5.3.4 Does your university as a body encourage applications by women in subjects where they are underrepresented?

Efforts to empower women in fields in which they are under-represented:

CUD’s Mechatronics Ladies Team Takes the Second Consecutive Victory at the IEEE Competition | Building a Car of Innovation

Canadian University Dubai’s (CUD) team of Mechatronics students has once again achieved the top position at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) competition, marking CUD’s second consecutive victory in two years.  The competition, which took place on 29th April 2023, featured participation from over twenty universities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The team consisted of four female students pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics:  Ezza Mirza, Noor Shawqi, Somayya Khalaf, and Jana El Nozamy.  Their exceptional interpersonal skills and technical knowledge surpassed all other participating teams in the competition. Speaking about the team’s performance, Ezza said:  “As the Secretary of CUD’s IEEE Society, I carefully selected these remarkable ladies for our team, based on their exceptional technical expertise, experience, and excelling application of their knowledge.  Their contributions have been invaluable, and I am honoured to have them on our team.”

The challenge to design an innovative car without electrical or battery power

The IEEE competition category demanded the creation of an innovative engineering design project centered around constructing a car that is capable of navigating a distance of 3 meters while carrying a load.  The rules prohibited the use of any electrical or battery-powered devices in their invention. Throughout the competition, the team actively engaged in three rounds, showcasing a composed finesse that clearly demonstrated their meticulous preparation and the extensive trial and error they had devoted to their project.

Somayya Khalaf spoke about the process behind their successful project:  “Our project went through an extensive journey of trial and error.  We brainstormed to generate ideas to build the car.  Then we experimented with more than ten different models to observe the car’s performance.  During these trials, two constants remained, the car had to rely on the force of a rubber band as its driving mechanism, and several gears were required.  With each model, we carefully assessed what worked and we looked for new ways to incorporate the successful elements into the next model.  The project was a persistent experiment of analysis.” 

Preparation and approach through extensive trial and error process

Discussing the process further, Noor said:  “Through the process of trial and error, we faced the pressure of determining what factors would contribute to the success of our project.  Experimenting with various variables, such as the car’s length and width, we aimed to optimize its speed.  The challenges and frustrations we encountered during this journey fuelled our determination and empowered our creativity.  We approached the tasks with meticulous attention to detail, working on it tirelessly.” 

During the close of the competition, the panel of competition judges swiftly approached CUD’s team, brimming with an abundance of curious questions, eager to understand the intricacies of the team’s thought process.  Noor said: “Confident in our project, we had already visualized ourselves on the stage, poised for victory even before the announcement was made.  We thank CUD’s Department of Electrical Engineering’s faculty members, Dr. Ahmed Al-Gindy and Dr.  Abdulhamid Alsbakhi, for their exceptional guidance and mentorship during the competition.”

Striving for a hat trick in the next IEEE competition

Dr. Ahmed Al-Gindy noted the importance of the participation of the student teams in these external competitions:  “Participation in these high-caliber external events serves a necessary purpose beyond technical skills.  It provides students with an opportunity to develop and showcase their communication and presentation skills in a stressful and competitive environment.  The requirement to work on the project during weekends, coupled with the inherent stress encountered during the final exam time, contributed to their personal growth beyond the boundaries of the classroom.  These experiences serve as valuable lessons, teaching them important skills that will benefit them throughout their academic and professional journeys.  In the upcoming year, our aim is to strive to win this event for a remarkable hat trick.”

CUD Transfer Student Bhaanvi Receives the Prestigious Sir Howard Douglas Award from UNB in Canada | Advocating for Marginalized Communities

July 25th, 2023, Dubai, United Arab Emirates:  Canadian University Dubai (CUD) congratulates Bhaanvi Rai for receiving the esteemed Sir Howard Douglas Award from the University of New Brunswick (UNB), in Canada. Bhaanvi’s educational pursuit began in India and later led her to join CUD in the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.). Subsequently, she successfully completed her first year of university education in 2020 at CUD’s School of Management, studying BBA in Accounting and Finance and the credits were transferred to her bachelor’s degree program at the UNB. CUD is delighted that Bhaanvi has been honoured with the prestigious Sir Howard Douglas Award from UNB, as she progresses through her international academic journey.

Congratulations on Receiving the Sir Howard Douglas Award!

Speaking about the award, Bhaanvi said: “As an undergraduate student, I am honoured and sincerely grateful to be the recipient of the prestigious Sir Douglas Howard Award from UNB. I extend my heartfelt appreciation to CUD for facilitating my transfer to Canada and to UNB for bestowing me with this incredible opportunity and recognition. My sincere thanks go out to my colleagues, mentors, and family for their support throughout this journey. Achieving this award required relentless hard work and perseverance. I am wholeheartedly dedicated to upholding the values of this award and remain fully committed to making a positive impact in the lives of our community.”

The Esteemed Sir Howard Douglas

UNB takes great pride in honouring students as Sir Howard Douglas Scholars. According to the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Sir Howard Douglas (1776-1861) was a highly esteemed military strategist, distinguished soldier, and author from Scotland. He served as the Lieutenant-Governor of New Brunswick from 1823 to 1831, where he was described as dynamic and popular. Sir Howard Douglas was determined to pursue his goals and overcome obstacles with energy and intelligence. He was always ready to listen to others. During his visits to hospitals, he personally addressed the issue of sick individuals lacking blankets and promptly arranged for the distribution of blankets. He uplifted the morale of the troops, firmly believing that through training he would inspire them with exceptional qualities, thus earning their trust and loyalty.

Upon assuming the Governorship of New Brunswick, he visited the most remote parts of Canada. During these tours, he dedicated himself to developing the infrastructure of roads and public buildings, initiated agricultural societies, constructed lighthouses, and established schools. Among his significant achievements was the foundation of the University of New Brunswick. He was deeply committed to service in the community.

‘Scholars Exemplify the Society’s Motto, Non-Nobis Solum: Not for Ourselves Alone.’

