Notes in Brief

Former England footballer Tony Woodcock takes a class for Dubai students

Dubai: Former England and Arsenal player Tony Woodcock visited Dubai last week to put students from Dubai Secondary School and the American University in Dubai through their paces on the football pitch. Woodcock used some of the experiential learning techniques from his four-day entrepreneurship course for teenagers — Tsu’Chu Biz. Tsu’Chu was the first form of football in ancient China. Woodcock enjoyed a successful football career with some of Europe’s top football clubs, gaining 42 England Caps with 16 goals, until he retired in 1990.

Three years ago he and his business partner Susan Kaye developed a course for teenagers and undergraduate students in entrepreneurship, business finance, teamship, leadership, stress management and personal development, using football as the teacher. The course has been a great success in the UK. Later this month The Five Host Boroughs Tsu’Chu Biz Cup Final will take place in London. The event has been awarded London 2012’s INSPIRE MARK for exceptional educational programmes

US secretary of homeland security speaks to ZU students

Abu Dhabi: Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and President of Zayed University (ZU), recently received Janet Napolitano, Secretary of the US Department of Homeland Security, at the university’s Abu Dhabi campus. Shaikh Nahyan said ZU has striven to advance higher education through its world class programmes to prepare Emirati students for a meaningful and successful personal and professional life. Napolitano also met ZU students and discussed the role of women in politics, education and the importance of contributing to the cultural development of the nation.

UAE nuclear energy scholarship announced

Abu Dhabi: The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, the Khalifa University for Science, Technology and Research, and the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation have jointly announced the opening of admissions for the UAE Nuclear Energy Scholarship Programme. The programme provides UAE nationals with a full scholarship to enrol in some of the world’s finest universities and pursue a bachelor or masters degree in nuclear, mechanical or electrical engineering. After their studies they will work in the UAE’s growing nuclear energy industry. Applicants must meet several minimum requirements, which demonstrate English proficiency and academic achievement, and sit for an interview. For more information and to apply visit http://www.ku.ac.ae/enecscholarship/.
 

Dual AUD-FIU certificate in Middle Eastern studies

Dubai: The American University in Dubai (AUD) is collaborating with the US-based Florida International University (FIU), through which students from AUD and FIU can enrol at either institution to study courses in AUD’s Middle Eastern Studies Programme and FIU’s Certificate Programme in Middle East and Central Asian Studies. Students are eligible to receive both the AUD and FIU certificates. The collaboration also focuses on the exchange of faculty members for research and teaching and the exchange of information and participation in seminars and academic meetings. An FIU delegation visited AUD recently in this regard.
 

UOWD book sale money goes to special needs centre

Dubai: The University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD) presented a Dh6,825 cheque to the Dubai Centre for Special Needs. The amount was raised through a book sale organised by the university’s Student Representative Council and the Student Services Department recently. The centre, which has more than 130 students with special needs, will use the money to buy physiotherapy equipment. A UOWD team led by Raymi van der Spek, vice president (administration), presented the cheque to Dr Mashid Salehi, director of the special needs centre.

Dubai Women’s College holds its first Open Day

Dubai: Dubai Women’s College (DWC) welcomed more than 500 students from public and private schools to its first Open Day held last week. The event was organised in line with the new DWC recruitment strategy that focuses on enhancing relations with its various target audiences. The event began with a welcome speech by DWC Director Dr Howard Reed and the DWC 20th anniversary video presentation. Students then had a full day of workshops held by the various academic departments and a campus tour.

Masdar institute annual meeting

Abu Dhabi: The Board of Trustees of the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology held its second annual meeting last week to review the achievements of the past year, and to consider the institute’s strategic and academic plan for 2010. Dr John Perkins, institute provost, reported that milestones achieved included recruiting the first intake of students and faculty team. Currently the institute, the world’s first graduate-level university with a focus on alternative energy and sustainable technologies, offers five master of science programmes. Next year it will offer two more MSc programmes — in electrical power and in microsystems — and a PhD programme.