AN PRESENTATION

MAY, 2011

AN VOL 2 - ISSUE 1 SHAPING THE FUTURE

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tAKING A BReAKB-BOYING COMPETITIONS ARE ON THE RISE IN OMAN

3EDITOR’S NOTE

Hi Everybody,

Countries ideally would like to see food production keep up with population growth as it would

ensure food security and greater equity in income distribution. Food shortage can also lead to inflation and under nourishment. In Oman, over the decades, there has been steady investment in dissemina-tion of farming techniques, irrigation and research, which has led to better productivity and greater diversity of crops. And as a result, today, most of the country’s requirements of vegeta-bles and fruits, are from local farmers.The ability to increase agricultural production will depend on how much more arable land is obtainable, and preferably, it should grow with the population. But in Oman, salt water intrusion in coastal areas due to ground water deple-tion has been causing concern. When salinity increases in water and the soil, existing crops will wilt, and unless aquifers are recharged with freshwater, the land may gradually become unfit for farming. If more land cannot be brought under cultivation, then productivity will have to be increased with good management of existing fields.In Oman, the fruits and vegetables grown, vary with climatic conditions. For example, high in Al Jabel Al Akhd-har, the cooler air has allowed the grow-ing of peaches, apricots and walnuts. And very often, residents and tourists have said they would prefer preserves from these fruits served at resorts and hotels here, rather than those imported from their own countries. Demand from food processing industries will also get farmers better deals.The advances Oman has made in agri-culture have been possible because of steady investment in education, health-care, rural infrastructure and social development over the last 40 years. After all, an educated farmer, who is connected by roads and the internet, will be in a position to more easily adopt new techniques and understand the market. Campus asked Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries HE Dr Fuad Al Sajwani how farming could be made attractive to educated youngsters. In the article life on A Farm, he tells us about the state of agriculture today and the financial and technical support the government has been offering farmers.

OPINION POLL

In last month’s Opinion Poll, readers said that Restaurant Bills make up the largest share of their expenses, followed by Clothes, Movies and Books. We all know why things are this way. But restaurants are also places where solutions to problems in engineering and design, or the idea for a book or essay, could come. They are noted, ‘on the back of a napkin,’ while we wait alone for a friend or the food to arrive. So if we study intelligently and get the fundamentals right, we could be solving problems in cafes later. In the matter of books, buy a good or important one when you see it, even if you do not feel like reading it then. It could prove very useful, at times, years later.

That’s for now.

Do keep in touch via campus@happening-media.com

Jeta Pillai

OPINION

POLL

Where did you

find your idol?

SEND your response ‘a’ or ‘b’ or ‘c’ or ‘d’ tocampus@happening-media.comor SMS to 99255965 by May 30, 2011.

EDITOR’S NOTE

a) Books.

b) TV.

c) Family.

d) University.

AN PRESENTATION

MAY, 2011

AN VOL 2 - ISSUE 14 SHAPING THE FUTURE

FLAIRP-21P-24 DURANGO SHUTTLES, TOWSDUAL-DEGREE FEVERP-18

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TAKING A BREAKB-BOYING COMPETITIONS ARE ON THE RISE IN OMAN

MAY 2011

n888

Cover

musiC

sTAr World

lAsT pAssAge

neWs & evenTs

Trends

ouTdoors

spoTlighTegypT hAs been A fAvouriTemore fellowships for students wanting to study in the country.

Aiming highThere are several breakdancing groups in oman today and some of them are aiming to make it on the international stage.

The neW ikidsin some classrooms, the ipad is seen as a revolutionary tool.

desTinATiondoWnToWn lA redisCoverednew spots for dining and the arts are bringing visitors back.

8

10

9

5

21

24

22

27

28

The inTervieWlife on A fArmminister for Agriculture and fisheries he dr fuad Al sajwani tells us what the government is doing to attract youngsters into farming.

14

ConTenTs

CONTENTS4

Founder & ChairmanMohammed Bin Suleiman Al Taie

Editor-in-ChiefAbdul Hamied Bin Suleiman Al Taie

Editorial ConsultantNeville Parker

EditorialZoher Al ArabiZuhair@alwatan.comJeta PillaiVinod Raghavanvinod@happening-media.com

TranslatorSuleiman Ameen, Ahmad Abdul Hamid

Design & LayoutFaisal Moideen

PhotographsMinistry of Agriculture and Fisheries, MCT News Service, Jeta Pillai, Wikipedia, Rajan, Agencies, and Archives.

Cover photo: Breakdancing in Muscat. (Photo: Rajan)

Marketing:

Talween Al Alamiah LLCP O 1570, PC 130Al AzaibahSultanate of OmanTel: 2461 3618. Fax: 2461 3619Email: info@happening-media.com

Business HeadNikhil Nigamnikhil@happening-media.com

Advertising ManagerHussein Hashimhussein@happening-media.comMobile 99255965

Advertising & MarketingManoj Issac manoj@happening-media.comMobile 99255891

Publisher Omani Est. for Press Printing, Publishing & Distribution LLCP.O. Box 463, PC 100, Muscat, Sultanate of OmanTel: 24491919, Fax: 24613619

mind your lAnguAge17

13 Counsellor

on The roAd

25

MAY 2011

flAir

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life32

neW geAr26

Avenues18

n8885OUTDOORS

Zubair Automotive Group is one of the leading Quad Bike deal-

ers in Oman and has been supplying the adventure sports machine to the sports lovers of the Sultan-ate. Naveen Sudhakaran, Brand Manager, spoke to CAMPUS.

CAMPUS: How is the market for Quad Bikes in Oman?A: The Quad Bike market here in Oman is huge. Yamaha is one of the lead-ing brands for this market providing the best quality, high performance models to customers all over the Sultanate.

CAMPUS: What are the various types of Quad Bikes available in Oman ? A: We have a full range of models available in our showroom for all different uses including sports, tour-ing, utility and children’s bikes.

CAMPUS: What are the costs of Quad Bikes ? And do you have any tieup with banks for easy installments?

A: Our latest models range between 1000 rials to 5000 rials.

CAMPUS: How and what are the services you provide to customers ?A: We also provide custom-ers with accessories for those interested in upgrading their ATVs. We also sell a range of safety equipment and other accessories concerned with ensuring the health and safety of drivers at all times.

CAMPUS: What types of customers you tackle?A: Our customers consist of young Omanis and All Ter-rain Vehicle enthusiasts.

CAMPUS: How easily avail-able are the spare parts?A: All serviceable parts are available at any time, we have our own parts depart-ment to cater to all of our customers’ needs. CAMPUS: How much has the market for Quad Bikes grown in last few years ?A: The Quad bike market has enjoyed steady and consis-

tent growth up until the end of 2009, however we have experienced some challenges since the world recession.

CAMPUS: What about the maintenance and after sales

service of the Quad Bikes? A: We provide all sorts of after sales services, compre-hensive services and repairs, and also fitting of all types of accessories. This is provided by our well experienced, trained and qualified techni-

cians here in Oman.CAMPUS: Can you please tell the cheapest and costli-est Quad Bike available in Oman?A: Our cheapest bikes is 500 rials and our most expensive goes up to 7000 rials.

QUAD BIKING, PASSION OF OMAN

6 DIFFERENT STROKES

MAY 2011

Bank robberies in the US take place most often in mid-morning, on Fridays and in southern and western states, according to government statistics.

Robbers stole slightly more than $43 million last year na-tionwide in 5,546 robberies of banks, credit unions and other financial institutions. The South led the way with 1,790 bank robberies, followed by the West with 1,691. California had the most robberies at 805, followed by Texas with 464. North Dakota, where there were two bank robberies, had the least.Overall, there were 5,628 reported bank crimes – the 5,546 robberies along with 74 burglaries, eight larcenies and 13 extortions of financial institutions. That marked a decrease from 2009, when there were 6,065 such crimes reported, the FBI said.Most robberies took place at bank counters and involved notes demanding money and threats of weapons, the statis-tics showed.Nearly all of the $43 million haul was cash, and about $8 mil-lion was later recovered, the FBI said.

British detectives were hunting for thieves who broke into one of their own police stations and stole their uniforms and radios.

The crooks burgled the police station in Uddingston, not far from Glasgow in Scotland when the office was shut.“At no time has the safety of the public or any officer been jeopardized as a result of this break-in,” said a spokeswoman for Strathclyde Police. She declined to say how the audacious criminals had got into the building but added the radios had been disabled and could no longer be used.

Americans may be clipping money-saving coupons and delaying buying a new home, but when it comes to their pets, they›re spending more than ever, according to a

new survey.Between trips to the vet, specialty foods, treats and toys, pet insurance and even parties, Americans have no compunction about opening up their wallets to keep Rex, Rover or even the house lizard healthy and happy.Flying in the face of economic woes, between two and five per cent of pet owners said they spent more on their pets last year, according to the poll by the non-profit American Pet Products Association (APPA).Americans are so concerned about their pets that 16 per cent of dog owners and 13 per cent of cat owners said their animal›s medical treatment would take priority over their own.

Robbers’ day

Thieves that spare none

Pets come first

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For harried young parents, this will come as no surprise – a study has found that having small children can make it tougher to keep up healthy diet and exercise habits. More

than 1,500 young US adults were surveyed for the study, pub-lished in “Pediatrics,” which found that parents of children aged 5 or younger generally exercised less often than people without children, while mothers in particular had less healthy eating habits than their childless peers.“Although many dietary behaviors were the same between par-ents and non-parents, mothers reported greater consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, total energy, and percent saturated fat compared to women without children,” wrote lead researcher Jerica Berge, of the University of Minnesota Medical School in Minneapolis.“Both mothers and fathers had lower amounts of physical activity than nonparents.”

Jakartans love new things, and the rapidly growing middle classes of Indonesia’s capital always fight to be first – whether watching the latest Hollywood blockbuster, owning the newest

gadget, or being seen in a trendy cafe.But even the most avid trendspotters have been surprised by the craze for Magnum ice cream that has swept the city since the February opening in central Jakarta of the Magnum Cafe, months after the brand was relaunched in Indonesia by parent company and consumer goods giant Unilever.The success of the cafe, which features the iconic chocolate-coated ice cream on a stick, is a tribute to the rising power of the middle-class, empowered by robust demand and growing investment in the far-flung archipelago.The queues snake longer each day as ice cream lovers come in droves, waiting for several hours at peak times. “It’s the Belgian chocolate that makes it different to other ice creams,” said Githa, a teacher in Jakarta.The menu, created by an Italian chef, includes Waffle de Aristo-crat, Goblet of Chocolate, Crown Jewel and Truffle Royale.

Young parents exercise less

Ice cream for a hot economy

7DIFFERENT STROKES

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8

MAY 2011

TRENDS

Before, during and even between classes at Hillbrook School this

fall, seventh-graders have been spotted on the Los Gatos, California, campus, sometimes burbling Spanish or Manda-rin phrases into the glowing screen in their hands, other times staring into it like a look-ing glass.iPads – the Apple of almost every adolescent›s eye – are being provided to students at several Bay Area public and private schools this year, including Hillbrook, which claims to be the only K-8 school in America using tablet computers in class and send-ing them home. This has led to a lot of 12-year-olds swanning around the wooded hillside campus, talking to their iPads.Summoning up a virtual key-board recently, Sophie Greene quickly typed a note to herself in iCal, a calendar programme, then played back an audio file in which she was speaking Spanish. “We record a conver-sation, e-mail it to our teacher, Senorita Kelly,” she explained, “then she critiques the lesson in Spanish and sends that back to us.”For the 28 seventh-graders entrusted with iPads at Hill-brook, the pictures that flash across the device›s screen open a window to a wider world. The iPad allows them to take daily excursions across time and space to such exotic ports as ancient Mesopotamia and modern China.The only drawback is that with their assignments all com-posed on iPads, the one excuse that no longer works for Hillbrook›s seventh-graders is, “The dog ate my homework”.

