Bulletin: Dive into Coding, Tuition-Free, in Abu Dhabi; Find an Accredited University in Egypt
Welcome to the Higher Education Community
As the new academic year approaches, universities in the Arab world are getting ready to welcome new batches of students, along with those coming back from summer vacation.
In this bulletin, we focus on welcoming new students, those of you who have just finished high school and are joining the higher-education community for the first time.
Dear students, there is a rich experience ahead of you. You are entering a more spacious educational experience that goes beyond mere lessons and offers opportunities to develop your personal, social, and leadership skills.
You have a long list of diverse student activities to choose from. Make sure to participate.
Be proactive with your higher-education environment. Interact with it and get engaged in enjoying the details that will later on give you the most beautiful memories. It is your world and your path, promising thousands of opportunities.
In this bulletin, Al-Fanar Media brings you a diverse selection of news and in-depth stories about higher education and scientific research in our Arab region.
Until we meet you in a new bulletin, stay safe.
Mohammad El-Hawary
Al-Fanar Media editor-in-chief
News:
A Chance to Dive into Coding, Tuition-Free, at 42 Abu Dhabi
42 Abu Dhabi, an innovative, tuition-free coding school in the United Arab Emirates’ capital city, is accepting applications to qualify for “Piscine 4”, an intense, four-week coding boot camp and assessment that starts September 4. The piscine (swimming pool) is the final stage of the three-step application process to become part of the 42 Abu Dhabi school of coders.
To qualify for the piscine, you first play a series of online games that test your logical thinking. If you ace the games, you will be invited to attend a check-in, then dive into the piscine itself.
This is an intense and immersive boot camp that tests your computer programing skills as well as your drive, perseverance, and commitment to becoming a coder. Those who survive the piscine are eligible to enter the school’s educational programme, which provides a unique peer-to-peer, gamified learning methodology. The course is self-paced and takes, on average, about three years to complete.
To register, click here.
Scholarships for Palestinian Students in Algeria
The Palestinian Ministry of Higher Education has announced a number of scholarships in Algeria for students to obtain a bachelor’s degree in various disciplines. For details on the scholarships, click here. To submit an online application, click here.
After submitting an online application, students must submit the required documents on paper, at the ministry’s headquarters in Ramallah, or at the higher-education offices in Hebron and Nablus. In Gaza, students may submit applications to the Ministry of Education and Higher Education in the Tel al-Hawa section of Gaza City.
UNIMED Wants to Know Students’ Views on Climate Change and Migration
The Mediterranean Universities Union (UNIMED) is surveying students in Italy, Morocco and Lebanon to learn their attitudes toward climate change and migration. The results will be published in a scientific paper in a few months.
The survey is part of UNIMED’s “Students Attitudes in a Changing Mediterranean” (ASMeC) Project, which is co-financed by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
Italy’s University of Urbino Carlo Bo is the project’s scientific coordinator. Also taking part are Morocco’s Abdelmalek Essaâdi University, Lebanon’s Holy Spirit University of Kaslik, the Erasmus Student Network Italia, and the Erasmus Morocco Network.
The survey questionnaire is available in English, French, and Italian. Students have until August 21 to take part.
New Degree Programmes at Prince Muhammad bin Fahd University
Saudi Arabia’s Prince Muhammad bin Fahd University has introduced seven new bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes as part of its quest to boost scientific development, keep pace with national goals, and meet the needs of a changing labour market.
According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the new programmes include three master’s degrees in civil engineering, electrical engineering, and interior design, and four bachelor’s degrees in artificial intelligence, chemical engineering, cybersecurity, and marketing and digital media.
The university’s president, Issa Al-Ansari, explained that the new programmes will help the university keep pace with the requirements of future jobs.
Egypt Publishes a List of Accredited Higher-Education Institutions
On Saturday, Egypt’s Ministry of Higher Education announced a list of all accredited universities and other postsecondary institutions in the country, so students and parents can know they are choosing an institution that meets government standards.
