The Canadian University Of Dubai Becomes The First Foreign University In The UAE To Offer A Bachelor Of Science Program In English And Arabic

Canadian University of Dubai (CUD), recently announced that it’s planning to launch a four-year program in communications leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science in Communications for students who want to specialise in either journalism (print and electronic), advertising or public relations. The new program stands out as students have the option to choose either English or Arabic as the medium of instruction, making Canadian University of Dubai the UAE’s first foreign university to offer this program in both languages. This complements the university’s goal of offering courses that are responsive to the needs and requirements of potential students.

CUD has designed the new course to serve as a springboard into a wide variety of public relations, journalism and multimedia careers, while preparing students to work on all media platforms and familiarising them with the latest IT and multimedia tools. Students will be offered core courses and electives, including: Principles of Writing for the Media, Communication Theories, News Reporting, Designing Media Messages, Public Opinion, and so on. Students will also be given a chance to do a practicum.

"The introduction of advanced communication technologies has significantly changed the way people communicate with each other. This in turn has altered the interrelations of societies in the social, cultural, economic and educational spheres. In light of these changes, Canadian University of Dubai wishes to introduce the new undergraduate program in Communication, which will serve as a tool in developing a new generation of well-qualified communicators who are capable of understanding and customising the ideas and tools of the information age to serve the interests of the community," said Dr. Muhammed Kabir, Vice President of Academic Affairs for the Canadian University of Dubai.

“By offering the course in Arabic and English we are reaching out to a wider student community and giving them an opportunity to become experts in the communications domain,” he added.

Upon completion of all degree requirements, students receive a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication. Graduates will be equipped with skills and knowledge to enter professional fields such as publishing, editing, production, planning and research, while they may also find jobs in any communication capacity in areas as varied as diplomacy, business, government, non-profit agencies, professional associations, healthcare companies and international organisations.

The Canadian University of Dubai is also planning to launch a four-year Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Translation degree program. This course is designed to equip individuals who are interested in pursuing a career in translation and interpreting in such environments such as television and radio, government offices, foreign embassies, courts, colleges, universities and other organisations that demand translation skills and services.

Established in 2006, the Canadian University of Dubai consists of the School of Business Administration, School of Architecture and Interior Design, School of Engineering, Applied Science and Technology, and School of Environment and Health, and School of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The university currently offers 17 programs accredited by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research with six more programs currently under development. At present, CUD serves more than 1,755 students from more than 86 nationalities. CUD is strategically located in the heart of Dubai’s financial, business and tourist district, behind the Shangri-La Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Road.
 

Community Development Authority Concludes English Training Course For People With Disabilities

The Community Development Authority in Dubai (CDA) concluded a 6-week English training course for people with disabilities willing to join the workplace. This initiative, which is organised by the CDA’s Social Care Sector in co-operation with Dubai Club for Special Sports, is part of its “Elkayt” programme to empower people with disabilities and develop the quality of community services.

Specialised lecturers led the training course with 10 participants from the beginner and intermediate levels. Each level had two sessions on a weekly basis.

“CDA works with government and private institutions to unify efforts and launch initiatives that aim at empowering people with disabilities. The training course was met with great success as the ‘Elkayt’ programme team designed it according to the requirements of the participants, and evaluated their levels of language prior to attending the course,” said Sheikh Maktoum Bin Butti Al Maktoum, CEO – Social Care, CDA.

“Despite the considerable efforts and the many initiatives in the area of integrating people with disabilities in the community, there are still a limited number of available jobs in the labor market to this group. We encourage governmental and private institutions to co-operate with CDA to empower people with disabilities by creating opportunities for them to join the workforce and by providing appropriate training in order for them to strengthen their skills,” added Sheikh Maktoum.

Participants in the course expressed their joy for taking part in the educational and interactive sessions that provided them with summer training job opportunities. The Social Care Sector in CDA intends to organize more training courses in the near future that will focus on computers and the development of skills required for entering the labor market.

Not only does the "Elkayt" programme provide job opportunities for people with disabilities over the age of 18 but it extends to rehabilitation and training and mentoring and developing the skills that contribute to personal and professional development.

The Elkayt programme complements CDA’s efforts to making a difference to the lives of people with disabilities and providing them with a strong platform to highlight their talent and skills.
 

