AUD Review Spring-Summer 2014

audreview

Spring/Summer 2014

A PUBLICATION BY THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY IN DUBAI

FAREWELL CLASS 2014 GRADUATE STARS SET FORTH TO MAKE THEIR MARK IN THE WORLD

FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK

Much of interest is reported in this issue of the AUD Review. Interest in each article will vary by reader. Some will be delighted over AUD’s new “push” when it comes to athletics, others will marvel over just how transformative the QEP may turn out to be.

For me, the most significant event between the last issue and this one, of course, is Commencement. I’m happy to see so much space dedicated to this event in this issue of the AUD Review.

The most frequent comment I hear among those attending an AUD Commencement is, “Nobody does it like AUD.” This is a reference to the presence of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum; the prominence of the Keynote Speaker (Bill Clinton, James Baker and Arianna Huffington, just to name a few); the music; the lights; the colors; the fireworks; the 5,000 attendees; the seemingly incessant line of beaming graduates…

The ceremony is marked by efficiency, rigor and a sense of choreography – pomp and circumstance at its best. Televised. Recorded. Reported.

Thinking about Commencement at the beginning of the academic year is just plain healthy. Yes, a few tears are good for the soul; but most of all, nothing like Commencement symbolizes AUD’s purpose. And that purpose is not to maximize the number of diplomas we can print, but to provide the opportunities for personal, intellectual and professional development so reflected on the pages of the AUD Review. Indeed, our alumni provide irrefutable evidence that these opportunities constitute an education that prepares one to work and to live. At Commencement, we celebrate accomplishment; we recognize success that has been earned; and we pray for a better day for ourselves…and for the world. What a wonderful moment in time!

At the beginning of the 2014-2015 academic year, as we orient our new students, faculty and staff; as we plan and structure the educational experience so that true development is not left to chance; as we assess and reward achievement; as we confront challenges – both mundane and transcendental; and as we review the Review, let us recommit ourselves to the search for excellence so embedded in Commencement.

Commencement doesn’t have to be a moment. Make everyday Commencement day.

Best,

Lance E. de Masi President

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CONTENTS 1 From the President’s Desk 3 From the Executive Vice President’s Desk

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4 Special Report – Graduation

H.H. Sheikh Mohammed expresses high hopes for the Class of 2014

9 Admissions News

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10 Student Services News 11 Communication News 12 Architecture, Art and Design News 13 Arts and Sciences News 14 Engineering News

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15 Business Administration News 16 Faculty Promotions

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20 Sporting vision

How AUD’s Athletics Director intends to put the university on the map

22 Cycling the city

32 Writing research

Dr.Woodman Taylor takes to two wheels for a new perspective on Dubai

24 Awarding achievement

36 Couples on campus

Awards recognize the exceptional efforts of students, faculty and staff

Married members of faculty and staff describe living and working together

26 Precious partnership

40 On-Set Hollywood

AUD’s collaboration with Harvard College creates unique opportunities

29 AUD Forum

Terry May, Mac computer specialist at AUD, on his Hollywood past

42 Alumni Profiles

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On academic integrity

Project Manager Reina S. Dib, Marketing Communications Office

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Quality Enhancement Plan aims to boost learning through writing skills

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FROM THE EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT’S DESK

DUBAI,THE ADDRESS OF THE FUTURE

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ow Dubai has won the bid to host EXPO 2020, I state with full confidence that this city is the address of the future.

The success story of Dubai is the result of the vision of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, a leader who was able to inspire his people and his community through his wisdom to place Dubai among the top cities of the world.

AUD graduates are living in an interesting and complex time. They have witnessed the ebb and flow of peace, the boom and bust of economies, a world with inequality, insecurity, and unsustainability. However this is the total antithesis of what they have learned at AUD, and how we live in Dubai.

Indeed, AUD graduates are journalists, engineers, business people, entrepreneurs, artists, educators and architects, but above all they are global citizens; and Sheikh Mohammed continuously shows us that we can build a community of citizens who live together, in harmony, and are good stewards towards others. AUD students celebrate diversity in their classrooms and in this city. This is why Dubai is the address of the future.

Elias N. Bou Saab Executive Vice President

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SPECIAL REPORT GRADUATION

ONWARD AND UPWARD FOR THE CLASS OF 2014 Graduates urged to use their education to make the world a better place

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ireworks, confetti, flashing cameras and academic regalia of many colors made the 17th AUD Commencement ceremony, which was attended by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Prime Minister and Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, sparkle with excitement.

Underneath the celebration and ceremony, however, strong messages were impressed upon the graduates of the class of 2014 – to use the opportunities they have been given to do good and champion education throughout the world.

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Sheikh Mohammed has shown us that we can build a community of citizens who live together in harmony” Family and friends brimming with pride, as well as several dignitaries and prominent members of the UAE community, filled Dubai World Trade Centre’s Sheikh Rashid Hall to create an audience of 5,000 people. They sought out the best vantage points to

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UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS RECEIVED DIPLOMAS photograph the procession of about 450 undergraduate and graduate students, accompanied by faculty members and VIPs, as they filed into the hall before singing the national anthems of the UAE and the United States.

Mr. Elias Bou Saab, Executive Vice President of AUD, who is currently back in his home country of Lebanon serving as Minister of Education,

opened the ceremony with some wise words for the occasion.

“Graduates, you are living in an interesting and complex time,” he reflected. “We have seen the ebb and flow of peace, the boom and bust of economies, a world with inequality, insecurity, and unsustainability.

“We have been shaped by religious, political and even psychological elements that sometimes encourage us to dehumanize those who disagree with us and ignore evidence whenever it is inconsistent with ideology. This is the antithesis of what you have learned here at AUD; this is the antithesis of how we live in Dubai.

“You leave here today, with degrees, as journalists, engineers, business people,

artists, educators and architects. You also leave here as global citizens,” he continued. “Sheikh Mohammed has shown us that we can build a community of citizens who live together, in harmony, and are good stewards towards others.

You have celebrated this diversity in your classrooms and in this city. This is why Dubai is the address of the future.”

Mr. Bou Saab explained his future mission is to try to prevent the 400,000 school-age Syrian refugees in Lebanon from becoming a “lost generation” without proper education.

He introduced keynote speaker Gordon Brown, former British Prime Minister and UN Special Envoy for Global Education, who has committed to raising $600,000 for the cause.

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SPECIAL REPORT GRADUATION

Mr. Brown emphasized the importance, and the possibility, of providing education to all children and encouraged the graduates to play their part.

“You are entering a world of unparalleled scientific advance,” he said.

“Physics and chemistry revolutions have transformed science in the 20th century and are now being complemented by the revolutions in Genetics, Information Technology, Biotechnology, Nanotechnology and Artificial Intelligence, creating huge possibilities for human progress. As students, you have been studying these things and now you are able to use your expertise in helping to build a better world.

“Because of technology, it is now possible for the poorest child in the most remote area of the world to benefit from the Internet, from the best libraries and the best educational material possible. It is within our grasp that we could become

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the first generation in history where every single child can go to school and have the chance to progress in education.”

He congratulated H.H. Sheikh Mohammed on Dubai’s achievements in educating disadvantaged children around the globe and inspired the graduates to make their parents proud.

“Instead of a world where we develop only some of the potential of some of our children, we have it in our power to develop all of the potential of all of our children and I am pleased that Dubai Cares and this country is leading the way in making this possible,” he said.

“We are at turning points in our lives when we graduate; we can make a choice about how we can make a difference. I am absolutely sure that this generation of students from AUD are going to go out in the world and they’re going to make every parent here proud by the way they make a difference to the civilization of our world.”

5,000 PEOPLE WATCHED

THE COMMENCEMENT

H.H. Sheikh Mohammed congratulated all the graduates as they received their degrees before Dr. Lance de Masi, President of AUD, moved the tassel on their ‘mortar board’ caps from right to left to demonstrate their transition from undergraduate to graduate. The students, of 55 different nationalities, received American-accredited degrees in the fields of Architecture, Business Administration, Communication and Information Studies, Computer and Information Technology, Construction Management, Education, Engineering, Interior Design, International Studies and Visual Communication.

Awards were also presented to exceptional students in each of AUD’s schools: Mohammed bin Rashid School for Communication; School of Architecture, Art and Design; School of Arts and Sciences; School of Business Administration and the School of Engineering, at both Bachelor’s and Master’s level and His Highness even stopped to pose for a ‘selfie’ photograph with the excited class.

Dr. Jihad Nader, AUD’s Provost, presented Mary Achkhanian, a Bachelor of Communication and Information Studies graduate, with the Valedictorian 2014 Award, in recognition of her achievement as the graduating student with the highest academic standing.

Speaking on behalf of her fellow students, she first thanked H.H. Sheikh Mohammed and the faculty and tearfully showed her appreciation to her family for their constant support.

“For the past three years, while watching AUD’s commencement ceremony, I would close my eyes and picture myself delivering this speech,” she said. “Apart from the fact that every year, I used to go to bed and rehearse everything I wanted to say in this speech, I used to tell my parents that this could someday be me. All I had to do was chase those dreams with patience and, today, I’m fulfilling my promise to my parents and I hope I have made them proud.”

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DIFFERENT NATIONALITIES REPRESENTED She continued: “Class of 2014, today the future belongs to all of us, we that dared to dream. Our dreams have led us to this moment, as we stand here proud of our academic accomplishments.

“I believe I speak on behalf of all AUD graduates when I say that The American University in Dubai has not only provided

us with the best learning experience, but has also granted us remarkable opportunities for future prospects. It has taught us the meaning of being one community despite our diversity and has equipped us with all the skills needed to face the next stages of our life.”

Dr. Lance de Masi, President of AUD, bid farewell to the graduates and urged them to seize the opportunities they have been given to make a difference.

“I remind you of your uniqueness and of your possession of all the capabilities necessary to leave a very special mark on this world,” he said.

“Graduates of the Class of 2014, AUD graduates, make of your success not a platform for comfort, but rather the permission for you to play big.” n

2014 AWARD WINNERS Master of Business Administration Award

Ms. Maryam Keshavarz Master of Education Award

Ms.Thao Tozin

Mohammed bin Rashid School for Communication Award

Ms. Mary Achkhanian

School of Architecture, Art and Design Award

Ms. Amna Bin Thaneya

School of Arts and Sciences Award

Ms. Lamees El Monofy

School of Business Administration Award

Ms. Khadija Jawadwala School of Engineering Award

Mr. Omar Labban

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SPECIAL REPORT GALA DINNERS

PROUD DEPARTURE End of year ceremonial dinners shower accolades on students, faculty and staff

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s the spring semester of 2014 drew to a close, senior students, faculty and staff joined together to recognize each other’s achievements at two prestigious dinners.

On May 8th, AUD held its annual Gala Dinner and awards ceremony for the academic year 2013-2014 , organized by the Office of Student Services in honor of outstanding students whose performance and contributions have made a difference at AUD. The Program and Major Student Services Awards: Sara Alaalam; Sharon Alexandra Albuquerque; Rawan El Sadi; Tarek El Halabi; Joseph Bejjani; Sharbel Dahlan; Nicolle Mukucha; Sara Gabralla; Haitham Abu Zaitun; Sally Al Jaderi; Alma Alfawal; Lea Halabi; Joudy Fawaz; Karim Mankarious Student Leadership Awards: Wael Bou Ajram; Nada Sisalem; Mustafa Alloh; Suzan Al Sadi; Rawan Al Sadi Student Government Award: Hassan Khayal Outstanding Student Organization Award: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers AUD Student Chapter;

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Awards were handed out to students who achieved the highest CGPA in their undergraduate programs and majors and Dr. Lance de Masi, President of AUD, also announced the winners of The President’s Awards (see page 25).

Nelly Halabi, AUD’s Health Center Director, and her team paid special tribute to the seven Peer Health Educators who graduated, by performing a special version of the Cup Song dedicated to their peers.