The list includes public and private universities, universities of technology, branches of international universities, universities with international agreements, universities with framework agreements, universities with special laws, government academies, colleges of technology, and institutes.
The ministry’s spokesman, Adel Abdel Ghaffar, said that the ministry publishes such lists to educate students and parents about genuine, approved institutions, so that they do not fall prey to fraudulent entities that offer educational activities without obtaining the necessary licenses.
To view the lists of accredited higher-education institutions in Egypt, click here.
Culture:
‘Khuzama’: Sinan Antoon’s Latest Novel Explores Themes of Homeland and Memory
The internationally renowned Iraqi writer Sinan Antoon’s new novel “Khuzama” explores the homesickness and alienation of two very different Iraqi émigrés to the United States. Antoon relates in parallel the stories of the two protagonists, who are united by the Iraqi diaspora but separated by differing destinies and perceptions of their homeland through memory and the present. To explore more, check this book review.
Our Suggestions:
On International Youth Day, Arab Universities Promote Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Countries around the world celebrate International Youth Day on August 12 each year. In this context, the Arab academic community is witnessing continuous dialogues about ways to enhance innovation and creativity, despite multiple challenges.
According to the United Nations, young people age 30 or younger represent half of the population of the planet, and that figure is expected to reach 57 percent by the end of 2030. In the Arab world, young people between the ages of 10 and 24 make up more than one-fourth (28%) of a total population of 468 million, according to the United Nations Population Fund. What do Arab plans look like to support young people in their educational and professional paths after graduation? Find out in this report.
- Also see: Will Arab Youth Reach Their Potential? The World Bank’s ‘Human Capital Index’ Offers Predictions
What Jordanian Students Learned through Studying Abroad
Student exchange programmes offer a unique experience that goes beyond learning and refining skills. The experience also has a positive impact on students by expanding their horizons and helping them form their independent personalities. These are some of the benefits that students at the University of Jordan told their peers they had gained through their experiences in European and Turkish universities through the Erasmus Plus exchange programme, which is supported by the European Union. Click here to read more (in Arabic).
Studies and research:
Qatar U. Study Focuses on the Rights of Expatriate Workers in the Gulf
Two scholars at Qatar University’s College of Law have published an academic study on the Gulf Cooperation Council’s labour laws and their alignment with international human rights standards.
According to a statement from the university, the research confirms that workers’ rights can be strengthened through a GCC-wide programme that sets minimum standards and regional mechanisms to protect the rights of migrant workers in particular, and human rights in general. Read more in our report on this academic study (in Arabic).
Tips and Resources:
Tips for High School Graduates Applying for Scholarships at Arab Universities
When you type “scholarship” into a search engine, you will get thousands of results from various types of academic institutions offering scholarships in different programmes. How to find and apply for an appropriate scholarship. To help you navigate this array of choices Al-Fanar Media asked two experienced university professors for their advice. Read more in this article.
Opinion:
Soft Skills: A Buoy for Youth Looking to Enter the Workforce
The global job landscape has been rapidly evolving in the past few years. As a result, the requirements that employers have for job seekers are constantly changing too. Education is just one aspect of any job requirement, there are many other criteria that a potential candidate needs to fulfill. How to get ready to face such challenges? Paul Hopkinson, dean of the College of Interdisciplinary Studies at Zayed University and former associate head of Edinburgh Business School for Heriot-Watt University Dubai, offers some answers in this article.
Scholarships:
Al-Fanar Media maintains a database of quality scholarships for Arab students, which we continuously update. You can follow our website to stay up to date on the latest scholarships available in international universities. Check the Scholarships section here, and do not miss our constantly updated feedback on free learning opportunities in the News and Reports section, here.
Recent postings to our scholarship database include:
- Certificate or Diploma Courses at Lincoln University, in New Zealand
- Scholarships for Space Executive Master Degrees at Luiss Business School Amsterdam
Scholarships – Facebook – Newsletter
