of ALHOSN University, Abu Dhabi. The university 

underscored the need for today’s youth to be more 

aware of current environmental issues and proactive 

in the global efforts towards environment 

protection. The ceremony was attended by leading 

environmental organizations, faculty members from 

various schools and students. 

The Bright Ideas Eco Challenge was organized 

by DuPont, one of the leading market-driven 

science products and services companies and held 

in collaboration with ALHOSN University, Orient 

Planet and the Emirates Environmental Group 

(EEG). ALHOSN University played a key role in the 

competition by developing the academic framework 

and being part of the judging panel that reviewed 

the entries. 

The competition has become a strategic 

platform that enables university students 

throughout the UAE to generate ideas and 

initiatives aimed towards saving the earth and its 

natural resources. AHU realizes the importance of 

organizing competitions and initiatives like this 

as inter-university competition can be conducive 

to student development. ALHOSN is keen on to 

partner with industry leading organizations and 

provide opportunities for its students to network 

with contacts that may be beneficial to them in 

their future careers. 

ALHOSN University has played an active role 

by developing the academic framework and 

aggressively promoting the event in the UAE 

academic community. The University is delighted 

to have a good number of entries from ALHOSN, 

and it hopes in future years it can encourage more 

students to participate. 

The DuPont Bright Ideas Eco Challenge was 

launched in March and closed in June 2010. It 

attracted strong interest from the students, 

resulting in a high number of entries from more 

than 50 universities and colleges in the UAE, 

including ALHOSN University. All submissions were 

evaluated by an expert judging panel comprising 

representatives from Emirates Environmental Group 

(EEG), DuPont, and ALHOSN University. Student 

ideas were evaluated based on the following criteria: 

creativity and originality, overall feasibility, and 

potential for overall societal benefit and impact on 

the community. 

Each of the winners received a cash prize and 

a certificate, which amounted to more than AED 

53,000 in total. ■ 

9



American Concrete Institute’s UAE Chapter holds 

concrete design seminar 

ALHOSN University hosted an educational 

seminar entitled ‘Advances in Concrete 

Design,’ presented by the American Concrete 

Institute’s (ACI) UAE Chapter on June 7, 2010 at 

ALHOSN’s Male Campus. 

The seminar covered the latest developments in 

concrete construction and design and focused on 

sustainable practices and techniques in the field. 

ALHOSN’s very own Vice Chancellor, Prof. Abdul 

Rahim Sabouni, discussed ‘Concrete Trends for 

Sustainable Construction.’ The seminar included 

presentations prepared by the international concrete 

expert, Prof. Sabnis, from Howard University, USA, 

and the ACI-UAE Chapter members Eng. Elias Sayah, 

Dr Mohamad Nagi, and Eng. Mamdouh Hamouda. 

They delivered presentations on ‘Energy Efficient 

Building Design with Renewable Energy: US/India 

Experience with Potentials in UAE,’ ‘Durability and 

Its Impact on Concrete Construction in the UAE,’ 

‘Sustainability with 3R’s in Concrete,’ and ‘Concrete 

Elasto-Plastic Shortening,’ respectively. 

“The UAE is one of the world’s top construction 

markets. At the same time, the country is becoming 

a hub for alternative energy development. There 

is thus an urgent need to harmonize the Emirates’ 

construction activities with its sustainability goals. 

This seminar has provided valuable insights into how 

eco-friendly techniques and technologies are being 

integrated into concrete design and construction. 

Our colleague engineers, faculty and students look 

very eager to apply what they have learned in their 

practical undertakings,” said Dr Hany El Naggar, 

the ACI-UAE Chapter president, and the vice 

president for Engineering at the center for research 

and consultancy (CRC) at ALHOSN University. 

After the seminar, young practicing engineers 

were encouraged to join the ACI-UAE Chapter and 

become seminar speakers themselves in future 

Chapter events. The ACI-UAE Chapter’s offices 

are located at ALHOSN University. The Chapter 

maintains advanced civil, architectural, and 

industrial engineering and urban planning academic 

programs and is renowned for encouraging women 

to join the technical and engineering fields. ■ 

Society of Women in Engineering leads university 

delegates in buildingSMART ME-endorsed workshop 

AHU sent a delegation led by its Society of 

Women in Engineering to participate in a 

workshop on Building Information Modeling 

(BIM) hosted by the American University of Sharjah. 

Dr. Raymond Issa from the University of Florida 

conducted the workshop, which was endorsed by 

buildingSMART ME (BSME), the regional arm of the 

non-profit international organisation representing 

construction-related businesses. ALHOSN 

University was invited to the event in its capacity 

as a member of buildingSMART ME. 

“Through today’s advanced technologies we 

can easily create digital representations of the 

building process and thus optimize the design 

and construction stages. BIM is a critical tool for 

construction-intensive regions such as the Middle 

East, with BSME among its major proponents, ” 

commented Dr Reem Sabouni, Assistant Professor 

and Vice President of ALHOSN University’s Society 

of Women in Engineering. ■ 

10



AHU pursues international training & career 

opportunities for its students at NAJAH 2010 

ALHOSN University explored regional and 

international opportunities for its students 

at the 4th NAJAH Education Training and 

Careers Exhibition taking place from October 19 to 

21, 2010 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. 