Palestinian Cultural Club Outstanding Event of the Year Award: Palestinian Cultural Club for its Mohammed Assaf Charity Concert AUD Ambassador Awards: Heela Daudzai; Wasan Mukluf; Krisha Mehta; AUD International Aid Society; AUD Harvard College in Asia Program 2014; the Women's Volleyball Team Outstanding Athletes Awards: Hussein Safa; Dana Abdallah Program and Major Awards: Mohammed Bin Rashid School for Communication Outstanding Journalism Student Award: Zainab Abdulgadir;

KEYNOTE RECEIVED AT AWARDS DINNER FOLLOWING AUD’s Commencement Exercises on May 11th, the Graduation Dinner was held in honor of keynote speaker The Right Honorable Gordon Brown, MP. The dinner was attended by AUD Governing Board members, Academic Leaders, staff and faculty and included the Provost’s Awards for Faculty Accomplishments (see page 25).

Outstanding Digital Production and Storytelling Student Award: Jaafar Almadhoon.

School of Architecture, Art and Design Outstanding Architecture Student Award: Joyce Al Awabdeh; Outstanding Interior Design Student Award: Nour Khadam; Outstanding Visual Communication Student Award: Michelle Panesa; Outstanding Advertising Student Award: Sabine Assaf; Outstanding Digital Media Student Award: Gabriela Gomes; Outstanding Photography Student Award: Magda Jentgen School of Business Administration

Outstanding Accounting Student Award: Qizhi Wang; Outstanding Economics Student Award: Amy Abbas; Outstanding Finance Student Award: Chaza Merchak; Outstanding Management Student Award: Osmat Abou Haidar; Outstanding Marketing Communications Student Award: Nada Sisalem.

School of Engineering Outstanding Civil Engineering Student Award: Mohamad Fikre Haj Husein; Outstanding Electrical and Computer Engineering Student Award: Alaa Murad; Outstanding Mechanical Engineering Student Award: Georges Beyrouti.

ADMISSIONS NEWS

AUD reaches out to new students The next generation discovers more about life at their preferred university at admission events

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UD participated in the 26th edition of GETEX Spring 2014, the Middle East’s longest running education and training exhibition, where university staff were visited

by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, as well as budding applicants.

Faculty members joined the Admissions team over the three-day event to advise students and parents on the opportunities of studying at an American-accredited university, as well as discussed AUD’s core values of excellence, integrity, tolerance, and diversity.

Tala Makhlouf, former Director of Admissions at

AUD and newly appointed Director of Student Retention and Success, said: “We keep an open invitation to all those interested to visit us on our beautiful campus in Media City to see firsthand how they can transform their potential into success with a degree from our university.”

The New Applicants and Parents’ Orientation

for Fall 2014, organized by the Admissions Office, also helped new applicants obtain a detailed understanding of AUD’s application process and acceptance requirements.

A presentation about the admissions process gave details about the university and AUD Alumni were invited to share their experiences and advice with potential new students, who were also given a tour of the campus and introduced to university services and extracurricular activities.

The university has also reached out to school counselors by hosting its second annual International Counselor Day, which introduced AUD, as well as its undergraduate and graduate programs, campus life and facilities.

The daylong program included workshops, a tour of Dubai and a dhow cruise along Dubai Marina, before it was rounded off with a gala dinner, featuring keynote speaker H.E. Eng. Mohammed Geyath, Director General, Mohammed Bin Rashid Smart Learning Program, who spoke of

steering learning methods to accommodate all students.

Makhlouf added: “This year builds upon last year’s success, while expanding our reach and the diversity of the schools in attendance to help strengthen our relationships with guidance counselors locally, regionally and internationally, to educate them about AUD and allow them to help their students make informed decisions.” n

CHIP ENSURES AUTHENTICITY AUD is saving time and money in the attestation of students’ degree certificates by using the latest ‘Smart Chip’ technology to verify their authenticity.

The university is the first in Dubai to start applying the second generation of the technology, which links AUD’s database with the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research to maintain students’ data.The electronic solution speeds up the attestation process while reducing the margin for error and enabling information to be acquired quickly and precisely. n

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STUDENT SERVICES NEWS

CELEBRATING OUR CAMPUS COMMUNITY

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UD hosted a number of exciting events as part of its ‘Celebrate Your Campus Community’ festivities, organized by the AUD Office of Student Services with the assistance of the Student Government Association (SGA).

The festivities included an Olympic

competition for students from more than 20 high schools across the UAE as well as a food festival and the campus’s 17th International Night.

H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Hasher Al Maktoum, President of the National Olympics Committee in the UAE and former Olympic gold

medalist, attended the 3rd annual School Sports Challenge event, taking a tour of AUD’s sports facilities and encouraging the young athletes.

He said: “I wish this day would never end and I wish every day was similar to it and full of sports activities.”

SAIS Sharjah School was crowned champion of the event and AUD awarded the school the H.H. Sheikh Ahmed Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Athletic Scholarship which assists in the athletic and academic development of students.

International Night, the largest and most anticipated annual student event at AUD, pulled a massive crowd of students, faculty, staff and the community at large to enjoy cultural performances, visit booths set up by different nationalities and clubs and taste food from all over the world.

Rany Metry Deskoores, AUD alumnus and former SGA president, returned to judge this year’s International Night competition and said: “The success of the event is driven by the energy and enthusiasm of the students themselves, each group practicing and preparing for months before the event in order to best represent their country.” n

RECORD ATTENDANCE AT CAREER FAIR 2014

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ore than 70 local, regional and international employers met AUD students at its Career Fair 2014, organized by the Career Services Office in the AUD Knights arena. AUD’s largest ever career fair saw a 22 per cent increase in participation from two years ago and involved companies from industries including information technology, banking and finance, consulting, retail, advertising, manufacturing, accounting and auditing, government, media and publishing, engineering and contracting, hotels and tourism, oil and gas, and more. n

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COMMUNICATION NEWS

AUD ROLLS OUT RED CARPET FOR YOUNG ARAB FILMMAKERS STUDENTS EXPERIENCE THE WORKPLACE MBRSC STUDENTS at AUD visited real workplaces to experience life as a journalist.

Visits included Dubai Courts and the offices of the Middle East’s leading English newspaper Gulf News.

Roudha Al-Suwaidi, Head of Public Communication and Social Media Team at Dubai Courts, explained to the students how the courts work with the media to inform the public. The tour started with a documentary showing the history of judicial work and its evolution in the UAE, in addition to a presentation of the different types of courts and their roles. They also discussed the importance of using social media to deliver transparent information to the public.

Mohammed Almezel, Managing Editor at Gulf News, told the students about the process of prioritizing and selecting news for publishing, according to the interests of the readers. He stressed the importance of credibility in journalism, the rapid evolution of the media and the students were given the opportunity to tour the newsroom and sit in on an editorial meeting. n

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ebanese student filmmaker Cyril Nehme won the Grand Prize Award for his film “People Disappear All the Time” at the inaugural ‘ON: Original Narrative – Student Short Film Festival’ organized at AUD. Through the Mohammed bin Rashid School for Communication (MBRSC), the festival is to become an annual tradition and a platform to promote Arab student filmmakers.

RESPONSIBLE PHOTOJOURNALISM

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teve Raymer, staff photographer for National Geographic magazine for more than two decades, told AUD students it was both the privilege and responsibility of a photojournalist to think critically and give society an eyewitness account of history.

Raymer spoke at an intimate lecture to MBRSC students.

“Work is about being an honest witness,” he said. “It is not art, the most challenging part is finding symbolic images with a meaning that will have an influence on the message.” n

In its first year, Original Narrative featured 60 films from talented young people originating from more than 14 countries and attracted film enthusiasts from across the region over the duration of two days.

A jury consisting of prominent people from the film industry chose the winners and the festival included a variety of entertaining and educational activities, discussion panels and workshops. n

Board discusses graduate opportunities PROVIDING training opportunities for MBRSC graduates at international media outlets such as CNN was among the topics discussed at the fourth annual advisory board meeting.

Ali Jaber, Dean of MBRSC, updated the advisory board members on the latest achievements and remarked upon the high rate of employment among the school’s graduates. n

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ARCHITECTURE, ART AND DESIGN NEWS

INSIGHTFUL SERIES

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he Visual Communication Department’s Brandvertising series resumed in 2014 to merge the academic with the professional across all Bachelor of Fine Arts disciplines, in particular Advertising.

The first event examined the best commercials designed for iconic brands during the popular US Superbowl. The event kept the students up to date with recent trends, practices and discussions and enabled them to network and build relationships within the creative industries.

Other events included a Media Planning and Buying Work Process Presentation by media agency OMD and a three-day workshop in effective use of social media. n

TALENT SPOTTING AT DESIGN SHOWCASES

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rchitecture and Interior Design students showcased their work to parents and employers during two spring showcases held at AUD. The final year students presented their thesis projects and held exhibitions, with the best projects given awards by a panel of jurors, selected from local, regional and international companies specializing in the respective fields.

The Department of Visual Communication also held its annual Portfolio Critique Nights, showcasing the best portfolios of graduating students from Advertising, Digital Media, Graphic Design, and Photography to a jury panel comprising the best in the Visual Communication industries.

The showcases opened up opportunities for students to secure internships, job offers and have their talents spotted by industry leaders. n ARCHITECTURE SENIOR SHOWCASE SPRING 2014 n 1st Place: Karl Abi Karam n 2nd Place: Amna Bin Thaneya n 3rd Place: Joyce Al Awabdeh n Innovative Design Award: Achraf Mzily n Chairman’s Award: Sarah Bastaki n Professor’s Award: George Kist and Alireza Yarmahmoudi INTERIOR DESIGN SENIOR SHOWCASE SPRING 2014 n 1st Place: Nour Khadam n 2nd Place: Natalie Mahakian n 3rd Place: Kim Hagard n Mentions: Maryjane Moussa and Chanchal Mutreja n Chairman Award of Distinction: Nour Khadam

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AROUND THE WORLD INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS have visited the AUD campus to interact with students in the field of Visual Communication. In February, Taki Kodaira, a modern Japanese Calligrapher based in Rome and Tagelsir Hassan, a renowned Arabic Calligrapher and Typographer, held an intercultural calligraphy workshop and demonstration. Renowned Lebanese architect and artist Nadim Karam visited the university to discuss his most recent projects around the world. AUD is host to Karam’s monumental sculpture ‘Mutual Agony’ during the first Dubai Art Season.

Entrepreneur, adventurer, and philanthropist Raed Zidan, also spoke to students about his experience as the first Palestinian man to summit Mount Everest with his team Arabs with Altitude. n

ARTS AND SCIENCES NEWS

Collaboration adds to event

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he School of Arts and Science at AUD hosted the 12th annual UAE Math Day in April.

More than 45 speakers attended the event, which brought together mathematicians from the UAE and surrounding areas to exchange research and teaching ideas.

Dr. Haitham Solh, Associate Professor of Mathematics at AUD, recently promoted to Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences and member of the organizing committee, said: “The conference was a platform that created multiple opportunities for collaboration between AUD and the various universities represented. It also provided attendees with a chance to stay up to date with recent developments in mathematics research and education.” n

JUHA THE TRICKSTER TRANSCENDS CULTURES

A VERY SPANISH AFFAIR THE SCHOOL of Arts and Sciences celebrated Spanish culture in March with its ‘Aquí se habla español’ event, organized by Maria Gabriela Farias, Spanish Adjunct Instructor at AUD. Students presented their interpretation of the Hispanic world according to different themes and discovered interesting aspects of Spanish-speaking countries through different cultural manifestations such as gastronomy, music and dance.

Farias said: “When learning a new language, it is necessary to also learn the culture behind it in order to not only speak, but also properly communicate our thoughts and ideas and understand the meaning behind the words.”