At Archbishop Mitty High School in San Jose – which introduced 32 iPads into the classroom this fall – the devices are used only in class. And Stanford›s School of Medi-cine gave 92 iPads outright to its first-year students this Sept. At Hillbrook, which received its iPads last summer as a gift from the parents of two students, seventh-graders like Sophie slip the handheld de-vices into backpacks at the end of the school day. Hillbrook›s programme has been such a hit that it will be expanded next year to include eighth-graders.As the high-tech tablets com-plete the first phase of these academic tests, the future of the iPad as an educational tool is raising questions about whether the most plugged-in technology will remain the exclusive digital domain of the wealthiest schools.

With studies about the value of computers in the classroom indicating that results are “all over the map,” according to one local educator, low-income schools aren›t even sure what they might be missing.“The achievement gap is alive and well,” said Judith McGarry, Rocketship Education›s direc-tor of development. “Private schools and very wealthy public school districts are absolutely going to have all sorts of resources to throw at their kids. We believe that in our society, all children need to be technologically literate.”Rocketship, the award-winning nonprofit charter school network with three San Jose schools, recently declined a donation of iPads from two large Silicon Valley compa-nies, preferring to wait until more textbooks are published digitally.Apple essentially had cor-

nered the consumer tablet market when administrators at Hillbrook, Mitty, University High School in San Francisco and San Domenico in Marin were considering the iPad last summer as an educational implement.“It seemed clear to us that it›s a revolutionary kind of tool,” said Brent Hinrichs, Hillbrook›s head of middle school. “It gets everyone involved all the time. That interaction is critical in having them think and experience every moment that they›re in the classroom.”

So far, only one of the $500 tablets has been damaged badly enough to require repair. “It›s an educational tool,” said Marinkovich, who was thrilled when head of school Mark Silver decided the kids should be trusted to take their iPads home. “If we just stop it

at school, how is that helping them?”Mitty administrators weren›t ready to make that leap, although the school may loosen its policy next year. “The interface is very open and collaborative, and I think it fosters a lot of independent in-quiry and research,” said Lisa Brunolli, an assistant principal in charge of the school›s test programme. “But it quickly be-came frustrating that students couldn›t take them home and use them for homework.”Rocketship›s schools don›t use computers of any kind in the classroom, believing them to be a distraction from “the social learning experi-ence,” according to McGarry. But they do promote online literacy with computer labs, and are conducting research of their own on whether computers are a help or a hin-drance to learning. “We think they›re helping,” McGarry says.

Books for the current school year had already been pur-chased when iPads were added to backpacks at schools where tablets are being tried out. Educators cling to the hope that they will be able to buy selected chapters of textbooks for use on the tablets, the way music fans pick individual songs on iTunes.That would suit Sophie just fine. “In sixth grade my backpack was 27 pounds,” she said. “Ohhhh, my back! It was so sore. This would definitely lighten it. And it would be way more eco-friendly.”Spoken like a true iKid.

MCT News Service

the New

IKIDSThe iPad allows students to take daily excursions across time and space, writes Bruce Newman

Dreamed up by their manager, Kelly Curtis, on a night in Las Vegas, 10 years ago, Pearl Jam›s plan for the

20th anniversary of their first album, 1991’s Ten, is ambitious. Starting with a deluxe reissue of their second and third albums (1993’s Vs., 1994’s Vitalogy), the year-long celebration will also include the unveiling of a Cameron Crowe-directed documentary about the band and a massive self-curated festival this summer.

“In our wildest imagination, we never even thought we›d last this long,” says bassist Jeff Ament. Adds Curtis, “Our goal is to document the fact that we›ve been around for 20 years – people who haven’t seen this band for a long time are gonna say, ‘Oh, yeah, I remember!’”

At first, the band members were reluctant to devote much of the year to nostalgia, but Curtis slowly persuaded them. “It’s not something they normally think about,” says Curtis. “They’re always thinking about the next record – not old stuff.”

First up is the Vs. and Vital-ogy box, which comes with pre-viously unheard bonus tracks (including an alternate version of “Corduroy” and a guitar-and-organ version of “Betterman”), an entire

1994 Boston show and a cassette from their Monkeywrench radio series. “On the Vital-ogy tour, Eddie (Vedder) drove around in a van with a little pirate radio station in it,” says Ament. “It was a way to play music with our

friends, and an anti-big-label thing. It was like a house party.”

The band has also been working

with

Crowe on a documentary that chronicles its entire career. “I just saw a rough cut,” says Ament. “The whole movie is Cameron’s love letter to us – but it’s equal parts compli-mentary and really painful. It shows our growing pains and some real bad times, including Roskilde (the 2000 Danish festi-val where nine fans were trampled to death during the band’s set). It was just really hard to watch.”

Around the time that Crowe›s movie opens in late summer, Pearl Jam are planning a massive “weekend bash,” as Curtis calls

it, somewhere in the middle of the country. Details are still being worked out, but it will probably be a two-day event involving multiple bands and Pearl Jam headlining both nights. “We’ve played enough festivals that we know what makes them ex-citing,” says Ament. “We want to give people places to go that aren›t necessarily musical – second stages and all that kind of stuff. We’re ask-ing our friends if they want to play a couple of shows with us.”

When the festival is over, how-ever, it’s back to business as usual. “Ed and I were just going through old photos,

journals and clippings for the box set,” says Ament. “By the end, we were both like, ‘Ugh, we’re done with the past

for a while.’ We’re ready to work on new songs and get excited about what’s ahead.”

Tribune Media Services

PEARL JAM 20th-anniversary blowout

A Cameron Crowe documentary and festival are in the works for 2011, writes Andy Greene

Pearl Jam performs.

Eddie Vedder

9MUSIC

MAY 2011

10 COVER STORY

MAY 2011

It may have started among the Black and Latin American youth in the

70s, but now B-Boying fever has gripped Omani youth. This acrobatic hip-hop dance style, commonly known as breakdancing, is gaining popularity amongst Omani youth as B-Boying competi-tions are on the rise in the Sultanate. Today, Oman has more than 15 B-Boy groups, which are actively participating in competitions, besides some of the groups have even geared up to compete at the international-level.Enk Revo, one of the B-Boying groups from the Sultanate, is even eyeing the Red Bull BC One interna-

AIMING hIGhYoungsters from Oman are all set to steal the limelight in the international world of hip-hop dance, better known as B-Boying. Vinod Raghavan brings you the inside story of how it is taking Omani youth by storm

Enk Revo

11

MAY 2011

COVER STORY

tional competition, where 16 of Oman’s best B-Boys meet to compete and determine in a one-on-one knock-out-battle – “The One” – to be held by this year-end in St. Peters-burg, Russia. The B-Boys of Enk Revo are sweating it out and are working hard with swift body movements to the rap music, to enter the Red Bull BC One international competition.

BASICS OF B-BOYING Toprock, a term referring to the upright dancing and shuffles. Downrock refers to footwork dancing performed on the floor. Freeze, the poses that breakers throw into their dance sets to add punctuation to certain beats and end their routines. Power Moves, these are the most impressive acrobatic moves normally made up of circular motions where the dancer spins on the floor or in the air.There are many different individual styles used in breaking. Individual styles often stem from a dancer’s region of origin and influenc-es. Although there are some

generalities in the styles that exist, many dancers combine elements of different styles with their own ideas and knowledge in order to create a unique style of their own, says Haitham Mohammed Al Wahabi, one of the founder members of Enk Revo.Power: This style of break-ing is what most youngsters associate with the term “breakdancing”. Power Moves comprise full-body spins and rotations that give the illu-sion of defying gravity. Power Moves include head spins, backspins, windmills, flares, air tracks or air flares, 1990s, 2000s, jackhammers, crickets, turtles, hand glide, halos, and elbow spins. Those B-Boys who use Power Moves almost exclusively in their sets are referred to as “Power Heads”.Abstract: A very broad style of breaking which may include the incorporation of “threading” footwork, free-style movement to hit beats, House dance, and “circus” styles (tricks, contortion, etc.).Blowup: A style of breaking which focuses on the “wow factor” of certain power

moves, freezes, and circus styles. Blowup-style consists of performing a sequence of as many difficult trick combinations in as quick succession as possible in order to “smack” or exceed the virtuosity of the other B-Boy’s performance. This is usually attempted only after becoming proficient in other styles due to the degree of control and practice required in this type of dancing. Some of the moves are like - Airbaby, Airchair, Hollow Backs, Solar Eclipse, Reverse Airbaby, among others. The main goal in blowup-style is the rapid transition through a sequence of power moves.Flavour: A style that is based more on elaborate toprock, downrock, and freezes. This style is focused more on the beat of the song than having to rely on “power” moves only. B-Boys who base their dance on “flavour” or style are known as “style heads”.Flex: A style that is noted mainly from its require-ment of being flexible. More complicated threading and moves with “flavour” are also accompanied with power

the StORY SO FARThe 2010 title “The One” was bagged by the Brazilian power

mover Neguin from the Tsunami All Stars crew. They were amongst the 16 B-Boys from around the world that rocked

the Yoyogi Stadium in the heart of Tokyo.A round stage formed the centre of the pulsating grandstand. In the last of the 15 one-on-one battles, the Brazilian Neguin faced the “The Flying Dutchman” Just Do It, who won in the semi-final against German Airdit. Neguin won the battle with advanced technicality and an awe-inspiring performance. The Brazilian “Ginga,” that mystical quality of movement and attitude, that has made Brazilian soccer players world famous, worked its magic for him. The B-Boys had to convince five judges, among them two-time champion Lilou and legendary Ken Swift. Deci-sions were not made easy and were often tight. Neguin got four of the five judge’s votes. After an auspicious start in Biel, Swit-zerland (2004), the battle moved to Berlin (2005), and Sao Paulo in Brazil (2006). The 2007 battle took place in Johannesburg, and in 2008, the best B-Boys of the world battled it out in the heart of Paris. In 2009, the competition took place in B-Boying’s birthplace, New York City.

DREAM COME TRUEThe six-foot well-built Sultan Suleiman Al Rawhawy, one of the founders of Enk Revo, who was fascinated by watching B-Boying on television in the late 90s, learnt the nitty-gritty of Break Dance by minutely watching the steps and move-ments on VIVA channels. To fulfill his aim of learning break dance, the soft-spoken Sultan got support from his close friend Haitham Moham-med Al Wahaibi and in 2001 formed the Enk Revo. With a handful of young boys, he started practicing at open places far away from their homes, as their family mem-bers had fear in their mind that B-Boying was a “danger game”. Initially, they did not support them, but gradually they relented on seeing the de-

termined boys rigorously practice for hours. He is putting in all his efforts to see that his boys do well at the big event. Sultan’s passion for B-Boying did not confine him only to watching TV channels, but led him to spread B-Boying across the Sultanate. In this endeavour, the Break Dance groups grew, and it inspired hundreds of youths in Oman. Sultan, who is also a fitness freak had participated in the Oman Olympics Body Building Champi-onship, held in Bausher in 2010. Though flexing muscles earned him fifth position in the competition, he is determined to bag “The One” title in B-Boying for Oman and his boys this year-end in Russia. Campus wishes him and his team good luck.

Enk Revo performing in Muscat.

Haitham Mohammed Al Wahaibi

Sultan Suleiman Al Rawhawy

12 COVER STORY

MAY 2011

moves and freezes that also require flexibility.B-Boying Omani StyleEnk Revo, started by two men, Sultan Suleiman Al Rawhawy and Haitham Mo-hammed Al Wahabi in 2001, as a hobby, has grown up to be of international standard, by successfully holding B-Boys competition in Oman. They are eyeing an interna-tional title at a competition to be held by the end of this year in St. Petersburg.Over 200 young boys attired in casual jeans, colourful Ts, sports shoes and wrist bands from 15 B-Boying teams of Oman, participated in a day-long competition held recently at the Al Masah Hall, in the busy Ruwi area. They performed in front of a jam-packed hall.The young crowd cheered the B-Boys, while they tapped and swung to the rap music played by DJs in the dimly lit auditorium. The game referee announced results of the performances after every round of breathtaking per-formance, and the winners climbed the victory ladder.In the qualifying round, 16 boys were selected, out of which two outstanding performers will go to Jordan to participate for the title – “Red Bull Break in Middle East”.At the Jordan meet, B-Boys from the Gulf region will display their skill and the winner will participate in the international competition to be held in Russia. The teams that participated in the events were: Revo Funky, Floo 7, Faf G Revo, Farsh Orthe, Sur, Obstyle, Popo Boyz, Black Boyz, Chaas, Legond, Legend Ary Weapons, Top Style, Red Bok, Breaking Team.