ALHOSN joined over 100 local and international 

universities during the most comprehensive annual 

education, training and careers event in the UAE. 

The university fielded a delegation of officials, staff 

and students to NAJAH to interact with some of the 

biggest companies in the region. 

NAJAH 2010 was held under the patronage of 

H.E. Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE 

Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research. 

One of ALHOSN’s main priorities is to provide 

major training and career opportunities to its 

students, and NAJAH is the best event in the 

UAE for such purpose. The exhibition provides an 

excellent platform to showcase ALHOSN’s worldclass 

academic programs and affirm its emergence 

as one of Abu Dhabi’s top educational institutions. 

NAJAH will remain an integral part of ALHOSN’s 

annual calendar of major events. 

This year’s edition of NAJAH offered curriculum 

vitae and application form evaluations conducted 

by experts. AIESEC, the world’s largest student-run 

organization with a presence in over 107 countries 

and territories, provided free career assessments 

to student attendees. Other features included 

networking opportunities with universities and 

training institutions from more than 10 countries, 

a new Advice Clinic where professional counselors 

provided career recommendations and educational 

advice, and exclusive inspirational sessions run by 

industry leaders. ■ 

11


Academic News 

“ 

AHU obtains full 

accreditation for 

Industrial Engineering 

& Software Engineering 

undergraduate programs 

” 

12


ALHOSN University recently 

obtained full accreditations for 

both its Industrial Engineering and 

Software Engineering undergraduate 

programs. The endorsements were 

granted by the UAE Ministry of Higher 

Education and Scientific Research on 

December 1, 2010. 

The Bachelor of Science in 

Industrial Engineering (BSIE) and 

Bachelor of Science in Software 

Engineering (BSSE) degree programs 

at ALHOSN were the first of their 

kind to receive accreditation in the 

UAE. Both pioneering programs are 

taught by professors with degrees 

from prominent institutions in the 

US, Canada, UK and France and 

attest to the university’s leadership in 

technology education. 

“As the first university in the UAE 

to obtain accreditation for BSSE, 

we constantly challenge ourselves 

to deliver the program following 

the highest educational standards. 

Our BSSE offerings include an 

understanding of the managerial, 

behavioral, and technical aspects of 

the engineering discipline in line with 

our promise of ‘global knowledge 

with local vision.’ The five-year 

accreditation is an honor for the 

Department and the University. It 

speaks highly of the success of the 

program since its inception and affirms 

our emergence as one of Abu Dhabi’s 

premier science-driven educational 

institutions. It takes a lot of hard work 

and determination to get there, ” said 

Adel Khelifi, Associate Professor, Chair 

of Software Engineering Department, 

ALHOSN University. 

“ALHOSN spent a considerable 

amount of time, effort and preparation 

to make sure that it has a world-class 

Industrial Engineering program taught 

by seasoned educators. It was a major 

triumph for us that it turned out to be 

the first-ever accredited Industrial 

Engineering program in the whole 

Emirates. For the past five years our 

Industrial Engineering curriculum has 

been a catalyst for maintaining our 

leadership in technical education and 

encouraging more women to join the 

engineering field. We are thus very 

pleased that the Ministry of Higher 

Education and Scientific Research 

has deemed this program worthy of 

full accreditation,” added Dr Hamdi 

Sheibani, Dean of the Faculty of 

Engineering and Applied Sciences and 

the Provost of ALHOSN University. 

ALHOSN’s Bachelor of Science in 

Industrial Engineering degree program 

prepares students for successful careers, 

including production engineers, supply 

chain managers, operations analysts, 

quality engineers, project managers, 

process engineers, and manufacturing 

engineers. It develops soft and hard 

engineering skills that apply the 

principles of math, science, design, 

engineering, and management to 

design, model, analyze, and manage 

systems and solve engineering 

problems. “The program is tailored 

to meet the sustained demand for 

Industrial Engineering expertise 

within the rapidly expanding service 

and manufacturing sectors of Abu 

Dhabi and the entire UAE,” stated Dr 

Mahmoud Awad, Assistant Professor, 

Chair of Industrial Engineering 

Department, ALHOSN University. 

The Bachelor of Science in Software 

Engineering degree program, on the 

other hand, offers a state-of-the art 

education that enables students to 

apply the principles of computer 

science, design, engineering, 

management, mathematics and 

other disciplines to solve engineering 

problems. It prepares them to be 

distinguished Software Architects, 

Network Specialists, Systems 

Analysts, Software Programmers, 

Systems Administrators, Database 

Administrators, Webmasters, Software 

Security Engineers, Software Testers, 

Software Project Managers, Software 

Configuration Managers and Software 

Quality Managers. Graduates of the 

program will be familiar with current 

techniques for developing large-scale 

software and able to apply those 

techniques to produce real products 

for real customers. ■ 

Academic News 

13


Academic News 

‘Weird Trick’ play uses theatre to hone skills of 

students 

Visiting schools were highly impressed by 

the organization and educational value 

of a play titled ‘Weird Trick’ performed by 

ALHOSN University students. The presentation 

reflected ALHOSN’s use of unconventional teaching 

methods such as theatre to provide unique learning 

and talent-building environments for its students. 

