Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan First Leader To Join Dwc Campaign To Promote Reading Among Students

Dubai Women’s College (DWC), a Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) flagship institution, announced today the launch of a first of its kind initiative in the region to promote reading among students.

The Poster Campaign “READ” features distinguished leaders and members of the UAE community holding a favorite book. The word ‘Read’ is included in English as well as Arabic to enhance relevancy. The posters are displayed prominently throughout the Library and around DWC campus.

Dr. Howard Reed, Senior Director of the Higher Colleges of Technology and Director of Dubai Women’s College said that DWC is honored to have His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and Chancellor of Higher Colleges of Technology, as one of the first participants in the READ Poster campaign. “Hopefully his poster will encourage many students to read more,” added Dr. Reed.

The project is a local version of the concept created by the American Library Association, which features international celebrities.

Catherine Namour, coordinator of the project, said that the READ Poster campaign is a visually engaging way for DWC to encourage students to read. “We anticipate the program to grow with the gracious participation of locally recognized personalities,” she pointed out.

The campaign is targeting Dubai Women’s College students in the first phase with the goal to promote reading, and to engage students with reading through producing a collection of 10 posters featuring high profile Emirati role models. The second phase which will be launched on a later stage aims to reach educational community at large.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, was selected the no. 1 as role model according to a survey conducted recently by DWC Library to explore who students chose as role models. The online survey, which questioned over 200 students, showed that Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi and UAE singer Hussein Al Jasmi were among the top role models. “We were surprised at the number of responses to the question; many could not give just one name. If the buzz generated around asking the question was so great, just imagine when they see the posters! It is our aim to have Emirati role models spread the reading message by offering to participate in this READ poster campaign,” commented Robin Bishop, DWC Library Supervisor.

Robin added that encouraging students particularly those who have difficulty reading or those who do not like to read is a worldwide challenge.

From her part, Abrar Mikkawi, Media and Marketing Coordinator said that the campaign will also be promoted on DWC social media networks including Twitter and Facebook in order to reach the maximum target audience. “We hope that READ poster campaign will give students who have difficulty reading, or who do not like to read, the opportunity to see posters of elite Emirati role models who send the messages that it’s important to read for fun and for everyday life or I’m a leader and I like to read,” she added.

Dr. Ghassoub Mustafa, English Faculty at Dubai Women’s College believes the READ Poster Campaign is a genuine attempt at reminding students of the importance of reading as a vehicle and an indispensible instrument to perform well in their academic life and in their future career. “It is a constant message to students to convince them that there is no skill more crucial to a successful life than reading. I hope that the READ posters will revive in students’ minds the image of ‘the legendary love for books’ by the Arabs who had lived in Cordoba and Baghdad; the world’s greatest learning centres in the Middle Ages. The well-read and highly cultivated Arabic society of that era presented to the world unrivalled thinkers, philosophers, scholars, doctors, astronomers, and polymaths.”
 

Go-Green.ae Launches Campaign to Promote Earth Hour

Go-Green.ae has launched an online campaign to promote the Earth Hour, from 8.30-9.30pm local time on Saturday, 26th March 2011. As part of the campaign all people across the planet are welcome to join the call for action in support of the climate change initiative.

According to Sharad Agarwal, Founder of Go-Green.ae, "The core message of our campaign is a call to action to every individual, every business and every community throughout the world. It is a call to stand up, to take responsibility, to get involved and lead the way towards a sustainable future. Through our ’Go Green Ambassadors Program’, we are trying to reach out to people across the planet in over 80 countries worldwide."

In March 2010, hundreds of millions of people took part in the third Earth Hour. Over 4000 cities in 8over 100 countries officially switched off to pledge their support for the planet, making Earth Hour 2010 the world’s largest global climate change initiative. With participation levels now exceeding all expectations, and with more cities and towns signing up every day to be a part of this historic event, the success of Earth Hour 2011 is limited only by the will of the global community to want a say in the future of our planet.

Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia when 2.2 million homes and businesses turned their lights off for one hour to make their stand against climate change. By 2008, Earth Hour had become a global sustainability movement with more than 50 million people across 35 countries participating. Global landmarks such as the, Sydney Harbour Bridge, The CN Tower in Toronto, The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Burj Khalifa in Dubai and Rome’s Colosseum, all stood in darkness, as symbols of hope for a cause that grows more urgent by the hour.

’Go Green’ web portal was launched in July 2008 to remind people to be mindful of and sensitive to the natural environment in our daily life The main objective of the site is to increase the awareness of environmental issues that affect the future of the planet.

Go-Green.ae features ’Green Stories’ that demonstrate the steps taken by corporations as part of their commitment to preserve the planet. Global organisations such as Panasonic, Orange, Toshiba, Cisco, Discover, Dell, HSBC, Google, Marriott, Hotels and Resorts Intercontinental Hotels, Hyatt, Zipcar, Nissan and Mazda share their ’Green Innovations’ online.

The ’Green Heroes Program’ gives credit and encouragement to individuals who have contributed in the fields of renewable energy, energy efficiency and sustainability.

Go-Green.ae is updated 24/7 with information relating to news, events, technologies, videos, web resources and success stories in the field of energy conservation, sustainability and environmental protection.

Go-Green.ae, an Ekotribe initiative won the Alternate Energy Award at ADIPEC, in recognition of its contribution to promoting environmental awareness.

 

For more information:

Website: http://www.go-green.ae

Field Visits To Dubai Schools To Promote Awareness On Health, Safety And Environment Issues

A group of experts specialized in key issues concerning health, safety and environment (HSE) began a series of visits to different schools in Dubai, encouraging students to participate in programs supporting the UAE environment and urging them to heighten their interest in HSE issues. The activity provides an opportunity to conduct discussions on various issues that are highly relevant to the society, including climate change, road safety, obesity and smoking among others.

The site visits were organized by Shell in coordination with the Knowledge & Human Development Authority (KHDA) in Dubai to assess the progress of the different projects that are entered in "Shell Better Environment Award 2011" (BEA). Award supervisors expressed their commitment to help raise the awareness level in schools about the importance of achieving positive results in terms of environment protection and discovering new ways to face future challenges in the area of sustainable development. The visits also provided an opportunity to offer students an overview of what judges will be expecting from their projects and presentations.

"We are delighted to see such great progress of the Shell Better Environment Award. We are confident that these projects and the innovative ideas from the students will ultimately contribute in various ways to protect the environment and to enhance the health and safety standards of our society. Moreover, it is very important that we continue to generate greater awareness about these important issues and Shell believes that cultivating the proactive support of different schools will deliver great dividends in terms of discovering more innovative ways to address key challenges in the areas of environment, health and safety," said Omar Al Qurashi, Director of Communications, Shell in Dubai.

The Shell Better Environment Awards 2011 was launched in November 2010 in cooperation with the Knowledge & Human Development Authority with the aim of raising awareness and inspiring the younger generation to contribute in addressing key challenges concerning the environment, health and safety.
 

Du Seeks To Promote Better Living With Health Text Service Beginning With Quitsmoke

Addressing some of the most common but chronic health issues prevalent in the UAE, du today announced the launch of Health Text service, a bouquet of SMS text based service that will provide tips, suggestions, factoids and advice for leading a better and healthy lifestyle. The very first initiative is QuitSmoke – for customers to get text messages and tips that motivate and prompt them to perform day to day actions that will help them quit smoking. This service is being provided in association with PurpleTeal, Inc., a US based health services provider.

The service is available in both English and Arabic language. du mobile customers can subscribe to QuitSmoke service by simply texting “QS” (“QSA” for Arabic) to 5544, once subscribed customers start receiving three QuiteSmoke tips per day. For a small fraction of the cost of a pack of cigarettes, ( only AED1 per day), subscribers can get assistance to help them stop smoking and develop long term smoking avoidance habits. QuitSmoke is eight week programme and can be renewed in additional eight-week periods.

“People in general are becoming increasingly conscious of health and wellness, and as a telecom service provider we can leverage our network – the fastest network in the region, and our growing customer base of over 4 million, to act as an interface between those who have health-related needs and health care providers – in order to promote healthy living. We have plans to further enlarge the scope of such health initiatives, which we will announce in due course,”said Farid Faraidooni, Chief Commercial Officer, du.