LOCAL SUPPORTEnk Revo got its first op-portunity to perform at the Muscat Festival in the year of its inception in 2001. The spectators were spellbound and speechless with the performance of the group members – Abdullah, Gas-san, Suleiman, Muhammed, Mishal and Hilmi, says Sultan. “We got recognition not only from the spectators, but also the corporates. Both public and private sectors appre-ciated our performances and we got opportunities to perform our skills at social events. Since then, there was no looking back for the team of 13 members,” says Sultan, adding that today there are over 200 members, who are highly skilled and well trained due to their sheer hard work and determina-tion. “The much needed boost was available at the local levels, which kept our

energy level going up and made us strong enough to practice regularly after our working hours. We used to practice more than four– five hours daily with the music on at some open spaces avail-able in our vicinity,” says the tall and well-built Sultan.“For nearly five years the boys practiced rigorously, but regularly performed at corporate functions. In 2006, we again got an opportunity to perform at the prestigious Muscat Festival, and we used the opportunity to the best of our ability,” says Sultan.

PROUD MOMENTMuscat Festival was the turn-ing point for the group and it later got an opportunity to perform before US President Barack Obama, along with participants from other parts of the world. It was a proud moment not only for the group, but also for the country, says Sultan.“We were in the US for nearly two months, which gave us a lot of exposure to B-Boying groups from other countries. People across the globe recognised us and came to know about the B-

Boys of Oman,” a sobre and soft-spoken Sultan said.“On our return, we got a hero’s welcome. But we were proud to bring glory to our country than to our self. In the following year, Ko-rean B-Boys came here and performed with us at the Muscat Festival and gradu-ally we also got invitations to perform in countries like, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore and Ukraine, to participate in B-Boys events,” Sultan said.“Our boys got recognition not only from international me-

dia like BBC and MTV. Even MBC 4 channel from Saudi Arabia aired our programme live,” Sultan said.At the recently held Fashion Design Week in Muttrah, B-Boying members also performed.“Our elders were scared on seeing boys performing such skills, as B-Boying was a new concept then in the country and many feared that it will break wrists and legs, as it needed a lot of body move-ments to keep swinging and balancing with the tap of rap music,” he recalled.

13COUNSELLOR

Salim Al Saidi is a career adviser.

Employers are always looking for employees who have work experi-ence, as it helps them to rapidly

adapt and cope with duties and respon-sibilities of the new job without the need to spend more money and time in their training.

Therefore, we rarely find a job an-nouncement without noticing – among its details – the requirement of previous work experience in the required field. This work experience differs from one applicant to another, depending on the nature and importance of the advertised job. The period of experience ranges between one year for the junior positions to 15 years or more for senior positions like that of managers, for instance. For the job-seekers, this requirement of experience often prevents them from applying for many jobs, especially in the case of new graduates.Most fresh graduates complain about the difficulty of obtaining a job nowadays due to the requirement of a minimum one-year work experience in the field of specialisation. So, how can applicants meet the require-ment when they have not had a job? Hence, the situation may seem for many like walking into a vicious circle as there is no job without experience, and

no experience without a job.This highlights the importance of train-ing during the study period, and the important role it plays in compensating for the lack of practical experience of fresh graduates. A lot of students at higher education institutions are keen to take up a period of practical training in public or private organisations, to gain practical experi-ence in their fields.

This training assists fresh graduates in the application of theoretical knowledge in a genuine work environment. Training also helps them discover the nature and working conditions of their future workplace, as well as identify the kind of responsibilities they will have to take up because of their specialisation. Training also contributes to refining many of the skills that are important and required in the labour market. But how is this training utilised in the best possible way and used as a compensa-tion for the absence of work experience?The student should make sure he gets a training opportunity in the area similar to his functional area in the future. For example, a student who specialises in the field of electrical engineering should have training in companies operating in the field of energy, or companies which have electrical engineers among their

staff, where students can apply what he has learnt and identify the responsi-bilities and the nature of the electrical engineer’s work in these companies. Besides, the training period should be reasonable, because it will give the impression that the student has actually got the desired benefit.Training at well-known and major com-panies helps the fresh graduate better market his experience, and it draws the attention of employers. The student should also make the best use of his spare time to acquire knowl-edge and skills related to his career.Considering the importance of training, students must go through one training period or more before graduation.And it’s always nice to see in the resumes of students, several training experiences. This is what distinguishes the applicants from each other, espe-cially if they have the same educational qualifications.In conclusion, I would advise all the fresh graduates and job-seekers to exploit the period of their job hunting – which might be long in some cases – to get more training. Moreover, some job-seekers are em-ployed at the same organisations they have trained, if they prove their compe-tence and dedication to work. Email: als3idi@hotmail.com

Training while studying compensates for the lack of practical experience among fresh graduates

READERS’ CORNER

Campus invites readers to send short stories and poems that they may want to publish in its pages. They can also send paintings, sketches and works of photography. Campus reserves the right to decide which of these can be published and edit material before publication.

We are keenly awaiting your response.The Editor.

campus@happening-media.com

MAY 2011

Get the edge Training at a broadcast company

14 THE INTERVIEW

MAY 2011

A country will have to attract youth to its agricultural sector if

it intends to sustain produc-tion. For youth in Oman’s farming regions, there are nearby cities, where they can migrate and do business or find well paying jobs and a new lifestyle. One way of retaining youth in the farm sector will be by offering educated young farmers access to advanced farming techniques that will give them the satisfaction of producing crops that can

compete with the best in the world, and bring in profits.Youngsters with an education will be far more receptive and in a position to quickly adopt new ideas in both farming and business so that the food and nutrition needs of the country are met as far as pos-sible by cheaper and fresher local produce.

There are several success stories in Oman’s farming communities and vegetables and fruits grown in fertile regions like Al Batinah are ex-

ported to Asian and European markets. Agricultural exports stood at 168 million rials in 2008. Campus asked Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries HE Dr Fuad Al Sajwani what was being done to attract and retain youngsters in farming, and the state of agriculture in the country.

Al Sajwani said his ministry had several programmes in place that were passing on to young farmers both skills and technical knowledge. For

example, greenhouses have increased the production and range of vegetables like sweet bell peppers and cucumbers, and honey bee culture has in-troduced local honey into the market. “The government also supports farmers financially, so that they are encouraged to take up farming as a liveli-hood.“They can receive training in the latest farming methods through the Agriculture De-velopment Departments and the Center for Development and Human Resources in our ministry”. Al Sajwani said there are established research pro-grammes that have enabled us to offer new farming methods for both open field and greenhouse production. “Some of our research has helped improve the protection of both soil and water, and post-harvest techniques.

“We also train farmers in marketing and distributing their produce not only in the country but also abroad. As a result, fruits, vegetables and other crops grown by farm-ers in Oman are in demand in many countries, fetching prices that help them make profits”.

lIFe ON A FARM

Youngsters like growing vegetable crops as it gets them very good returns, Dr Fuad Al Sajwani tells Jeta Pillai

Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries Dr Fuad Al Sajwani

Fruits in a region depend on climatic conditions.

Greenhouse.

15

MAY 2011

THE INTERVIEW

He said that concerted efforts of farmers and government over the years has led to a sig-nificant increase in the value of agricultural and livestock production in the country. It has risen from 73.5 million rials in 2002 to 199.2 million rials in 2007, at an annual growth rate of 2.9 per cent.

Al Sajwani said, “It has been possible because the country has kept the area of arable land (where crops can be cul-tivated) quite stable. We have also introduced modern farm-ing methods, thus increasing efficiency”.The success of the farm sector also leads to demographic stability, that is, there has not been mass migration from rural areas to urban centres which is seen in many developing coun-tries. Currently, there are over 194,000 farms and allotments throughout the country.

NEW FARMING TECHNIQUESAl Sajwani said that in the process of raising production and improving quality and ef-ficiency, several new farming systems have been developed or adopted by the country. “For example, there is inte-grated farming of dates, grain, forage crops and vegetables. We also use soil-less culture technology for the produc-tion of commercially valued vegetables like cucumber, tomato, lettuce, cabbage and strawberry. Then there is forage crops production using salt water”.

YOUTH AND vEGGIESAl Sajwani said, for young-sters the vegetable crops are an attraction as it gets them very good returns and can be undertaken in green houses including soil-less culture. “At this time, greenhouse cucum-ber is very popular among young farmers”.

FOOD SECURITYFarmers also do a national service by bringing food security to the country and reducing the food import bill.Al Sajwani said certain indigenous crops of Oman, like wheat, barley, chickpeas, dates, and lime, which have traditional food value are cul-tivated in almost all regions of the country. Oman considers them as strategic crops for food security, as they form the base of the Omani diet. Simi-larly, Oman also considers sheep and goat as strategic animals for meat production. “Oman is committed to pro-duction of local varieties of these crops and local breeds of sheep and goat, which have an immense value for the future. Conserving diversity of crops and animals is of ut-most importance, as it allows breeders to take advantage

of adaptive traits present in this diversity and develop improved varieties that are able to respond to changes in the environment. This is essential to meet the growing demand of food, in terms of both quantity, and quality, coming from this country as well as the world”.

EFFICIENT WATER USESalt water intrusion in underground reservoirs is a problem in coastal areas all over the world. When water is drawn from reservoirs excessively, it leads to fall in levels and sea water enters, increasing salt content in the

underground water, which then becomes unfit for irriga-tion. In Oman, recharge dams, water metres and “no drill zones” have helped allevi-ate the problem of sea water intrusion. But again, farm production will go up only with the avail-ability of water. One of the ways in which more water can be made available for agriculture is by reducing wastage. Al Sajwani said that modern irrigation systems like sprin-klers, drips in field crops, bubblers for horticulture crops, good water manage-

ment systems and drip irriga-tion for vegetable production have increased the efficiency with which water is used.

“Studies have demonstrated the extent of water savings as a result of the use of modern irrigation systems. Tradition-al irrigation has an efficiency of about 30 per cent, as compared to 85 per cent for modern irrigation methods. We are continuing to work hard to improve efficiency of water use which will improve the water situation in the Sultanate”. Research is also on to use treated waste water for the production of barley,

sorghum and maize as fodder crops.

FOOD PROCESSINGSo as to reduce wastage and add the value to farm produce, governments often like to see increase in food production to take place alongside increase in food processing capacity. Will we be seeing that in Oman?Al Sajwani said, “Yes that is how we want it to be in the Sultanate as well. For example in the case of dates, there are date processing fac-tories engaged in processing surplus date produce to make date honey, date sweets etc”.

Constant research has led to better yields.

Carrots growing in a field.