Each year, distinguished scholars are inducted into UNB’s Honour Society and presented with the prestigious Sir Howard Douglas Society pin. This pin features a significant detail from the Douglas family’s coat of arms, showcasing the heart of King Robert the Bruce, a 13th-century Scottish hero renowned for his fight for freedom. Sir Howard’s ancestor, Sir James Douglas, a devoted supporter and lifelong friend of King Robert, is symbolically connected to this heart. The crown positioned above the heart serves as a representation of royalty. Although the Sir Howard Douglas Award acknowledges previous achievements of scholars, the primary aim is to inspire the recipient to sustain their success, both in academic pursuits and in positively impacting the achievements of others.

Inspiring Achievements and a Bright Future

Speaking about her journey Bhaanvi said: “The opportunity through CUD to transfer from Dubai to Canada has opened up remarkable prospects in both my personal life and career. Both CUD and UNB’s learning environments have been instrumental in enabling me to grow and aim for my highest potential. To be nominated for this award, active community involvement and outstanding academic achievements are required. Since transferring to UNB, I’ve had the privilege of serving as the Anti-Racism Coordinator for the Government of New Brunswick, and as the Director of Advocacy for Shades of Change, an organization dedicated to promoting anti-racism. Currently, I am working at Deloitte in the Learning and Development Department as part of my internship, which is scheduled to be completed in December 2023. I’m set to graduate with my Bachelor of Business Administration, Human Resources Management, from UNB in May 2024.”

She continued: “I then aspire to gain experience in the field of Human Resources. Eventually, I plan to apply to law school after accumulating practical experience. My passion is a combination of HR and law, with a particular focus on advocating for marginalized communities and making a meaningful difference in the lives of BIPOC and immigrant populations. I thank CUD for serving as the gateway to my future in Canada. Following my graduation from grade 12, I felt disheartened due to my ineligibility to directly apply to universities in Canada, as I hadn’t taken Mathematics. Nevertheless, CUD enabled me to turn my dream into a reality. At CUD, I completed Mathematics and Calculus, which were prerequisites for Canadian universities and integral parts of my academic journey. After my first year at CUD, I transferred to UNB, but I fondly cherish studying for my BBA at CUD – one of the most enriching experiences of my life!”

CUD Alumni | An Accomplished Author

Alumni, Shatha Al Zarouni, Bachelor of Arts in Communication in Public Relations

Canadian University Dubai is proud of alumni, Shatha Al Zarouni (Daawy), who has successfully published her second book ‘No Wounds Left to Sing’.

Daawy, a law graduate from Nottingham Trent University, has recently graduated with a communications degree from the Canadian University Dubai.  She began her writing career as a child, earning top honours in a writing competition.  In her debut novel, ‘From the Capital with Love’, she aspired to create a bridge between the Arabic and English worlds.  Her book has been reviewed internationally and featured in several newspapers, magazines, radio stations, and television interviews. Daawy has also published several short stories in international anthologies.

Her most recent publication, ‘No Wounds Left to Sing’ is an inspiration of stories collected over a two-year period – and delivered in the form of a short, simple read of poetry. 

“Our life is transformed by the journey of love. Love is universal.” Shatha Al Zarouni (Daawy), Author

Daawy’s friends sought her wisdom for their application to life – which fuelled the author to begin to portray the emotions from their experiences into short poetry.  The author hopes her words would offer burning wounds a soothing balm, until no wounds are left to sing.

The book is a sequence of musings finding its events unfolding in the journey of life – an overview of romantic relationships and insights into each season, starting with love … and travelling all the way through to healing.

The author’s favourite chapter from the book is ‘Writing and Literature’. Her favourite quote is: “We breathed our love for words, boosting its intensity ….. When I drowned in language, I departed with myself.” Shatha Al Zarouni (Daawy), Author

CUD is proud of Shatha’s accomplishments as a successful book author. Daawy’s second book ‘No Wounds Left to Sing’ will be published on November 30th, 2022 and can be pre-ordered here.

CUD Student Zainab Moosa Stars in International Fencing Competitions

Skilled fencer, Ms. Zainab Moosa is an active member of United Arab Emirate’s International Fencing Team, and Al Nadi Shabab Al Ahli Club – she displays exceptional techniques and flair in the sport of competitive fencing.  Canadian University Dubai (CUD) is proud of CUD student Zainab Moosa’s achievements in fencing. 

“It is an honour to be a part of the UAE’s International Fencing Team – and hold the UAE flag high!”  Ms. Zainab Moosa, UAE International Fencer.

Fencing is a combination of three interconnected combat disciplines, namely: the foil, the épée and the sabre.  The scoring system in fencing is based upon the number of times the weapon contacts the opponent’s body. Many fencers believe the foil is one of the most challenging combat weapons to master.  Zainab says: “Of the three swords in fencing, my speciality is the foil sword.”

Zainab began fencing in her early childhood years and she promptly fell in love with the sport. She quickly became a professional athlete and a devoted fencing fanatic.  Her dedication to the sport of fencing is practised daily – guided by her coaches and family.  “Abilities in fencing are somewhat physical, however much of the success in fencing is grounded in the strength of my mental abilities.”

Zainab’s accolades in global competitions began in 2018. Her most recent competition was at the World Cup in London, United Kingdom, November 4-5, 2022.  “With each global fencing match, I learn how to do the next one better.” 

In 1924, the women’s fencing competition entered the Olympics.  Zainab says: “My goal is to advance to the Olympics for fencing.”

CUD entrepreneurship students win first prize in two prestigious enterprise competitions

An entrepreneurship team from Canadian University Dubai (CUD) has won first place in two prestigious enterprise and innovation competitions with a new application they developed to assist people of determination to pursue employment.  The technology, which provides home-based, work-related training using virtual reality, won first prize in the GCC-wide ProjectSet Innovation Challenge for Entrepreneurship 2022 (ICE-22), and the SHERAA Entrepreneurship Centre Annual Pitching Competition (2022).

