July 25, 2010

Dr. Jamal Hussein Alsumaiti

Dubai Judicial Institute (DJI), a leading centre of law studies and judicial training in Dubai, has recently announced the launch of a new program targeting Judicial Police. The program aims to habilitate and qualify judicial police officers working at all federal and local government departments. The move is in line with DJI’s mission to maintain its leading role in promoting legal awareness in society, while reinforcing communication lines with legal and judicial experts and professionals from different sectors of the society to share information, trends and best practices in the legal and judicial systems. These efforts are ultimately geared to help realise the Dubai Strategic Plan 2015 and its main objectives in terms of security, justice and safety.

The Judicial Officers Program targets male and female officers who handle cases of infractions committed by individuals or institutions according to control standards based on specific scientific grounds. In addition, the program will help judicial officers obtain skills and abilities required to keep up with local, regional and international challenges. The program also helps the Department of Health, Customs, Roads and Transport Authority, Aviation departments, and the Department of Tourism in establishing deeply rooted standards of the behavioural tendencies that the judicial officers should acquire, which will ensure a consistently high-level of service, promote security and justice, and reinforce the society’s laws.

Commenting on the program, Dr. Judge Jamal Alsumaiti, Director General of DJI, said, “Targeting the judicial police, this new program is another milestone in the continuing success achieved by DJI in adopting professional programs for Dubai Courts, the Ministry of Labour and other leading government bodies. We are pleased with this new level of cooperation as it educates judicial police officers with best practices, legal concepts, and important tools required to develop reasoning, analysis, challenge management and decision-making mechanisms and strategies. Through this initiative, we aim to develop a comprehensive program that will be implemented in Dubai and across the UAE, making the Institute the main reference for such implementations at all local and Federal Government institutions and departments. The Judicial Officers Program will be implemented as a three-part program held three times annually at the institute or hosted by the targeted institution. Under this program, we confirm that we are fully pr
epared to tailor and implement specific programs as requested by any government institution and according to its needs and special requirements.”

Alsumaiti added, “We are looking forward to launch new high-level training initiatives in the near future according to our strategic plan, which is supported by a comprehensive scheme to develop continuous vocational habilitation and training programs that comply with the highest standards. This will enable us to actively contribute in ongoing efforts to enhance the human capital and promote the role of the judicature in achieving comprehensive growth, and substantiating the principles of justice, equity and transparency in the UAE.”

The Dubai Judicial Institute was established in 1996 to help educate and train aspiring judges, prosecutors and their assistants, legal experts and lawyers. DJI also offers habilitation programs for public prosecutors to enhance their efficiency. The Institute provides training and consultancy services to various public and private sector agencies and institutions and conducts local, regional and global research and studies on all areas of law and jurisdiction.

July 25, 2010

Workshop

Thousands of students from across the UAE are currently participating in summer activities that are specifically designed to enhance the digital skills of participants. The computer literacy summer camps being held by the ICDL GCC Foundation alone are currently engaging 2,400 students from various schools and universities in the UAE. Complementing this, Canon Middle East recently concluded a series of special photography skills development training sessions in five UAE universities/colleges where the ICDL summer camps were held – including Abu Dhabi Men’s College, Abu Dhabi Women’s College and Madinat Zayed Colleges which come under Higher Colleges of Technology; Al Ain female campus and Al Ain male campus in UAE University; and Sharjah University.

Canon’s training sessions covered basics of photography, including composition, capture and printing. The sessions also covered tips to ensure better photographs.    
 
Students participating in the ICDL computer camps this summer will undergo extensive computer training in accordance with the globally recognised ICDL standard. By the end of this summer, thousands of students are expected to attain the ICDL certification after passing the official tests that not only affirm their competence in using computers and the Internet but also showcase their resourcefulness, self confidence and responsibility as well.
 
The GCC-wide computer summer camps are being organized by educational authorities and universities throughout the region and overseen by ICDL GCC Foundation. The training camps run from June 1 to September 31, 2010.

“The youth are the pillars of the nation and efforts to equip them with necessary digital skills will have a significant impact on the country’s progress and its goal of building a knowledge-based digital society. In ICDL GCC Foundation we found the ideal ally to execute part of our corporate social responsibility plans,” said Anurag Agrawal, Managing Director, Canon Middle East.