Self-sufficiency in farm produce in Oman (2005-2008)

Cereals ................................................................ 1 per centVegetables .................................................. 54.7 per centFruits ........................................................... 71.1 per cent

16 THE INTERVIEW

MAY 2011

IN the StePS OF FOReFAtheRSIN the StePS OF FOReFAtheRS

Farmers in Al Suwaiq said with government help they had become vegetable exporters

he Al Batinah region, with its fertile land, is considered the food bas-

ket of the Gulf region. Vegetables and fruits grown here meet the diverse needs of not only the Sultanate, but also export markets in the region, Asia and Europe. The Agricultural Development Department in Al Batinah which comes under the Minis-try of Agriculture and Fisher-ies, has provided farmers with modern farming techniques and irrigation systems which have helped them increase crop yield and make efficient use of water.Among the vegetables grown in greenhouses are tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, coloured peppers and Japanese cow-

peas. In open fields we can find beans, melons, leafy veg-etables like lettuce, and toma-toes. Director for Agricultural Development in Al Suwaiq Al Shubkhi village Eng. Ali Bin Hamed Al Harrasi said that because of the efforts of both farmers and the government, Al Suwaiq had become a producer of several fruit and vegetable varieties. They include dates, various types of bananas, lemons and mangoes. Some of the sea-sonal produce include water melons, melons, tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant and cabbage.He said that the ministry had modernised agriculture here by supporting farmers financially and technologi-

cally. Farmers now had access to modern farm machinery, ir-rigation systems, greenhouses and vegetable canopies.The ministry provided 44 ir-rigation systems in 2010 and four in 2011 in the Al Batinah region. It also provided 58 single and double canopies.Ali added that about 20 individuals received potato fields from the government, 16 got banana plantations and 20 were given mango orchards. The ministry also gave farm-ers four trucks for banana rip-ening, 10 hand ploughs and five ploughs, in addition to pressure spraying machines. A representative of the min-istry’s directorate of agricul-tural development trained farmers in the use of modern agricultural machinery and pesticides. He said, today farmers from this region were exporting produce like sweet peppers, beans and cherry tomatoes to Japan, Spain, The Neth-erlands, Italy and the Gulf states.Ali said, “In the coming months, the Ministry of Agriculture was planning to support the farmers by giving them machines and training them to use modern technol-ogy in farming, because it will lead to better crops and increase the yield”.Rashid Bin Salim Al Sa’ahi owner of a farm in Al Badyah village in Al Suwaiq said, “the

career of an agriculturist is something I inherited from my father and forefathers, and the skills I have today have been acquired through experi-ence since childhood”.He said the government recently helped farmers by financing 75 per cent of the cost of their tools and irriga-tion facilities and it also paid 50 per cent of the cost of canopies.Rashid said, two farms in the Al Batinah region produce barbican pepper. His is one of them. These were being exported to Spain where it is used in making pizza. The seeds for this crop were imported from the US. Some of their produce are sent to Al Mawaleh souk as well as Dubai.Gasan Bin Hamed Al Rashdi has a bachelor’s degree in Is-lamic studies and Master’s in Education Administration, but in 1990, he started growing field crops.He said that the Ministry of Agriculture has been sup-porting him by giving access to modern irrigation and cano-pies. The equipment was paid for fully by the government while he bore 50 per cent of the cost of installation.These days he grows coloured peppers, tomatoes, Japanese beans, tomatoes, cucumbers and paprika. He said fertilis-ers, seeds and tools are bou-ght by farmers collectively.By Aziz Al Rahbi & Jeta Pillai

T

Eng. Ali Bin Hamed Al Harrasi (right) and Gasan Bin Hamed Al Rashdi with a bunch of cherry tomatoes.

Gasan and (inset) Rashid Bin Salim Al Sa’ahi

17MIND YOUR LANGUAGE

Dr PN Ramani

IDIOMS IN eNGlIShThe English language is rich in

idioms and they add colour and in-terest to your speech and writing.

An idiom is a phrase whose meaning is different from the literal meanings of the individual words it contains. For ex-ample, putting your head in the lion’s mouth does not mean that you are literally doing this. You might do this with a tamed lion in front of a crowd if you are a circus performer. As an idiom in English, it means that you are putting yourself in a very difficult or dangerous position. Likewise, if you throw a span-ner in the works, it does not mean that you have literally thrown a kind of tool into some machinery and so damaged it. It usually means that you have spoiled or hindered someone’s plan or project.

An idiom is thus an expression whose meaning cannot be easily understood by knowing the meanings of the individual words in the expression and putting them together. For example, you may know what ‘know’ and ‘ropes’ mean, but you may still not understand the meaning of the idiom know the ropes. A sailor should learn the mechanics of handling the ropes in the art of seaman-ship. The idiom has now come to mean ‘understand the details and procedures of something’. You may say, for ex-ample, “When I first started the job as a trainee engineer / human resource manager, I felt really helpless and lost, but when I knew the ropes I felt more confident.” Let’s take another example. It is easy to understand the literal mean-ing of the phrase be in the same boat, but the common idiomatic meaning is ‘be in the same difficult or unfortunate situation’, as in: “At first, I found the job difficult, but all the trainees were in the same boat; we were all learning.”

You can easily understand the meanings of the individual words in the expres-sion throw in the towel, but the idiom means ‘give in, admit defeat’. For ex-ample, “I tried to stand up to the taunts and bullies of my coworkers for a few months, but I got frustrated and threw in the towel. I asked to be transferred to another location.” In boxing, throwing in the towel is a way of giving in and conceding defeat. Similarly, the literal meaning of throw someone to the lions is easily understood, but the idiom means ‘deliberately put someone in a difficult or dangerous position’. Look at this sentence: “All the staff decided to make the student attendance policy stricter, but they threw the vice-principal to the lions when they asked her to inform the parents of the new policy at a meet-ing with them.” This idiom refers to a form of entertainment in ancient Rome. Prisoners were thrown to hungry lions to be attacked and killed by them while the people watched and enjoyed the scene.

There are quite a few idioms with the word ‘face’. To disappear/vanish off the face of the earth means ‘to disap-pear completely’. To lose face means ‘to be less respected or look stupid because

of something you have done’. To pull a face means ‘to produce an expression on your face to show that you do not like somebody or something; you make faces in order to make somebody laugh. If you keep a straight face, you don’t laugh or smile, although you may find something funny. You remain straight-faced though you are amused. The informal expres-sion face the music means ‘to accept and deal with criticism or punishment for something you have done’, as in “While we were playing football, we damaged the window of a car. The oth-ers all ran off, leaving me to face the music.” It will be interesting to study the idioms that contain a part of the human body like face, head, mouth and leg. For example, pull one’s leg means ‘to play a joke on somebody, usually by making them believe something that is not true’.

Some idioms are imaginative expres-

sions derived from proverbs and wise sayings. If the saying is well known, part of it may even be left out from the idiomatic expression: “All of us knew things would go wrong – it’s the story of too many cooks.” This idiom is from “Too many cooks spoil the broth.” It means that, if too many people are involved in something, it will not be done well; it will spoil the project.

Remember, however, not to use too many of the idioms in your speech or writing, especially those idioms that have become clichés by being overused. Examples of such expressions are: avoid like the plague, the bottom line, explore every avenue, leave no stone unturned, the light at the end of the tunnel and a quantum leap. Have fun exploring the world of idioms.Email: ramanipn@gmail.com Remember not to

use too many of the idioms in your speech or writing,

especially those thathave become clichés

MAY 2011

Making a face.

18 AVENUES

MAY 2011

When it comes to academic innova-tion, Americans have

long been accustomed to the traffic being mainly one way. From standardised testing to distance learning and alumni fund-raising, what happens on US campuses this year will probably happen five or 10 years later in the rest of the world.

But the growth of joint- and dual-degree programmes in Asia, Australia and above all Europe has left Americans in the unfamiliar position of playing catch-up.

Although the semester abroad or student exchange are both commonplace fixtures of academic life, dual degrees, where a student graduates with diplomas from two edu-cational institutions – some-times in two countries – are still comparatively rare in the United States. True joint-de-gree programmes – where two universities agree on a course of study and award students a single diploma in the name of both institutions – are rarer still.

“A lot of the impetus and drive has come from Europe,”

said Kris Olds, a professor of geography at the University of Wisconsin who studies global higher education. “The Europeans wanted to unsettle their existing systems. A lot of Asian universities were eager to link up with stronger institutions. But for a long time when you raised the idea of international collaboration with American academics, they decided it wasn’t worth the trouble.”

That is rapidly changing, partly because the European experience has been so suc-cessful and partly in response to what Peggy Bernstein, a senior counselor at the Insti-tute for International Educa-tion in New York, describes as “a big shift in perception” on the part of American employ-ers. “Having a degree from more than one country didn’t used to be seen as much of an advantage here,” Bernstein said. “From now on careers are going to be global, so stu-dents who can show that they understand and can operate in a global environment will have a big advantage.”

Daniel Obst, the institute’s deputy vice president for international partnerships, is

conducting a survey of dual- and joint-degree programmess in collaboration with the Free University of Berlin. Although the survey will not be complet-ed until next week, he said the preliminary responses showed an explosion of interest. “Joint degrees are the brave new world of education. Everybody wants to do it,” he said.

An earlier version of the sur-vey indicated that European universities offered twice as many dual- or joint-degree programmes as American universities.

Matthias Kuder, the survey’s co-author at the Free Univer-sity in Berlin, said during an interview that for students, such programmes “offered a big advantage over traditional year-abroad programmes because they don’t have to worry ‘Will I get credit back home?’ That’s all arranged in advance”.

For students, the impact can range from an extra line on a resume to a life-changing experience.

Taryn Arnott, a 2010 gradu-ate of the University of the Witwatersrand in Johan-nesburg, said she ordinarily “would never have considered going to school in the United States.” Now working as an intern at the Justice Project, an examination of detainees in South African prisons mod-eled on the Innocence Project in the United States, she has just been accepted into a new dual-degree programme with the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism in New York.

Originally a music journalist – her website, dontparty.co.za was voted best music blog in South Africa – Arnott said she

was “particularly interested in how American magazines report on criminal justice issues.” Students in the programme, whether from South Africa or the United States, first will spend 10 months completing a master’s degree in New York. They then attend classes and join work placements in Jo-hannesburg, receiving degrees from both institutions. Anton Harber, director of the journalism programme at Witwatersrand, said: “Africans and Americans both need to break down stereotypes of each other, and the best way to do this is to enable young people to get more complex views of each other.”

For the academics involved, the negotiations leading up to such programmes can be a complex ritual. “Most contacts come about through research,” said John Webb, vice president for international relations at the University of Angers in France. “Two researchers meet and they decide to col-laborate. Or one gets invited to be a visiting lecturer.”

The next step is some kind of student exchange. With only two dual-degree programmes in 2007, Angers now offers eight. “Next year we’ll be up to 13,” said Webb, including a joint doctorate in nanophar-macology with the universi-ties of Louvain and Liege in Belgium, Santiago de Compos-tela in Spain, Nottingham in England and Nantes in France. In Europe, such ties are nurtured, and often brokered, by the Erasmus Mundus programme, which subsidises joint master’s and doctoral programmes across national borders. But even in Europe the path from dual degrees – the academic equivalent of

DUAl-DeGRee FeveRJoint degrees are the brave new world of education, DD Guttenplan finds out

University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg.

19AVENUES

living together – to the full marriage implied by joint de-grees is strewn with obstacles.

Joint programmes have to be fully endorsed by the relevant faculty members of both institutions. “The challenge of having faculty members in a single institution agree on anything is hard enough,” Bernstein of the Institute for International Education said.

There is also the issue of ac-creditation. In a 2008 paper written for the Observatory on Borderless Higher Educa-tion in London, the Canadian

researcher Jane Knight said that some academics viewed dual and joint programmes “as a troublesome development leading to double counting of academic work and the thin edge of academic fraud.”

Mark Fredericks, coordinator of the European Consortium for Accreditation, a group that links 17 accrediting agencies in 11 countries, said such concerns could be answered by having a single European standard for academic credit.

“What we want to do,” he said during an interview, “is have a

single accreditation procedure – with one panel of experts at one agency, and where the outcome is accepted by all the countries involved.” Once programmes are up and running, they face additional challenges on maintaining quality assur-ance and sustainability. “Too often academics want to set up a joint programme as a kind of fashion statement,” said Kuder of the Free Uni-versity. “They forget about students. Obst of the Insti-tute for International Educa-tion maintained that the most durable programmes

are ‘where you have a mar-riage of equals”.

‘Everyone wants to have an elite partner,” he said. “And in the United States, everyone wants to have a programme in China. But with 4,000 uni-versities here and thousands in China, you don’t have to have Harvard as your partner. There are plenty of appropri-ate partners”.

Finding the right partner can be expensive – and demand-ing. “We’ve never had to offer beginning classes in French before,” said Webb of the

University of Angers, adding that the influx of foreign students on a master’s degree in international business offered jointly with Nicolaus Copernicus University in To-run, Poland, was “a big factor leading us to have our second year master’s taught entirely in English”.

But he sees such change as inevitable. “The world was a much bigger place 20 years ago,” he said. “Most people now are going to need to deal with other cultures in their careers”.

IHT-NYT News Service

Columbia University, New York.