‘Weird Trick,’ which enlightened viewers on 

the value of cooperation between friends, was 

performed by female students enrolled in the 

education technology and teaching techniques 

course, at the Department of Education. It was 

supervised by Dr Mohammed Saeed Hasab Elnabi, 

Chair of the Department of Education, and was 

attended by ALHOSN Vice Chancellor and CEO, Prof. 

Abdul Rahim Sabouni, Provost, Dr Hamdi Sheibani, 

and several university faculty, staff, and students. 

Teachers and students from Al Nahda National 

School, Manhal School, and Hamel Al Ghaith School 

were also invited to the play. 

“We received a lot of praise from our guests 

from various schools about the excellent learning 

experience provided by ‘Weird Trick,’ not only for 

the audience but most especially for its aspiring 

thespians. We look forward to producing more 

of such activities based on the positive response 

we received and the unique ways in which these 

activities enhance the confidence, knowledge and 

communication skills of our students,” said Dr 

Mohammed Saeed Hasab El Nabi, Chair of the 

Department of Education, ALHOSN University. 

Prof. Sabouni delivered a speech congratulating 

the students on their performance. He emphasized 

the importance of theatre and other extra-curricular 

events in encouraging creativity and the spirit of 

hard work among students, pointing out that 

many university high achievers are involved in such 

activities. He ended by wishing the audience the 

best of luck and hoping for continuous progress for 

ALHOSN and for the UAE. ■ 

Industrial Engineering Department organizes student 

trip to Aramex 

14 

The Department of Industrial Engineering 

and the Institute of Industrial Engineering 

(IIE) Student Chapter at ALHOSN University 

organized a trip to Aramex in Jabal Ali on April 29th, 

2010. Ten Industrial Engineering female students 

accompanied by Dr M. Chacha participated in the 

trip. The group was welcomed by Mr Frederick 

Lindblad, Regional Logistics Manger – GCC, Aramex 

International. 

Mr Frederick gave a presentation that included: 

a brief introduction about Aramex history, Aramex 

services, Aramex supply chain system, the economic 

crisis effects on the logistics field and how Aramex 

avoided them, Inventory systems, Reversed logistics 

and Aramex environment support “going green”. 

Mr Frederick’s presentation was very engaging 

and thought-provoking, which resulted in some 

very interesting discussions between him and the 

attendees. After the lecture Mr Frederick took the 

group for a tour of the Aramex warehouse to see 

the packing, storing, and delivering processes. At 

the end of the trip Dr M. Chacha and the students 

discussed what they learned from this visit and how 

it relates to current IE program courses. ■


Software Engineering team wins Best Oral Presentation 

Award 

Student representatives from the Software 

Engineering Department of ALHOSN 

University won the Best Oral Presentation 

award for their “Capstone Project Manager 

Software” during the 2nd Annual Undergraduate 

Research Conference on Applied Computing. The 

conference was held from May 5 to 6, 2010 at Zayed 

University’s Dubai Campus and was sponsored by 

the Emirates Foundation. The main objectives of 

the conference were to promote undergraduate 

research in UAE universities and to create forums 

between students and industry leaders. A panel 

discussion on Undergraduate Research in Gulf 

Countries was conducted during the first day. 

ALHOSN University team presented an online 

application for managing capstone projects under 

the ‘IS in Education’ category. The application 

was developed by ALHOSN software engineering 

students, Sara Karem Ahmed and Lamia Subhi 

Hussein. They were supervised by Dr Adel Khelifi, 

Chair of the Software Engineering Department at 


More than 105 research projects were featured 

during the conference (46 oral presentations 

and 59 poster presentations). The entries for the 

competition came from 24 various GCC-based 

institutions. ■ 

Academic News 

Software Engineering Department celebrates its Final 

Accreditation and honors outstanding students 

The Software Engineering (SWE) Department 

at ALHOSN University celebrated its Final 

Accreditation from the Ministry of Higher 

Education on November 3rd, 2010 at both its male 

and female campuses. The accreditation affirms the 

department’s ability to provide a quality education 

that the general public can trust and that is fully 

recognized by the educational community. 

In addition to the accreditation, student 

achievers were felicitated for their exceptional 

accomplishments and extracurricular activities. 

This acknowledgment is intended to serve as an 

incentive to current and future students to play 

a larger role in their University and become more 

active, excellence-driven learners. 

Graduating students of the SWE Department, 

who have been honorable ambassadors of their 

alma mater, ALHOSN University, were also given 

recognition. Many of the present alumni are 

currently employed in globally renowned companies; 

others are pursuing their Master’s Degrees in North 

American universities. 