The application is the work of three second-year students majoring in architecture; Ambre Tournadre, Jenna Harchaoui and Juliana Gayed, known collectively as Team Starlight. The group came together to develop the solution as part of their entrepreneurship studies, under the mentorship of international award winning CUD Professor of Entrepreneurship, Dr. Naveed Yasin, and with the support of industry expert, Ms Esha Anwar Khurshid, Chief Visionary Officer at Key2Enable, based in the UAE. Team Starlight has since gone on to receive Є6000 in prize funds to develop their project through the Scaleaway Start-Up Program resulting from their win at ICE-22. In addition, the team will benefit from a package of business mentoring support worth 5000 AED, organized by the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Centre, following their first place in the SHERAA Pitching Competition.

The first competition win at ICE-22 saw the team triumph in a three-week virtual hackathon that hosted more than 112 participants from 36 universities across the GCC region. Ranked among the top eight entries from 78 submissions in phase one, Team Starlight went on to secure a first place victory in the final stage of the competition for presenting the best social innovation. Fuelled by this success, Dr. Naveed Yasin and Ms. Esha Anwar mentored the students further to compete at an entrepreneurship competition staged in Sharjah, which they also won, taking the first place prize in the SHERAA pitching competition.

Explaining the thinking behind the application, Ambre said, “Based on our entrepreneurship course at CUD and creating impact in social innovation, our goal was to help people of determination to develop workplace skills that could lead them into secure employment and build their independence. We discovered that traditional learning environments can cause anxiety for people with special needs, so we aimed to develop a solution that could address this. The application we have created uses virtual reality to enable them to learn and practice new skills safely, in their own environment, with the help of their primary caregivers.”

Speaking about the importance of the innovation, Jenna said, “Our research revealed that the rate of unemployment among people of determination is up to 80% on the Asian continent, while their exclusion from the workplace represents an annual loss of $1.2 trillion to global GPD. Our application focusses on developing skills in a holistic way, to ensure that people of determination are able to secure sustainable employment. It can be customized to individual needs, and we aim to cover a wide range of personal and professional skills, from self-care exercises such as breathing and meditation, to practical tasks such as customer service.”

Speaking about the competition experience, Juliana said, “This process has taught me many valuable lessons in entrepreneurship; it has advanced my knowledge of the business world and made me feel more confident in my presentation skills. Having competed against senior and postgraduate students from across the region, we were very proud to see our innovation win in prestigious competitions like ICE-22 and SHERAA Pitching Competition.” 

Mentoring the team throughout the process, CUD Professor of Entrepreneurship, Dr. Yasin commented, “CUD encourages entrepreneurship and innovation, and we believe in providing exciting opportunities for students to progress and grow both academically and professionally. At CUD, we are proud that our entrepreneurship students are demonstrating such impact at such prestigious competitions in the region; this is testament that entrepreneurship is embedded across the Canadian University Dubai. We are set to become one of the leading entrepreneurship universities in the region, which is fully engaged with the UAE and Canadian entrepreneurship ecosystem. On behalf of CUD, we congratulate Team Starlight on their success and look forward to supporting them as they move forward in their entrepreneurship journey.”

How more women can be encouraged to take up STEM careers in the Middle East

Apps, artificial intelligence, fifth-generation telephony, the internet of things, drones, advanced metallurgy, microchips, algorithms, and coding. Buzzwords of the moment, to be sure — but also growth areas of the current and future economy.

Young people today who want to succeed in these fields will require strong quantitative skills based in hard sciences such as mathematics. And technology. And engineering. Call it STEM.

In the Middle East, much work needs to be done to shift education patterns for its youth, particularly women. The good news is that some have started. Experts in the field told Arab News that mentoring, instilling a culture of experimentation and overcoming failure, and breaking down stereotypes will go a long way to ensure further progress.

Around the world, only 18% of women in college and universities are pursuing studies in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, compared with 35% of men, according to the UN. This means that there is a dire shortage of software engineers but, at the same time, strong demand for more young people to learn how to work in the digital space.

“These figures aren’t surprising as we’ve known for a long time that there is a STEM gap around the world and here in the region,” said Eslam Hussein, Co-founder and CEO, Invygo, a car rental app based in Dubai. “But this is a time of positive change and there’s so much happening to boost STEM education, particularly for women.”

In the Middle East, women already account for almost half the total STEM student population. Hussein pointed to Saudi Arabia, where he said the government is leading from the front to resolve the STEM gap by encouraging learning and careers in the field.

The Kingdom has created Saudi Codes, a Misk Foundation, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, and Saudi Telecom Company initiative to teach computer programming in an accessible and relevant way.

Saudi entrepreneur Nora Al-Nashwan and her friend Deema Alamer set up Code for Girls in 2018 to give Saudi women the skills necessary to join the tech industry.

In 2017, Dubai created its One Million Arab Coders initiative, offering prizes of up to $1 million. In February, it said that 1.2 million people had signed up.

“Complementing these initiatives is the rise of the startup ecosystem. Women entrepreneurs are also encouraging young female students to take up learning in STEM fields,” Eslam said.

Nevertheless, studies have shown that women prefer to pursue studies in biological sciences, business administration, psychology, human resources and social work.

Dr. Rita Zgheib, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Engineering, Applied Science and Technology, Canadian University Dubai, believes the findings are consistent across much of the world.

“The figure is the same in many European countries, too. It has been linked to cultural history, where women are oriented toward simple tasks, and also to preconceived notions about engineering,” she told Arab News.

“Most women with high capabilities and the skills to integrate and excel in engineering have a false understanding of engineering,” Dr. Rita told Arab News. “They think that it is hard, and they are often afraid.”

She recommends more orientation sessions at school, as well as high-profile women describing their experiences. Nevertheless, challenges persist. Stereotyping and a lack of knowledge around education in STEM subjects are common.

Dr. Rita highlights marriage and female domestic responsibilities as barriers, pushing women to pursue less-demanding jobs. “There’s a lack of orientation and motivation,” she said.

Dr. Yousef Al-Assaf, President, Rochester Institute of Technology in Dubai, said that not all regional universities fall into the low-figure bracket for women in STEM, highlighting the institute’s 23 percent ratio as an example.

“There are girls who would like to study computing more than mechanical engineering,” he told Arab News.