20 SPOTLIGHT

MAY 2011

Many would have struck Egypt off their list of places for a

university education after the uprising and the disruption of normalcy that we have witnessed over the last three months. But things may not take that course. Dr Ahmed Al Shishtawy, Cultural Attache and Head of the Cultural Office, Embassy of Egypt told Campus that “we will have to wait and watch till the begin-ning of the next academic year (Sept.) to know if interest in going to Egypt for higher education has fallen. “Right now, in Egypt, students are preparing for their annual examinations and the situa-tion in the country as a whole is getting better. I expect complete normalcy in three to four months. By the begin-ning of the next academic year in Sept., things should get normal”.For many years Egypt has been a preferred destination

for Omanis wanting to go to university, especially to study literature, law and medicine. Al Shishtawy said it is cheap-er in Egypt than in many other countries. Currently there are about 1500 Omani students in the country.Apart from Cairo University there are 20 other govern-ment universities and also some private ones.Al Shishtawy said the min-istry of higher education in Egypt has administration

offices for foreign students, which guides and helps them during their stay in the country. They also organise field trips so that students get familiar with the country.He said one of the reasons why students from Oman like to study in Egypt is that they can speak their own language and families can travel and go about their daily routine without any difficulty. Food is cheap and house rent low.

In agreement with the govern-ment of Oman Egypt offers three fellowships for students from Oman. It can be for the study of Islam or any other subject at Al Azhar Univer-sity. “From the next academic year, starting from Sept. 2011, we will have 10 fellowships”.Cairo University and Ain Shams University are among the best for literature. For law it is Cairo University. For studying medicine again it is Ain Shams University and Mansoura University. For IT too Ain Shams is the top university.He said although there are 18 universities spread all over the country “everyone likes to live in Cairo”. The marks requirement and fees are the same in all government universities in Egypt. There is a common website for all universities www.mohe-casm.edu.eg The application process be-gins in June.

Jeta Pillai

eGYPt hAS BeeN A FAvOURIte

Omani students like studying in Cairo as they can speak Arabic there

Dr Ahmed Al Shishtawy

Cairo University.

21FLAIR

MAY 2011

1) Lampeberger Paris (Live in air you love) – Cleanser and fragrance for the air in our home. Fragrance: 9.700 rials. Bottle: 45 ri-als.

2) Nuria Grali Spain (crystal sculptures). 40 rials –150 rials.

3) Nao Spain. 15 rials to 150 rials.

4) Ferrari sunglasses. 150 rials to 200 rials.

5) Gold Line Italia. 100 rials to 250 rials.

6) Christofle silver plated photo frame. 80 rials to 200 rials.

7) Christofle silver plated kawa pot with kawa cups. 930 rials.

Photographer: RajanSource: Capital Store

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22

MAY 2011

It’s 5 pm, and already there›s a crowd gathered around the alley entrance

to the Edison, a 1920s-styled speakeasy on the edge of what was once Skid Row in down-town Los Angeles.An elegant, reservations-are-a-must lounge by night, the Edison nods to budget-conscious Angelenos on Thursday afternoons with a 35-cent happy-hour special in the refurbished, century-old power plant.A hostess points the way to a flight of stairs leading to a basement boiler room fur-nished with sofas and antique tables scattered among hulk-ing generators.Silent movies flicker on two

large screens as waiters dart about taking orders in the dim light.A few blocks away, gourmet food trucks, selling mac-and-cheese sandwiches and minia-ture whoopie pies, fill parking lots along Main Street for the monthly Art Walk. Inside the newly expanded Los Angeles Center for Digital Art, people gather around a pile of chocolate-chip cookies stacked in the corner, wonder-ing whether they›re art or edible. Welcome to downtown LA, a once-deserted city centre that›s coming to life again after years of neglect. Credit the revival to a boom in city living, lively new arts and

entertainment venues and events such as the Art Walk for drawing locals and visitors back to what was an elegant residential quarter and premier shopping and theatre district in the early 1900s.

Grabbing attention are modern additions such as architect Frank Gehry›s silvery Walt Disney Concert Hall, home to the LA Philhar-monic and its popular young conductor, Gustavo Dudamel. But more awaits.“Lofts for Lease” signs hang outside once-abandoned office buildings and hotels, beckon-ing to young urban dwellers more in tune to biking or walking to work than long freeway commutes from LA›s suburbs.Their days are spent in the office towers on Bunker Hill, LA›s mansion district in the early 20th century, now a financial centre and hub for the performing arts.Open plazas, fountains and re-flecting pools create a traffic-free pedestrian zone leading to the Museum of Contempo-rary Art and the Walt Disney Concert Hall, a landmark of swirling, stainless-steel

opened in 2003. Benefactor Lillian Disney envisioned a “little brick church covered in vines.” Visitors can judge Gehry›s interpretation for themselves on a free, self-guided audio tour.Weekends are for relaxing over breakfast at new coffee bars and diners in the historic centre.“It›s the cutting edge of what›s happening downtown right now,” says Pam Taylor, a volunteer who leads down-town walking tours for the Los Angeles Conservancy.“Lower downtown,” as it›s called, is reconnected once again to Bunker Hill by a one-minute, 25-cent ride on the or-ange and black Angels Flight, a funicular railway built in 1901 to carry residents to and from the shops and theatres, just two blocks away.Angels Knoll, a park next door to Angels Flight, made famous in the 2009 film “(500) Days of Summer,” will be weeded soon by a flock of goats brought in by the Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency. In various stages of restoration are Beaux Arts and Art Deco-style former bank buildings, theatres

DOwNtOwN lA ReDIScOveReD

Lively new arts and entertainment venues are bringing back visitors to what was once an elegant residential quarter, writes Carol Pucci

DESTINATION

The Angels Flight funicular railway has reopened.

The rooftop of the Standard Hotel.

23

MAY 2011

DESTINATION

DOwNtOwN lA ReDIScOveReD

and hotels, abandoned when people left downtown for the suburbs after World War II.Starting with the opening of Staples Center sports arena in 1999, now part of the L.A. LIVE mega-sports/entertain-ment complex, the changes haven›t been without contro-versy. Wander the streets dur-ing Art Walk, or on a Satur-day morning when the locals gather on the terrace of Cof-feeBar, the newest addition to the Spring Street indie coffee scene, and downtown starts to feel like parts of Manhattan or Seattle›s Belltown, gritty in places, but safe, and alive with new energy.Downtown hotel choices range from the high-rise Ritz Carlton and Marriott near Staples Center to the restored Biltmore, adorned with painted ceilings, murals and classic photos from Academy Awards ceremonies in the 1930s and 1940s.Nearby, the Standard Hotel in the former Superior Oil headquarters building attracts a fashionable crowd to its rooftop bar carpeted with astro turf.Working with a $100-a-night budget, I slept in style in the Grand Central Square apart-ments atop the Million Dollar Theatre, built for showman Sid Grauman (of Grauman›s Chinese, the Hollywood Boule-vard movie palace known for the concrete blocks bearing the footprints and handprints of stars).Terra-cotta sculptures of bison heads and Texas longhorn skulls decorate the facade of the Grand Central Square apartments, testimony to the amount that reportedly was spent on the building.Offices were converted into apartments. The theatre, closed to the public for a decade, reopened in 2008 for live performances, film shoots and private parties. Next door, vintage neon signs welcome visitors to the Grand Central Market, a farmers›

market since 1917. Clifton›s Cafeteria on South Broadway, across from the State Theatre, now the Cathedral de la Fe, is where Judy Garland per-formed in the 1930s.Clifton›s opened in 1931, looking much like it does today – a Disneyesque fantasy forest, decorated with fake trees, moose heads, waterfalls

and a faux fireplace. Breakfast here costs less than a latte at CoffeeBar. But change is coming to Broadway, too, and to Clifton›s.The Clinton family, the owners for five generations, recently sold Clifton›s to Andrew Meieran, owner of the Edison.

MCT News Service

IF YOU GO:GETTING AROUND: The city of Los Angeles is huge, but there›s no need for a car downtown. It›s possible to walk most everywhere, or get around on the Metro subway, light rail or 35-cent Dash minibuses (www.ladottransit.com) that stop at major downtown tourist and busi-ness locations. See http://discoverlosangeles.com/getting-around/land/los-angeles-public-transit.html.

LODGING: Lots of downtown options, depending on your budget. For a touch of old-school class, look for last-minute specials at the Millennium Biltmore (www.millenniumhotels.com). A recent Internet sale advertised an April rate of $134, with taxes, for a standard double. Rates start at $176 with taxes at the nearby Standard Hotel, popular for its rooftop pool and open-air lounge (www.standardhotels.com).

Close to Staples Center and the L.A. LIVE en-tertainment complex is the Moroccan-themed Figueroa Hotel (www.figueroahotel.com). Rates start at $168 including taxes. Airbnb (www.airbnb.com) has listings for rooms in private downtown condos and apartments.

WHAT TO DO: Get your bearings on a walking tour with the Los Angeles Conservancy. The group offers Saturday-morning guided walks covering historic downtown, the Broadway the-atre district, the modern skyline, Union Station and other destinations. Cost is $10 for non-mem-bers. Advance reservations required.

Even if you can›t afford a ticket to see celebrity conductor Gustavo Dudamel lead the L.A. Phil-harmonic, don›t miss taking a free audio or guid-ed tour of Walt Disney Concert Hall, designed by Frank Gehry who did the EMP in Seattle. See www.laphil.com/visit/tours.

Explore the shops, art galleries, restaurants and cafes in Gallery Row along Main and Spring Streets. Sidewalks are jammed during the Down-town Art Walk, noon to 9 pm on the second Thursday of the month. The area is quieter other times. Most of what›s of interest is along Main and Spring between Second and Ninth streets and the blocks in between. See www.downtown-artwalk.com.

Use the Dash buses to explore museums in dif-ferent neighbourhoods. Recommended is the Grammy Museum at the LA LIVE complex and the two downtown branches of the Museum of Contemporary Art, free on Thursday evenings.

Diners hit food trucks during a festival.

The Los Angeles Theatre is one of a dozen historic movie palaces that line Broadway.

24 ON THE ROAD

MAY 2011

So you’re in the market for a 2011 Dodge Du-rango SUV. Congratula-

tions. After amassing nearly 500 miles on a top-end Citadel model recently, I can say you have great taste in vehicles.The new Durango is well-made, a good value and behaves on the road like your mother is watching.But before you sign that cheque, I have two questions for you. You›ll be towing something big, right? Because the Durango has up to 7,400 pounds of towing capacity when equipped with a Hemi V-8, it doesn›t mind having a trailer full of ponies or a Beneteau 34 sailboat hitched to its rear. Also, while you›re towing one of these behe-moths, will you be packing a coterie of six passengers plus yourself? With standard seating for seven adults, the Durango shuttles as well as it tows.I ask only because if you don›t see towing and schlepping across town in your vehicular future, you probably can find a more pragmatic choice than the Durango.Unless you really need it, it›s just too hard to justify this 5,200-pound V-8 SUV that gets the 13.6 miles per gallon I experienced in my week of driving.Dodge started with the unibody platform (and indeed many other components) that Jeep uses on its markedly capable Grand Cherokee. It tweaked and tuned the

chassis to give the Durango a road-friendly disposition, thereby paring down much of the Jeep’s considerable off-road prowess.The four-wheel independent suspension and responsive steering help this Dodge drive and park smaller than it is. The ride quality is excellent; the Durango›s solid construc-tion (hence the tonnage) is an

asset when contending with potholes and road noise, yet never a liability when forced into quick maneuvering.Drivers still benefit from the upright and commanding view of the road that has long been a selling point for SUVs. Getting in and out of the Durango is appreciably easier than the norm.This stems from the fact that

this Dodge sits at least half an inch lower than the Grand Cherokee. Its wheelbase is also 5 inches longer, with the overall length 10 inches longer.This added space pays dividends in the form of a third-row seat that folds flat into the floor when not in use, giving you a total 84.5 cubic feet of cargo space. Two genu-ine adults can fit in the back – mostly. While head and leg room are sufficient, because you›re sitting between the rear wheel wells, hip room is a little snug.The only other flaws in an otherwise rock-solid and straightforward interior are thinly padded second – and third-row seats and a touch-screen navigation system that is small and has a low resolu-tion. Regardless, the system›s affordability makes it a wise use of $395. It›s standard on the Durango›s CrewLux and Citadel models.This relative bargain for the navigation option is also in-dicative of a larger undercur-rent of value in the Durango. The only option the high-end $46,825 Citadel V-8 I drove didn›t have was the $2,000 all-wheel-drive add-on.What it did include was leather, a rear-seat DVD system, a backup camera, adaptive cruise control with collision warning, a lane-departure warning system, heated and cooled front seats, a heated steering wheel, heated second-row seats and

an Alpine audio system.Work your way down the Durango caste system from the Citadel and you find the CrewLux, the performance-oriented R/T, the Crew, the Heat (basically the R/T without the Hemi V-8) and the base Express, which starts at $30,045 for rear-wheel drive with the V-6.The 290-horsepower V-6 is standard on all Durangos except for the R/T. Torque is rated at 260 pound-feet and the V-6 can tow 6,200 pounds. I spent a day with a V-6 Crew all-wheel drive and found acceleration adequate, though the engine certainly needed all of its power to move its 5,000 pounds. Dodge›s Hemi V-8 is a $1,495 option. This engine puts out 360 horse-power and 390 pound-feet of torque. It is no barnburner either, but it motivates the Du-rango well enough. All Duran-gos have trailer sway control and all V-8s have a tow mode. Sadly, as capable as these two engines may be, they›re ham-pered by their transmissions. Both are paired to different five-speed automatics, each of which feels outdated and slow to respond. Five gears also limits the Durango›s fuel efficiency; in a day with the V-6 all-wheel drive I saw 17 mpg, and after a week with the V-8 rear-wheel drive I saw 13.6 mpg. The EPA rates this V-6 and V-8 at 16/22 mpg and 14/20 mpg city/highway, respectively.