Dr Saif Zahir, a Visiting Professor from the 

University of British Columbia, Canada, delivered 

a presentation on the various research areas 

within the field of Software Engineering to give 

students an idea on current market demands. 

Dr Adel Khelifi, the Department’s Chair, pointed 

out that software engineering is currently one 

of the most highly-sought after degrees among 

employers. His talk enlightened students on the 

vast opportunities awaiting them upon graduation. 

Dr Samia Loucif, Assistant Professor, Software 

Engineering Department, moderated the gathering 

and discussed matters related to advising, the 

importance of contact between students and 

faculty members, students’ activities, and technical 

workshops within the department. She also 

mentioned that the faculty’s role extends beyond 

giving lectures as they are also available outside the 

classroom to listen to their students’ academic and 

personal concerns. ■ 

15


Academic News 

Business Administration Department Activities Series 

Series 1 – Student Company Trip to Fuala Trading Company, LLC. 

After receiving a warm welcome from Fuala 

Trading Company LLC last Fall, Business 

Administration Department at ALHOSN 

University decided to visit the company again. 

ALHOSN University’s business students revisited 

Fuala last December 9 and 13, 2010. The visit was 

organized by Dr Candy Chiu for the Operations 

Management course (QNT 401) and highlighted the 

production management of the company. Seventy 

five students spent time learning the operational 

aspects of Fuala’s chocolate factory in Abu Dhabi. 

They were accompanied by Dr Husam-Aldin Al- 

Malkawi, Chair of the Business Administration 

Department, and department member Mrs Abir Ben 

Haj Hamida. The objective of the “Student Company 

Trip” was to encourage and support a widely diverse 

group of students to become business-minded and 

offer their rich perspectives to the profession as well 

as to enable students to understand more about 

the structure of a business not just from books or 

reading materials. The trip also enabled students to 

better understand management fundamentals in a 

real-world business setting. 

Series 2 – Student Research Trip to Statistics Center – Abu Dhabi (SCAD) 

Business students of ALHOSN University joined 

a research trip to Statistics Center – Abu Dhabi 

(SCAD) last December 15 and December 21 

to learn more about the activities of the institution. 

Eighty participants supervised by Dr Candy Chiu 

of the Research Methodology course (QNT 402) 

went to the center. The objectives of the “Student 

Research Trip” were to enhance students’ knowledge 

and experience in statistical work in the Emirate of 

Abu Dhabi in particular and the United Arab Emirates 

in general; learn the functions of statistical planning 

programs that serve the emirate’s development 

programs; and gain insights on conducting statistical 

surveys in the United Arab Emirates. 

Series 3 – Student Trip to Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ADCCI) 

16 

The Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and 

Industry (ADCCI) accommodated seventy-five 

business students from ALHOSN University 

(AHU) taking International Business (MGT 303). 

The students were accompanied by Dr Husam- 

Aldin Al-Malkawi, Assistant Professor and Chair 

of the Business Administration Department, Dr 

Candy Chiu, Assistant Professor, and department 

member Mrs Rekha Pillai. Dr Al-Malkawi thanked 

the ADCCI Director General H.E. Mohamed 

Rashed Al Hameli for accommodating the 

AHU students. Other officials from ADCCI ►


►including Mr Mohamed Al Neaimi, Executive 

Director of Basic Members Services, welcomed 

the students and elaborated on the main activities 

of ACCI. The objectives of the “Student Chamber 

Trip” were to enhance knowledge and experience 

in doing business in Abu Dhabi and the UAE and 

to learn business policies related to sustainable 

economic development. The visit motivated 

participating students to start eyeing opportunities 

for the development of business ideas, start-ups, 

and incubators. ■ 

Civil Engineering students tour high-rise buildings 

under construction in Dubai 

Academic News 

boasts 164 office spaces distributed over 21 floors. 

Its area stretches over 49,523 square-meters. The 

Burlington tower offers more than 476 luxurious 

office spaces distributed over 35 floors. It occupies 

a total area of 112,489 square-meters. 

Dr Majid Kharnoob accompanied the students, 

who were highly impressed with the details of prestressed 

concrete slabs in both projects and with 

the exquisite construction techniques involved in 

the process. ■ 

ALHOSN’s Civil Engineering students visited 

two construction projects in Dubai with 

the assistance of AREX consultants. The 

visit aimed at enhancing the practical knowledge 

of the participants by exposing them to different 

construction techniques. 

The group observed the construction of Fiftyone 

building and Burlington tower of Deyaar 

Development Co. The two landmarks are located 

in the business area of Dubai. Fifty-one building 

The Department of Architecture hosts a seminar to discuss 

the experience of the students in BDP stand for Cityscape 

The seminar, which has been inaugurated 

by ALHOSN University’s Vice Chancellor, 

Prof. Sabouni, was the occasion for Architect 

Nadine Nakkasha, head of BDP – one of the top 

architectural firms in the UK and UAE, to present the 

company’s objectives to the audience. The students 

involved in this experience, launched by BDP under 

the title: “spaces for people”, were also invited to 

deliver their feedback on their experience. The 

session was ended by the distribution of certificates 

and gifts to the students, who expressed their vivid 

wish to participate in similar projects in the future. 