Canon Middle East is a world-leading innovator and provider of imaging solutions for businesses and consumers. Canon’s belief in helping build a better world for future generations is part of the company’s commitment to the world community. The summer camps complement Canon’s corporate philosophy of ‘kyosei,’ which envisions all people, regardless of race, religion or culture, harmoniously living and working together into the future. 

Dubai, July 17, 2010:  Charu Jangid, a Grade 12 student at The Millennium School (TMS), a GEMS Education school, has topped the UAE school science charts. With a Chemistry exam score of 96.6 per cent, Charu claimed the Number 1 spot among 3,573 UAE Grade 12 students in the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) scientific exams, following a reappraisal of her exam paper.

On receiving her initial grades in May, Charu had applied for a re-evaluation.  “I was confident that my Chemistry paper had gone really well as I had discussed it with my teacher, so when I saw my grade, I felt that I need to have it re-evaluated,” says Charu.  “Apparently there was a mistake with the totaling of my marks which was then corrected.” The TMS student was awarded six additional marks by the CBSE board – with those extra points taking her past the previous victor and making Charu the new UAE science stream topper.

Michael Guzder, The Millennium School Principal, said “This is an extremely proud moment for all of us at TMS. Charu is an exceptional student with a bright future ahead of her. Becoming the UAE science topper is a phenomenal achievement, and we are delighted for her and her family.”

Charu will begin her studies in Applied Sciences and Engineering with an emphasis on computer science at the University of Pennsylvania, an ivy-league school in the United States, this October. 

June 22, 2010

Dubai Judicial Institute (DJI), a leading centre of law studies and judicial training in Dubai, has recently concluded a legal research program it conducted for the UAE Ministry of Labor. The closing ceremony was attended by Dr. Ahmed Saeed Bin Hazim, General Manager, Dubai Courts, Humaid Rashid bin Deemas Al Suwaidi, Acting Director-General of the Ministry of Labour and Judge Dr. Jamal Hussein Alsumaiti, DJI Director General. 

The diploma program ran for two weeks, as a DJI initiative for promoting broader investments in human and intellectual capital as well as enhanced creativity and innovation. It provided participants working in the legal and judicial systems with new legal knowledge and the latest updates as well as best international practices. It also developed their abilities to complement the goals outlined by Dubai Strategic Plan 2015.

The concluding ceremony, which witnessed the graduation of 15 legal researchers for the Ministry of Labor, honored the lecturers and ministry employees who took part in the program. The program designers and coordinators were recognized as well.

Commenting on the program, Dr. Alsumaiti said: “The legal research diploma program complements the Institute’s training plan for 2010 which focuses on organizing a series of specialized training courses, workshops, administrative programs, forums, and social awareness initiatives, among others. This program follows the success of training initiatives specially designed for Dubai Courts aimed at providing the judicial authority with qualified personnel whose skills meet the highest international standards.”

“We are pleased to cooperate with the Ministry of Labor in implementing this initiative, which resulted in the graduation of 15 legal researchers who will definitely have a positive impact in enhancing the judicial process in Dubai and the UAE in general. We reaffirm our commitment to sustaining our cooperation with all concerned bodies and authorities in the country in terms of providing local youths with the best vocational training courses and development programs so that the judicial system reaches new heights,” he added.

For his part, Humaid Rashid bin Deemas Al Suwaidi: “This program is in line with the Ministry’s strategic plan of enhancing and qualifying human resources through partnerships with specialised training institutions such as the Dubai Judicial Institute. We in the Ministry are proud of our collaboration with the Institute, particularly with its program trainers who are a select group of judiciary professionals, interpreters of the Labour Law and issuers of judicial decisions covering labour cases that are referred by our agency. This program on Shariah and judicial interpretations is a valuable training tool that makes real and practical cases more understandable for legal researchers working for the Ministry of Labour.”

“We are honoured to witness the graduation of this batch of qualified legal researchers who have been trained based on the highest international standards. Their level of expertise will help the Ministry better develop its work and legal mechanisms and upgrade its service levels, which in turn will positively reflect on the overall development process of Dubai and the entire UAE. The implementation of this program specifically designed for our legal staff emphasises our confidence in the leading role of the Institute in supporting investments in human capital, promoting legal knowledge, and consolidating the principles of justice, security and safety within the various segments of society,” added Al Suwaidi.

The Dubai Judicial Institute was established in 1996 to help educate and train aspiring judges, prosecutors and their assistants, legal experts and lawyers. DJI also offers habilitation programs for public prosecutors to enhance their efficiency. The Institute provides training and consultancy services to various public and private sector agencies and institutions and conducts local, regional and global research and studies on all areas of law and jurisdiction.

