ALHOSN University, an Abu Dhabi–based private educational institution dedicated to ‘global knowledge with a local vision,’ ends 2011 on a high note with a string of key partnerships, various awards and impressive contributions to society.

Proof of excellence
ALHOSN’s software engineering students did themselves and their school proud by winning the 6th Mobile Application Contest (MAC) for their SAWACAE Mobile Software Application for Water Consumption Awareness. It marked the first time for the university to compete in the annual MAC, with the team having only three months to prepare for the contest. Dr. Somkiat Mansumitrchai and Dr. Candy Chiu also proved the high caliber of ALHOSN’s educators by grabbing an Outstanding Research Award at the 2011 Costa Rica Global Conference on Business and Finance for their probing analysis of internet banking prospects in the UAE.

Key agreements
Several strategic agreements over the past months have enabled ALHOSN University to strengthen ties with the global academic community and enhance its educational and training capabilities. The university inked an International Articulation Agreement with US-based Kettering University to foster mutual understanding, development and research, and entered into a 5-year education and research agreement with the University of Michigan-Dearborn covering the sharing of engineering expertise and cooperation in student and faculty exchange programs. It also signed an agreement with TAMKEEN Consulting and Training to exchange expertise in managerial and occupational sectors towards the development of locally- and regionally-targeted training programs.

Firsts
ALHOSN both headed and participated in various ‘firsts’ throughout the year, starting with the inauguration of Abu Dhabi City’s first ‘American Corner,’ a premier resource center for US history, culture, policy and business. It was the first university to be visited by ‘Tathqeef,’ an innovative traffic safety awareness vehicle created by the Department of Traffic and Patrol of the Abu Dhabi Police. It also participated in several debuting events, including the first-ever Al Gharbia Universities and Colleges Fair organized by the Western Region Development Council; the inaugural UAE Lead – Youth Leadership Congress – which took place as part of NAJAH 2011, the 5th edition of the UAE’s leading annual exhibition on higher education, training and careers; and Taweya 2011 – the first National Exhibition for Society Awareness and Humanitarian Services.

In terms of its academic lineup, ALHOSN has announced that it will be offering its first courses under its newly-launched Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (BSME) program in the Spring Semester of 2012.

Services
Several new student-centered services were rolled out by ALHOSN University this year, many of which were IT-related. The university launched a Facebook page featuring photos, videos and status updates on the university’s latest activities and news developed by an in-house team. It also introduced new online modules for students’ course registration and payment requests at its website, which recorded 4,915,063 visits to advance closer to the 5-million mark since being re-launched in July 2009 with more advanced features and capabilities.

Seminars, workshops & special events
It was a busy year for ALHOSN University in terms of seminars, workshops and special events. Last March, the ALHOSN Center for Research & Consultancy organized an advanced building design software seminar in collaboration with Techiesoft FZ LLC, one of the most integrated IT, CAD/Engineering and Project Management solutions providers in the Middle East, which pledged USD 1 million worth of structural design tools for the university. The Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council outlined its youth-oriented ‘UniverCity’ programme for raising awareness on its Urban, Economic, Environmental and Social Development activities under its ‘Estidama’ initiative during another seminar held as part of ALHOSN’s World Environment Day celebrations in June.

The university also hosted workshops on the Abu Dhabi Council for Economic Development’s ‘Akoun’ entrepreneurship campaign for youths; problem-solving skills in collaboration with Bloom Management Consulting Center; and Building Information Modeling (BIM) in partnership with SmartME, the regional arm of the non-profit international alliance representing construction-related businesses. The University’s Department of Business Administration teamed up with the Abu Dhabi Council for Economic Development (ADCED) to host the ‘Dirhami Day Financial Workshop’ facilitated by renowned financial expert and TV host Salah Al-Halyan.

Visits
Prominent international figures visited ALHOSN University this year, including Ms. Dawn McCall, Coordinator of the US Department of State’s Bureau of International Information Programs, and Jordan’s former Prime Minister, Dr. Abdul Salam Majali, who spoke about leadership in higher education at the American Corner last October.

Social responsibility
ALHOSN University supported various social causes in 2011, such as allotting on-campus office space for Emirates National Students Union, an independent Arab and Muslim organization representing students inside and outside the UAE, and supporting the ‘Ata’ahad’ (‘I Pledge’) Campaign against the use of mobile phones while driving launched by Al Emarat Al Youm, the most widely-read newspaper online in the Gulf. The university also organized a week-long series of fund-raising and educational events devoted to Breast Cancer Awareness (BCA) last October. US Ambassador to the UAE Michael H. Corbin officially concluded the BCA program in a ceremony which also marked his first visit ALHOSN’s American Corner since his arrival to the Emirates in August of this year.

40th National Day
ALHOSN University celebrated the UAE’s historic 40th National Day with a series of cultural events at its male and female campuses in late November. It was a befitting year-end festivity, which saw ALHOSN reaffirm its commitment to supporting the UAE’s social, economic and educational development.

Named after Abu Dhabi’s historic ALHOSN Palace, ALHOSN University was founded in 2005 by the Abu Dhabi Holding Company in response to growing local demand for high-quality, value-based educational institutions. It currently offers 12 undergraduate and 7 graduate programs under the Faculties of Engineering and Applies Sciences, Business, and Arts and Social Sciences. ALHOSN accepts students of all nationalities and also accommodates youths with special needs. All its programs are accredited by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.

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