Technology

KUSTAR student delegation experience South Korean advanced technology

Abu Dhabi, July 13th, 2010 — A student delegation from Khalifa University of Science, Technology and Research (KUSTAR) has met Mohammad Abdullah, the UAE Ambassador to South Korea, in Seoul.
The students were briefed on the key facets of the technological and economical cooperation between the UAE and South Korea and the scientific expansion South Korea is currently witnessing.
The eleven day KUSTAR student trip to South Korea allowed a number of high-achieving students the opportunity to get first-hand knowledge of the progress and technological developments achieved by South Korea. The trip included a large number of training and cultural sessions along with different activities, including a visit to the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), one of the world’s most important scientific centres in technology. While there, the students participated in a lecture on technology and toured the facility.
The visit also allowed students to explore the Hyundai Automobile Factory in Ulsan, one of the major South Korean automobile factories and which employs 32,000 people. Students were given a tour of the various departments within the factory that support the manufacturing and assembly of the cars. The students also toured the departmental units at Samsung Mobile Phone Factory in the city of Suwon, and observed the manufacturing stages of cell phone production. Students also visited the Korean Nuclear Energy Foundation (KNEF), where they received detailed explanations on the process of nuclear fuel production and its preparation for export. They also made visits to factories of KT Wibro, which specializes in wireless internet networks production, as well as LG’s DIGITAL PARK Show Room and Samsung Electronics.
Dr. Mohammed Al-Mualla, Interim Provost of KUSTAR said: “KUSTAR sends student delegations to countries which are developed in the areas of technology and science to allow students the opportunity to increase their awareness about how scientific discovery and technological advances have changed how societies work, live and interact. When students are exposed to the scientific process behind the technologies, it serves as motivation for them to make serious efforts at reaching academic excellence and innovation.
“These field trips also serve to extend the students’ abilities to build their personalities as engineers, to strengthen their capabilities, and to prepare them in contributing to the UAE’s aim to becoming an engineering hub. To do this, they need to equipped with the opportunity to keep abreast with the latest developments in the science and engineering fields,” he added Younis Larry, a KUSTAR student and participant of the South Korea trip, said: “Through this distinctive journey, I was able to see for myself what opportunities lie ahead for me in the field of Engineering. This trip helped me to recognize the large role technological and scientific progress plays in the development of a nation. I am very eager to participate in future student trips, where I can further enhance my knowledge, and expand my views and visions of the opportunities and potential within my field.” Amina Belkadi, who was also part of the trip, said: “This trip gave me the chance to exchange cultural and academic information with KAIST students, and for the both of us to learn from one another’s experiences in the field of engineering and science. I was so pleased to be part of a specialized lecture attended by all Khalifa University students on the engineering satellite synthetic, which was new to me. I hope to participate in the University’s future trips which will further fuel my passion for engineering.” The trip also included an array of Korean cultural and entertaining activities. Visits were made to the Tourist Information Centre, Handicraft Village, National Museum, Anapji Pond, DaeneungWon Tomb Park, Astronomical Observatory, Namdaeun Market Shopping and the Martial Arts of Taek Kwon Do School.

Dubai Judicial Institute concludes Legal Research Diploma Program for Ministry of Labour

Dubai, June 22nd, 2010 — Dubai Judicial Institute (DJI), has recently concluded a legal research program conducted for the UAE Ministry of Labour. The 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 Labour, honoured 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 Labour 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,

SHCT Students raise 200,000 AED for welfare of Children

Sharjah, June 22nd, 2010 — The students at Sharjah Higher Colleges of Technology have donated AED 200,000 to a charitable organisation working for the welfare of Children.

Under the Mosaic 2010 theme of “The Spirit of Caring”, student Asmaa Ibrahim Mohammed Zayed at Sharjah Higher Colleges of Technology handed over a cheque of 200,000 AED to Ms Judy Collins, Leadership Manager at Free the Children humanitarian organization.

The funds raised will help build a school, a health clinic, and a clean water and sanitation project in the village of Udawad, near Udaipur in Rajasthan, India.

The funds will also be used to fund an alternative income project to help mothers in the community become self-supporting.

Students have been involved in various fundraising activities from bake sales to walk-a-thons and many students have gone into the community to organizations to promote awareness and carry out fundraising in places like shopping malls and government offices.

Mosaic is an annual event held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qassimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah. Its aim is to create a sense of wonder and curiosity among students about the world in which they live. The Mosaic theme for 2010 is �The Spirit of Caring.’ The theme gives a unity of purpose to what students do in and out of the classroom. They engage in a variety of academic and non-academic activities that focus on helping others. These include researching, writing, and developing websites on famous philanthropists; raising funds and participating in helping handicapped, infirm, orphaned, and elderly people; travelling to impoverished countries and building homes for the poor; and learning about the joys of giving.

Free the Children is the world’s largest network of children helping children through education.

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos says removing copies of e-books from Kindles was “stupid

Amazon CEO Mr. Jeff Bezos In a statement on Thursday apologized for removing copies of e-books from customers’ Kindle last week, a move from Amazon that angered consumers and forced Amazon to defend what appeared to be arbitrary and controlling behavior.

Amazon’s targets were the books Animal Farm and 1984 by George Orwell, two novels about the horrors of repressive societies.

The company deleted the books both from customers’ Kindles and the Kindle store, where they’d been sold. An Amazon spokesman said the books had been added to the store by a company that didn’t have rights to them and were unauthorized copies.

The irony of Amazon came, when AMazon remotely deleted novels about repression. Although the customers were offered refunds, several were upset for it. “Its  like when Barnes & Noble clerk coming to my house when I’m not home, taking a book I bought from them from my bookshelf and leaving cash in its place,” one customer wrote on Amazon’s Web site. “It’s a violation of my property and this is a perfect example of why people (rightly) hate DRM.”

On Thursday, as Amazon reported quarterly revenue that missed Wall Street’s expectations and suffered a drop in share price of nearly 7%, Bezos was contrite.

“This is an apology for the way we previously handled illegally sold copies of 1984 and other novels on Kindle,” he wrote on Amazon’s site. “Our ‘solution’ to the problem was stupid, thoughtless, and painfully out of line with our principles. It is wholly self-inflicted, and we deserve the criticism we’ve received. We will use the scar tissue from this painful mistake to help make better decisions going forward, ones that match our mission.”

Bezos’ post has received over 250 comments so far.

Some customers also reported losing copies of other e-books on their Kindles, including novels by Ayn Rand and some of the Harry Potter books.

Amazon has promised not to remove books from customers’ Kindles again, although it is not clear whether the company will also change how it monitors the Kindle store for unauthorized works.