“So, we have to make the right initiatives and encouragement for them to be more (motivated). The region lacks coders because it’s accustomed to just adopting solutions and implementing them, but having software engineering as a discipline is new and we need more. What we make of those figures is what we have to think about carefully.”

Creating awareness of the career paths and opportunities available while studying and working in STEM may help.

Nathalie Chamaa, Head of Products, FlexxPay, an online platform based in Dubai that allows employees to access their pay, said that tech companies need to recruit female talent into their teams and invest in professional growth.

“Technology companies in the region, which are predominantly male oriented, need to establish a gender-equal culture that will help drive communication, teamwork and leadership in the workforce,” Nathalie said.

“This will create a more inclusive work environment where women feel empowered to excel in their roles.”

According to Eslam, the possibilities for women who join and stay in technology companies are endless. Equipped with just a computer and an Internet connection, young talent can achieve a great deal, he said.

“With the rise of new learning platforms and teaching methods, the barriers to STEM education are being removed rapidly. This is a time to achieve the impossible.”

So how to get there? There is a need for more mentorship for young students, especially females. In Saudi Arabia, 38% of Saudi graduates in STEM are women, but only 17% of these go on to work in related fields.

“It is critical that education is able to translate into long-term careers,” Eslam said. “We also need to encourage a culture of experimentation. This will create a major mindset shift, driving young talent to test their skills, create new concepts, and bring new, ground-breaking ideas to life.”

Providing scholarships and training to young women can shape ambition.

According to Dr. Yousef, research by RIT showed girls perform better than boys academically. “We need to change the mindset, whether from government, NGOs or academia, because, to date, women have been encouraged to study subjects that are compatible with society’s norms,” he said.

“It’s changing, but maybe parents and teachers can encourage more.”

Vandana Mahajan, Founder, Futures Abroad, a Dubai-based consultancy that helps students choose courses overseas, said that small changes in departments such as physics and computer science, and provision for a broader overview of the introductory courses on offer, can make a significant difference.

“Institutions can employ more female professors to change this perception and to motivate girls. Mentoring programs can help along with effective work-life balance policies for all faculty members. We have to make a conscious effort at home to eliminate this gender bias and to encourage girls to explore STEM-related courses,” Vandana said.

Enabling students to solve real-world problems through early direct-learning experiences can inspire and motivate for the long term. Inculcating a sense that it is not the end of the world to fail is also important.

“In our industry, many problems have many solutions and it’s OK to experiment with different ways and fail more than once,” said Charbel Nasr, Chief Technology Officer, FlexxPay.

“Experimentation is key to keep improving and innovating. Students should be taught how to overcome failure, not fear it.”

With a population of over 500 million across the region, and as legacy industries undergo digitalization, investment in talent today will reap dividends for future generations.

“Innovation-centric initiatives, like Saudi Codes by Misk and Code for Girls, are already attracting a high number of participants, and the levels of interest in coding being shown by young Saudi women is indicative of their potential,” Hussein said.

This will be critical for the future of the Arab region, as it will need to have the right skills to keep pace with the rest of the world.

“STEM encourages innovation and creativity,” Vandana said.

“Scientists and engineers are working on solving some of the most vexing challenges of our time: Finding cures for diseases, providing clean drinking water and developing renewable energy sources. When women are not a part of the design of these products, the needs and desires unique to women may be overlooked.”

 

CUD Student featured on Sustainable Development Research and Training Institute talk show 

Thursday, April 22, 2021: Layla Khawatmi, senior Environmental Health Management student, Canadian University Dubai, was invited by Dr. Rashed Karkain, Founder, Sustainable Development Research and Training Institute, and Professor, Canadian University Dubai, to be a guest on his talk show “Young Environmental and Sustainability Leaders.”

Speaking to her environmental and sustainability achievements, Ms. Khawatmi shared her success in the community and her involvement with voluntary activities, academics, and innovation. Part of her discussion with Dr. Karkain also touched on how youth have become more conscious, more caring, and more concerned about protecting their environment to ensure the sustainability of public health.

Ms. Khawatmi originally enrolled at Canadian University Dubai (CUD) to learn more about food safety when she took courses that touched on water treatment, air pollution, and waste management. These courses broadened her horizons and opened her eyes to what she didn’t know, pushing her further into the direction of wanting to help the planet.

CUD offers over 30 programs in a variety of industries that introduce students to a wide range of disciplines. The Bachelor of Environmental Health Management prepares students for the technical and professional demands of careers in the field of Environment, Human Health, Safety, Healthcare Institutions, and Research. It also gives students the chance to be actively involved within their communities, through the planning and execution of environmental and health projects.

When asked about what advice she has to offer future leaders, Ms. Khawatmi said: “Never stop at one thing. Even if you have an idea, always try to improve it. Always try to seek advice from people with more knowledge to enhance it and achieve more. Reach for the sky.”

About Sustainable Development Research and Training Institute

Sustainable Development Research and Training Institute offers quality all-round education and knowledge via training programs both as synchronous and asynchronous; as well as workshops to individuals and employees of both private and public sectors in addition to scholars, researchers, and students from varied backgrounds. The organization operates under the umbrella of Dubai’s SME, as part of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid’s Program and is licensed by Dubai’s Economic Development Department and approved by Dubai’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA).

CUD Students win 2021 MEPRA National Student Pitch Challenge

Sunday, May 9, 2021: Canadian University Dubai (CUD) Communication and Media students Andrea Kurian, Andrea Assi, Nour Haddad, and Nada Abdulrahman, known collectively as ‘Next-Gen Agency’, have taken the top spot in the 2021 National Student Pitch Challenge hosted recently by the Middle East Public Relations Association (MEPRA).

The interactive virtual competition brought together ten teams of public relations and communications students from universities across the UAE over the span of two days to respond to a communications brief set by Emirates Literature Foundation. CUD’s Next-Gen Agency triumphed over teams from Abu Dhabi University, Middlesex University Dubai, American University of the Emirates, Murdoch University, and New York University Abu Dhabi, as they competed in a live virtual pitch facing a panel of senior industry professionals.