“The Department of Architecture at ALHOSN 

University is keen to create and develop strong 

relationships with professionals in Abu Dhabi and 

in the rest of the country. It is very essential for our 

students to get involved with the profession while 

they are still in the university in order to be wellprepared 

for the rigors of the marketplace”, said Dr 

Naima Benkari, Assistant professor, Department 

of Architecture, ALHOSN University. ■ 

17


Academic News 

Industrial Engineering faculty and students visit 

SIEMENS and Abu Dhabi Ship Building 

In order to introduce students to the real-world 

applications of industrial engineering, the 

department of industrial engineering at ALHOSN 

University has recently organized two field trips 

to local leading industries, namely SIEMENS 

Transformers LLC and Abu Dhabi Ship Building, both 

located in Abu Dhabi’s Mussafah area. 

During the visit to SIEMENS, faculty and students 

met with Engineer Khurram Saleem, Chief Operating 

Officer, Mr. Steve Jones, production manager, 

and Engineer Sandeep S. Chaudhair, deputy line 

manager. After listening to a brief introduction 

about SIEMENS’ mission, vision, and values, the 

group toured the facility to become familiarized 

with SIEMENS production system. Students saw 

firsthand the dynamic interaction between several 

production departments, such as quality, inventory, 

sales, and assembly to produce a finished product. 

The second field trip was to Abu Dhabi Ship 

Building (ADSB). Engineer Mohammad Jumaa 

Al Saadi, Training and Development Manager, 

welcomed the IE group and gave an informative 

presentation about ADSB’s history, mission, vision, 

core values, and structure. Subsequently, the group 

toured ADSB departments to be informed about the 

industrial and manufacturing processes involved in 

building and repairing ships. This experience seems 

to be very valuable to IE students since ship building 

industry incorporates many aspects of Industrial 

Engineering. ■ 

Architecture students develop projects for campus 

improvements 

18 

Architectural Engineering students have 

developed design proposals to improve 

AHU campus. Students worked over the fall 

term of 2010 to craft urban and landscape design 

ideas for both male and female campuses and 

the areas in-between. The projects represent the 

major part of the Urban Design Studio taught by 

Dr. Mohamad Kashef, Chair of the Architectural 

Engineering Department. The Urban Design Studio 

allows students to examine large-scale urban 

developments, pedestrian movement patterns, and 

visual elements of public squares. Students created 

very interesting designs for sitting areas, fountains, 

shading structures and amphitheaters as well as 

landscape and trees to enhance the character of 

campus outdoor spaces. One of the most significant 

aspects of this exercise was giving students the 

opportunity to improve their own campus and think 

about practical issues related to their study in the 

current university campus. The students shared 

their ideas with Vice Chancellor, Abdul Rahim 

Sabouni on Sunday, December 11, 2010. Professor 

Sabouni discussed some specific design proposals 

with the design teams and was pleased to find that 

Architectural Engineering students are engaged 

in real-world design exercise. One important 

byproduct of the project was the enhancement of 

team-work skills among students, who worked in 

groups to realize their ideas in the final project. ■


Master of Education Seminar Series 

The M Ed Seminar Series made a vigorous start 

this year with presentations by two eminent 

specialists in the fields of special education 

and applied linguistics. 

The first presentation was by Dr Lilly Tennant, 

Associate Professor at the Emirates College 

for Advanced Education in Abu Dhabi. Titled 

“Learners with Learning Disabilities in Inclusive 

Classrooms” the presentation aimed to provide 

an introduction to the field of special education to 

students and faculty with limited knowledge about 

the field. The presenter discussed different types 

of learning disabilities, causes, characteristics of 

learners with learning disabilities and, importantly, 

implications for learning, learners and educators. 

The presentation concluded with an in-depth look 

at accommodations that could be considered for 

students with learning disabilities and specific issues 

relevant to inclusive classrooms. 

The second presentation in the series was entitled 

“Many Lessons from a school: What Classroom 

Discourse Analysis Reveals” and was delivered 

by Professor Jane Zuengler of the University of 

Wisconsin-Madison. The data came from the project 

“The Socialization of Diverse Learners into Subject 

Matter Discourse,” which was funded by the U.S. 

Department of Education’s Office of Educational 

Research and Improvement. 

In her talk, Professor Zuengler, co-editor of the 

journal Applied Linguistics, focused on what she and 

her colleagues have learned about discourse in the 

multiple classrooms they observed in a several-year 

research study at Jefferson High School. While the 

school had a student body that was linguistically 

and culturally diverse, it was more homogeneous 

socioeconomically, being labeled “low income.” 