Guests included H.E. Francisco Alonso, Ambassador of Mexico in the UAE, dance groups Tango OK and Dubai Easy Dance, Argentinian chef, Ms. Daniela Lumer from Café Martinez and Spanish footwear brand Zapatos con Flamencos. . n

ARABIST and Islamic studies scholar, Dr. Francesca Maria Corrao, of LUISS University of Rome, Italy, discussed the folk figure Juha the Trickster in a visit to AUD’s School of Arts and Sciences.

Dr. Corrao spoke of her research into the trickster who is found in Middle Eastern literature and in other literatures from around the world.

“The result of my work which is about the Juha stories, the trickster of the Arab world, started when I was in Egypt, studying at the American University in Cairo. These stories are in the Arab culture as well as the Sicilian culture, and I knew them from my grandmother as well so I was very curious to understand the relation between the Sicilian and the Arab stories. In fact, I realized later on that these stories also had Indian origins as well as Turkish ones,” she said.

She told students the trickster provides comedic relief in tense situations allowing the audience to consider serious subjects relevant to all cultures. n

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ENGINEERING NEWS

BUILDING BRIDGES BETWEEN UNIVERSITIES

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he American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) AUD Student Chapter held its sixth annual Wooden Bridge Competition, which brought together a wide variety of students from Engineering Schools to compete in a friendly and educational environment while challenging each other’s technical understanding and application of simple statics. Abu Dhabi University took first place and teams from AUD came second and third.

The School of Engineering also hosted the biggest ever Gulf Programming Contest 2014 in March, involving more than 130 students from universities all over the GCC. The Gulf Programming Contest is an opportunity for university students majoring in any IT-related subject to demonstrate their skills in programming and problem-solving, while meeting students in the same field from different

institutions and exchanging ideas.

A hundred high school students from across the UAE were challenged to demonstrate their engineering skills at the Annual Engineering Fair at AUD. The main contest was to build a Rube Goldberg Machine, a deliberately over-engineered machine designed

to perform a very simple task in a complicated fashion.

The fair also featured a Robot Programming Competition, Dome Competition, Straw Tower Competition and other fun competitions to help encourage and develop students’ interest in engineering. n

ENGINEERING A BETTER FUTURE

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UD Engineering students were challenged to improve society through inventing practical uses for drones and mobile phone applications.

Representatives from the “Drones for Good” Award visited students to encourage them to take part in the initiative, which was launched by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, at the Government Summit in February 2014. Two Engineering

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students, Osama Al Maimani and Wael Bou Ajram, presented their respective ideas for a drone that could deliver medical aid to those unable to reach help immediately, and a Wi-Fi drone that would maximize the Wi-Fi signal on learning campuses and government buildings by hovering over areas it detects to have the most activity.

An AUD team also qualified as a finalist in the Best M-Government Service Award, an initiative by H.H. Sheikh

Mohammed to improve public services.

The team, under the supervision of Dr. Adnan El Nasan, Chair and Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, created UAE SmartServ, a mobile app that aims to reduce waiting times for government services offered across the nation. UAE SmartServ details government office locations, as well as the driving time and expected waiting time in each office to help users choose which location is most convenient. n

BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION NEWS

SBA

STUDENTS STEP UP TO THE CHALLENGE Students of the School of Business Administration at AUD have been sharpening their skills outside the classroom, taking on their peers in a series of business challenges.

Among them a team of three Business Administration students won “Most Socially Responsible Business Award” in the Business for Better competition held by Western Union and Al Ansari Exchange, for their idea to supply cool uniforms to construction workers in the hot summer months.

Team member Meghna Nambissan presented her team’s business plan – to be the sole importers and distributors of ventilated air suits, which reduce body temperature significantly by increasing the airflow between the body and the suit.

The suits, created in Japan, would be branded under the team’s name “Cool-It” and the students obtained a letter of intent

from a property developer with a soft promise to order 30,000 suits in the first year, an informal commitment from the manufacturer to give them exclusivity for the region and they even made a tentative agreement with a laundry services company to service the suits in a deal whereby they would earn royalties.

The team is continuing to look into

the feasibility of implementing their idea, “if not as a full-fledged business, then perhaps as a CSR initiative,” commented Nambissan. n

FINANCE FRIENDLY

TAKING STOCK

SIMULATED SUCCESS

GROUPS OF AUD students, mentored by professors in the Department of Finance and Accounting, competed in the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants Student Challenge Competition, which brought together universities from across the UAE to compete in a friendly event that emphasized networking and raised awareness about the ACCA programs and presence in the UAE.

FOUR AUD students – Chaza Merchak, David Schaibasjan, Faris Badri and Karan Asnani – took on the real-life challenge of valuing the stock of Dubai-based telecom provider, du, as part of the CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) Research Challenge 2014. The project required the submission of a 20-page financial analysis report followed by a tenminute presentation.

TWO TEAMS of AUD students placed among the top in their groups as the UAE took part, for the first time, in the Global Management Challenge. The world’s largest strategy and management competition, which involved participants across 37 countries, is based on a business simulation in which each team runs a virtual company, making marketing, production, personnel, purchasing and finance decisions with the aim of achieving the highest company share price on a simulated stock exchange.

Team Synergy finished second within their group and Team Veni Vidi Vici finished third within their group.

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FACULTY PROMOTIONS

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PROF. ANNAMARIA LAMBRI

DR. ASSAAD FARAH

DR. ELIAS SAQAN

DR. HASSAN ZEINEDDINE

Prof. Annamaria Lambri has been promoted to Associate Professor of Interior Design, having joined AUD as an Assistant Professor in 2011. Born in Italy, Prof. Lambri obtained a degree in Architecture from the Politecnico di Milano and a Master’s in Interior Design from Italy’s Scuola Politecnica di Design.

A specialist in contract interior design, Prof. Lambri has collaborated with many major operators. Early on, as Senior Interior Architect, she was involved in numerous exhibitions and commercial projects both in Italy and abroad, before working on many royal projects in Abu Dhabi. In 2006, Prof. Lambri arrived in Dubai as a Design Manager for HLA Interior Design.

While there, she focused on international hospitality and contract design for the Gulf Region and Asia.

Dr. Assaad Farah has been promoted from Assistant to Associate Professor of Management.

With a Ph.D. in Management from the University of Bath (United Kingdom), a M.Sc. in Administration and a B.Eng. in Industrial Engineering, both from Concordia University (Canada), Dr. Farah has taught courses in international business, strategic human resource management and aviation.

Prior to joining AUD, Dr. Farah was a Human Resource Consultant in the Canadian credit card industry and previously held management roles at Bombardier Aerospace and Microcell Telecommunication.

An expert in strategic human resource management, knowledge management and the aerospace industry, Dr. Farah has presented his research to the United Nation’s International Civil Aviation Organization, the International Centre for Aviation Management Education and Research, and the International Association for Students of Aviation.

The School of Engineering has promoted its Chair of Civil Engineering, Dr. Elias Saqan to Professor.

Dr. Saqan joined AUD in 2006. He gained his Ph.D. and M.E. in Civil Engineering from the University of Texas (United States) and has a B.S. from the University of Houston (United States).

Prior to AUD, Dr. Saqan taught at Birzeit University (Palestine) and was a consultant for the Association of Engineers. In 2006, he received the Fulbright Scholarship as a Research Scholar at Purdue University (United States).

Focusing on structural engineering, Dr. Saqan continues to publish his research and has been honored with AUD's Provost Award for Outstanding Research and the President Award for Distinguished Service. His specialist subjects include statics and mechanics, structural analysis, reinforced concrete design, steel design and earthquake engineering.

Dr. Hassan Zeineddine, the Chair of Management and Assistant Professor of Management Information Systems, gets promoted to Associate Professor having joined AUD in 2009. He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Ottawa (Canada), a M.Sc. in Computer Science from the University of Windsor (Canada) and a B.S. in Computer Science from the American University of Beirut (Lebanon).

Prior to AUD, Dr. Zeineddine amassed over 14 years of industry experience working for Cisco Systems, Alcatel-Lucent’s affiliates, Spirent Communications, Siemens, and Microsoft.

Dr. Zeineddine is also a parttime Professor and Researcher for the University of Ottawa.

His expertise in information systems and communication networks has resulted in several publications and collaborations across North America. He has taught statistics and probabilities, network services, operating systems, data communications, and programming courses.

DR. KWON JOONG SON

DR. SHADI ABOUZEID

DR. STEVEN BUIGUT

DR. HAITHAM SOLH

Dr. Kwon Joong Son, promoted to Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, earned his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas (United States), a M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University (United States) as well as a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the Pohang University of Science and Technology (South Korea).

Dr. Son joined AUD in 2010 as Assistant Professor and teaches engineering graphics, visualization and applied mechanics. He specializes in impact and shock physics, computational mechanics, smart materials, and multiphysics system dynamics with longstanding research interests in computational thermo-mechanics, multiphysics modeling and simulation, mechanical vibrations and structural dynamics.

Prior to joining AUD, he was a Research Associate at the University of Texas before working for Samsung E&C America.

Dr. Shadi Abouzeid has been promoted to Professor of Decision Sciences. He gained a Ph.D. in Management Science and a M.Sc. in Operational Research, both from the University of Strathclyde (United Kingdom).

He also has a B.B.A. in Business Administration, Operational Research and Market Research from the American University of Beirut (Lebanon).

Prior to moving to Dubai, Dr. Abouzeid worked as an Operational Manager for a pharmaceutical distribution company and as a management consultant throughout the GCC. He is currently working with the Abu Dhabi Government to improve their municipal system.

As well as teaching decision sciences, he has research interests in computer simulations and their applications to corporate decision-making and is also passionate about business process automation and learning Chinese.

Dr. Steven Buigut, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at the School of Business Administration, has been promoted to Professor of Economics. He joined AUD in 2007 and served as the Chair of the Finance and Accounting Department for more than two years. He received his M.A. and Ph.D. in Economics from the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University (United States). He also holds an M.Phil. and a B.Sc. in Agricultural Economics from Kenyan universities Moi and Egerton universities, respectively. Dr. Buigut teaches macroeconomics, monetary and international economics and his research interests include monetary economics and international finance, with a particular focus on integration in developing and emerging economies, especially Sub-Saharan African.

As well as publishing several journals, he has also worked as a consultant in this field.

Dr. Haitham Solh has become the new Dean for the School of Arts and Sciences, succeeding Dr. Gerald LegĂŠ, who has decided to return to the US after a commendable three-year tenure.

Dr. Solh, Associate Professor of Mathematics, has forged a successful career in education spanning the past 12 years prior to joining AUD in 2009. He holds a Ph.D. in Mathematics Education from the Louisiana State University (United States), a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Beirut (Lebanon) as well as a Masters in Education from the University of Southern Mississippi (United States).

Dr. Solh is continuously passionate about research, especially the link between theory and practice. His work is well published and has been presented at many conferences, including the International Congress of Mathematics Education (Seoul, 2012).

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FACULTY NEWS

DEAN OF EDUCATION SPEAKS AT HBMEU CONGRESS 2014 DR. CATHERINE HILL, Dean of the School of Education and Associate Professor at AUD, spoke at the sixth e-Learning Excellence Conference in the Middle East, which took place in the context of the third Hamdan Bin Mohammed e-University Congress.

The theme of the congress was ‘Leadership, design and technology for 21st century learning’ and highlighted ways of achieving effective learning and teaching by linking learning designs to learning technologies.

Dr. Hill participated in a discussion panel focused on ‘Learning Analytics and Best Practices in Technology-Enhanced Education’.

“Before learning analytics can successfully drive the academic improvement process,” said Dr. Hill, “the process and its capabilities need to be understood and embraced as a collaborative practice.” n

NEW BEGINNING A rtwork representing memories of conflict was exhibited at AUD’s Year Zero project in April.