MCT News Service

ShUttleS, tOwS

ShUttleS, tOwS

ShUttleS, tOwS

ShUttleS, tOwS

ShUttleS, tOwS

ShUttleS, tOwS

The SUVs solid construction is an asset, writes David Undercoffler

2011 DODGE DURANGO CITADEL RWD

BASE PRICE: $42,645 (INCLUDING DESTINATION CHARGE)

PRICE, AS TESTED: $46,825POWERTRAIN: 5.7-LITER, 16-VALVE V-8; FIVE-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WITH MANUAL SHIFTINGHORSEPOWER: 360 AT 4,250 RPM

TORQUE: 390 POUND-FEET AT 4,250 RPMOvERALL LENGTH: 199.8 INCHES

WHEELBASE: 119.8 INCHESCURB WEIGHT: 5,200 POUNDS

0 TO 60 MPH: 7.3 SECONDS (ACCORDING TO MOTOR TREND MAGAZINE)

EPA FUEL ECONOMY: 14 MPG CITY/20 MPG HIGHWAY

FINAL THOUGHTS: EASY TO WANT, HARD TO NEED

25

MAY 2011

STAR WORLD

EMMA’S STYLE

ACTress emmA roberTs Would never Ask A mAn for fAshion AdviCe beCAuse she Would never TrusT Their opinions. The 20-yeAr-old ACTress sAys she Wouldn’T TrusT A member of The opposiTe sex’s opinions on sTyle And Would rATher geT Tips And vieWs from her femAle friends. “i never TAke boys opinion on CloThes, ever. i reAlly Think, unless you Think The guy hAs sTyle, don’T Ask. so i only Ask my girl friends. i don’T TrusT guys’ opinions on sTyle!” she sAid.

PALTROW’S SUCCESS

ACTress gWyneTh pAlTroW Thinks people resenT her suCCess beCAuse she is Willing To Work hArd To AChieve The Things she WAnTs. The CounTRy STRong ACTress, Who hAs Children Apple, six, And moses, five, WiTh husbAnd Chris mArTin sAys she is noT AfrAid To Try neW Things And her desire To do her besT is ofTen misTAken for her feeling superior To oThers. “i Think my Work eThiC is The reAson Why i’m suCCessful. i Think ThAT A loT of people don’T WAnT To puT in efforT And iT’s eAsier To noT ChAnge, noT do someThing good for you, noT Work on your relATionship, noT mAke yourself A meAl, noT Work ouT. They’re jusT bugged AT someone else doing ThAT,” she sAid.

DELLAL WAS A TOMBOY

model AliCe dellAl AdmiTs she WAs A biT of A Tomboy While groWing up And Would Al-WAys look up To her fATher As A fAshion iCon. The 23-yeAr-old model And sisTer of shoe de-signer ChArloTTe dellAl sAid, “When i WAs liTTle, i WAs suCh A Tomboy – i loved A bAggy T-shirT And leggings. ChArloTTe hAs AlWAys been very sTylish. she used To dress me When i WAs reAlly young. We’d look idenTiCAl, buT We’re so differ-enT. she’d be reAding AgAThA ChrisTie And i, Well i, WAsn’T”. “i WAs AlWAys more ATTrACTed To WhAT my dAd WAs WeAring,” she Added. The brAziliAn beAu-Ty’s hAir is CurrenTly sTyled in A punk underCuT And she AdmiTs iT WAs AnoTher ideA she goT from her dAd.

AMANDA COvERED

ACTress AmAndA seyfried feels so unComforTAble WiTh her looks ThAT she hATes exposing her body in A bikini. “Am i ConfidenT AbouT my looks? no. noT even A liTTle biT. buT This is The WAy i look And i’m sTuCk WiTh iT,” The 25-yeAr-old ACTress sAid. “i Work ouT hArd, buT i’m never going To be ConfidenT AbouT geTTing inTo A bikini. some dAys, i look AT myself And Think, ‘ugh, i CAn’T go Any-Where’ And oTher dAys i feel, ‘yeAh i look ok’. i jusT puT on A preTTy dress And A Tonne of mAke-up And geT on WiTh iT,” The MEAn giRlS sTAr sAid.

KUTCHER’S NOTES FOR MOORE

ACTor AshTon kuTCher leAves Wife demi moore romAnTiC noTes Around The house To prove hoW muCh he loves her. The 33-yeAr-old ACTor mArried The gHoST ACTress in 2005 AfTer TWo yeArs of dATing And he Thinks iT’s im-porTAnT To leT his spouse knoW hoW muCh he loves her, And The pAir refuse To ThroW AWAy The messAges of enCourAgemenT And prAise. “The Type of romAnTiC is, you go To our house, i hAve noTes plACed in vArious loCATions, All WiTh messAges of enCourAgemenT or love or jusT ThoughT. some hAve been There, i don’T knoW, seven yeArs,” sAid moore. AshTon Added, sAying These noTes Are muCh CheAper ThAn diAmonds.

HURLEY, GRANT, STAY CLOSE

ACTress elizAbeTh hurley regArds hugh grAnT As one of her fAmily mem-bers And sAys They hAve been besT friends sinCe The momenT They meT. The 45-yeAr-old beAuTy hAs remAined “besT friends” WiTh The ACTor Whom she dATed for 13 yeArs unTil 2000 And Though They quArrel All The Time, she loves noThing more ThAn spending Time WiTh her former boyfriend. “hugh And i meT in 1987 on The seT on A movie in mAdrid And hAve been besT friends ever sinCe. i CompleTely Consider him one of my fAmily And love spending Time WiTh him, even Though We Annoy eACh oTher AT Times,” she sAid. “We rArely geT Through A dAy WiThouT fighTing, buT We AlWAys end up lAugh-ing,” she Added.

MAY 2011

26 NEW GEAR

Scosche Industries new goBAT II is a 5000mAH lithium-ion pocket sized rechargeable battery with a pair of USB ports to charge just about anything. One of the ports charges (2.1 Amps) devices with higher capacities, which include many of today›s popular tablets such as the iPad and Samsung Galaxy Tab.

There is no doubt that an iPad is not a computer because of its limitations but the tyPad Bluetooth keyboard takes the tablet a big step closer.

Gemini has launched the FirstMix USB DJ Controller for aspiring DJs. It’s designed to be simple to use for any user and includes two touch sensitive jog wheels that allow anyone to scratch like a pro.

The aPen A2 ($99.99) writes like a pen but what makes the standard-shape digital pen unique is the ultra-sonic transmitter inside that wirelessly connects the data stored to a computer at any time.

The Violight UV Cell Phone Sanitizer is portable desktop de-vice that sanitizes any device up to a size of 3 inches by 3/4 inches by 5 inches. An accessory basket is included for the small devices to be cleaned.

The JOYSTICK-IT iPad Arcade Stick is a solid aluminum joystick that attaches to any tablet gaming device to provide precision control of touch screen games and works with thou-sands of different game apps. In addition, it requires no batteries to operate.

The new XtremeMac InCharge Mobile, packs power in a case for the iPhone 4. With the largest battery capacity on the market, it›s the equivalent of carrying an extra full battery around. The protective case and charger is lightweight and features a stand.

MCT News Service

27LAST PASSAGE

Somebody’s messenger did not know that he was being trailed and he got himself and a few others into a lot

of trouble. This is the news that has just stirred the world.

So is there a way of finding out if we are being trailed? Most of us will never have to worry about such matters. But if we suspect the possibility of a nut, or a jealous friend trailing us, there is a way of finding out.

The technique, known as ‘dry cleaning’, was used by the KGB in London during the Cold War and was revealed some 20 years ago by its former station chief in that city. It can be applied in any city of the world.

Ideally, you should have a car of a model and colour which is common in the city, and the ability to recognise vehicle models.

So, let us say, we have started driving from a café to an office. We keep look-ing into the rear view mirror every few minutes. And after a while, we conclude that a blue car, a white pick up truck and a motor bike have been following us for about seven or eight kilometres. We keep an eye on them and also the rest of the traffic. After another eight kilometres, we find that only the blue car and motor bike are still behind, and that the pick up has taken a diversion. So now there are only two suspect vehicles to watch. We keep an eye on them. After another four kms, we find that the blue car has driven into a parking lot and it is only the motorbike that is still with us.

We drive for another three to four kms and find that the motor bike is still trying to keep up with us. There is now a strong suspicion that this bike is tracking us, but we are still not entirely sure.So, to be certain that he is trailing us, we

do what is called ‘funneling’.

We leave the busy thoroughfare and turn into a quite bylane in a residential area. The motor bike is still behind us, but at a distance, so as not to make things obvi-ous. We are now convinced that the rider is trailing us.

What we now have to do is get him off our trail. And we drive from one lane into another, and around the blocks, till he loses us.

After he has lost us, we find our way to a main road that will take us to the office we have to go to. When we reach there, we park our car close to a wall or some construction, so that, at least from the road, the number plate will not be visible. And because it is a very common model, it may go unnoticed.Dry cleaning is done.

Jeta Pillai

MAY 2011

So, to be certain that he is trailing us, we do what is called ‘funneling’. We leave the busy thoroughfare and turn into a quite bylane in a residential area. The motor bike is still behind us. We are now sure that the rider is following us

DRY cleANINGTraffic in London.

Established in 1884, Bangor University is one of the oldest and most

prestigious degree awarding institutions in the UK. For more than 125 years students from all over the world have graduated from Bangor and gone on to achieve great suc-cess in their chosen careers.

Bangor’s tradition of academic excellence and its position as a world-class research institu-tion was confirmed by the University’s performance in the most recent UK Govern-ment Research Assessment Exercise. The Bangor Business School is currently rated as the best in the UK, with a par-ticular expertise in accounting and finance. It was also one of the first places in the UK to offer specialist Master’s pro-grammes in Islamic Banking and Finance. Electronic Engi-neering is currently rated 2nd in the UK, and Sports Science and Psychology are ranked 10th and 13th respectively. The survey in fact identified world-leading research in all of the 19 assessed subject areas also including natural sciences, healthcare sciences, the arts and education.

The quality of teaching at Ban-gor is also impressive, with 50 per cent of all departments rated in the UK Government’s Teaching Quality Assessment (TQA) as ‘Excellent’. This is partly because the small staff to student ratio allows for good tutorial support and teaching in small groups, said a press release.