Chancellor Dr. Mohammed Mahmoud Al Kamali, Director-General of the Institute, said that the board of directors has approved the partnership with Microsoft Gulf during its latest meeting. He explained that the move will encourage in-depth scientific research in the IPR field and complements the Institute’s goal of developing the knowledge and capabilities of its trainees.

Jawad Al Redha, IPR Manager, Microsoft Gulf, said: “This initiative comes in line with our efforts to protect creative work and further develop intellectual, scientific and technological production, which is the basis for achieving overall national development. We are pleased to cooperate with the Institute of Judicial Training and Studies, which we consider a key supporter of our awareness and educational campaigns. Together we hope to spread more awareness on intellectual property protection and the prevention of cyber crimes as we pursue the establishment of an integrated knowledge-based digital society.”

“Furthermore, I would like to reaffirm our full commitment to collaborate with the Institute on major initiatives to promote a legal culture and combat software piracy and intellectual property rights violations. Copyright offenses hinder the development of research, innovation and scientific achievements in the Arab world and must thus be properly addressed,” he concluded.

The MARC team examined 276 major deals performed by CEOs during their first year in office between 1997 and 2009, across 12 industries including Financials, Energy & Power, Industrials, Materials, Retail, Healthcare, Telecommunications, Consumer Staples, Media and Entertainment, Consumer Products and Services, High Tech and Real Estate.

The study looked at the effect a new CEO has on an organisation, how newly-appointed CEOs use M&A deals to change the strategic direction of a firm, and how successful this approach is.

According to Professor Scott Moeller, Director of the Mergers and Acquisitions Research Centre at Cass Business School, “A merger, acquisition or major divestiture transforms an organisation. Likewise, a change in CEO can also transform the direction of a company. As a result these two events are often linked, and this report shows the impact when they are combined.”

From their sample, the study revealed that the median term for a CEO is just 4.4 years allowing a relatively small window for ‘game-changing’ action. Therefore brokering a deal offers CEOs an opportunity to quickly reshape their companies and leave an imprint.

The research found that in many cases a major strategic change by the CEO in their first year was beneficial – improving share performance, however, conducting more than one deal often led to poorer performance, as making too many deals too quickly hindered the development of the previous deal.

“A new CEO knows that they are not going to be around forever. They have a limited amount of time to make an impact. This is why CEOs may feel pressure to do a deal in their first year in office.  Our study provides support for these CEOs, as we found that the firms of these first-year dealmakers did outperform those who did not do a deal in their first year in office’, added Moeller.

The report highlights four conditions that are likely to provide the appropriate environment for a new CEO to make a major deal:

• Type of succession: if the CEO is appointed as the replacement for a predecessor who was ‘forced out’.
• Type of recruitment: if the CEO is appointed externally.
• Firm Performance: if the share performance has fallen below the expected level, prior to the CEO appointment.
• Corporate governance: if the company has a high percentage of institutional share holders.

A recent example that supports the MARC research can be found in British supermarket chain Asda, where CEO, Andy Clarke, who has only been in office for a month, has moved quickly by launching a £778 million bid for Danish-owned supermarket chain, Netto.
 
“Asda’s bid for Netto marks yet another major deal announced by a newly appointed CEO. New CEOs don’t have long to make an impact and they are eager to leave their mark and flex their muscles. Our study shows that bold CEOs who perform a deal during their first year in office will outperform their more passive peers in the longer term, so this does indicate possible success for Andy Clarke, who took over less than a month ago!” added Moeller.

The MARC report focuses on four major European countries - France, Germany, Spain and the UK - and includes CEO changes of companies listed on the CAC, DAX, IBEX and the FTSE 100.

“Although the focus of the study was European, the factors driving the decision-making process at the board and CEO level would be expected to be the same in the Middle Eastern market,” Moeller continued.

Tom Hodgson, Director, Middle East Corporate Finance at a leading accountancy firm and Cass Business School EMBA student, also commented on the findings of the MARC research:  “I certainly agree that if a CEO makes a successful M&A deal in their first year, especially if it is transformational, then they are more likely to survive the test of time.  I believe this would stand true in all markets.