The project, masterminded by Prof. Dina Faour, Associate Professor of Advertising at AUD, reflects upon her childhood in Lebanon and includes creative works on the theme of resetting our lives by AUD faculty Dr. Gerald Legé, former Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences and Associate Professor of Mathematics, and Dr. Sandra Alexander, Assistant Professor of Humanities. n

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UNIVERSITY RELATIONS

PARTNERSHIP EXPLORES ENVIRONMENTAL OPPORTUNITIES

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nvironmental awareness is being embedded into the education of AUD students through a new partnership with Emirates Diving Association.

The Memorandum of Understanding with the non-profit organization that seeks to conserve, protect and restore the UAE’s marine resources will

OUTSIDE INSIGHT

provide internships for AUD students.

Digital Media students will work on converting EDA’s print publication into an interactive multi-touch publication for iPad, and students, faculty and staff will have the opportunity to get involved in marine environmental and ecological education programs, presentations on studies and monitoring programs

High profile international speakers provide insight into different nation’s economic models

undertaken by EDA. President Dr. Lance de Masi said: “No one should be considered educated without an understanding of the role of environmental preservation in improving the quality of life on our planet. It is my hope that our association with EDA will further this dimension of an AUD education.” n

H.E. Matsunaga Daisuke, Consul General of Japan in Dubai, spoke of the “bold” economic policies deployed to kick-start the Japanese economy into growth, as well as the many ties between the UAE and Japan.

Mr. Afaq Khan, CEO of Standard Chartered Saadiq, the global Islamic banking business of Standard Chartered Bank, discussed the role and scope of Islamic Finance and Shariah-compliant banking in modern economies. The lecture enhanced the students’ knowledge of the economic development of the UAE and its financial markets.

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INTERVIEW

A SPORTING VISION FOR AUD AUD’s Athletics Director shares his dreams to nurture the best sports community in Dubai

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išo Pancetovi ˘ ´c, AUD’s new Athletics Director, has a vision: for the university to be recognized as a center for sporting excellence across Dubai.

The former professional basketball player from Serbia has a solid track record in implementing sports culture in Dubai.

In two-and-a-half years at Middlesex University in Dubai, he transformed student involvement in and commitment to sport and set up their first women’s sports team, which has now won gold in five out of its seven tournaments.

Today, with AUD’s world-class facilities at his disposal, he says, there is much to aspire to.

In his office overlooking the university’s playing field, the logo of the university’s mascot – the AUD Knights – adorns one

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wall, alongside inspiring quotes from Muhammad Ali and Will Smith, their words reminding him and his students of the values of working to achieve your dreams.

Pancetovi ˘ ´c enthusiastically explains this is his starting point for raising the university’s profile for sporting excellence.

He wants the whole student body, and the wider community, to know the name AUD Knights, and is starting by getting the players known to the students.

Working with the university’s Marketing Communications Office, AUD Knights now have their own Instagram account which has already proved successful in attracting more spectators to the team’s games.

“I need to approach the students with their own tools,” he says.

“Everything that happens out there is now photographed and put on Instagram. AUS is our biggest rival and after promoting this game, 550 AUD students gathered in our inside arena to watch. That figure is previously unheard of.” His goal is now to attract more than 1,000 people regularly to watch basketball games in the indoor Knights arena, which can seat around 2,500.

“I want Dubai to know who the AUD Knights are,” he said.

Pancetovi ˘ ´c is also promoting AUD’s state-of-the-art sporting facilities and hopes to attract national and international tournaments to be held at the university.

“At AUD, we have everything: a soccer pitch, three gyms with weights, an indoor basketball and volleyball arena, a swimming pool and a tennis academy all within 50m of each other,” he says.

He is also offering the facilities to national teams traveling to tournaments

in the region that need somewhere to practice. “Just that by itself – hosting a national team to come and play here – would bring huge publicity. It would put us on the map,” he says.

A key part of Director Pancetovi ˘ ´c’s target audience is high school students and the university offers sports scholarships to promising young athletes.

“I aim to show high school students, who are about to go to university, the excellent facilities that we have and point out that they can stay in Dubai and have it all. With the Athletics Division and the university, we can provide the best quality education and sports here at AUD. “We’re reaching the point where I can say with confidence: it’s going to become the best sports community in Dubai.”

There is a lot of effort to be put into

´C, ˘ MIŠO PANCETOVI ATHLETICS DIRECTOR MIŠO JOINED AUD in 2014. Before moving to Dubai, he was the sports activator and basketball coach at the Belgrade sport academy in Serbia; organizing coaching clinics and sports camps, working with kids with special needs and managing sport clubs, while heavily involved in the organization of sport events, applying sport psychology on young people and professional athletes. A former professional basketball player in Serbia, Germany, Austria, Romania and Italy, Mišo is a passionate tennis player, loves running, and says that he still has ideas of doing crazy stuff on the basketball court. Then laughs and says reality hits him and he just enjoys simply playing basketball.

With the Athletics Division and the university, we can provide the best quality education and sports here at AUD” get there, however, and Pancetovi ˘ ´c, who played basketball internationally until an injury put an early end to his career when he was 20-years-old, said his main challenge is embedding a dedicated attitude towards sports in his students.

He said: “A huge percentage of kids didn’t grow up playing sports. They started late and the way they approach it is different. Take authority for example: if coach says the blue ball is white, then it’s white. No questions asked. It’s that simple.

“In Europe you don’t have university teams; the kids are playing for clubs and they all started aged six or seven, so by the age of 18, they have extremely good quality players and discipline is at its highest. You don’t need to work on attendance because they have to want to be there and they love to come to practice and be part of a team. “Students engaged in athletics and sports develop leadership skills, teamwork, commitment and dedication.”

“I grew up playing basketball on outdoor courts and inside cold gyms where in the winter the temperature was the same both indoors and outdoors.

Yet, I had that commitment and drive. I would study in the morning, then have one practice, study in the afternoon, go

to second practice and then go to work at night. Others practiced twice a week and I had practice twice a day.

“I managed everything – school, sports and making money – and then I got my Masters in Sports Management and Sports Science. I am very proud of that.”

Increasing attendance was a key priority, and it has already increased by 75 to 85 per cent. By September 2015, his target is to have 100 per cent attendance in all sports, at least three times a week.

Beyond discipline, the Athletics Division is also a place for students to come and talk about their challenges and be coached in other areas of their life, he says.

“Now the athletes know they can approach me for advice or help of any kind. At the end of the day, they are my stars. When they are happy, I’m happy.”

“Compared to where I come from and what I had growing up as an athlete, AUD’s sports facilities are out of this world! And I’m thankful for the university’s commitment to a developed athletic program. That is why I’m so enthusiastic and keep pushing everyone for more. This will ultimately benefit everybody.” n

AUD SPORTS AND ATHLETICS Intercollegiate Sports Teams Volleyball (men and women) Basketball (men and women) Soccer (men, women, junior) Tennis (men and women) Cricket (men)

Intramural Sports AUD offers a number of intramural competitions designed to involve student

non-athletes, including bowling, volleyball, 3 on 3 basketball, table tennis, water games, and tennis.

Club Sports AUD Sports Clubs – designed for AUD faculty, staff, alumni and students who wish to enjoy social interaction in a sporting environment, have included bowling, pool, women’s cricket, martial arts, table tennis, and rugby.

21

VIEWPOINT

CYCLING THE CITY Woodman Taylor attempts to navigate Dubai’s sprawling urban metropolis from a worker’s perspective.

BY DR. WOODMAN TAYLOR, CHAIR OF VISUAL COMMUNICATION AND ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF ART HISTORY

G

etting from A to B in Dubai is simple enough if you can afford a car, a taxi ride or live close to a metro station. But after attempting to walk to work, from Al Barsha to Nakheel, I quickly realized

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that the new, sanitized and modern city growing around me was not planned for pedestrians. Sidewalks quickly end, depositing you on shoulders of sand. I realized the only way to navigate around Dubai from a worker's point-of-view, was to cycle.

I laid wait for a delivery cyclist to return to his home-base store. When he returned, I admired his sturdy, single-speed, work-horse of a cycle,

which he told me I could buy in the dense, predominantly South Asian neighborhood of Bur Dubai.

Walking into the heart of Bur Dubai, I immediately saw cycles everywhere – delivering groceries, taking workers to their job sites and providing children with after-school pleasure rides. I negotiated the purchase of a justassembled, black ‘Export Quality’ Atlas, with all the trimmings – double-cross

bar, resonant bell and the so sturdy carrier I had seen fitted on all of Dubai’s workers’ cycles.

Bikes being banned on all Dubai public transport, I suddenly realized that my hands were now forced, I would have to cycle back from Bur Dubai to my apartment in Al Barsha. I obtained some vague directional cues – take a left at the roundabout, go past Al Gubaiba bus station and, at the big tanks advertising Jenan cooking oil, take a second left to follow the main road. I mounted my steel steed, bound for Al Barsha, and crossing a major thoroughfare, I hung a left, and, for safety, began riding on a broad sidewalk lined with beds of yellow marigolds.

This was a very grand way to cycle Dubai. Little did I know that Federal Law No. 21 of 1995 and Ministerial Order No. 130 of 1997, covering bicycle use in the UAE, clearly state that cycles are not permitted on main roads, nor are cyclists allowed on the ‘footpath’.

I rolled onto the Jumeirah Beach Road Bicycle Path, the much-touted first of 900 kilometers of bike paths the Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) planned to lay out between 2009 and 2020. But the planned paths do not service the working class neighborhoods of Bur Dubai, Deira or Karama, nor do they lead to major employers such as Dubai Dry Docks, whose near 8,000 workers mostly commute to and from work every day, by cycle.

The RTA admits that, of the estimated 100,000 bicycles used in

Dubai, most are ridden by workers, the majority of whom are South Asian.

While cycling back to Barsha, my path did cross that of a few Dry Dock workers. Helmeted, wearing the required reflective vests and carrying their tiffin lunch boxes securely attached on to their trusty carriers, they greeted me with tinkling bells. We all seemed to be misfits in this rapidly concretized and tarred urban autoscape, made mostly for SUVs and other speeding cars.

One worker had ingeniously attached a large car’s rear view mirror onto his handlebars, an early warning system to detect any approaching speedster.

Another kind cyclist directed me to leave the main thoroughfare, to cycle through the safer residential neighborhood. In retrospect, I realized my cycling comrade may also have done this because the Traffic Department at Dubai Police has stated that riding bicycles on roads with a 60km/hr speed limit is not permitted.

Except for residential roads, most Dubai roads are not restricted to 60 km/hr. The only slower areas on major thoroughfares are along road construction zones, which certainly are not safe for cycles. Given that the

Traffic Department has boasted about confiscating thousands of bicycles from offending cyclists, 1,164 in one month alone, this comrade cyclist may well have been my cycle savior.

Wary of workers’ cycles, planners of new Dubai have also banned bicycles from accessing whole areas of high-end real estate. There is no route for cycles to enter Dubai’s famed and ultraexclusive Palm Jumeirah complex.

Upon the seventh anniversary of his accession as Dubai’s Ruler on January 4, 2013, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, tweeted to his 2 million followers that the theme for this year’s celebration would be ‘Thank You’ – to give thanks to all the workers whom have made his vision of Dubai concrete. He asked all of Dubai to thank the gardeners, janitors, domestic and construction workers for their active role in society, which has made living ‘easier and better’.

The critical mass that continues to build the envisioned Dubai is the workers who often cycle to their work sites. Let’s do our best to include in this ‘thank you’ a plan for the safe journey of Dubai's largest cycling community.n

23

AWARDS

STAR-SPANGLED SUCCESS President’s Award winner tells of opportunities presented by AUD

A

UD has a philosophy of liberal education, which provides students with a holistic experience – beyond just the academic.