This service and its contents are approved by the Ministry of Health, UAE and they are happy with the scientific content of these messages and believe that it will help people to live a healthier life.

 “PurpleTeal is delighted to go live with this groundbreaking service for du customers.” added Narayanan Ram, CEO of PurpleTeal. “du has taken the lead in bringing this novel service to its customers. We look forward to helping their customers quit smoking.”

du is working on introducing a set of healthy living service offerings under Health Text to the market that will be using the latest technology and ensure its alignment with critical national health priorities and emerging customer needs. du is working closely with the Ministry of Health and other health departments and will continue to provide services and solutions that help in the overall improvement of health and wellness in the UAE.

The unique QuitSmoke service embeds the principles of awareness, preparation, action and repetition in order to delink smoking from triggering events. The service sends daily SMS messages with hints, tips, information and alerts to help smokers stay focused on quitting, and on dealing with cravings, urges and withdrawal symptoms, as well as tips and hints to avoid triggers and remain smoke-free.
 

Dubai Culture Announces Sikka Art Fair At Al Bastakiya To Promote Emirati And Local Artists

In a first of its kind initiative aimed at promoting Emirati and local artists, the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) is hosting the Sikka Art Fair from March 12 to 21, 2011, at Al Bastakiya, one of the vibrant centres of Dubai’s cultural activities and artistic heritage.

The Sikka Art Fair will feature artworks by upcoming Emirati and UAE-based artists, galleries, and institutions, and is open for the public.

Dr Salah Al Qassim, Advisor to Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, said: “Over the years, Emirati and local artists have created a rich artistic heritage in Dubai. With the Sikka Art Fair, the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority is creating a robust new platform that showcases their creativity, thus opening doors for them to a wider audience.”

He added: “The choice of Al Bastakiya, the cornerstone of the city’s cultural and artistic fabric, as the venue for the event further underscores our commitment to highlight the rich artistic heritage of Dubai. The Sikka Art Fair will not only inspire our young artistic community but also set a new benchmark for Emirati artists. It will play a significant role in further driving the rich artistic infrastructure of Dubai by providing important community spaces that offer opportunities for Emirati and local artists.”

The Fair is aimed at fostering and promoting Emirati artistic content creation, and establishing a platform for these artists to present their works to a wider audience.

The Sikka Art Fair is being held in what is undisputedly the highest point in the art calendar of Dubai, as the city hosts initiatives like Art Dubai, where the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority presents the Global Art Forum_5, which brings together artists from around the world for active dialogue and interaction with the local community.
 

DTCM Extends Support To Emirates Challenge Cup In Line With Strategy To Promote Sports Tourism In Dubai

The Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) recently extended its support to the Emirates Challenge Cup exhibition match played between Al Ahli and AC Milan in Dubai. More than 7,800 football fans attended the closely contested match which was eventually won by AC Milan, and ended their week-long winter training camp in Dubai.

Part of DTCM’s long-term growth strategy is to promote sports tourism within the Emirate, and attracting sport-related events, congresses, tournaments and exhibitions is key to this sport tourism strategy. Dubai has historically focused on sports as an integral part of a global marketing strategy, which has recently been expanded at DTCM to further support the tourism sector.

Hamad M. Bin Mejren, DTCM’s Executive Director of Business Tourism, who leads the sports tourism strategy committee within the DTCM, said, “Sporting events of all types have a direct impact on our economy during the event and also contribute to promoting Dubai in key source markets globally. The coverage of the just-concluded Emirates Challenge Cup on TV Italia is a prime example of this source market promotion.”

British Council Launches Competition To Promote Inter-Cultural Dialogue Between The UK And UAE

British Council, global leader in cultural relations with more than four decades presence in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has launched a poetry competition to celebrate bilateral friendship and partnership.

The competition, which coincides with the historic State visit of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh to the UAE, is targeted to English and Arabic aspiring poets to commemorate the historical ties and ongoing relations between the United Kingdom (UK) and the UAE.