Some of the research addressed reveals how the 

classroom discourse was both co-constructed and 

influenced by these phenomena. The survey of the 

research generated by the study also emphasized 

how theoretical frameworks shape the research 

process and ultimately, what we learn about 

classroom discourse. ■ 

Academic News 

Urban Planning Department hosts forum on urban 

planning practice & education in the UAE 

AHU hosted its first annual Urban Planning Day 

on December 15, 2010 at its Male Campus to 

discuss vital issues regarding urban planning 

practice and education throughout the UAE. The 

event marked the 5th anniversary of the university 

and its Bachelor of Urban Planning program. 

Organized by ALHOSN’s Department of Urban 

Planning under the title ‘Planning UAE: A Dialogue 

on Context and Collaboration,’ the inaugural forum 

addressed two important themes: ‘Developing a 

Collaborative Agenda for Planning Practice and 

Education’ and ‘Contextualizing Planning Education.’ 

Ms Michelle Stephens, Senior Urban Planner at UPC, 

delivered the keynote speech. Other prominent 

speakers from top organizations such as Abu Dhabi 

Municipality, KEO International Consultants, and 

OTAK, as well as universities including the American 

University at Sharjah, Paris-Sorbonne University in 

Abu Dhabi, Zayed University and UAE University 

also contributed their opinions and expertise. Local 

consultant, Mr Riyad Albuhlaiga, also delivered a talk 

linking the two themes of the event. Key industry 

representatives showcased recent urban planning 

projects. 

“The UAE intends to be a regional and global 

leader in building future cities that fuel economic 

growth while also preserving the environment 

and providing an excellent quality of life for its 

residents. Abu Dhabi in particular has expressed 

its full commitment to responsible urban planning► 

19


Academic News 

► as reflected in its Vision 2030 Plan. Our Planning 

Day is aimed at supporting the critical role of urban 

planning in local, national and regional development 

and providing access to resources and expertise on 

this field to our students and educators,” said Dr 

Adnan Husnéin, Chair of Urban Planning Department, 


ALHOSN’s Bachelor of Urban Planning degree is 

the first and only program of its kind in the Emirates. ■ 

New Appointments 

Dr Saif Zahir 

Associate Professor/ Software Engineering Department/ 

Faculty of Engineering & Applied Sciences 

PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering (1994) 

University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA 

Thesis: Image Processing: Predictive Coding 

Dr Ahmad Al-Mahmoud 

Associate Professor/ Faculty of Engineering & Applied Sciences 

Director of Institutional Research Office (IRO) 

PhD in Mathematical Sciences/Statistics (1999) 

Mississippi State University, USA 

Thesis: Prediction Intervals and Regions for Some Measures of Location 

Dr Saleh Al Nusairat 

Assistant Professor/ Education Department/ Faculty of Arts 

and Social Sciences 

PhD in Curriculum and Instruction (1999) 

Virginia Polytechnic and State University, Virginia, USA 

Thesis: Cognitive and Metacognitive Strategies Used by Learners of Arabic 

Dr Hazem A. Marashdeh 

Assistant Professor/ Business Administration Department/ 

Faculty of Business 

PhD in Financial Economics (2006) 

Wollongong University, Australia 

20 

Thesis: Financial Intergration in The MENA Stock Market


Dr Sharaf Al-Kheder 

Assistant Professor/ Civil Engineering Department/ Faculty 

of Engineering & Applied Sciences 

PhD in Civil Engineering (2006) 

Academic News 

Purdue University, USA 

Thesis: Urban growth modeling with artificial intelligence techniques 

Dr Abdellatif Qamhaieh 

Assistant Professor/ Urban Planning Department/ Faculty of 

Engineering & Applied Sciences 

PhD in Urban and Regional Planning (2007) 

University of Florida, USA 

Thesis: Toward a New Theory of Relief - Sponsored Settlement Design: 

Camp-Based Solutions Using Defensible Space Principles 

Dr Marko Savić 

Assistant Professor/ Architectural Engineering Department/ 


PhD in Architecture (2007) 

University of Belgrade, Serbia 

Thesis: Approaching the Reform of the Higher Education Curricula in 

Architecture in the Context of European Higer Education 

Dr Basem Younes Al Bderat 

Assistant Professor/ Education Department/ Faculty of Arts 

and Social Sceinces 

PhD in Linguistic Studies in Arabic (2008) 

Mut’a University, Jordan 

Thesis: Ibn Khaldoun’s Linguistic Thoughts in The Light of Modern 

Linguistics 

Dr Rani A. Kady 

Assistant Professor/ Industrial Engineering Department/ 


PhD in Industrial and Systems Engineering (2008) 

Auburn University, USA 

Thesis: The Development and Representation of Occupant Performance 

in Building Evacuation Modeling 

21


Academic News 

Dr Surajit Chakravarty 

Assistant Professor/ Urban Planning Department/ Faculty of 

Engineering & Applied Sciences 

PhD in Policy, Planning and Development (2010) 

University of Southern California, USA 

Thesis: Spaces of Market-Culturalism: The case of Chungking Mansions, 

Hong Kong 

Patricia Ball 

Instructor/ Interior Design Department/ Faculty of Engineering 

& Applied Sciences 

Master in Graphic Communication (1981) 