Its American model of educational excellence is built upon a curriculum that imparts general knowledge but allows for significant specialization; faculty who frequently contribute to scholarship in addition to exercising their classroom duties; teaching methods that develop strong skills in critical reasoning and accurate and persuasive self-expression; the maintenance of high academic standards via clear and consistent policies; and instilling in students an appreciation for life-long learning.

The university rewards its students that excel in all these areas. In particular, the President’s Award for Student Excellence is awarded to the protégé who emulates AUD’s values and philosophy with their academic achievement, leadership and involvement in university activities.

Nada Sisalem, who graduated with a degree in Business Administration this year, specializing in Marketing Communications, won The President’s Award for Student Excellence 2014, alongside many other accolades to prove her star status.

AUD has given me plenty of fantastic opportunities that have helped me achieve many of my goals throughout my educational journey” 24

Nada also received the Outstanding Marketing Communications Student Award, Student Leadership Award and an AUD Ambassador Award for her contribution to the Harvard College in Asia exchange program.

Now Nada is working as a Marketing Assistant at Thomson Reuters in Dubai, where she assists with marketing activities pertaining to the Intellectual Property and Science Department across MENA, Russia/CIS, SubSaharan Africa, and Turkey regions.

She said: “AUD has given me plenty of fantastic opportunities that have helped me achieve many of my goals throughout my educational journey.

The Harvard College in Asia exchange program has provided me with a networking and socializing opportunity like no other and equipped me with conference planning, negotiation and communication skills.”

Yet Nada feels she has more to do before she considers herself to be a star. “AUD graduate stars are students who challenged and pushed themselves to the edge to achieve the goals and ambitions they have set for themselves as well as the AUD community.” She says she will strive for every opportunity to get to that position.

“I am currently planning to become

more active in society by increasing my efforts in volunteering. I aim to work hard to become a successful woman and a leader in my field and my future plans unquestionably include continuing my educational journey in order to achieve a Doctorate degree.”

Advising other AUD students, Nada says: “Cherish every moment you have while you are studying and never think it is too early or too late to achieve excellence.” n

TRIBUTES TO THE TEACHERS Awards show appreciation for accomplishments of faculty and staff

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UD’s students are not the only stars in the show; exceptional faculty were also rewarded

by President Dr. Lance De Masi at the annual President’s Awards and by Dr. Jihad Nader, Provost, at the Provost’s Awards for Faculty Accomplishments.

Dr. Georges Kachaamy, Chair and Associate Professor of Architecture and Prof. Dina Faour, Associate Professor of Advertising, were jointly awarded The President’s Award for Teaching Excellence at AUD’s Gala Dinner on May 8th.

The award celebrates extraordinary teaching performance, including mentoring students outside the classroom.

The President’s Award for Institutional Effectiveness rewards contribution to AUD’s institutional effectiveness initiatives, and went to Dr. Alaa Ashmawy, Dean of the School of Engineering.

Sirajuddin Kanoli Mohiudheen, Information Technology Specialist, won The President’s Award 2014 for Distinguished Service, which recognizes service above and beyond the call of duty.

The winners of Provost’s Awards for Faculty Accomplishments are selected by a committee chaired by Dr. Nader, and highlight faculty members who have demonstrated excellence and creativity in their fields. They were announced during the Graduation Dinner, held in honor of keynote speaker The Right Honorable Gordon Brown, MP, following the Commencement ceremony on May 11th.

Dr. Tala Vaziri, Associate Professor of Architecture, won The Provost’s Award 2014 for Innovation in Teaching after she introduced a new professional elective course titled “Film and Architecture”, which has been popular among students.

Dr. Mohammad Ghanim, Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering, was

awarded The Provost’s Award 2014 for Outstanding Research for impressing the committee with his ability to produce research output which in quantity, quality, significance and, most importantly, in the wide range of topics it covered, was “highly emblematic of the stature of AUD’s faculty”.

Dr. Woodman Taylor, Chair of Visual Communication and Associate Professor of Art History, was recognized as an outstanding artist, taking The Provost’s Award 2014 for Creativity in Design and the Visual Arts in acknowledgement of his many years of internalizing and amalgamating a wide diversity of cultures and art forms.

Dr. Woodman went on to win a second award, alongside Prof. Luis Castañeda, Associate Professor of Graphic Design, for Professional Engagement and Community Outreach.

This new category acknowledged the achievements of the two professors over the past two years in developing the university’s Visual Cultures events series, which bring together students with businesses and professionals in the visual communication industry.

Dr. Nader said: “In addition to creating exceptional educational opportunities, these events built AUD’s connections and reputation and were recognized in local media and publications.” n

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PARTNERSHIPS

DEVELOPING WORLD LEADERS Global collaboration between AUD and Harvard College nurtures holistic skills

E

very year, students from AUD and Ivy League institution Harvard build leadership and project management skills by organizing student conferences. Along the way, the students learn from different cultures and make many new friends from around the world.

The partnership with Harvard started in 2007 when AUD welcomed 15 students from the Cambridge campus to Dubai as part of the Harvard College in Asia Program (HCAP). Ten students from AUD’s School of Business Administration helped to organize a marketing conference for the visitors.

HCAP, founded in 2003, is a studentrun organization at Harvard College, which serves as a platform for students to explore and strengthen international relationships in Asia through hosting conferences at universities, and inviting them to return to Harvard in exchange.

Administration degree in Marketing and Marketing Communications, was one of the delegates of HCAP 2011.

AUD students were first selected to visit Harvard University to contribute to a discussion on Global Healthcare Systems, before the debate was continued in a return trip to AUD. Disha says: “Our role as delegates was to put forth our Middle Eastern experiences and contribute to the overall discussion. The objective was to see how countries could learn from one another to benefit healthcare systems globally.”

Disha recalls the benefits she gained from this once in a lifetime experience

saying: “The best thing about the exchange program with Harvard and these conferences is that you get to meet so many people from so many different parts of the world. All of us have such diverse experiences and perspectives on life. I have learned something from everyone I have met. This has helped me open my heart and mind to a lot of things in life and made me a better global citizen.”

“Having the words ‘Harvard University’ on your CV looks great and gives you an edge when you’re job hunting. I have since then updated my resumé to incorporate my own

AUD is committed to fostering intercultural understanding and believes that it has an obligation to foster an understanding of the Arab world, especially among American citizens and residents, so it has welcomed and expanded its relationship with Harvard.

Disha Pagarani, who graduated from AUD in 2011 with Business

Having the words ‘Harvard University’ on your CV looks great and gives you an edge when you’re job hunting”

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company with two other AUD Alumni, but the Harvard experience and contacts do help me to this day in the work I do.”

AUD has since developed its relationship with Harvard, hosting in 2013 the Harvard Project for Asian and International Relations (HPAIR) conference, one of the largest student-run conferences in the world, for the first time in the Middle East. A group of 31 AUD students worked, under the supervision of their advisors and professors, for several months to put together the five-day event, on the theme “Extending Horizons: Charting Asia’s Flourishing Future”, which focused on the environment, education, entrepreneurship, among other timely topics.

The students secured more than 150 influential international speakers and panelists to present at the conference, including Tan Sri Dr. Munir Majid – Former Chairman of Malaysia Airlines, Chairman of Bank Muamalat Malaysia Berhad; H.E. Rob Waller – the United States Consul General to Dubai; Mr. Rajeev Kakar – Managing Director and CEO of Dunia; and Mr. Badr Al-Olama

– CEO of Strata, Senior Vice President of Mubadala and President of the Harvard Alumni Society of the UAE. More than 400 university students from 54 different countries traveled to Dubai for the conference, which contributed to AUD winning an award from the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) during ‘Al Safeer Annual Recognition Event’.

Wael Bou Ajram, a Mechanical Engineering Senior student at AUD, participated in HPAIR 2013 as CoDirector of Corporate Relations and has also been involved in the latest HCAP 2014 program as General Leader.

Wael was initially encouraged by his brother, Raed, also an AUD graduate, who participated in the very first HCAP about six years before him when he was at AUD. He says: “I always say that HCAP is the epitome of university experiences, because it truly is. It gives students the opportunity to travel abroad, experience new cultures, and participate in profound discussions about the future of our world; while simultaneously

taking on the responsibility of planning a monumental conference and hosting friends and colleagues to give them their first taste of the Middle East.”

As Co-Director of Corporate Relations for HPAIR 2013 alongside AUD graduate Ashiya Rani, Wael was in charge of securing sponsorships, liaising between HPAIR and corporate entities and organizing the HPAIR Career Fair, which consisted of 30 industry-leading companies attended by 500 job-seeking students.

Wael says he has developed three main skills from the experience: “Firstly, I learned responsibility and the importance of developing my leadership capabilities. I also learned how essential it is to have great written and oral communication skills. Most significantly, I learned how to foster strong friendships with incredible people, both at AUD, Harvard and all over the world.”

“One of the most difficult realities of conference planning is that you might have fantastic ideas, but implementing them does not always pan out as you might envision. You have to be dynamic

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in dealing with day-to-day issues that are bound to transpire. The rewards of facing these challenges are that you become more of a critical thinker that can turn potential setbacks into opportunities,” he adds.

Fresh graduate Khadija Jawadwala studied Business Administration at AUD, majoring in Marketing, and participated in the HPAIR conference that took place in August 2013 as Director of Operations. She was in charge of planning and managing the venue, university day and gala dinner for the event.

Part of the original team that bid to host the HPAIR conference, Khadija and an initial ten other students then built up a committee of 30 members by encouraging their classmates with the learning outcomes that the conference would provide them.

One of her major challenges during the conference was finding the right location, within budget. With constant negotiation and follow up, Khadija and her team secured the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai, the world’s tallest hotel, for the event.

Khadija’s experience during HPAIR has enabled her professional development, which has been beneficial in interview sessions, presentations and various gatherings. She says: “It has allowed me to build confidence and display commitment in various instances. It taught me the reality of the work environment and how to handle last minute mishaps if they occur. Also, it taught me how to adapt to a dynamic environment by following flexible plans.”

In January 2013, the two universities joined forces again on a further event, the Harvard Model Congress Dubai (HMCD). This government simulation conference for high school students, run entirely by university students, was the result of hard work and collaboration between the AUD Model United

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The entire oneyear journey of preparations with my team at AUD along with the Harvard team is one of my fondest memories about the conference” AUD student Krisha Mehta

Nations student club and the Harvard Model Congress team in the US. More than 300 delegates from ten different countries and 26 different schools attended the HMCD. Krisha Mehta, who is studying Finance at AUD, takes every opportunity to lead the Harvard-related conferences at AUD. Her roles have included: Harvard Women in Business 2013 Campus Ambassador, Executive Director of the HPAIR 2013 team, the HMCD 2013 Socials Director and School Outreach, and a member of the HCAP 2014 Operations Committee, to name a few.

One of Krisha’s most memorable experiences was during HPAIR 2013: “The joy on the faces of the delegates attending and their comments about how this conference was the absolute best experience of their lives is something I

will cherish for a long time to come. Apart from that, the entire one-year journey of preparations with my team at AUD along with the Harvard team is one of my fondest memories about the conference,” she says.

Involvement in these events boosts interaction with other university students, enriching them with new perspectives and helping them grow their knowledge and skills, as well as providing great networking opportunities. Even after the event, the students keep in touch on social media.

Krisha has also been involved in Harvard Women in Business, another event in which she had the opportunity to network with 1,000 future business leaders and experience sessions held by powerful speakers and guests.

Being a full-time student, managing several club activities along with academics and working as a full-time employee for the conference was one of the most challenging tasks for Krisha.

She describes: “The conference was undoubtedly the most exhilarating, eyeopening and enlightening experiences of my life – definitely my greatest learning journey. There is so much that the conference has taught me – from simple things like how to build relationships with delegates to the ability to manage a team of 60 strong-headed individuals.

The learning curve was steep yet steady and one of the greatest achievements of my life.