The university is located in an area of outstanding natural beauty in the north west of Wales where the rugged mountains meet the sea. It provides a unique studying environment which is both small and friendly. Bangor is also considered a safe place to live - the crime rate for north

Wales is one of the lowest in the UK. The Independent’s A-Z of Universities and Higher Education Colleges placed Bangor in the top 4 university cities for cost of living in the UK. With its competitive fee structure this means Bangor is also an affordable place to study and live. The UK National Accommo-dation for Students survey placed Bangor in the top three universities for quality of location and facilities; this includes accommodation for students with families. There are also excellent transport links between Bangor and the rest of the UK including regular direct trains to and from central London; and both Liverpool and Manchester International Airports are located within two hours.Relatively small in size, Bangor, like most UK cities, is very multicultural. Of its 11,000 plus students, inter-national students account for over 12 per cent of the student population - all from over 70 different countries. There is a relatively large local Muslim community and a strong Is-lamic Society to offer support to students and their families. The university is particularly popular with students who

value the smaller community feel that the city of Bangor offers. The size and friendly nature of Bangor means it is easy to get to know people and that students settle in im-mediately. Bangor University also places a high priority on caring for and supporting their students. This is reflected in the fact that Bangor was rated the top university in the UK for the help and support provided to students (Times Higher Education). Almost £70 million has recently been invested to strengthen facilities and recruit more leading academic staff at Bangor. Some of the projects include a new Man-agement Development and Training Centre, a National Environmental Studies Centre, investment in CAST (Centre for Advanced Software Tech-nology) and a National Cancer Research Centre. A £35M de-velopment project on the main accommodation site has meant the opening of many new halls and led to an increase in the number of en-suite rooms. Another exciting development currently underway at Bangor is the construction of a £35M Arts and Innovation Centre. The Centre will be home to

cutting-edge teaching and learning facilities, a theatre with a capacity of between 450-550 seats, cinema space, a studio theatre, an outdoor amphitheatre as well as social facilities including dining and park areas. A little further afield, and building on its No.1 position in the UK for Accounting, Bank-ing and Finance research, Bangor Business School now offers its first-class education and research expertise in the heart of London’s financial district at the Bangor Business School – London Centre.Located in Broadgate Tower, (currently the fourth tall-est building in the City of London), the London Centre is close to the banking district and within easy walking distance of famous London landmarks such as St Paul’s Cathedral, the Tower of Lon-don and the Bank of England. Bangor’s portfolio of special-ist MBAs, including MBA

Banking and Finance, MBA Islamic Banking and Finance and Chartered Banker MBA; are taught by leaders in the field of Banking and Finance research, bringing Bangor Business School’s first-class education into the heart of the world’s financial capital - London. Bangor University recently celebrated its 125th Anniversary with an Honor-ary Degree Ceremony where Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Sir David Attenborough were amongst those who were awarded Bangor University Honorary Doctorates.

Notable alumni include Nobel prize-winner, Professor Robert Edwards FRS; Oscar-winning Slumdog Millionaire Direc-tor, Danny Boyle; and poet RSThomas. For more details please visit http://www.bangor.ac.uk. You can also contact gwawr.wil-liams@bangor.ac.uk or phone +44(0)1248 382028 to speak directly to the Bangor Univer-sity International Office.Alternatively, Al Ahlam Higher Education Services is a local representative of Bangor University based in Oman. Contact kate@ahlameducation.com or phone 99473709 for further information.

28 NEWS & EVENTS

MAY 2011

Recent events have shown that there is a significant number of Omanis who are currently

unemployed and looking for suitable vacancies. Finding a job is not an easy task and should not be taken lightly. In fact, finding a job is a full time job. This job hunting journey starts with updating your CV, writing cover let-ters, putting in applications, prepar-ing for interviews; and if all that goes well, meeting with the person who holds your future in their decision. Before beginning, you must be clear about what you want. Firstly, under-

stand what interests you. Studies show that on average we spend over 2000 hours at work per year. This is a lot of precious time that you can never get back, so make sure you are doing something that you find important. Secondly, calculate how much money you need to earn in or-der to be comfortable. Not how much money you want, we all want more money, but how much do you need. With just this information at hand you have some sort of direction and you can begin to take the first steps.Finding a job can be an extremely

stressful process, and it certainly requires some skill. Charm and charisma are certainly benefits, but without the right techniques and approach, your efforts could all be in vain. Modern Gulf Institute is catering for your job seeking needs. We are offering English and IT to increase your job opportunities. Coupled with that, you will be taught the art of communication and body language, time management and in-terview skills. It is the perfect pack-age to support you in your search for the perfect position.

MGI OFFeRS PROGRAMMeS FOR jOB SeeKeRS

BANGOR – the cItY OF leARNING

29

MAY 2011

NEWS & EVENTS

VLCC, the beauty, sci-entific slimming and preventive healthcare

brand is celebrating its three years of successful operations in Oman.In fact, VLCC has been scaling new heights in the Sultanate by serving the health conscious residents in the country - citizens and expatriates - since April 2008.VLCC launched a revolution-ary body shaping treatment to mark its third anniversary in Oman - ‘Duo Therapy’, which is truly a 21st century body shap-ing treatment for the people who want to remain in good shape and healthy. This treat-ment is also one of the best ways to keep one away from the hazards of ‘obesity’.‘VLCC’s Duo Therapy’ offers a platform to step up an individ-ual’s self-confidence. It helps men and women acquire their desired body shapes. VLCC’s initiatives, as a responsible corporate citizen, are all about creating awareness among people on ways to control obe-sity, which affects the lives of millions of people in the world today,’’ said Prafull Dwivedi, Business Head, VLCC Interna-tional. As the name suggests, Duo Therapy is a unique technique, which combines two state-of-the-art technologies to help one lose upto 5 kgs and 5 inches of fat in just 45 days, when paired with other therapy sessions and balanced diet as advised by the VLCC experts, says Suhair, VLCC’s Area Technical Head, adding that one can lose up to 2 dress sizes within 45 days. VLCC’s Duo Therapy uses Ultracavitation and Radio Frequency technologies, which

are ultramodern in the field of slimming and body shap-ing. Ultracavitation therapy reduces the number of fat cells in a particular area of the body while radio frequency helps in improving fat metabolism. This increases collagen production that helps firm and tone up the

skin, says Suhair.SIDE EFFECTSVLCC’s Duo Therapy is a completely safe treatment, with absolutely has no side effects. It helps people experi-ence a comparatively large reduction of excess flab within a few sessions. In normal

circumstances, to complete the therapy, 8-12 sessions are suf-ficient. However, the number of sessions required depends on each individual as it varies according to the body type. The sessions are held once a week or every ten days, thereby allowing sufficient time for the

body to break down the by-products of lipolysis safely.As part of the launch, live demos were organised at the Al Qurum centre as well. Visitors at the centre receive informa-tion materials on various VLCC treatments, healthy living, obesity, health and fitness and healthy recipes free of cost. Free consultations, body composition analysis and skin and hair analyses are also being organised, says Shabana Panwala, Area Manager.VLCC’s effective weight man-agement programmes have been very well-accepted by the people for the last several years. Effective weight man-agement for individuals and groups at the risk of develop-ing obesity involves a range of long-term strategies. These include prevention, weight maintenance, management of co-morbidities and weight loss. They should be part of an integrated, multi-sectoral, population-based approach, which includes environmen-tal support for healthy diets and regular physical activity, says Piyali Ganguly, dieti-cian, who has been work-ing at the VLCC’s Mawaleh centre nearly for the last two years.About VLCC VLCC opened its first centre in Oman (Al Qurum) in April 2008, and the second in Oct. 2009 in Al Mawaleh. Widely recognised for its scientific weight-loss solutions and thera-peutic beauty approach, VLCC offers services over a 0.25 mil-lion square feet of retail space across nearly 225 centres in 90 cities in Oman, UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

Indian School Al Ghubra (ISG) was the only school from Oman, which had

nine of its teachers at the sec-ond annual three-day confer-ence for Empowering Central Board of Secondary Education-International (CBSE-I) faculty, held at the Indian High School, Dubai.

Around 200 teachers from over 15 countries, including Singapore and Malaysia, at-tended the conference, which was inaugurated by former president of India Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.

The ISG team of nine senior teachers led by Pyarija Cidar, vice principal, showcased the school’s progress and the innovative method of involv-

ing students and teachers not only in studies but also in extra-curricular activities, said a teacher who attended the three-day meet.

A documentary film - “CBSE-I at ISG – A Visual Retrospec-tive” showcases the various activities in school, classroom sessions, outward trips, field trips and all other aspects that are included in the CBSE-I curriculum. It was applauded by the meet, a teacher said, adding that it was indeed a moment of pride for the ISG family.

Speaking on the occasion, Kalam, who is Chancellor of Indian Institute of Space Sci-ence and Technology, asked teachers to work towards en-

riching the mediocre student and discovering brilliance among the gifted ones. He also introduced the ten-point oath for teachers.In his address, Ahmed Rayees, president of the School Man-agement Committee, highlight-ed the significance of having such an eminent teacher as Kalam to inspire the teachers of CBSE I. He appreciated the efforts of CBSE in promoting innovative child-centric learning systems, which is the call of the day and hoped that the new curricu-lum will scale great heights, considering the overwhelming response it has received.Dr Sadhana Prashar, Head of Research and Innovations, CBSE, expressed her deep satisfaction and appreciation

to ISG for having pioneered the CBSE-I curriculum in the best manner.

The three-day conference was surely an enriching experi-ence as the ideators provided various resource materials and

training sessions to over 200 teachers, another teacher said. The Ambassador of India to the UAE, HE MK Lokesh was also present at the meet. The CBSE-I expert team of ideators was led by Vineet Joshi, Chair-man, CBSE, and Parashar.

Praful Dwivedi, Interna-tional Business Head, told Vinod Raghavan that people the world over, were becom-ing more and more health conscious, and they strive to deliver excellence to their clients.

CAMPUS: What is ‘Duo Therapy’? How it will help a person who is concerned about fitness?Praful: Duo Therapy is a unique technique, which combines state-of-the-art technologies and one can get rid of extra fat upto 5 kgs and 5 inches in just 45 days, with a new and slim-mer look. We have a team of around 30 experts at our both the centres in Oman and they will guide and take care of every minute detail and you can see the result after every session. Visit any of our centres here, and one will feel the difference imme-diately after two sessions.

Obesity is the main cause of health problems. How does VLCC plan to tackle this menace?Praful: I totally agree with you. So to tackle obesity, we

are planning to tie-up with schools in Oman, so that children could be frequently checked with regard to their eating habits. There is also a need for creating greater awareness on obesity among the public at large, not only in Oman, but globally. In Dubai, we have tied up with 300 schools and the slogan “My Fit Family” has been very popular in the UAE.

It’s a general belief that VLCC is meant only for the elite classes. How far is it true?Praful: (Laughs) It’s a myth. Health is related to every person whether he or she is rich or poor. Anyway, we are a Techno-Commercial

Organisation, and we give value for money. Our ser-vices are par excellence and result-oriented, and one has to experience the same.

Is VLCC planning new and easy payment ways to help customers, we mean, in easy instalments?Praful: In the UAE, we have tied up with over a dozen banks where our customers are not charged any inter-est, which we take care of. Similarly, we are planning to tie up with more banks in the Sultanate, where the cus-tomer will not have to pay extra charges. This would be one of our ways of helping the people who really want to take benefit of our world-class facilities.