“A merger, in its purest form, will often create in essence a new organization, with a new structure, shareholder base, culture, etc, and the CEO behind the merger will be seen as the architect behind this “new” organization.  This is similar to the entrepreneur behind an owner managed business, who often achieves an iconic status within the business and is incredibly difficult to replace.  The CEO behind a successful merger will often be seen in a similar light.  Of course this works both ways and the CEO behind an unsuccessful merger will typically have a limited shelf-life,” Hodgson added.

Dubai, UAE, June 16, 2010: Edexcel, the UK’s largest academic and vocational qualifications awarding body and part of Pearson, the world’s leading education services provider, has urged UAE universities to transfer credits of vocational training programs to allow working people to pursue lifelong learning.

Mark Andrews, MENA Regional Director, Edexcel said: “We urge universities in the UAE to allow candidates who have completed BTEC National Diploma or Higher National Diploma qualifications to transfer their credits to bachelors or masters degrees. This will go a long way in permitting people to continue their education without compromising their careers.”

Currently, only three UAE universities – Middlesex, Heriot-Watt and American University in Emirates – compared to 48 in the UK allow holders of Edexcel BTEC HNDs to transfer credits to the relevant Associate or Bachelors programmes.

Edexcel’s exclusive BTEC qualifications provide a practical, real-world approach to learning alongside a theoretical background. They are designed both to replicate the professional working environment and provide learners with the skills, knowledge and behaviours they need to succeed in the current job market. Various opportunities for higher education are available for BTEC HND holders in North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Australasia.

Andrews added: “A large portion of the population in the Gulf is below 22 years of age. These people will enter the job market soon and it is imperative to arm them with the right professional tools, besides the theoretical knowledge. The region’s education system is working to support the rising demand for skill sets and this is one of the most effective ways of doing so. Moreover, employability of students is a big challenge if not accompanied with practical skills and knowledge”.

Edexcel is the UK’s largest awarding body offering academic and vocational qualifications and testing to schools, colleges, employers and other places of learning in the UK and internationally.
 
Edexcel’s general qualifications offered worldwide include GCSEs, IGCSEs, and GCE AS and A Levels, while vocational qualifications include NVQ and BTEC from entry level to higher national diplomas. Each year, over 4 million learners enroll for an Edexcel qualification in more than 85 countries.

“UAE universities are renowned for their academic excellence and commitment to delivering professionally relevant programmes. In order to maintain that reputation, they must either start preparing students for the workplace by adding more vocational courses or qualifications to the official curriculum in order to meet employers’ needs, or at least recognise the value of vocational qualifications by granting holders of such qualifications credit towards a university degree,” said Andrews.
 
In addition to university recognition, 85 professional organisations such as the Chartered Institute of Marketing and Association of Chartered Certified Accountants grant exemption for their own professional qualifications for holders of the relevant BTEC qualifications.

June 16, 2010

ALHOSN University, a leading Abu Dhabi-based university dedicated to high-quality and value-based education, recently invited Prof. Nizar Al-Holou, professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, at the University of Detroit Mercy in the United States, to participate in a week-long series of lectures and discussions related to university accreditation. Prof. Al-Holou visited ALHOSN University from June 6 to June 11, 2010. 

During his stay, Professor Al-Holou conducted a workshop on international accreditation processes in general and ABET accreditation in particular. ABET is the recognized accreditor for college and university programs in applied science, computing, engineering, and technology. It is a federation of 28 professional and technical societies representing these fields. As one of the most respected accreditation organizations in the U.S., ABET has provided leadership and quality assurance in higher education for over 75 years. ABET currently accredits some 2,800 programs at more than 600 colleges and universities nationwide.

Dr. Al-Holou is an ABET program evaluator (PEV).  He has been teaching for over 20 years in the US. He was awarded over USD 1 million in funding for research in wireless technology from government agencies, institutions and industries. His areas of research interest include Next Generation Vehicle Networks (NGVN), Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), Wireless Sensor Networking, and Distributed Processing Systems with an emphasis on automotive applications. Dr. Nizar Al-Holou has published over 100 refereed papers.
 
“Quality control at ALHOSN is a top priority, and our success as an educational institution relies significantly on that. Our involvement in activities related to accreditation reflects our commitment to adopt world-class standards in our university. Prof. Al Holou has discussed with our Faculty and Staff the latest developments in the ABET accreditation process of the Engineering Programs. In addition to the mandatory local accreditation required by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in the UAE, ALHOSN is voluntarily pursuing additional international accreditation of its programs to match global standards,” said Prof. Abdul Rahim Sabouni, Vice Chancellor and CEO of ALHOSN University.