“These conferences have had a lasting positive influence on my career,” says Krisha, explaining why she always encourages her classmates to take part in similar events. “I tried to convey the importance of having such experiences to not only help you grow your knowledge base and add value to your CV, but also to help you grow as a person. These experiences with delegates from around the world are an eye opener and make for beautiful memories and stories to tell when you grow older.” n

AUD FORUM

A MATTER OF HONOR

Gina Cinali, former Assistant Director of Institutional Effectiveness, explains the impetus of ensuring ethics in university education WRITTEN IN COLLABORATION WITH PROF. KEVIN NAWN

Honesty and Integrity are values as old as mankind. Honesty and Integrity violations, equally, are as old as mankind - across time, space, industry, sector, class, race, ethnicity, family, tribe, etc.

What may confound modern academics these days is the following:

Why, after all the years of working to enforce good, decent and honest practices in research, work, writing, publications, presentations, do we still encounter violations of integrity? This happens in society in general: athletes doping to reach the goal and the gold, officials taking bribes, side payments or favors in

exchange for certain actions, individuals cheating on taxes and engaging in insurance fraud and many other types of uncouth behavior, and even ministers plagiarizing their theses. It happens in the, academic arena, in particular: academics presenting fake degrees, or imposter degrees, presenting inflated CVs, engaging in misrepresentation of various forms. Why do we continue to see such unsavory acts when they are SO easily exposed, particularly with the aid of modern technology, which means that there is no hiding, and no expiration date on wrong-doing? It is so easy to get caught, be embarrassed, thereby dragging down your entire family, institution, country. So why do “people� still engage in integrity violations of all manner?

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AUD FORUM

What have we learned?

We have certainly accumulated a portfolio of good and bad practices and some of us have consciously engaged in associations, affinity groups, or organizations that work to help shape and share best practices - regionally and globally.

The International Center for Academic Integrity (ICAI) – in which AUD has been a member for some time, along with about 1,300 other members from across some 20 countries, is an organization which, since the early 1990s, has sought to map the landscape of integrity in the academe, share experience, build a repository of data, advice, practical guidance, reference material, so that the academic community, whether instructors, administrators, students and any stakeholder with an interest in and passion for decency, honesty and doing the right things, can easily access information, direction and camaraderie as they navigate the turbulent rivers of integrity development and enhancement.

Some schools, universities, societies have done a lot to inform, reform, improve and share. Others have done precious little, yet others are not yet aware of the issues and the problems of integrity violations, and how much damage is inflicted on society in the long run by vile practices.

People “go to university” - whether they be students, staff, faculty or guests, to create, transmit and share knowledge.

We can start from the assumption that people are good and curious, that they seek knowledge and want to acquire this the proper way by investing time, resources and some effort (work, hours, frustrations) to arrive at knowledge.

Juxtaposed is the other unpleasant fact: people lie, cheat, steal, take short-cuts, are lazy, corrupt, use undue influence to maximize and optimize a desired outcome in the shortest time and at the shortage cost and effort-exertion possible.

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Where is the problem? That as long as some people get away with achieving apparent results/success through shortcuts without learning, they endanger themselves and set back society in the aggregate. Simultaneously, they diminish the value of the honest work produced by their colleagues, who will be tainted by any damage to the reputation of their institution, work place, family or country.

Universities have an important role in propagating the best values, the finest research, the best practices and in upholding honor.

Yet, students (and others) cheat - across the globe. Some areas of the world see a higher incident of cheating - in all its forms: stealing exams, plagiarizing, altering scores or diplomas, bribing officials, buying grades, buying papers etc.

The finest “job” of universities in correcting this practice is – surprise, surprise - in educating students, their friends, families and society as to why such practices are wrong, and self-defeating in the long run, and why such practices will be unacceptable in a university setting.

The Educative Approach Despite the frustrations of witnessing wrongdoings, faculty, staff, advisors cannot simply start by preaching, or castigating. The educative aspect is particularly important in settings where students have often been accustomed to a cheating approach through their primary and high school careers.

How and when will they learn that university is somehow different?

AUD, among many universities, has realized that you have to start by informing and reforming. AUDs UNIV100 course acculturates students to the “right way”: Do your own work, take pride in your work, do the right thing - do your best. Not the imagined perfect job “purchased” at a paper mill, written by

a shadow writer for a fee, but the best work “produced” by you – the student - the product through which you learn, enhance your knowledge, the product you take pride in and ownership of. This is reinforced in subsequent courses.

AUD students sign on to an honor code - a pledge when they join the University.

This is their commitment to “doing the right thing”. They need reminding some more than others - that this applies from day one to the very last day of their university journey, and that this should be part of the ethos of a university man or woman. If decent and ethical practices carry over to their professional and personal lives - society and the individual have gained tremendously.

International focus on Integrity Global society members appreciate this, which is why the UN Global Compact’s PRME program (Principles of Responsible Management Education) has signed up more than 500 universities, business schools and organizations across the world who commit to enhancing sustainability, impact and ethics through curricular and extra-curricular activities that focus on ethical behavior.

GINA CINALI Gina Cinali will be presenting at an up-coming ICAI conference in South Africa.

In the past few years she has led accreditation workshops on academic and institutional integrity and presented across the world on cultural specificity versus universal principles of ethics in academic practices. One of her recent publications is: “Academic and Institutional Integrity – You can’t have one without the other”. INTED-Presentation and Publication: (ISBN: 978-84-615-5563-5). She is also commissioned to write a textbook chapter for a forthcoming “Handbook of Academic Integrity”.

The International Center for Academic Integrity and its members have carried out large-n studies in-cross cultural settings and continues to expand its international focus on how and why students do the right thing - or the wrong thing. The aim is to enhance ways in which faculty, staff and institutions can help each and every student do the right thing, do their own work and help enforce good integrity practices.

One of the issues facing a collectivist society (which characterizes most Gulf countries) as opposed to more individualist cultures (as one frequently characterizes “Western” countries) is the expectation and need to “help one another”. Studies show that one of the most difficulty aspects of eradicating, or at least curtailing, cheating, is convincing the “enablers” or “abetting party” – the friend who allows another person to tap into, or cheat off his or her work product - that such a practice is wrong, dishonorable and self-defeating. This is tough in close-knit cultures where one is expected to “help one another”. Until such individuals begin to realize that aiding and abetting in cheating is selfdefeating and leads to socially sub-optimal outcomes which in the long run hurt everyone (including the individuals who have cheated and “been cheated off”), the problem will prevail with enormous cost, consequences and ridicule for the individuals and societies involved.

An upcoming ICAI conference in Cape Town, South Africa, will explore, among other things, the security aspects of integrity violation from various angles: the individual, companies, universities and society. New security measures can help curb integrity violations, but at its root the cost of corrupt practices to personal and societal security are enormous.

Without ethics, everything else crumbles.

Without ethics, nothing is sustainable.

Leaving AUD students with the following questions may illuminate why this is so: •

Would you like to undergo openheart surgery by a cardiologist or surgeon who has cheated her way through the MCAT, through the exams, through her residence?

•

Would you like to have medicine prescribed which has been brought to market after fabricated clinical trials, which have led to erroneous conclusions?

•

Would you like to cross a bridge or live in a lovely top floor apartment in a structure erected by workers who are improperly trained and who completed a building designed by an architect who cheated on his exam, or where the contractors and builders bribed authorities to make shortcuts in safety measures that form integral parts of the building plans and executions?

•

Would you like to be shamed out and become the victim of ridicule and jokes because you quote a text that has been poorly researched and written and whose main points are completely incorrect, as they have been fabricated, misquoted and misunderstood?

Universities have a privileged position and a duty to help reverse the trend and stem the tide of mediocrity, or downright criminal behavior, which will undermine the good which universities and their honest stakeholders aim to produce. n

AUD’S HONOR CODE PLEDGE “As a student of The American University in Dubai, I pledge that all tests taken by me and that all work submitted by me will be original and solely the results of my own efforts. Furthermore, as a student and member of the academic community of The American University in Dubai, I am bound to uphold standards of personal integrity and honesty and to accept my personal, academic and professional responsibilities in the community.

Specifically, I pledge: • to adhere to the university’s policy on cheating and plagiarism; • not to lie or steal in my university undertakings; • not to evade the truth or deceive; • to inform the appropriate faculty member and Dean, Associate Dean or Chair of my School or Department of any and all cases of academic dishonesty and violations of the Honor Code.”

These are but a few, realistic, outcomes of cheating, plagiarism, and cutting corners. Sadly, the consequences are seen every day and the cost to society are gigantic.

KEVIN NAWN Kevin Nawn has taught in the MENA region for almost 20 years. During his tenure at AUD he has been deeply involved in academic integrity enhancement and resolving plagiarism issues.

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RESEARCH QUALITY ENHANCEMENT PLAN

ON THE

Write TRACK

AUD commits to maximizing its students’ success by taking a hands-on approach to improving their writing skills

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A

UD prides itself on being a culturally diverse institution with the vast majority of its students being non-native speakers of English. Indeed for many of the university’s students, English is often a second, third or even fourth language.

AUD students are educated in how to write in English, how to write in academic English and, ultimately, how to write in their discipline in appropriate academic English (often referred to as Standard Edited English). All this occurs while they are continuing to develop their basic English-language skills.

In a bid to improve overall learning at AUD, the university has initiated a Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), which centers specifically on writing.

This focused yet comprehensive initiative provides the university with an opportunity to improve its overall effectiveness in delivering a quality educational experience to all its students involving everybody at AUD, especially students and faculty.

The five-year project, which started in 2012, is titled “Writing as a Pillar of Academic Achievement” and ultimately seeks to determine whether enhanced writing skills lead to increased academic achievement on the part of AUD students.

The project is based upon the assumption that, although the definition of academic literacy may change from discipline to discipline, an enhanced ability to recognize the requirements of a writing style and possession of a greater repertoire of linguistic practices, will boost students’ academic attainment across all fields.

Currently, the concept of a community-college system in the Gulf or in the Middle East in general, does not exist, and therefore the responsibility lies solely with AUD to address the needs of such students.”

Kevin Nawn, Assistant Professor of English and QEP Director MAKING THE GRADE “Even in the US, we’re seeing that the written English of around half of the native English-speaking students is not up to scratch,” explains Kevin Nawn, Assistant Professor of English at AUD and the QEP Director.

AUD boasts more than 100 nationalities among its students, many of whom come from the Gulf region as well as Egypt, Lebanon and Syria.

Iranian students, and students from the Indian subcontinent, form a significant number along with students from Nigeria, China and beyond.

Non-native speakers often require additional guidance on how to write in academic English; such students whose written English does not yet meet the standard for the rigors of studying at an American-style university are required to take English 100 (Developmental English).

While students in the US can take these remedial English courses in community colleges, in Dubai this is not an option. “Currently, the concept of a community-college system in the Gulf or in the Middle East in general, does not exist, and therefore the responsibility lies solely with AUD to address the needs of such students,” continues Professor Nawn.

SIGNIFICANT STRIDES This is where it is hoped the AUD QEP will come into play. Starting in fall 2012, AUD made significant adjustments to its required developmental English courses. Upon completing these courses, the students’ writing skills will be tracked through other courses both in and outside their degree programs.

“We’re only two years in so we’re still compiling data,” says Professor Nawn.

“We gathered baseline data before the study began and now we’re in the process of crunching the numbers, but what we do know is that we’ve made significant strides in English 100.”

When all the data has been gathered, statistical analysis will be carried out to ascertain whether an improvement in students’ writing skills coincides with an improvement in their overall academic achievement.

“We know already that students completing English 100 are now completing it to a higher standard than before. And if English 100 is successful then we may try to do something similar, with math, for example,” he adds.

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RESEARCH QUALITY ENHANCEMENT PLAN

MEASURING IMPROVEMENT AUD’s Provost Dr. Jihad S. Nader, is determined the findings of the research be quantitative as well as qualitative. As a financial economist, he is particularly interested in demonstrating the effects of the project through hard figures and facts, he says.

