Job Discussion Forums

[Justice_Seeker]

It seems that ADU is having another go at a university. Any takers?

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Dh200m campus for Abu Dhabi University

By A Staff Reporter

Abu Dhabi : Abu Dhabi University will soon have a new Dh200 million campus.

The infrastructure will be built over an area of four million square feet in Khalifa City, outside Abu Dhabi. The area has been granted by the Abu Dhabi government as part of its commitment to support the university.

The university management announced that Mace Worldwide has been awarded the contract to manage the construction project, after the signing of contract yesterday.

Development of the project will start in April, with the first phase of the project scheduled for completion in September 2006, in time to accommodate students for the 2006-2007 academic year.

The first phase will make room for an estimated 5,000 students, with this capacity increasing to 7,500 in the second phase and 10,000 in the third and final phase.

The project will allow the university to add two new colleges: engineering and media and mass communication.

Project designs will be selected from the tender proposals of several international consultants specialised in the design of universities and educational structures.

Management said the new campus will feature a modern design and educational facilities and include auditoriums and laboratories. As well, the campus will include housing complexes, recreational and sport facilities (playgrounds and swimming pools), restaurants and shops.

"We will spare no efforts to ensure that the new campus is ready to accommodate students for the 2006 academic year," said Nick Alford, deputy regional manager for Mace Worldwide in Middle East.

Ali Saeed Bin Harmal, chairman of Abu Dhabi University executive board, confirmed the significance of the project.

"A new campus is considered an inevitable necessity in the educational advancement of any university," he said.

"We expect that through this project we will earn academic distinction for Abu Dhabi University in the UAE and the Middle East, reinforcing our local community with a cadre that can actively contribute to the substantial progress the UAE is witnessing."

The Abu Dhabi University was established in 2000 under the patronage of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and chairman of the university's board of trustees.

The university, which has campuses in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, is organised into three academic colleges, including arts and sciences, business administration and the college of computer science and information technology.

The Abu Dhabi University also has a language institute.

Bin Harmal said the school will add additional colleges and degree programmes to build upon the curricula presented by the founding colleges.

FUTURISTIC
Modern design and facilities
* The campus will be built over an area of four million square feet in Khalifa City, outside Abu Dhabi.
* The new campus will feature a modern design and educational facilities and include auditoriums and laboratories.
* The campus will include housing complexes, recreational and sport facilities, restaurants and shops.
* The university, which has campuses in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, is organised into three academic colleges, including arts and sciences, business administration and the college of computer science and information technology. The university also has a language institute.

[Saffron]

ooopppppssss!

Did they mention in which century that all would be?

and....would they ever have sufficient teachers - or better still, will they do all that with a handful of like....um.....say.....6 ELT teachers?



Saffron
(laughing her head off! )

[Cheguevara]

There is a very nice saying in Arabic: �Talk is cheap!�

[Justice_Seeker]

Here's another article for all you avid ADU watchers (hot off the press from Gulf-News). Notice that the reporter's name is not indicated (unless of course the reporter's name is "A. Staff Reporter").



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University launches scheme to help fund needy students



By A Staff Reporter

Abu Dhabi: The new Abu Dhabi University has announced a special programme for students in need of financial aid.

University staff hope to bridge the financial gap that keeps some outstanding students from pursuing a higher education. By doing so, they are trying to provide the best academic services possible, so they can reach a position of leadership among the region's universities.

Known as sanabel, the programme was launched under the directives of Shaikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and President of the university's board of trustees.

"Sanabel was established this year with the aim of collecting donations for students who cannot afford tuition fees. A committee is responsible for the allocation of the scholarships," a press release said.

The committee conducts comprehensive research into student cases to grant the scholarship on the basis of merit. The scholarship is open to all nationalities, including physically handicapped students.

"There will be no bar on deserving students, regardless of nationality, ethnic origin or race. Those who deserve the financial support will get it," the statement said.

The scheme offers two options for donors. The first is the hasad programme, under which a donor can cover all the expenses of a student, including tuition, books and registration.