The communication brief aimed to promote the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature and required the students to increase interest in literature, target a younger audience, have the event recognized as a top cultural event in the Middle East and gain international media interest across various cultures and platforms. Ahead of the competition, participants heard from senior industry professionals on how to dissect a brief and develop a communications strategy.

CUD’s Next-Gen Agency team responded by creating a communication objective that focused on how literature inspires movies that shape pop culture and social movements. They conducted audience research on reading trends, use of leisure time, and media usage. This led to the ‘big idea’: integrating video gaming and movies onto an immersive virtual events platform. The integrated communication strategy included PR, social media platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram, KPI’s, and budget planning.

Ms. Sabrina De Palma, Executive Director, Middle East Public Relations Association, said: “The team from CUD wowed the judges with their creative and impactful ideas and demonstrated a clear understanding on the importance of research and insights, which was well beyond their years.”

Speaking on behalf of the CUD Next-Gen Agency team, Andrea Kurian, third year Bachelors of Arts in Communication – Advertising student, said: “Taking part in the MEPRA Student Pitch Challenge was an exciting learning experience for us and as a team, we challenged ourselves to develop innovative ideas inspired by our research. The BA in Communication program at CUD has pushed us to continuously apply critical thinking and creative skills to real-life scenarios and campaigns, and with the support and guidance from our professor, Dr. Ode Amaize, we were able to propose a pitch that successfully addressed the client’s brief.”

Besides the commemorative trophy, the CUD Next-Gen Agency took home a prize value of AED 18,600 that includes free student/individual MEPRA membership for one year, complimentary tickets to attend a range of MEPRA industry events, and free MEPRA Academy training for each team member for 12 months.

Dr. Ode Amaize, Professor and Head of the Department of Communication and Media, Canadian University Dubai, offered his congratulations, saying: “I’m proud of the accomplishment of our four talented and diligent students for their skills, and their willingness to learn how to learn; I look forward to their continued success.”

The Department of Communication and Media at CUD offers a Bachelor of Arts in Communication degree that provides students with an interdisciplinary perspective and a comprehensive understanding of traditional and contemporary digital media environments with concentrations in three areas: Public Relations, Advertisement, and Journalism.

The advertising program is accredited by the International Advertising Association (IAA), and the public relations program is the first in the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region to obtain the Certification in Education for Public Relations (CEPR) from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA).

Happy International Women Engineering Day

CUD students benefit from prestigious leadership program

September 11th, 2018:Two students from Canadian University Dubai (CUD) have embarked on the exclusive Women@Dior Mentorship Program, a coveted professional development opportunity that aims to boost the skills of talented young women to prepare them for a career in creative leadership.

The selection of Noura Itani and Leen Sharif among 200 students from ten international cities reflects the growing prominence of Dubai on the global creative industries landscape. This rising stature will receive a further boost with the upcoming launch of CUD’s suite of creative degree programs, developed and delivered in partnership with the world-renowned Faculty of Communication & Design at Ryerson University, Canada.

Alongside counterparts from cities including London, New York, Tokyo, Shanghai and Hong Kong, the two CUD students have benefited from one-on-one career advice, guidance and mentoring from a dedicated Christian Dior employee, as well as enjoying a study visit to Dior’s global headquarters in Paris.

Speaking about her experience, Noura said, “The Women@Dior Mentorship Program is more than just a typical mentoring scheme, it’s a fully-rounded personal and career development opportunity. It genuinely seeks to help young women, who have the talent and skills to become leaders in today’s world, to actually achieve their ambition and to unlock their full potential.

“The trip to Paris was an amazing experience and a great learning opportunity; we even met with renowned designer Maria Grazia Chiuri who shared her insights and inspirations. The whole initiative has made me more aware of my strengths and weaknesses and I have been consciously working to improve with the help of my mentor. I know that I have been able to grow as a person and a young professional too.”

An announcement earlier this year from His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, signalled the launch of a new Creative Industries Contributions Index.

Brian Banford, Chief Advancement Officer at CUD, commented, “This recognition at the highest level shows that the creative sector is one of high economic return in the UAE, presenting outstanding opportunities for young professionals entering the industry in both production and executive roles.

“Through initiatives such as Women@Dior and academic programs like those launching at CUD, the foundations are being laid to feed all important talent into this fast growing, high-value industry.”

CUD Professors Engage in UAE Mentoring Initiative

As part of CUD’s community engagement , we have teamed up with the LINK Organization. The LINK,’ is a non-profit UAE initiative providing an active community platform where women from different ages and backgrounds can find support to advance professionally and to share workplace challenges,

After hosting the Induction Session, CUD has started its sixth cohort of the Programme. Professors from the University including Ms. Orsi, Dr. Louise, Ms. Dima and Dr. Fran have offered their services as Mentors and are then matched up through the LINK organization who then allocates them to Mentees according to their needs.

The LINK aims to empower women through learning and developmental initiatives, nurturing female talent and strengthening their leadership capacity. Ultimately, the LINK’s vision is to encourage and support women in different stages of their lives and careers.

In the latest arrangement, Shirin Mehri has teamed up with Dr. Franziska Apprich who will act as her Business Mentor. Previous Mentees have included Florelle Cloarec with Ms. Orsi,

After successfully completing projects in educations in Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Tanzania and the United States, Shirin is looking to leave her mark in the Entrepreneurship Education Ecosystem in the UAE. Since completing her MSc in Management in Entrepreneurial Leadership from Babson College, she has immersed herself in the startup and entrepreneurial world of Dubai, working for some of the region’s fastest growing enterprises.

As Operations Manager at BizWorld UAE, she is responsible for overseeing and implementing workshops that aim to instill the entrepreneurial spirit in children in the UAE between the ages of 7 and 15 years.

Commenting on her involvement in the Mentorship programme Shirin stated that with the ever changing educational environment we are experiencing today, she aims to refine her project management skills and work closely with Dr. Fran on a project focusing on Educational Board Games that will engage female students in understanding entrepreneurship both in and out of the classroom.