Dr. Nader has developed a comprehensive methodology to measure the effects of the project, which will provide complete data sets that lend themselves to statistical and quantitative testing and rigorous analysis.

The measurement is based upon a number of outcomes, including students’ Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) at graduation, their exam score in their capstone course and the ratio of credit-hours achieved to credit-hours attempted, i.e. whether they passed, failed or withdrew from courses.

Dr. Nader said the methodology examined the relationship between improvement in their writing abilities and attainment in their own disciplines, demonstrating whether enhancing their proficiency in critical thinking and improvement in written communication affects their performance in their field of study.

If the results show a statistically significant difference in student performance, they prove a structural shift in learning enhancement, he says.

CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT AUD is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) in the US. Professor Nawn explains that SACSCOC requires schools to conduct a QEP for re-affirmation of their accreditation.

“After 2017, AUD will submit the five-year impact report to SACSCOC along with a description of the project, any adjustments we’ve made along with our findings, and what we will do as a result of those findings,” he adds.

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This project is highly focused and inclusive and this puts us significantly ahead of other universities and ahead of the game in our on-going quality enhancement plan.”

Dr. Jihad S. Nader, AUD’s Provost

But far from being simply a criterion to be met for its accreditation renewal, AUD views the QEP as an intrinsic element to the future accomplishments of its students.

Dr. Nader explains that the QEP could have been on any number of topics. “The QEP is a research exercise, the theme of which is left for accredited institutions like us to select,” he says.

“They do not dictate to us what the research must be about; the one condition that you have to satisfy is that it has to be ultimately related to student learning outcomes. That could be anything from the food in the cafeteria, to athletics, student life, quantitative life skills or knowledge of literature.“ The university had to undergo a thorough selection process to decide upon the topic, which was inclusive, he explains, involving suggestions from faculty, part-time and full-time staff, the senior administration, students and the different advisory board members.

“We went through the submissions meticulously and used focus groups to zero in on the best topic. Some suggestions were not practical; we had to look at the data and technical constraints,” explains Dr. Nader.

Finally, he says, the QEP Steering Committee chose the topic now being implemented – “Writing as a Pillar of Academic Achievement” and the university embarked upon the fiveyear project two years ago. Following the completion of this project, AUD will begin the process again and undertake a new QEP exercise on a different theme.

AHEAD OF THE GAME “The QEP is of monumental importance to AUD simply because its potential for impacting student success is limitless,” expresses Dr. Lance de Masi, AUD President.

“In essence, the QEP is about improving students' writing skills.

Communication is about more than just writing; but writing is a core communication skill,” he adds.

President de Masi goes on to emphasize that time and time again, when surveyed, employers put

QEP: PUTTING THE PLAN INTO ACTION The QEP is delivered when students take their required English 100, 101 and 102 courses.

AUD has made significant changes to class size and scheduling, with contact time for English 100 students increased to five hours a week.

“As QEP Director I teach the English 100 class and I do the majority of the grammar workshops so we have consistent delivery,” explains Professor Nawn.

Once students have completed English 100, 101 and 102, their writing skills are tracked when they begin taking English 103 and the World Cultures courses.

Ultimately, the students’ writing skills will be tracked all the way through their senior/ capstone projects.

“This will be the ultimate test to see if the improved writing skills result in improved performance just prior to graduation,” he adds.

“The QEP is of monumental importance to AUD simply because its potential for impacting student success is limitless.”

Dr. Lance de Masi, AUD President

proficiency in communication skills at the top of their wish list of desired competencies.

“AUD has also advanced the hypothesis that writing figures prominently in overall academic achievement. The QEP is also about proving or disproving this contention,” concludes President de Masi.

Professor Nawn concludes by saying that AUD’s QEP is not something that needs to be a roaring success for it to be a good QEP and a valuable learning process for the institution. “Even if it doesn’t give the results we anticipate we will still revisit some of the assumptions we made,” he says. “Our end goal is the

improvement of the students’ overall learning.”

Dr. Nader echoes that if the conclusion from the QEP is that the extra efforts had no impact upon the students’ overall achievement, then this would be an equally significant finding and would be useful and relevant for the ongoing pursuit of student learning enhancement.

“I believe that AUD is a leader in the quality enhancement process. This project is highly focused and inclusive and this puts us significantly ahead of other universities and ahead of the game in our on-going quality enhancement plan,” concludes Dr. Nader. n

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CAMPUS LIFE

36

COUPLES ON CAMPUS AUD Review meets four husband and wife teams to talk about the advantages and challenges of working with your other half

A

t AUD, we like to think of ourselves as one big, happy family. Based in our beautiful Dubai Media City campus, we live and work together in harmony. Colleagues, friends and neighbors are one. Furthermore, some of our employees are not just married to the job, but are married to each other, whether they owe their initial introduction to AUD, or they were happily married long before joining the university.

While working with close family and friends has the potential to pose challenges to relationships in the office and at home, we find out how our teams at AUD manage their personal and professional lives without a hitch.

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CAMPUS LIFE

KRASSEN & MARIA Krassen Krestev, Associate Professor of Graphic Design, and his wife Maria Slavtcheva, External Relations Coordinator, met five years ago in Bulgaria.

“We instantly clicked,” says Krassen.

“We had conversation after conversation for I don’t know how many hours. We knew we were meant to be together and I proposed a month later. We got married a few weeks after my proposal.

It all happened very quickly, but we have no regrets!”

Krassen was already working at AUD and asked Maria to join him in Dubai.

“After having my son, Javor, who is now three years old, I decided I should pursue my career as well and started working in external relations and international relations,” adds Maria.

“When I saw the External Relations Office at AUD was looking to hire someone like me, it was the right time

and I was happy that they chose to work with me.”

Krassen says: “I am glad that we work close to each other in the moments when we get to have a nice lunch and share stories. I can’t think of any negatives about working in the same place as my wife. I know people sometimes complain when they work together during the day and say it might

JAMES & KRISTIN James Martin, Assistant Professor of Architecture, and Kristin Lee, Assistant Professor of Interior Design, have been married since 2000 and first met each other while at high school in their home town of Amherst, Massachusetts.

Kristin was the first of the two to join AUD in Spring 2013 after having taken several years off to raise the couple’s two young daughters. She was closely followed by James, who joined in the fall of 2013 after many years of working professionally in Dubai.

She says: “James wanted a new challenge. Practicing design is different from teaching it; being at AUD frees us to talk about design

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without the pressure of clients and budgets and project coordination headaches.”

Kristin says the pair behaves at work as they do at home: “We don’t treat each other any differently than at home.

We are very much a team, professionally and as a family.”

They spend break times together when they can, and

even attend critiques for each other’s studio classes, which Kristin says is fun.

“Seeing each other throughout the day is nice.

We have mutual friends at work, and we live on campus, which really benefits that. Our friends are our neighbors and vice versa.The fact that we teach related studies within the

exhaust the relationship. But I work in one building and she’s in another.”

AUD’s live-in campus makes it easy to feel part of a wider community.

Maria says: “We live on campus which is very convenient and makes us part of the AUD community, which is a very nice experience. You have your home and work together and that creates a whole different atmosphere.

“When we get home from work, we don’t really talk about work. We work in the same place so we already know what is happening and that means we can enjoy other topics of conversation.”

“We ensure we switch off from what’s happening in the workplace, “ adds Krassen. “And we immediately refocus on other issues.”

Krassen and Maria’s recipe for success: When you go back home, change the subject, explore other areas of interest or go out and have a totally different experience.

same school benefits each of us professionally. We talk a lot about work at home, about our classes and if students are struggling with certain concepts. We share ideas for projects and pass articles onto one another. But we enjoy this; we enjoy teaching design and ‘strategizing’ about it. And we can turn it off when we need to.

So far, we’ve always been happy to both work at AUD. Kristin and James’s recipe for success: Perhaps our working relationship is smooth because our personal one is. We respect each other professionally, and know that we engage with one another in two different settings with different boundaries.

ELIE & NATHALIE Elie Sawaya, Director of Central Services, and his wife Nathalie, Students Financial Affairs Manager, have worked together at AUD for nine years now.

Elie has been with AUD since its first days in 1995 when the university was based on a smaller campus in Jumeirah.

“After a few years the university started planning for this big campus,” he explains. “And my role was to follow up on the execution of this project and make sure it was ready to receive students by early 2000.”

It was in 2002 while working for AUD that Elie met Nathalie, who was visiting Dubai on a training course with the bank she was working for.

“I met her in the Hard Rock Café, which used to be next door to our campus here. We had a friend in common, who used to manage the café, that’s how we met. Over the next year, our relationship developed and we got married and she moved to Dubai so we could live together.”

Nathalie says they both love Dubai, and the couple has two kids – a son Kareem aged nine, and daughter Yara, aged three.

Nathalie first worked in marketing in Dubai before moving to AUD’s Finance Office nine years ago.

She says: “I like the environment and the university and I like to meet people.

What’s great about my job is that I get

to meet the students and help them with their financial issues.”

And while they share a workplace, Elie says the university is such a big organization, it is like working for different companies even though they are in the same place.

“We hardly ever work on the same thing. The university is a big institution and each department is like a company in itself.”

Nathalie says they also respect each other’s independence.

“Even though Elie has known the people we work with and the community longer than I have, he has left me to get to know them for myself, rather than give me his opinion or tell me stories. We do talk about work a little bit, but I think it’s more exciting and fruitful to talk about work if

LUIS & INKA Luis Castaneda, Associate Professor in Graphic Design, and Inka Resch, an Adjunct in Visual Communication and a Hatha Yoga Teacher, have been married for three years after meeting at graduate school in The Netherlands.

Luis visited Dubai on business in 2007, and subsequently found out about a position opening up

at AUD and decided to apply.

Once he got the job, Inka moved to join him.

Luis says they do not generally discuss work

you work in different environments.”

Nathalie says she particularly enjoys the community feel at AUD. “It is a very healthy and safe community, especially for families and their kids. We don’t have to worry about speeding cars or strangers around our kids and there’s a very friendly atmosphere. We live like a family with our colleagues and friends.

“It is like living in a small village. The feeling of belonging grows and gets stronger day after day. And it is like an international village because there are many different nationalities, like Dubai but on a smaller scale. We all live in harmony and respect each other. I love the people who work here and they have become my friends.”

Elie adds: “We live well in AUD. If you are not a sportsman, you become one here, living in the middle of tennis courts, a football field, squash courts, gyms in different buildings, swimming pools and an athletic track. On top of that, there are different food outlets and coffee shops, a supermarket, barbershop, hairdresser, bank, travel agency and bookstore where you can buy AUD souvenirs as well.

Quite simply, you can live a full week without going outside the campus or driving your car.”

Nathalie and Elie’s recipe for success: Life is a school; every moment you learn something new when you live in a city like Dubai.

at home, with the odd exception. “If there is an idea or issue that one of us needs an opinion on, we do discuss that. And we inevitably have mutual friends from work as we all live together on campus.”

He explains that they have a good working relationship and help one another at work. “Our schedules do not overlap,” he adds. “But

sometimes we visit each other on breaks.”

That their subjects overlap has also proved advantageous for the university’s students, as once when Luis had the misfortunate to contract typhoid and was stuck in hospital for ten days, Inka was able to cover his Graphic Design 2 class.

Luis and Inka’s recipe for success: Travel light.

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INTERVIEW

INSIGHTS INTO

ON-SET HOLLYWOOD

AUD’s very own Mac computer specialist, Terry May, shares his behindthe-scenes knowledge of working on some of Hollywood’s biggest blockbuster movies

T

erry May has come a long way since his boyhood days when he was part of the crew at school productions and events. But it was this fascination with all things technical that eventually led him to working as a crew member on some of the world’s biggest films including Harry Potter and Gravity, before joining AUD as a Mac expert.