De Montford University, Leicester, UK 

Moustafa Wahdan Elazab 

Instructor/ Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences 

Master in Political Economy & Sociology (2009) 

University of Exeter, UK 

Nessrin Mohammad Shaya 

Instructor/ Mathematics/ Faculty of Engineering & Applied 

Sciences 

Master in Mathematics Education (2010) 

Lebanese American University (LAU), Lebanon 

Chantal Mercier 

ESL Instructor/ English Language Center 

Master in Education (TESOL) (2009) 

University of Southern Queensland, Australia 

22


Green Club assists in dissemination of water & energy 

saving techniques 

The ‘Green Club’ at ALHOSN University 

organized its own ‘Energy Saving Campaign’ 

in support of the ‘Heroes of the UAE’ program 

being undertaken by the Emirates Wildlife Society 

in association with WWF (EWS-WWF) and in 

partnership with the Environmental Agency-Abu 

Dhabi (EAD). 

Founded in 2008, the Green Club is a student-run 

organization which encourages student involvement 

in environmental protection. Its members held 

separate sessions at the university’s Male and 

Female Campuses to inform faculty and students 

on the methods and strategies used to save water 

and electricity. They asked participants to monitor 

and optimize their energy usage. They also handed 

out energy saving bulbs to the audience. 

“We always encourage our students to be 

involved in initiatives that promote sustainable 

development in Abu Dhabi and the UAE in general. 

We are particularly supportive of the leadership 

of the Green Club in this regard,” said Dr Adnan 

Husnein, Chair of Urban Planning Department, and 

Advisor to the Green Club at ALHOSN University. 

‘Heroes of the UAE’ is a national campaign 

encouraging UAE citizens to reduce their energy 

and water consumption in order to lower the 

country’s ecological footprint, address dwindling 

energy supplies, and prevent destructive climate 

change. It is endorsed by the Ministry of Education, 

the Ministry of Environment and Water, the Ministry 

of Energy, and the Executive Affairs Authority of Abu 

Dhabi. The campaign is being implemented in three 

phases in a two-year span to encourage action from 

all entities of society. ■ 

Student Activities 

Students visit Special Care Center in Abu Dhabi to 

show support for children with special needs 

AHU paid a visit to the Special Care Centre 

in Abu Dhabi to enlighten students on the 

status of children with special needs. 

Several staff and students participated in this 

trip as part of an awareness campaign designed 

to enrich and enhance perspective amongst the 

ALHOSN University Community. The trip is part 

of a much larger conversation about humanity 

and compassion, virtues that can have significant 

impacts on life, both inside and outside of the 

classroom. ALHOSN University has continued 

to develop programs and activities that cultivate 

graduates who are humanitarian advocates and 

are prepared to make a difference in society. The 

University has been involved in similar initiatives, 

demonstrating its commitment to academic and 

social development for all students. 

“Many of our students will go on to assume 

leadership positions, so it is important that they 

be exposed to the different segments of society 

that need help the most. Visits to institutions 

such as the Special Care Centre build compassion 

and understanding within our students, and give 

them the perspective needed to make conscious 

decisions that work to the benefit of society within 

their respective fields,” said Mahasen Al Mahasneh, 

Student Activities Coordinator at ALHOSN 

University. 

The Special Care Centre is a non-profit 

organization accredited by the Ministry of Social 

Affairs as an ‘Establishment for Disabled Care 

and Rehabilitation.’ It has been operating as an 

educational facility for children with special needs 

in Abu Dhabi for the past 18 years. The Centre has 

served approximately 350 students and provides 

discounted fees to underprivileged families. ■ 

23



ALHOSN students show concern for autistic youths 

during visit to the Gulf Autism Center 

ALHOSN University sent a group of its 

students to the Gulf Autism Center, the first 

specialized autism center in Abu Dhabi, so 

that they could learn more about the life of children 

with autism and the challenges they face. The trip 

is part of a series of ALHOSN activities aimed at 

enlightening students on vital issues our society is 

facing today. 

“Before this visit I knew very little about autism 

and how people with this condition cope with it. Now 

I understand what they are going through and I am 

eager to help them in whatever way I can. I hope 

that ALHOSN will include me in other activities that 

enable me to make a difference in the life of the 

needy members of my community,” said Heba Omar 

Rayyan, student at ALHOSN University. 

The Gulf Autism Center is an educational 

institution founded in 2005 with the mission of caring 

for children with autism and other developmental 

disabilities located in Al Khalidiya, Abu Dhabi. The 

nonprofit Center receives funding from charitable 

institutions and individual and corporate donations. 

It helps autistic children learn basic skills through 

one-to-one education, and by providing the 

necessary support and services to uphold the 

concept of ‘The Least Complicated Environment.’ ■ 

ALHOSN University holds first-ever poetry competition 

ALHOSN University organized its first poetry 

competition last December 14, 2010 at its 

Male and Female Campuses. Two renowned 

local poets, Saeed Al Qubaisi and Hassan Al Najjar, 

were invited by Dr. Mustapha Tajdin, Dean of the 

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, to recite some of 

their masterpieces. Dr Mustapha Tajdin also recited 

a poem of his own. 