Dr. Fran and Shirin will be working on an entrepreneurship board game called ‘The Entrepreneuse.’

The game will show the different steps in creating a new company from the  licensing process through to becoming profitable (in an amusing way).The game will show how you need team spirit, empathy and kindness to succeed in business and building a successful team and company. Grades and degrees are only part of the game…and a bad grade can be compensated and balanced out with kindness points.

The initiative will be supported by the recently formed Business Incubator initiative in CUD, in cooperation with Ryerson University headed by Dr. Fran, Head of Learning Zones and Incubators

Dr. Fran stressed that supporting young women has always been close to her heart. She has published books on the subject and with the support of Communications students she has created the ‘she for she campaign.’

“I want to inspire Shirin and support her to reach her creative and entrepreneurial potential and become a strong and independent woman.”

Ms. Orsi Urban who brought the LINK Mentoring Initiative to the University said it was important that young women should have the opportunity to learn from female mentors in a structured, safe, encouraging and professional relationship.

Sponge Digital Marketing

CUD alumna, Fouzia Lkbiech, shares her valuable experiences as a thriving entrepreneur who established her empire enterprise, Sponge Digital Marketing, in Dubai. Her educational journey during her B.A.Com. Digital Media and Journalism at CUD, played a pivotal part in fuelling her career in digital marketing, igniting her entrepreneurial passion, and leading her to develop infinite opportunities within the world of digital marketing.

“My academic span at CUD was enriching and transformative, covering topics in Journalism, Media Production, Public Relations and Advertising.  We had access to modern resources which empowered me to enhance my technical skills and creativity.” Fouzia Lkbiech, CUD Alumna; Founder, Sponge Agency.

Be tomorrow’s storyteller with our Bachelor of Arts in Communication – Digital Media and Journalism. Enquire now at info@cud.ac.ae.

CUD’s Students Win 1st Place | Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers UAE Student Day 2022

Dubai, UAE, November 26th, 2022: Three teams supervised by Dr. Ahmed Al-Gindy from the Faculty of Engineering at CUD participated in the 16th IEEE student day 2022. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) hosted the annual competition in HCT Sharjah Women’s College Dubai on November 26th, 2022, between seventeen universities in the UAE. The competition featured four categories: Engineering Design, Community Service, Senior Design, and Cyber security – giving the students in the UAE the opportunity to showcase futuristic projects.

Two teams from Electrical Engineering participated in the Engineering Design category, and one team in the Community Service. All three teams ranked in the top 3 – two of CUD’s teams won 1st place, and one team won 3rd place. 

CUD’s multi-disciplinary team from several faculties participated under the Faculty of Engineering, Applied Sciences, and Technology mentorship in the IEEE community service category. “The power of a multi-disciplinary team is electrifying. The teams comprised of students from Engineering, Journalism, and Public Relations – each student, delivered their area of expertise to make the project a success.”  Dr. Ahmed Al Gindy, Faculty of Engineering, Applied Sciences and Technology

“The talent among our youth is impressive, and the IEEE provides a platform for our students to showcase innovative projects. Engineering does not stagnate but constantly evolves to contribute to society through dynamic developments. It is exciting that our students get to compete in a competition of this calibre and win 1st place, not once, but twice, and also take 3rd place for another category.”  Dr. Ahmed Al Gindy, Faculty of Engineering, Applied Sciences and Technology

The concept of the Engineering Design Project challenged students to design and engineer an invention that transfers water from one place to another, only using mechanical systems and wind Energy. The use of electrical energy was not permitted in the project.

The students innovated a 3D-printed engineering model illustrating how the wind is converted into mechanical energy to transfer water effectively from a higher place of origin to a lower destination. “The innovation of our 3D model was inspired by ancient pumping mechanisms, indicating that our historical inventions have something to teach us.”  Danica Reyes, CUD Student, Mechatronics

For the return journey of the water from a lower origin to a higher destination, the use of pumps would encourage the water transfer in larger volumes. The use of ball bearings was applied to the model to help with the overall flow of the water.   CUD’s students presented forward-thinking projects, which received exceptional recognition from the jury.   The students won 1st place in the competition for successfully pumping the highest volume of water at once. 

“The project has inspired us to develop and contribute to countries that do not have access to basic facilities. We need to support our global system and work toward sustainable development goals through innovative projects, making a positive difference to the world.”  Sham Mohamed Samour, CUD Student, Mechatronics

Of the three teams, twelve CUD students participated, and eleven were female. “The mentorship from our professors, Dr. Sherif Moussa and Dr. Ahmed Al Gindy has been important to support us in getting the right tools and materials and learning how to use them safely. I could not imagine, as a woman, that I would be able to use a drilling tool so well. It has inspired my business development ideas for the future.”  Sham Mohamed Samour, CUD Student, Mechatronics

CUD is honoured to provide the learning space of innovation – where theory meets application. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and Canadian University Dubai look forward to the next annual event.  

“Engineering can contribute successfully to any area of the world – it is more than theory, and creative projects are born to change the world positively. Studying mechatronics has helped me to develop my existing skill set, but more so, awakened new skills within me that I did think were possible. Participating in the competition has been fundamental in realizing my creative potential.”  Danica Reyes, CUD Student, Mechatronics.

 

Students Hear from Inspirational Women About Their Journeys to the Top

September 21st, 2015: Students from Canadian University Dubai (CUD) have heard from some of the region’s most inspiring women about how they made it to the top of their professions at the Arab Women in Leadership and Business Summit held recently in Dubai.

The five female student, who themselves have demonstrated their leadership qualities within the University community, heard from a diverse group of prominent business women, including Her Excellency Ameera Bin Karam, Chairperson of Sharjah Business Women Council; Her Excellency Maryam Al Suwaidi, Deputy CEO of the Licensing, Supervision & Enforcement Securities and Commodities Authority; and Nisreen Shocair, President of Virgin Megastore, Middle East.

Now in its second year, the event brought together existing and emerging leaders from the public and private sectors to discuss the obstacles and opportunities for women in society and to share their inspiring personal stories of success.