Terry kick-started his career as an apprentice with Lee Lighting before joining the popular British TV program, The Bill, to help him gain basic on-set skills. From there, he moved on to working across all forms of media including film, music videos and commercials.

“I’ve worked on many different projects throughout the years,” he says.

“During my time on The Bill I worked in every position within the electrical department including the ‘best boy’ for

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two live episodes. Other projects to my name include Tomb Raider 2, X-Men First Class, Harry Potter and World War Z, as well as various commercials for leading brands and music videos for some popular artists.

“The last film I worked on before I moved to Dubai was Gravity. I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to ‘gaffer’ the second unit, which enabled me to learn a lot from the Director of Photography and other crew members. This was a very different type of film, and was the first time I had the responsibility of such a large production,” adds May. Sharing his experience of being on the set of the Oscar-winning movie, Terry says his role for Gravity initially started out as two or three days of work to help set up for the main unit at the beginning of production. However

the Producer, Director and crew soon realized that the preparation and setups were going to take longer than first envisaged, which led to an additional unit being created a few weeks later – with May landing the job.

“My main role, along with my crew, was to recreate the lighting and camera shots precisely so that the main unit and visual effects unit could work their magic afterwards,” he explains.

Working as a crew member has great challenges and responsibilities, specifically in safety equipment, May reveals. “The main challenge is the need to adapt quickly. Every shot and every time the camera moves, the lighting changes. Communication is crucial as there is such a large amount of equipment used and everyone within the team needs to know what is used, how it is used and its purpose.

“It is also the responsibility of the Lighting Department to provide not only electricity for all the other departments but also additional lights, extensions, stands and safety equipment to ensure that everyone on set is protected,” he said.

The use of high voltage electricity means safety is always a primary concern on set. “We often use over 2,000 amps to power the lights and equipment needed in a studio environment so we have to make sure the electrical load is correctly balanced and safe.”

Eschewing the Hollywood film set glitz and glamor, May is currently working within AUD’s IT Services Office as a Mac specialist, which involves maintaining and advising on new equipment for the Visual Communication Department and keeping up to date with the relevant industry standards.

“I am very much enjoying

Don’t be afraid to make mistakes; you will learn from them” my time here as I am allowed to express my opinions and work from my experience to help the VC Department grow, flourish and stay up to date with current changes and initiatives,” he says, “whether that is purchasing new hardware and software, or advising the students and the professors on their projects and how they can achieve their goals through tips, guidance and planning.”

As for his future plans, May has a clear direction of what he wants to achieve. “For my own professional development, I would like to continue

to train more in this new field by keeping up to date with the constant evolution of technology in IT. I would also like to see students graduating from AUD having the skills, confidence, understanding and knowledge to work in their chosen professional fields. The media industry as a whole is evolving, and it is all heading towards digital.”

May and his wife have just had a baby girl, so at the moment all his spare time is spent with his family, he says. He also enjoys cooking, eating out with friends and catching up with family and friends back in the UK. Addressing the AUD community, May advises: “Keep experimenting with your chosen field. There are always lessons to be learnt. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes; you will learn from them. You will never know everything and you can always make things better.” n

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ALUMNI PROFILE

DESIGNS TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE Entrepreneurial alumna, Sareh Ameri, seeks to make a difference to other people’s lives through the skills she gained at AUD

G

raduating from AUD in 2010 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design, Sareh Ameri is currently the managing partner at Resysta Building Material, a start-up company that promotes the use of a unique, sustainable material, which replaces natural hardwood in the MENA region.

As her company is still young, Sareh is responsible for many elements of the business, such as marketing and raising awareness of the product, project acquisition, operations and after-sales support.

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Sareh describes that she applies what she learned at AUD throughout her career: “When I took my Public Speaking class in AUD, I never thought that this could ever help me in my future jobs. I could not have been so wrong. My thoughts, presentations and communicational skills all go back to what I learned in those four years at AUD. “I worked hard as a student and tried to learn as much as I could from my professors. It is thanks to them and AUD, one of the most advanced

universities in the region, that I have successfully managed to start up my own business and established various initiatives to make a change.”

She continues: “As practical experience is an important element of AUD’s educational approach, I had the opportunity to conduct several internships during my studies. The first was with GEMACO Interiors in Dubai, where I learnt a huge deal about the real design world and how a design office operates.”

I strongly advise any student to be involved in this type of project during their studies”

An internship at the Norwegian Refugee Council Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) in Geneva gave Sareh the opportunity to work in one of the largest international nongovernmental organizations (NGO) in the world. Inspired by this experience, she began the AUD International Aid Society (AIA), which is still growing today. “Through this student club I learnt how to communicate well with my team, external NGOs and universities, as well as how to manage a large group of people and how to organize and run projects.”

This opportunity led to the Cameroon project, where she and the AIA initiated and built a primary school in Mbissa Island in the North West province of the country. She describes it as an outstanding outcome of her AUD AIA activities, which attracted the attention of other NGOs and international organizations. In particular, she met the founder of Architecture for Humanity (AfH), Cameron Sinclair, who proved to be of great importance for Sareh’s further personal and professional development.

Sareh is still the ambassador for AfH in the Middle East and actively participates in their international projects.

Open Source Arc (OSA) is another organization that Sareh became involved with thanks to the Cameroon project, and she is currently collaborating with people she met through OSA on an orphanage development in Tanzania.

“I strongly advise any student to be involved in this type of initiative during their studies,” she urges.

Currently, Sareh is involved in numerous projects, including designing a children’s home and a school in Tanzania under the OSA umbrella. At the moment, they have invited architecture and design students and professionals from around the UAE to participate in a design workshop to put together an award-winning, sustainable master plan.

“Once this first step is completed, we are planning to implement the design and start the construction in collaboration with architectural students of ARDHI University in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania,” she explains.

Empowering and helping women and children has always been a topic close to Sareh’s heart. When representatives of Soroptimist International (SI) asked her to set up a Dubai chapter of the organization, she immediately accepted

and started the process. “More than 30 professional ladies have joined forces with me,” she explains. “Our mission is helping and empowering women and girls in our community and around the world, with the main focus on education. It would be a great pleasure seeing AUD students and staff members joining our group too.”

When asked what her next plans will be, she expressed: “With Dubai being awarded the Expo2020, business prospects in the UAE promise to be sustainable and more attractive than in other countries. My future plans are mainly concentrating on the development of our business in the GCC and MENA regions. I will also continue with my charity and development projects locally and internationally, and work on establishing Soroptimist International here in Dubai.”

As if she wasn’t busy enough with her professional duties and charity initiatives, Sareh also enjoys training for halfmarathons in Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah, as well as exploring the underwater world.

“Three years ago I learnt to scuba dive and loved it so much that I finished my Dive Master training. As I am always fascinated by different nations and cultures, I continue to explore the world through my travels.”

Addressing a message to AUD students, graduates and alumni, she says: “Take your studies, the university and the content seriously. Theory is important indeed. Go out there and apply for internships while you are studying; you will gain so much knowledge of working life.You can apply what you learnt at university in that workspace. Last but not least, be active, involve yourself in different initiatives and projects and think outside the box, this is where you learn for your future life and will sharpen your entrepreneurial skills.” n

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ALUMNI PROFILE

MARKETING MESSAGES

Former Valedictorian continues to apply lessons learned at AUD to achieve career success

I

n May 1998, Leena Kewlani received the highest academic standing of her class and took to the podium at graduation as AUD’s first Valedictorian.

The Business Administration graduate, who obtained a Double Major in Marketing and Advertising, is now putting her degree to practical use as Director of Branded Content and Regional Communications Director at MEC MENA. In this role, she is responsible for creating branded content and developing content strategies and programs for the company’s clients.

Reflecting on her career, Leena says she owes a great deal to AUD. “Everything I learned years ago about integrated marketing communications is vital to how I understand and create my content strategies for brands. I apply a lot of the consumer psychology that I learned at AUD. I always aim to keep the consumer at the heart of everything I dream, create, produce and do for a brand.”

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About choosing her major at AUD, she recalls: “It helped that I had Dr. Lance de Masi, President of AUD, as a teacher. He was an excellent professor who imparted a lot of real advertising agency learning, rather than the “book experience” that some professors teach. He made the world of advertising and marketing interesting, inspiring and creatively challenging, and he was right – it was the career to be in at the time I graduated.”

Next, Leena’s plans involve taking the world of branded content to a strategic level across all television, digital and social platforms. She explains: “For brands, it is not about rattling off features and what the brand can do for consumers; it is about creating a strong emotional message, provoking laughter or tears, fears or courage – ultimately sparking a behavioral change in consumers, whether it motivates them to make decisions or break mind sets.”

Besides having a successful professional career, Kewlani has always

wanted to teach art to young children.

In 2011, she studied to obtain a diploma to teach pre-schoolers and is now a qualified assistant pre-school teacher.

As a self-taught artist, Kewlani also paints to raise money for a charity which provides education to girls in third-world countries: “I teach art to little kids plus I teach meditation techniques during the weekends when I have time to spare. I love reading and am a TV series junkie. I also love traveling and exploring different cultures, cities, art and architecture.”

Advising AUD students, graduates and alumni on kick-starting their careers, Kewlani says: “Focus on getting a job in something that you really like to do, so that when you are working long hours, you still love what you do and your job doesn't become a chore.

Also, never stop learning. The more you learn, the more you will evolve with your consumers, and your strategies will seamlessly evolve too.” n

ART SCENE INSPIRES ADVERTISING ALUMNA EDITOR EYES BOOKS AND TELEVISION AS NEXT STEP IN SUCCESSFUL MEDIA CAREER

M

yrna Ayad graduated from AUD in 2001, obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with an emphasis on Advertising. Like many of her fellow students, it was the expertise of Dr. Lance de Masi, President of AUD, which encouraged her to pursue Advertising as her major.

“After meeting Dr. de Masi, I subsequently took almost all of my advertising and marketing courses with him intentionally. He is a wonderful professor, mentor and inspiration,” she says. “Among the many things I learned and continue to apply in my current profession is the notion of the human condition – this is what is expressed in art and is also what advertising and marketing strategies seek to tackle.”

Myrna explains she has always wanted to pursue a career in art, which is why she has been instrumental in building Canvas, the art and culture magazine for the Middle East and Arab world, of which she is now editor.

“I have always been an art enthusiast and this passion extends to music, literature, theater productions and films,”

she says. “I have always wanted to write, but wasn’t sure which avenue to take. I began my career with Canvas at the magazine’s inception in 2004 and joined on a full-time basis in 2007. I am a very proud Arab and discovering my culture’s art through Canvas is extremely rewarding.”

Myrna is pleased to evolve with the business and now to be involved in documenting the UAE’s art and culture in a forthcoming book.

“Canvas has just published Contemporary Kingdom: The Saudi Art Scene Now, and we are currently working on a version for the UAE that is set for release in November. I am proud to be the editor of both of these seminal books, particularly the UAE version as the country has been my home for 33 years and I feel like I owe it a lot.

“We also publish Canvas Daily newspapers which report on the Art Dubai and Abu Dhabi Art fairs,” she adds. “Other projects in the pipeline include a book commemorating ten years of Canvas this year, as well as a lot of travel.”

The books have sparked her interest in particular, and Myrna is also considering a foray into television, she reveals: “Professionally, I’d like to publish more books and attend as many exhibitions as I can around the globe.

I’ve also recently developed a personal interest in television and would love to conduct interviews on screen.”

Myrna recognizes that she has obtained these skills through her educational foundations.

“I owe a lot to my alma maters, the International School of Choueifat and the American University in Dubai,” she says. The latter taught me strategy and analytical thinking – both of which I continuously try to apply in my dayto-day job. A critical approach allows in-depth questions that make for fantastic interviews.” n

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