“Poetry has a long artistic tradition in both the UK and UAE and offers the perfect vehicle to bridge cultural differences, to exchange ideas and to deepen understanding,” said Richard Cotton, UAE Country Director for British Council.

British Council anticipates that the winners of both English and Arabic competitions will have the honour of reciting their poem in front of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, His Highness the Duke of Edinburgh and an invited audience of Emirati and British guests on Thursday 25 November 2010.

Entrants should be between 12 – 16 years old and entries will be judged on literary merit and the extent to which they successfully embody the concept of partnership and friendship between the UK and the UAE. Entries for the Arabic poem are particularly encouraged in the Nabati tradition of poetry. The poems should be of suitable length for recitation within 2 minutes at normal register, or not in excess of 200 words.

“Through the competition and recital we want to bring the richness of the Arabic Language and its use in poetry to a wider audience and through the theme of partnership to give students an opportunity to learn more about the history of friendship between the UK and UAE,” continued Cotton.

British Council is proud to be partnering with the Emirates Writers Union for the Arabic award entries and selection of winners.
 

DIFF And Spains San Sebastian International Film Festival Join Hands To Promote Arab Talent In Europe

The Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) has joined hands with Spain’s San Sebastian International Film Festival to promote Arab filmmakers in Europe by supporting post-production and creating networking opportunities with global film professionals.

Dubai Film Connection, the co-production market of DIFF, has partnered with Cinema in Motion, its counterpart in the San Sebastian festival. The Spanish festival, currently in its sixth edition, ends on September 25, 2010.

Cinema in Motion supports feature films in the last leg of filming or in the post-production stage, submitted by filmmakers from the Maghreb, Portuguese-speaking African countries and developing Arab countries including Angola, Algeria, Cape Verde, Egypt, Guinea, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Mozambique, Palestine, Santo Tomé y Príncipe, Syria, and Tunisia.

DIFF will help San Sebastian reach out to Arab filmmakers and recommend film projects for consideration in Cinema in Motion. The Festival will also select a film from the Spanish showcase to receive €5,000 towards post-production and an invitation to the Dubai Film Connection for additional networking with the international film community.

The San Sebastian Festival, in turn, will promote the Dubai Film Connection to the Spanish and European film industry, particularly companies interested in Arab films and filmmakers. DIFF will also lend its expertise to the selection process for Cinema In Motion.

Shivani Pandya, Managing Director of the Dubai International Film Festival, said: “DIFF is committed to expand the reach of Arab films and filmmakers globally, and our collaboration with the San Sebastian International Film Festival will further establish our imprint in Europe and enable us to promote Arab talent to a wider audience. The reciprocal relationship is also an indicator of growing global Arab interest in Arab cinema.”

Mikel Olaciregui, Director of the San Sebastian International Film Festival, said: “The Arab world has immense cinematic talent, and our Cinema in Motion initiative aims to celebrate the excellence and creativity found in the region. It is an honour to partner with a platform as prestigious as DIFF that is committed to promoting Arab films and filmmakers.”

Cinema in Motion has selected four films from Iraq, Jordan and Morocco to screen this year, including one co-directed by Mohamed Al-Daradji, whose widely acclaimed film ‘Son of Babylon’ was a DFC project.

In addition to the DIFF financial support, projects at Cinema in Motion can win €15,000 in sound mixing services from Mac’Tari Mixing Studio, €10,000 towards the cost of post-production in France from Centre National du Cinema et de l’image Animee (CNC), €2,500 towards subtitling and other prizes.

This year, the DIFF award and other Cinema In Motion prizes went to On the Plank by Leila Kilani of Morocco. Mohamed and Atia Al-Daradji’s House For Sale also won sound-mixing services, subtitling and a 35mm print.

The seventh edition of Dubai International Film Festival 2010 will be held from December 12 to 19. DIFF 2010 is held in association with Dubai Studio City and supported by the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority. Dubai Duty Free, Dubai Pearl, Emirates Airline and Madinat Jumeirah are the principal sponsors of DIFF.
 

UOWD Launches PhD Program To Promote A Culture Of Research Innovation

The University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD) will offer a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program from Autumn 2010, following approval by the Commission for Academic Accreditation, UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.