Among the keynote presenters was Her Excellency Dr. Maryam Matar, MD Chairman and Founder of the UAE Genetic Diseases Association, who delivered a captivating address that touched upon the importance of corporate culture and the part that businesses should play in supporting the role of women as both mothers and professionals.

Meanwhile, Rana El Chemaitelly, Founder of the pioneering education group, The Little Engineers, spoke about her inspiration for setting up the science-based edutainment business and how she manages her time to ensure the right balance between work and family life.

The students were accompanied by Student Services Manager, Mary-Alison Irvine, and CUD was the only higher education institution represented at this year’s Summit. International Business major Ginevra​ ​Nencha was one of those students taking part in event, and was both amazed and motivated by the stories that were told.

Ginevra​ ​ said, “It was an honor to be in the presence of so many outstanding women and I have learnt some very valuable lessons from the experience; everything from choosing a career path that you feel passionate about to developing key skills that might be considered male-orientated, but are vital to success in the workplace.

“It was also a real confidence boost to meet with some of the women and get advice from them one-to-one on where they had succeeded and where they might have done things differently. It has opened my mind to the future possibilities in life and certainly inspired me to reach for my goals.”

CUD Hosts 2nd TEDx Conference on Behalf of Al Wasl Women

December 8th, 2018, CUD Red Theatre: Over eighty delegates attended the 2nd edition of TEDx  AlWasl  Women  under the theme “what if”?

TEDxAlWaslWomen is a non-profit independently organized event and an integral part of the global TEDWomen Community. It consists of a group of volunteers dedicated to helping society evolve to become more compassionate.

There were five main speakers at the event:

Maya Hojeij, a senior bulletin editor and business news journalist on “Dubai TV.” She is also a manager and instructor of Journalism at American University Dubai.

Danielle Wilson Naqvi, founder of The “ZB Foundation,” whose aim is to pioneer the use of New Born Screening to target the uncharted medical area of rare metabolic diseases.

Saja Kamal, a Saudi female footballer, “Driven TV” show presenter and twice Guinness World Record holder, who is carrying the torch for Arab females across the world by challenging preconceptions of what is and isn’t acceptable and achievable in sport.

Katharine Budd, co-founder of “Now Money,” a platform aimed at enabling access to banking services for low income

migrants in the Middle East, through the use of mobile banking technology. Now Money had raised $2.3 million over two rounds of funding.

Andreea Zoia, a presenter, inspirational speaker and confidence coach who works with executives and employees of multi-national corporations to improve their confidence and communication skills.

There were two sessions, one in the morning followed after lunch where delegates could network, with one in the afternoon.

CUD is proud to be host to the conference for the second year running and looks forward to many more successful joint events with AlWasl Women in the future. 

CUD students visit Dior Headquarters in Paris

March 13th, 2018: In celebration of its 70th anniversary, and to coincide with International Women’s day on March 8th, the Parisian maison launched Dior’s first mentorship programme: ‘Women@Dior,’ a yearlong project that pairs female Christian Dior employees with female students interested in their area of expertise.

Students Leen Sharif and Noura Itani were chosen to represent CUD, together with 200 students from ten countries including Tokyo, London, New York, Dubai, Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong.

The programme seeks to empower young women to achieve their career ambitions by pairing them with Christian Dior employees who will provide face-to-face careers advice and guidance once every three months.

During the visit they listened to a series of presentations given by senior female Dior Executives. They took a tour the maison’s atelier and head office, along with the brand’s newly opened state-of-the-art archive facility, Dior Héritage.

Emmanuelle Favre , Dior Director of HR said “we want to coach young women at the beginning of their careers or even at school, in order for them to build their self-confidence and to build a networks; these are two very important levers in getting ahead in one’s career,” continued Favre.

Karin Raguin, Director of talent development stated “young women want to own their professional destiny, to be guided, and to share generously their experience.”

The highlight of their visit was the opportunity to deliver an off the cuff presentation to their fellow students and Dior Executives which was enthusiastically received by their audience.

Both Leen and Noura are looking forward to receiving free guidance for a year from experienced mentors and hope to use the experience they gained to develop themselves using the best advice available.

CUD Professor’s research on Entrepreneurship trends among female Arab engineering students accepted for publication in prestigious U.K. journal

A paper by Dr. Naveed Yasin, Associate Professor in Entrepreneurship, Faculty of Management at Canadian University Dubai, titled ‘Assessing the Enterprising Tendencies of Arab Female Undergraduate Engineering Students’ has been accepted for publication in ‘Industry and Higher Education’, a UK journal indexed in ABS and Scopus.

The paper assesses the entrepreneurship characteristics of first-year undergraduate female chemical engineering students. Pre- and post-surveys were conducted among 27 respondents from an entrepreneurship boot camp module as mandated by the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE).

According to Dr. Naveed, the variables were statistically measured to assess the need for achievement, autonomy, creativity, risk-taking, and locus of control on the enterprising behaviours of students. This was followed by qualitative semi-structured interviews that were examined using Thematic Analysis approach. The comparison between students’ enterprise tendencies indicates improvements in their entrepreneurial abilities and understandings of entrepreneurial behaviour. The most noticeable impact was on students’ risk-taking abilities, followed by creativity, need for achievement, need for control and lastly, their need for autonomy.

Speaking about his research, Dr. Naveed Yasin said, “The value of this paper provides initial exploration and insights towards the enterprising characteristics among an empirically under-explored demographic and non-business group.” He also mentioned that he is currently working on developing a similar program of research at CUD in collaboration with a colleague from Canada.

Before joining the Canadian University Dubai in August 2019, Dr. Naveed had been teaching Entrepreneurship and Innovation over the past 10 years in UK and Oman.

Leading Female Dot-com Entrepreneur Reveals How to Succeed in Cyberspace

January 20th, 2015: Prominent female entrepreneur Ambareen Musa has shared the triumphs and tribulations of starting up the UAE’s first financial services comparison website at the fourth of this season’s ‘Executive Mindset’ workshops, hosted by Canadian University Dubai (CUD) in association with Shane Phillips Consultants.