The top 3 finalists were chosen from the 

combined male and female contestants. The prizes 

were divided between the males and the females, 

with AED 1,500 given for 1st, AED 1,000 for 2nd, AED 

500 for 3rd, and AED 250 for 4th places. ALHOSN 

University Vice Chancellor and CEO Dr. Abdul 

Rahim Sabouni led the activities and handed out 

the prizes and certificates of appreciation to the 

participants. He also presented a crystal logo of 

ALHOSN University to the two guest poets. ■ 

24


AHU continues community awareness campaign with 

visit to‘Estirahat Al Shuwwab’ 

ALHOSN University visited the ‘Estirahat Al 

Shuwwab’ home for the elderly in Dubai 

as part of its ongoing series of community 

awareness campaign. University students and 

staff members had previously visited institutions 

for special needs and autism to support the 

underprivileged strata of the community and to 

attain self-development and personal growth to 

complement their academic education. 

In its latest trip, 16 female students from AHU 

were given a tour of the facility by the head of the 

center, who also explained the nature of their work. 

Participants interacted with the elderly residents, 

gave them gifts and shared poetry and songs. 

“Our elderly need caring attention, love, 

understanding and support, and our visit came as 

per Islam’s instructions to be kind and loving to the 

elderly in our community. The elderly gave us a great 

deal of care and attention when we were young, and 

yet we often neglect them. It was very fulfilling for 

us to see them happy and enjoying the attention 

we gave them during our visit. This experience has 

inspired me to seek better ways to help the elderly 

and other needy members of our society,” said Enas 

Khalil, student at ALHOSN University. 

Estirahat Al Shuwwab is located in Mamzar, 

Dubai. Aside from accommodating permanent 

residents, the facility has an outpatient section 

where the elderly can come to participate in various 

social activities. ■ 


Reading Club hosts Poet Naima Hasan Dhaif 

ALHOSN University’s Reading Club hosted 

Poet Naima Hasan Dhaif during its 3rd 

symposium. The poet gave a reading of 

her divan “Rituals to Avenge Man” published in 

Syria in 2009. Dr Mohamed Saeed Hasab Elnabi, 

Supervisor of the Reading Club and the Chair of 

Education, explained that such events are in line 

with the Club’s objective of stressing the value 

of reading in the personal formation and cultural 

enrichment of students. He added that students 

need to communicate with authors, writers, and 

poets and discuss their creative works in order to 

develop an appreciation for literature and literacy. 

In his speech at the symposium, Prof. Sabouni, 

Vice Chancellor and CEO of ALHOSN University, 

accentuated the importance of extra-curricular 

activities, particularly their impact on the University’s 

educational atmosphere and the development 

of university students’ personalities. He also 

emphasized ALHOSN University’s unconditional 

support for such student events since they are 

aligned with the university’s goal to be in the service 

of society. 

The symposium was concluded by handing out 

certificates of appreciation to the persons who 

have contributed to enriching the Reading Club’s 

activities, as well as those who have provided 

financial and logistical support to the Club, most 

notably Prof. Sabouni, and Dr Hamdi Sheibani, 

Provost of ALHOSN University. ■ 

25



ALHOSN University marks 39 th UAE National Day with 

exhibits by UAE Women Union 

26 

AHU marked the UAE’s 39th National Day on 

December 2, 2010 with a series of cultural 

events at its Male and Female Campuses on 

December 1, 2010. Among the celebratory highlights 

were an exhibition of Emirati gourmet cuisine and 

national products by the UAE Women Union. 

“Over the past four decades the UAE has 

successfully balanced rapid development with 

cultural identity. Our National Day celebrations are 

meant to honor the visions of the late Sheikh Zayed 

and the country’s other founding rulers and pass them 

on to today’s youths. We appreciate the participation 

of the UAE Women Union this year and their help 

in encouraging our female students to reach their 

full potential and enlightening our students on the 

Emirates’ rich heritage,” said Ghada Qabha, Director 

of Student Affairs, ALHOSN University. 

The special day included henna tattooing 

sessions, local dances, poetry and serving coffee 

and snacks in a traditional Emirati tent which were 

decorated with national handicrafts. A group of 

students also organized a special contest on UAE 

history as well as the achievements of the former 

President and Founding Father of the UAE, the late 

Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Students and 

guests alike were treated to an Emirati buffet with 

coffee to conclude the celebrations. 

“As the UAE celebrates its 39th National Day I am 

proud to be a citizen of this great nation that has 

achieved so much in such a short period. I believe 

that we as a country have been blessed to have had 

visionary leaders like the late Sheikh Zayed, and it is 

now up to us as responsible citizens of the country 

to do everything we can to take the UAE to new 

heights of success and excellence regionally and 

internationally,” said Noha Ibrahim, a student at 

ALHOSN University. ■

English Version - ALHOSN University

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