University Admission Seekers Urged To Prepare For English Language Proficiency Tests Well In Advance

 Students seeking admission to universities accredited by the UAE Ministry of Education and Scientific Research should start preparing for the English proficiency tests months before applying for admission, as lack of preparation results in applicants not achieving the required score in IELTS (International English Language Testing System) or TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) tests to commence studies.

Passing either IELTS or TOEFL tests is one of the admission eligibility criteria laid down by the Ministry of Education and Scientific Research for all accredited universities in the UAE.

The University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD), one of three authorized IELTS centers in the UAE, saw a 46 per cent increase in students applying for IELTS tests in 2008. On an average, some 5,000 students appear for the IELTS tests and another 1,500 do the TOEFL tests annually at UOWD alone, according to Sandra Lee, Registrar and Manager Admissions, UOWD.

“It is common to see a sizable number of applicants to our undergraduate and postgraduate programs failing the IELTS or TOEFL tests,” says Lee. “We advise prospective students to apply for preparatory IELTS classes well before submitting the admission applications. These tests have a validity of two years, so the sooner students clear them, the better it is for them, because they can then concentrate on their studies immediately on admission.”

UOWD offers various levels of IELTS for students, depending on their level of English language proficiency. Each course lasts for six weeks, and can be taken on a part-time or full-time basis with students attending class for 9 or 20 hours per week. An IELTS overall score of 5.5 is required for undergraduate programs and 6.0 – 6.5 for PG programs. Students are also required to meet the individual band scores in the IELTS exam for the program they have applied for.

“At UOWD, we have received a record number of applications for the autumn intake, but shockingly several of them are facing rejection because they do not meet the IELTS or TOEFL criteria. A little planning on the part of students could have helped them in getting admission to the University of their choice. IELTS exams at UOWD are usually booked out up to two months in advance,” said Lee.

Students denied admission for failing to demonstrate their English language proficiency may re-appear for IELTS or TOEFL exams, time permitting. They also have the option of joining the Spring intake after clearing the IELTS or TOEFL exams.

“The message is clear: students should not take the tests lightly as they are running the risk of being denied admission to a university of their choice,” said Lee.

The Emirates Falconers’ Club to take “Abu Dhabi Village” to English Countryside for the Second International Festival of Falconry

The Emirates Falconers’ Club is to present the UAE’s heritage, culture and love of falconry through an “Abu Dhabi Village” at the 2nd International Festival of Falconry. Sponsored by the Emirates Falconers’ Club, the festival will be held this summer, in the United Kingdom, from the 10-12 July.
The village will showcase the tradition of Falconry to over 10,000 expected visitors and participants from 50 countries providing an ideal platform for cultural exchange. As part of the Emirates Falconers’ Club’s education outreach, the village will also feature a Young Falconers’ Corner, where children can learn about centuries-old Bedouin traditions, hear falcon tales around a campfire, track hidden falcons via radio and walk away with a “Young Falconers Pack” filled with fun activities and information about falconry and conservation.
H.E Majid Al Mansouri, Executive Director, Emirates Falconers’ Club said: “the Emirates Falconers’ Club aims to share our heritage and culture with others and so we look forward to bringing the desert to life and taking a little piece of Abu Dhabi to England for all to enjoy.”
The 5,000 sq. meter village will house the Emirates Falconers’ Club, the Sheikh Zayed Falcon Release Programme, the International Fund for Houbara Conservation, Arabian Saluki Centre, the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital, the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage and the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority. These organisations form vital components of the “story” of falconry and illustrate its many facets and importance to the UAE.
For more information about the International Festival of Falconry, visit http://www.falconryfestival.com/
 

English Band Keane Set To Perform To Sell-Out Crowds

English piano rock band Keane are all set to wow crowds at the Madinat Arena on July 8, 2009, in their first ever concert in the Middle East. The show is part of Dubai Summer Surprises events for this year. The overwhelming popularity of the band is evident from the fact that all tickets for the show have been sold out. The concert begins at 9pm.Known for using the piano as their lead instrument instead of guitars, Keane has stood out from most conventional rock bands and have seen a string of successes since they first started out as the Lotus Eaters in 1995. Their latest album Perfect Symmetry has been a hit with fans all over the world reaching number one on the UK Albums Chart and number 7 on the US Billboard 200. Fans can catch band members Tim Rice-Oxley, Tom Chaplin, and Richard Hughes perform some of their well-known hits including the award-winning song from the self-titled album Perfect Symmetry.