Along with the recent accreditation of the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), this positions UOWD as a leading research and teaching University in the UAE. It also makes UOWD the first nationally accredited private university in the UAE to offer PhD and DBA programs.

"The UOWD is proud of reaching this important milestone in our development," said Professor Rob Whelan, President of UOWD. "This outcome is an acknowledgement of the quality of our academic staff, whose qualifications, skills and research output were critical to the success of the PhD proposal. It also reflects very well on our administrative staff and processes."

The goal of the PhD is to provide a combination of research skills training, exposure to the latest business research and conducting an original research project, which will contribute to the development of theory in the field. This program will see students grow as ‘professional researchers’, leading to careers in research organisations and Universities.

In contrast, the Doctor of Business Administration degree focuses on research which will lead to improved business practice, and is aimed at professionals who are already working in business – helping them to become ‘researching professionals’.

"Both private and public sector organisations in the UAE are increasingly seeking professionals differentiated by their capacity to undertake original, theoretical research to deal with organisational challenges. The UAE’s rapidly expanding higher education sector is also creating demand for research-active academics with doctoral qualifications for teaching in advanced subjects and to conduct research," said Prof. Whelan. "UOWD aims to cater to this important need for research degrees by offering the PhD."

Candidates wishing to undertake the UOWD PhD should hold a Masters degree in a business related discipline. Applicants must have completed their studies from a recognised tertiary institution and achieved a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a scale of 4.0 (or equivalent). A candidate requires an (Academic) IELTS (or equivalent) with an overall score of at least 6.0. Their English language skills will then be assessed based on a number of additional criteria, including writing skills as demonstrated in a written research proposal and the results of a ‘WritePlacer’ test and language skills as demonstrated at an interview.

Relevant industry-related experience will be taken into consideration when assessing applications. However; candidates without work experience may be considered based on previous strong academic performance in a relevant business discipline and demonstrated ability to complete a research degree.

The first part of the PhD program comprises coursework focussed on the acquisition of research skills. Progression from this coursework to the research component of the program will require passing both the written and oral components of a comprehensive exam.
 

Dubai And Cairo International Film Festivals Join Hands To Promote Arab Film Production

In a significant regional first, the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) has joined hands with Cairo International Film Festival to further strengthen the Arab film industry. Aimed at lending momentum to regional film production, DIFF is partnering with Cairo Film Festival through a collaboration of the co-production markets of the two festivals.

DIFF’s successful co-production market, Dubai Film Connection (DFC) – established in 2007 – will partner with the newly formed Cairo Film Connection to provide Arab filmmakers access to potential financial and infrastructure support as well as valuable industry connections.

With the new partnership, filmmakers can apply to both DFC and Cairo Film Connection for support in realising their film projects. DIFF will award a selected project from Cairo Film Connection and invite the selected filmmaker to attend DIFF to explore further funding opportunities at DIFF through meetings with established industry players who attend the festival.

Abdulhamid Juma, Chairman of Dubai International Film Festival said: “DIFF pioneered the concept of the co-production market in the Arab world with Dubai Film Connection, which has showcased 46 projects in the past three years 10 of which have been completed with a further 9 in production. We believe that to promote a regional film industry it is extremely important to bring Arab filmmakers into direct contact with the international and regional film industries, which is facilitated by DFC. The partnership with Cairo Film Connection will further expand our reach across the Arab world, giving more opportunities for filmmakers to accomplish their projects.”

The Dubai Film Connection offers directors of Arab origin more than US$120,000 in prize money and invaluable industry connections. The co-production market also matches the short-listed director/producer teams with specialists in film production, sales, distribution and funding to further their projects.

Winners at DFC receive three DIFF Awards each offering US$25,000 and the US$25,000 Desert Door DIFF Work in Progress Award. This year, Film Clinic Egypt extends support to DFC projects with an award of US$10,000 for a first-time feature filmmaker.

The seventh edition of Dubai International Film Festival 2010 will be held from December 12 to 19. DIFF 2010 is held in association with Dubai Studio City and supported by the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority. Dubai Duty Free, Dubai Pearl, Emirates Airline and Madinat Jumeirah are the principal sponsors of DIFF.