What are your future plans?Praful: VLCC is investing in Oman, and during the last three years we have received excellent response, and our clientele list is growing. We have plans to open more centres in Oman. Even very soon we will be having our centres in Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

‘we MUSt wAtch chIlDReN’S eAtING hABItS’

vlcc DUO theRAPY cOMeS tO OMAN

ISG teAcheRS AtteND cBSe-I Meet IN DUBAI

30

MAY 2011

30 NEWS & EVENTS

Asma Al Raisi, a graduate in Chemical Engineering from an

Australian university was at the Gulf Higher Education Exhibition (Ghedex) fair to find institutes were she could pursue her post-graduate courses. And she was happy to see the choices before her.Asma completed graduated from Monash University. She studied there on a Ministry of Higher Education scholar-ship. Her friend, Thakra Issa, was also awarded a scholar-ship and the ministry bore expenses of education, hostel accommodation and food for five years.Thakra, who has a degree in radiography from Kuwait Uni-versity, was a little dejected, as there were no universities offering post-graduate courses in her chosen field at the fair which was held at Oman In-ternational Exhibition Centre, Seeb. Hundreds students came to find out what is in store for them at the stalls put up by universities from India, Malaysia, UAE, Germany, Aus-tralia, Australia, Cyprus and Canada, offering courses in a wide range of subjects like MBA, engineering, aviation and medicine. Most of the students were attracted towards the counters offering courses related to the aviation sector, engineering and technical education.Oman Air’s Mohsin, assistant manager for Omanisation, was a busy man, as he and his team were engrossed in explaining the nitty-gritty of the courses offered by the country’s airline.Oman Air offers varied courses like English Language Basic Level, Advance Airport Services Course, Leadership Skill for Airline Manag-ers, Customer Service, and

VIP Handling Courses said Mohsin. Hindustan University from Chennai, India, had courses in Aeronautical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering and Information Technology.“We are always there to guide aspiring students, as we have an office and expert staff in Qurum, who take personal

interest and provide all the details,” Mannal Koroth, who attends to students in Oman, said.Birla Institute also got a lot of enquiries. Ajman University offered courses in IT, pharmacy, den-tistry and engineering.According to Thuraya Omar, who takes care of students’

affairs, “The best part of studying in Ajman University is its strategic location. It’s like home away from home. Just three hours drive from Oman”.

“It is not only location, but our standards speak for themselves. We have wide and experienced faculty mem-

bers,” says Thuraya. EARN WHILE YOU LEARNErnst & Young also offered students opportunities to specialise in areas such as banking, insurance, oil and gas, telecommunications, IT and entrepreneurial owned businesses.

According to Qais Ali Al Maqbali, Tax Consultant of Ernst & Young, students can apply online and selected stu-dents would be paid stipends during their internship period and outstanding students are also absorbed in the organisa-tion.

Around 60 Omani students passing the General Diploma courses will have the op-portunity to join Oman Air as trainees, says Muntaser Ambusaidi, Manager – Oman-isation & HR Systems.“We got overwhelming response and we will be short-listing the applications and the best amongst them would be taken as trainees for six months for the Assistant Traf-fic position. These trainees would be paid 150 rials per month,” Muntaser said.Rusayl Institute is also not to be left behind. Rusayl Indus-trial Estate offers a wide range of technical courses, says Divya Sanjay.“There are crash course and also long-term courses for skilled workers related to various fields, be it Non-Destructive Testing or Health and Safety,” Divya said.Also dishes and fruit salads made by the students of National Hospitality Institute were on display. The students of NIH were informing visitors about their institute. Of course the students of Oman had a wide variety of choices at their disposal.

vinod Raghavan

GheDex OFFeReD AN INteRNAtIONAl RANGe

Dr. Mohamed Abdulaziz Kalmoor, Chief Executive Officer, Bank Sohar, SAOG, Oman presided over the inauguration ceremony of the new batch of the MBA students of the College of Banking and Financial Stud-ies (CBFS) enrolling in the MBA programme offered by the University of Strathclyde, recently.In a statement issued on this occasion, Dean of CBFS Dr Ashraf Al Nabhani said that the focus is primarily on

building capacity in Oman with quality. CBFS is actively contributing to nation building by en-abling managerial expertise in Oman. The programme, he said, has a dual focus: on equipping the individual with sophisticated resources and skills to appreciate the complexities of dealings in today’s fast changing world while meeting organizational goal of supportive human resource development .

Al Nabhani pointed out that CBFS had completed a decade of post-graduate studies, having started the post-graduate programme in 2001. Until now, over 150 stu-dents of previous batches, have obtained post-graduate qualifications at the college. Currently, the total number of students enrolled in the MBA programme offered by the college in affiliation with the University of Strathclyde is 185 students.

He added that it is worth mentioning that the MBA programme of the University of Strathclyde offered by CBFS is ranked among the top 100 MBA programmes offered by universities worldwide. This was men-tioned in a survey conducted by the influential Financial Times of London (Survey of best MBA Programmes Worldwide) this year. Strathclyde also has triple accreditation: Less than 1per cent of business schools in the world hold “triple accreditation” – Strathclyde is one of them.

This means that there are three international accred-iting bodies for business schools. These are: AACSB Interna-tional - the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, based in the US; EQUIS - the quality assurance scheme run by the European Foundation for Management Develop-ment (EFMD) and based in Brussels; and AMBA - the Association of MBAs, based in the UK. Al Nabhani said that the emphasis on quality at CBFS had made the differ-ence to the higher education sector.

cBFS welcOMeS MBA StUDeNtS

31

MAY 2011

NEWS & EVENTS

The International College of Engineering and Management (ICEM) recently organised its Open Day festival for students on campus. Hundreds of students attended the event which covered many student activities related to

entertainment and recreation, which reflect the Omani social heritage. They touched upon dif-ferent aspects of daily life in an Omani village. They told audiences about the realities in Omani society and the environmental challenges facing it due to the industrial progress in the country. But the activity that students liked most was the car show, which had trendy cars. Modi-fied cars were also a hit among the students, while latest music systems were also on display.There were also lectures, seminars and other useful activities aimed at developing the students’ skills and knowledge. During the event, cultural and sports competitions were also organised and prizes were awarded to the winners.Commenting on this festival and its various activities, the students unanimously agreed that organising such functions from time to time is of great significance to them. They needed to enjoy, have some fun and get closer. They also stressed on the need to get out of their routine and stereotyped daily life at the campus and get real change through participation in these exciting functions and events.

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) participated in the recent-

ly held Ghedex 2011 Higher Education Exhibition.DAAD promotes higher educa-tion in Germany and is one of the world’s largest and most respected intermediary organ-isation in the field of academic exchange. “Germany is well known for its expertise in the fields of engineering, medicine, and a number of social sciences. Many German universities enjoy an excellent international reputation due to their close ties with industry. For example RWTH Aachen University has many links with organ-isations like Daimler, VW, Bayer Leverkusen, Siemens etc. “Compared to other universities worldwide, the tuition-fees at German universities are very low,” said Prof. Dr. Burkhard Rauhut, Rector of GUtech and former Rector of RWTH Aachen University. “German universities are af-fordable and living expenses equivalent to those of any other European country. Approxi-mately 200 potential students and their parents spoke to me at our exhibition stand and in-quired about higher education in Germany,” said Dr Nicola

Huson, DAAD Representative in Oman and German Lecturer at GUtech. GUtech offers German as a sec-ond language, but all GUtech study-programmes are taught in English. In 2006, a DAAD Informa-tion centre was established in Abu Dhabi and since 2007 the DAAD has an office at GUtech. “Germany has over 250,000 foreign students studying in various degree programmes at German universities and the number of Omani students is increasing,” said Huson. Post-graduates, especially, prefer to join an English language

programme of study which are offered at many German univer-sities.

OMANI STUDENTS IN GERMANYThe number of Omani under-graduate and post-graduate students has increased notice-ably throughout the last few years. “Students decide to study in Germany, even if they have to learn German first. From 2008-2010 a total of 63 Omani undergraduate governmental scholarship holders have gone to Germany for their studies. All are all closely adminis-tered by DAAD, who offer prior preparation, organise the

language courses, placements in the preparatory colleges and eventually the place of study at one of Germany`s 300-plus institutions of higher educa-tion,” said Huson.

DAAD offers comprehensive counseling on all matters related to study and research in Germany and provides counsel-ing services for students, their parents and family, as well as information for university faculties, government offices and research institutes.

SEvEN vERY GOOD REASONS TO STUDY IN GERMANYn Very high quality of teaching and studying at all German universities.

n Very low tuition fees for international students as well (on average € 500 per semester, including public transporta-tion).

n More than 300 institutions of higher education across the country.

n The cost of living for students is around €700 a month.

n Master’s and PhD pro-grammes in English.

n With more than 100 million native speakers, German is the most commonly spoken language in Europe.

n The strength of German in-dustry and business in the Gulf region makes a German degree more valuable and opens doors.

INTERNATIONAL DEGREE PROGRAMMESGerman universities are now offering more than 800 new international courses leading to Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD degrees. You will find most courses in Engineering, Media, Computer Science, Economics. What most students don’t know: The language of instruc-tion in the majority of these courses is English. www.daad.de/idp

German higher edu-cation institutions

have become signifi-cantly more attrac-

tive for foreign students over the last few years and

Germany has taken first position in the internationalisation of higher education, ahead of Australia,

the United Kingdom and China, accord-

ing to a British Council survey

recently published

StUDY IN GeRMANY IN eNGlISh

Dr. Nicola Huson at the Ghedex stand, DAAD Alumni Meeting in Muscat in 2009 together with HE Angelika Storz-Chakarji and the former Secretary General of DAAD, Dr. Christian Bode.

FUN AND leARNING ON IceM OPeN DAY

32 LIFE

MAY 2011

SUDOKU ARIES Consider the situation before tak-ing decisions. You could come under some stress.

TAURUS Your financial situation will get better. Avoid people who discourage you.

GEMINI This is a time to control yourself and not overdo. To ensure good outcomes consid-er carefully before taking decisions.

CANCER Do not be very sensitive and react to incidents. You will find a lot of happiness during this period.

LEO There will be a lot of interaction with people and that could tire you. You will need some rest.

VIRGO You will enjoy the company of your partner. It is also a time fo find new friends.

LIBRA Your creative energies will flow. You will find plenty of inspiration that will prove beneficial.

SCORPIO You will spend a lot of time with nature. And it will help you recharge your batteries.

SAGITTARIUS A new career opportunity is very likely. You will find new friends who will take you in new directions.

CAPRICORN Do not let what others say de-moralise you. There will be news to make you happy.

AQUARIUS It is time to think of going on a holiday as you have been working very hard.

PISCES This is the time to forgive people. Also you will find that relations with some people you know, are improving.

The number grid should be filled up with numbers 1-9. Each column and row should contain the numbers 1-9. No digit should be repeated within a row or column. Also, in the box, there should be no repetition of num-bers from 1 to 9.

how to solve the puzzle:

Nutritionally, nuts have a lot to offer, and they should figure more in our diets — and not just as snacks.

Nuts are dense little packages of fat and protein, with most of the fat being the healthful, unsatu-rated kind. They don›t contribute much in the way of vitamins but make up for it by supplying respectable amounts of potassium, magnesium, and several other required minerals.

Dieters have tended to stay away from nuts because the fat content makes them a high-calorie food. It doesn›t help that we tend to shovel them in as snacks, not as part of meals. But nuts contain very little carbohydrate, so they›re showing up in low-carb diets these days, particularly the ones that emphasize plant-based foods.

A couple of studies have found a correlation between relatively high nut consump-tion (two or more servings a week) and avoidance of weight gain and obesity. Researchers reported results in 2010 from a small (20 volunteers) study that showed walnuts at breakfast gave people a pre-lunch feeling of fullness that might make it easier to eat less. Ultimately, weight loss is about reining in calorie consumption (and increasing physical activity). But if nuts make people feel full, perhaps they can help lower calorie counts over all, even as they add to those totals.

Apart from weight issues, nuts seem to have some protective effects against heart disease. Numerous studies have shown that if you put people on nut-filled diets, favorable effects on cholesterol levels, blood pressure readings, and inflammatory factors follow. And in large epidemiologic studies, high nut consumption has been associated with lower rates of heart disease. An analysis of data from the

Harvard-based Nurses’ Health Study showed that having one serving of nuts a day is associated with a 30 per cent lower risk of heart disease compared with having one serving of red meat a day. A plate full of walnuts for dinner tonight? That›s not very appealing. But cookbooks are full of recipes that incorporate nuts into pasta dishes and the like.

And it would be easy for most of us to add almonds or walnuts to a bowl of cereal or low-fat yogurt at breakfast and occasionally eat a meatless lunch or dinner.

Nuts may help with diabetes, too. The lack of carbo-hydrate content means nuts don’t add appreciably to the surges in blood sugar we experience after many meals. In fact, they can blunt the effects of carbohydrates on blood sugar levels. Those «postprandial» spikes in blood sugar contribute to the development of diabetes in people vulnerable to getting the disease and must be controlled in those who have already have it. Yet the evidence for nut consumption reducing the risk for developing dia-betes is mixed, as are results of studies of the effect it has on blood sugar levels.

Harvard Health LetterTribune Media Services

let’s go nuts