The second is the qotoof fund, in which donors can contribute to the fund in any way they see fit. The qotoof fund will be allocated to students with a good academic record and a limited income and the scholarship can cover up to 50 per cent of the tuition fees.

The university board has already set aside Dh1.5 million for the qotoof fund as an initial cornerstone to turn the charitable programme into a reality.

In addition, a number of benevolent business people have already pledged to support the project through the hasad programme. The university is also offering a number of academic scholarship programmes.

Variety of scholarship programmes on offer
* The University President Scholarship for Outstanding Students is for those who scored 95 per cent or more throughout their last two years in high school. It can cover up to 100 per cent of a person's tuition fees.

* The University Academic Scholarship goes to students who achieved marks of 90 per cent or more. It offers them a discount of up to 30 per cent of the tuition fees. There is also the Sports Scholarship for athletes, covering up to 25 per cent of the tuition.

[veiledsentiments]

Well, you have to get students somehow. The locals with the best educational background can attend UAEU or HCT or ZU for nothing. Most of the wealthier failures can go overseas or to the better local private unis. The kids of the wealthier expatriate families will also go to the better private unis.

So, ADU will pay the leftovers to attend!! There will be some deserving students there, but I expect that the other major effect will be getting teachers and administrators on the cheap. You can't afford to pay them when most of your students are getting educated for free - in a supposedly private university.

I just love the Gulf!! Disneyland has nothing on them.

VS

[Saffron]

Too true VS, but ADU is more like a NIGHTMARE-land....where you "work" in the dark (and here I am being literal - dark little cubicles where you are constantly monitored and can hear all the sneezes and wheezes....not to mention cat fights among the young teachers.....)

Local gossip boast that ADU has loads of new teachers - well hey! they did manage to fire most of their staff, deans included, not to mention those who resigned in horror and disgust.

May they all survive......

Saffron
Definitely NOT interested in warehouses nor liers nor so-called academics of the Bag-dad School of Lies and More Lies in Management

[Justice_Seeker]

What is going on in ADU?

[sevig2]

There have been a lot of very negative postings about Abu Dhabi University in the past (including one of my own), and I must say that a good deal of what has been said was quite true. However, I must also say that since this new academic year began (2004-5), there have been a lot of very positive changes and the whole atmosphere (at least in the Language Institute) is MUCH better. To begin, many of the very negative players are out of the picture. This includes both faculty and administration. Secondly, the Director (Dr. Davis) has implemented a new curriculum that, although the kinks aren't all worked out yet, is far better than the old one. There's a very effective computer-adaptive placement testing process in place and students will have to pass a standardized/objective/professionally-produced test to progress to the next level each term. We have new textbooks, which work a lot better than the old ones. There are clubs and activities for the students. And, on the Abu Dhabi campus there is a new building just for the Language Institute. I would say that most of the negativity is gone. It's a new program, so there are, of course, still some hurdles to jump over, but with a whole new positive environment, most everyone has incentive to work together to make the program work. I would say that if you don't mind a little bit of inevitable disorganization (ADU is, after all, only one year old), it is now "safe" to apply to ADU!

[veiledsentiments]

Thanks for the update sevig2, but again --- do we really need a triplicate entry and keeping three threads going???

Since this thread seems to get the updates, we only need one going, please.

It is still early days and ADU is only one month into the new academic year. Let's hope that things keep improving. Personally I wouldn't recommend that anyone apply there until we still have teachers here making positive comments by June. For instance, has the residence visa problem been cured? Are people still teaching with tourist visas?

Insha'Allah things will continue to improve. Sevig2, please keep us updated on the progress.

VS

[elazigspor]

Hello all
I will be getting my PhD (in USA), and have an interview with the ADU for a teaching position. It will be towards the end of this Feb.
I have read horrible things about this school, and want to have an update. Please (anyone who has been there, or currently is) let me know how the environment is now there.
Pelase provide as many details as you can...