Al Hosn University to open in Abu Dhabi

A new private university is entering the higher education scene in the UAE as part of the country's goal of becoming an education hub.

Based in Abu Dhabi, Al Hosn University is in the final phase of construction.

It will start its first intake of students on September 10.

Supported by Abu Dhabi Holding Company (ADHC), a private shareholding company, it will only accept 300 students in its first few years, until it is moved to its permanent campus in Khalifa City.

The university will comprise the faculty of engineering and applied sciences, faculty of business and faculty of arts and social sciences.

The faculty of engineering will offer courses in software engineering, industrial engineering and urban planning.

The faculty of business will offer degrees in business administration and management information systems, while the faculty of arts and social sciences will provide courses in English and education.

They are also offering an undergraduate degree in urban planning developed by Dr Mitchell Kosny, Professor from the School of Urban and Regional Planning at Ryerson University, Canada. The course is a four year, full-time degree.

In a move towards accreditation, Professor Ziad Saghir, vice president of the university, said he wants to guarantee that students will graduate with a degree that is recognised internationally, particularly in the United States and Canada.

"The first step towards that would be applying for ABET accreditation," Professor Saghir said.

"This and other measures will ensure that a student's undergraduate degree at our university will be recognised when pursuing graduate studies abroad."

ABET or the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology is a recognised accreditor for university programmes in applied science, computing, engineering, and technology.

It is a body accepted by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation in the US.

The university programmes were designed to provide students with an education that is both specialised and contemporary.

Al Hosn University is open to all students. For admissions, students from UAE schools are required to submit the UAE General Secondary School Certificate or its equivalent.

Applicants outside the UAE are required to obtain a secondary school completion certificate that meets the admission requirements set by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.

Applicants will have to sit for entrance examinations in English. Tuition cost varies from Dh900 to Dh1,100 per credit hour according to the major. For details log on to www.alhosnu.ae.

Scholarships for potential Arab leaders

Young Arab Leaders organisation will partner with the American University of Dubai to offer 10 scholarships for Arab students during the academic year (2005-06).

Elias Bou Saab, chairman of the YAL academia committee said: "This partnership will help develop the youth with leadership qualities to advance the Arab region and create a better future.

"These scholarships are available to any Arab student who passes the AUD academic entry requirements. In addition, the applicant needs to demonstrate leadership potential and financial need."