‘The Dot-Com Entrepreneur: Making Money in Cyberspace’ was the subject of this month’s workshop, which brought together business executives, aspiring entrepreneurs, and CUD staff and students, to hear from Ms. Musa about the strategies and tactics she employed to start her innovative online venture, Souqalmal.com, as well as the challenges she overcame along the way.

Ms. Musa, who hails from Mauritius, started her first enterprise – an online property portal – as a 21 year old student in Australia. Throughout her 14-year career in financial services, she worked for organizations such as GE, Bain & Company and MasterCard, giving her a 360 view of the financial services sector.

Recognizing a gap in the market, Ms. Musa gave up a steady job and used her own savings to start up Souqalmal.com in May 2012. Her vision was to create an independent, transparent portal for consumers to compare banking, telecoms, insurance and education products, in one place.

Less than three years after its establishment in the UAE, the business has experienced considerable growth and is about to launch similar services in Saudi Arabia. However, this success did not come without challenges.

Ms. Musa explained, “In the beginning I faced a lot of barriers. The banks were very resistant to the idea of a site that put them up against their competitors and it took some time to get them on board.”

With a young child, Ms. Musa was also challenged with balancing the responsibilities of motherhood while raising funding for the new enterprise and marketing the service in an environment unfamiliar with the concept.

“You have to be focused and disciplined”, she explained, “I do set aside time to spend with my family every day, but I’ll always carry on working in the evenings at home too. No matter how organized you are, running your own business is a 24/7 lifestyle.”

Offering advice to aspiring entrepreneurs in the audience on raising capital for a new business, Ms. Musa said, “The best approach is to tell a story of growth. I started out with my own funds but once we had a functioning site and started to show revenue it became easier to attract investors.”

Tackling questions on the challenges of marketing an unknown online business, Ms. Musa explained how finding new ways of engaging with the public – publishing research or using social media in innovative ways – can help to position and grow a brand.

The workshop was presented by leading Executive Search Consultant, Shane Phillips, who gave his own insights into personal branding, advising participants to go beyond a CV in reaching out to employers.

The next workshop in the series will be held on 1 February at CUD, with more inspirational leaders sharing their professional insights into the UAE’s business landscape.

 

Leading Female Entrepreneur shares secrets for success with CUD students

March 18th, 2019: Helen Al Uzaizi, CEO of BizWorld UAE and founder of the Entrepreneurship Education Platform for the MENA region, has spoken of her career achievements and how determination has played a large part in her success, in presentation to business students at Canadian University Dubai.

The event was organised by Dr. Imen Tebourbi, Associate Professor and Head of Undergraduate Programs in the Faculty of Management, as part of the FOM Speaker Series.

BizWorld aims to ignite the entrepreneurial spirit, developing students’ aptitude for teamwork, leadership and critical and creative thinking along with strengthening real world knowledge about entrepreneurship, business and financial responsibility; all the tools needed to flourish in the 21st Century.

With over fifteen years’ experience in the corporate and startup worlds, Helen has directed her passion towards instilling the entrepreneurial mindset in the next generation of leaders.

Helen described how she got involved with athletics, having had no sporting inclinations during her school or college years. She drew comparisons with the mindset required to be a successful entrepreneur and those required to be successful in sport.

She explained how she started taking interest in personal fitness, more out of vanity and looking good, than seeking a more active life.

However, she caught the fitness bug which she pursued with passion, one of the traits of a successful entrepreneur. In 2012 as a working mother she completed her first marathon and to date has completed three marathons, four Ironman events and over twenty triathlons and other road events.

Helen believes that anything is possible and quoted Teddy Roosevelt as saying “believe you can and you’re half way there.”

She advised her audience that once they developed an idea, they should pursue it with determination and let nothing get in the way, overcoming obstacles one by one as they appeared.

She finished her presentation by quoting Ken Venturi, an American professional golfer and broadcaster who said “I don’t believe you have to be better than anyone else. I believe that you have to be better than you ever thought you could be.”

The presentation ended with a lively question and answer session.

CUD Team Highly Commended in National Research Competition

May 16th, 2016: A group of four engineering students from Canadian University Dubai (CUD) have been highly commended in the fourth annual UAE Undergraduate Student Research Competition, held recently in Abu Dhabi.

The all-girl team successfully made it through two qualifying rounds to reach the finals of the competition with their unique research project, which examined the statistical relationship between oil prices and the Dubai Financial Market (DFM) Index.

Despite their shared background in engineering, Shaheera Khan, Mehak Fatima Ashfaq, Mina Abdulrahman Ahmad, and Alia Khalifa Jumma, were inspired by one of their classes with Math professor, Dr. Firuz Kamalov, to take the unusual decision to enter the economics category of the competition.

Charting the Brent oil price over a period of four years, the team set out to investigate whether the fluctuating price of oil in the international marketplace had any effect on the stability of the Dubai economy.

Shaheera explained, “We put a lot of research into gathering historical data for both oil prices and the DFM Index over a four year period. We then used regression analysis to create a graphical model to assess the trends across one, two and four years.”

Mina continued, “Our findings were very interesting, as they showed that, while there were some short-term impacts, the overall, long-term trend was that oil prices did not affect the performance of the Dubai economy.”

The team submitted their research for the initial qualifying stage of the competition in February, and was then invited to take part in the following round, which required the development of a 12 page paper outlining the research approach and findings. Based on the quality of their paper, the girls were invited to join fellow qualifiers at the national-level competition, which took place at Abu Dhabi University.

The final event saw the team deliver a ten minute presentation and take on a Q&A session with an independent judging panel of scientists, engineers and professionals from the higher education arena, who highly commended the project, and awarded certificates of recognition to the participating students.

Though they ultimately missed out on the winner’s trophy, the competition was a valuable experience for each member of the team. Mehak concluded, “Taking on an economics project was a real challenge, but something that we have learnt so much from. It gave us the opportunity to work on a real-life project and look at things from a professional rather than academic perspective, as well as developing our research, presentation and public speaking skills.”