ALHOSN University constantly invites distinguished lecturers from prominent international organizations to enhance the quality of its academic programs and support the development of its students and faculty. Founded in 2005, the university is open to students of all nationalities and offers 11 undergraduate and 7 graduate programs under the faculties of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Business, and Arts and Social Sciences.

Dubai, UAE: June 15th, 2010: Microsoft Gulf and GEMS Education, the largest kindergarten to grade 12 private school operator in the world, signed an agreement today to provide its students with a software purchase offer as part of the GEMS Education Software programme. The offer is valid from June 10th to June 20th, 2010 and is limited to one Microsoft® Office 2010 Professional Plus license per GEMS Student. It would be made available through the retailer E-Max at their outlets across the UAE.

Under the agreement, GEMS students will now be able to buy the latest Microsoft® Office 2010 Professional Plus, with media DVD, at a discounted price of AED 240/-. The estimated retail market price of the fully packaged product is not less than AED 1,899/- on the UAE open market. This special offer includes the media DVD and perpetual license for home use.

Microsoft® Office 2010 Professional Plus includes: Excel® 2010, Outlook® 2010, PowerPoint® 2010, Word 2010, Access® 2010 , InfoPath® 2010, Communicator, Publisher 2010, OneNote®2010,  SharePoint® Workspace 2010 and Office Web applications. GEMS students stand to benefit from the new and enhanced features that Microsoft® Office 2010 Professional Plus has to offer such as enhanced collaboration and social networking tools; email and a seamless online/offline experience.

Speaking about the programme, Mr. Dino Varkey, Senior Director - Business Operations, GEMS, said “This programme is a part of GEMS Education’s contribution towards building a technology rich, forward thinking community.  We are happy to provide our students with the opportunity to stay abreast of the latest software offerings from Microsoft and to enjoy its new features.”

Charbel Fakhoury, Regional General Manager of Microsoft Gulf added, “Microsoft has made a long-term commitment to working with educators such as GEMS to expand the world of learning through technology. We are pleased to invest in such an initiative as it gives students a chance to experience a rich set of productivity and collaboration tools that Office 2010 offers. We also commend GEMS vision for using technology as a tool to enrich education and together, we aim to make a positive impact on the education sector in the country.”

GEMS students will also get a chance to win one of 15 Super Elite Xbox Consoles with Forza 3 games and 25 Netbooks. There will also be an Early Bird Offer for the first 300 orders which will give them an opportunity to win gifts.

June 15, 2010

ALHOSN University, a leading Abu Dhabi-based university dedicated to high-quality value-based education, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Salford in Manchester, England to promote cooperation between both institutions.

Under the terms of the MoU, the two universities will engage in joint research activities, teach and develop new degrees and training programmes, exchange visits by staff, teachers and students, exchange relevant information, and co-develop student progression pathways. The agreement will take effect for three years, with specific details for the implementation of the activities to be mutually developed on a ‘project by project’ basis. ALHOSN Vice Chancellor and CEO Prof. Abdul Rahim Sabouni and University of Salford Vice Chancellor Prof. Martin Hall signed the MoU last June 2, 2010.

“Salford University has been instrumental in developing and promoting university education through its research and development activities and exceptional academic programs. This partnership between our two universities will enable us to consolidate our strengths and maintain our distinctive status as leading institutions in our respective areas and our fields of specialtisation. We are also planning more cooperative agreements similar to our MoU with Salford to advance our philosophy of ‘Global knowledge with local vision’,” said Prof. Sabouni , CEO & Vice Chancellor , ALHOSN University.

Salford University was founded in 1896 as the Royal Technical Institute, Salford. At the time the university contributed significantly to the great industrial revolution which began in the North of England, producing internationally renowned engineers, scientists, and technologists who helped transform the 19th Century. The UK Government’s latest Research Assessment Exercise indicated that 83 per cent of Salford’s research is of international quality, with 12 per cent being judged as cutting-edge and pioneering. Its world-famous graduates include the painter Laurence Stephen Lowry, the actor Ben Kingsley, and Andy Bond, the former CEO of the British supermarket chain ASDA.

ALHOSN University commenced operations as a multi-national school in 2005 and has emerged as one of Abu Dhabi’s top educational institutions. The university offers 11 undergraduate and 7 graduate programs under the three faculties of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Business, and Arts and Social Sciences. ALHOSN is particularly renowned for encouraging women to take up technical professions, participating in high-profile regional and international educational events, and supporting significant social and environmental causes.