Malaysian University Seeks Tie Up with SQU
News Round Up
Society Should be More Alert to Child Maltreatment
Mind Over Matter
Singapore Foreign Minister at SQU
News Update
Every Writer
Needs a Reader
Department of Public
Relations and Information
Sultan Qaboos University
Issue 244
View Point
Something
Innovative
As technology advances human beings’ quest for newer, faster, and more efficient devices grows. The pace of innovation and commercial development
over the past century has been such that society expects the next ‘big thing’
before we even know what the thing is. However, don’t think that innovation
is about a new appliance. Research takes place across the world every day to
encourage economic growth and find answers to critical health and wellbeing
challenges facing modern society. SQU is no exception.
Mohamed Salem Al Ghailani
Editorial Supervision
Humaid Abdullah Al Adwani
Editor in Chief
M.K. Santhosh
Senior Editor
Ahlam Al Wahaibi
Design & Layout
Rashad Al Wahaibi
& Photography Dept., CET
Photography
Innovation is about looking to the future and the challenges the world might
face in the years to come. The major ongoing research projects at SQU, including those funded by His Majesty’s Strategic Research Grant and The Research
Council’s Grant are expected to have a direct impact on the development of
the country by encouraging innovation and providing new and cost-effective
ways of meeting the needs of business, industry and services. There are numerous examples of productive collaborations between researchers at SQU
and private and public organisations. But for sustained development we must
be more focussed in approach and encourage more of these relationships so
innovation can be quicker and more efficient.
It’s more vital than ever to support researchers whose innovative ideas boost
growth. They push boundaries, experiment and make breakthroughs. The policy makers should appreciate the importance of excellent research and strive
to help academic researchers turn breakthroughs into viable technologies and
innovations. It would be “innovative” if SQU would consider launching “the
innovator of the year award” which would give an opportunity for researchers to be recognised and rewarded for their work. Such a recognition would
encourage researchers to consider the potential of their research and maximise
its social and economic impact.
Innovation can denote formulating answers to questions as yet barely being
asked, or finding possibilities we aren’t yet aware exist. And change happens
so quickly. Apple’s iPod gave us a new way of listening to music that is now
so deeply rooted in our consciousness it is becoming hard to recall a world
without it, or the mobile phone with which it integrates. We hope in another
10 years some idea being brooded somewhere by some researcher in Oman or
SQU will also have transformed our world thoroughly.
Horizon invites contributions from SQU members of staff and faculty. Contributions in the form of articles,
news, travelogues, stories of unique and interesting experiences, encounters, etc., are welcome. Contributions
may be edited for the sake of clarity and length. Please send your contributions to horizon@squ.edu.om preferably, as MSWord attachments. Authors will be suitably credited.
Horizon is published three times a month by the Department of Public Relations and Information,
Sultan Qaboos University, P.O. Box 50, P.C. 123, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.
Phone: +968 24141045
E-mail: horizon@squ.edu.om
30 May 2012 P2
Fax: +968 24413 391
Website: www.squ.edu.om
News Update
Solar Power Test
System Installed
Singapore Foreign
Minister at SQU
For students at Sultan Qaboos University to take advantage in studying and
developing more advanced technology for the new renewable green energy,
a 1 KW Desert Photovoltaic Test Bed System has been installed at the university. This project was installed by Kwan Won Engineering & Construction
Company based in South Korea and has operations in Oman. The formal
inauguration of this facility was held recently under the patronage of Dr.
Said bin Ali Al Yahyaee, SQU Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
& Community Service, in the presence of a number of officials and researchers from Kwan Won and SQU.
In his speech during the occasion, Mr. Lee Yong Ho, CEO and President of
Kwan Won, said: “We are pleased to be here with you today to study and
develop solar power systems with Omani students, the economic and educational future of Oman depends on them – they are the future of Oman. Our
new solar module has been developed by Korean Government and we do
believe that the “new desert PV module” is very suitable for Oman because
it can resist high temperatures of more than 110 ⁰C, high humidity, and fine
dust in the region. Throughout our trial test bed we have no doubt that solar
power plants would contribute to develop future green energy in Oman and
further enhance relationships between Oman and Korea”.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Ali Al Harthy, Dean of the College of Engineering at SQU, said that the Photovoltaic modules for desert areas, donated by
Kwan Won will be used initially in a research project funded by the Research
Council (TRC). “The project will study, among other things, the effect of dust
on photovoltaic panels which is believed to be one of the main constraints in
the implementation of large photovoltaic power plant systems in Oman,” , he
added. The Dean revealed that the College of Engineering at SQU is planning
to introduce a postgraduate program in renewable energy in near future.
HE K. Shanmugam, Minister of Foreign Affairs & Law, Republic of
Singapore, visited SQU recently. The minister was received by HE Dr.
Ali bin Saud Al Bimani, Vice Chancellor of the University, and HH
Sayyidah Dr. Mona bint Fahd Al Said, Assistant Vice Chancellor for
External Cooperation.
At the university, K. Shanmugam watched a video presentation on
SQU and visited the Cultural Centre and interacted with the participants of a training course entitled “Distribution Network Asset Management”, which is conducted by the Regional Institute for Infrastructure Development (RIID) Singapore in collaboration with Singapore
Power Training & Consultancy Company Pte Ltd and Sultan Qaboos
University. This three day training course was a collaborative initiative
between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore and the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, Oman.
As many as 26 participants from various power generation and transmission companies, such as Sohar Power Co., United Power Co., Al
Rusail Power Co., SMN Barka PowerCo., Muscat Electricity Distribution Co., Majan Electricity Co., Mazoon Electricity Co., etc., in addition
to academics and students from SQU attended the training program.
The trainers were Mr. Shen Sin Fong, Mr.Lim Liang Kuang, Mr. Low
Boon Hoe, and Mr. Mohammad Irwa B Juma’at. At the end of the training, certificates were distributed to the participants. This function was
held under the patronage of HH Dr. Adham Turki Mahmood Al-Said,
Assistant Professor, College of Commerce & Economics.
Break through in Off site Conservation of Arabian Tahr
reproductive biology to conserve the animal. Dr. Senan Baqir, who is leading
this project, said in a press conference that this is the first ever research project
to investigate the Waal male fertility. Dr. Baqir added that the high viability
of the collected and frozen semen can be used in reproductive biotechnologies such as artificial insemination and embryo transfer, to rapidly increase the
numbers of the endangered Arabian Waal and to eventually remove it from
the ‘red list’ of endangered animals prepared by the International Union for
Conservation of Nature (IUCN). He said that the project can be expanded to
other endangered wild animal species of Oman such as the Nimir Al Arabi,
Caracal, sand fox and the Arabian wolf. He hoped that the frozen samples can
be the beginning of the establishment of a gamete bank or cell bank in future.
The biotechnologists in the Department of Biology of the College
of Science at SQU, have made significant breakthrough in their research project which looks into ex-situ conservation of the endangered wild animals in Oman. The researchers collected semen of
the Arabian Tahr (Waal al Arabi, Arabitragus jayakari) one of the
endangered species and has successfully frozen it for later use in
The proposed cell bank, if coupled with other innovative technological approaches such as assisted reproductive biotechnologies, interspecies transplantation, reproductive cloning, semen sexing, stem cell lines, ovum pick-up
(OPU) and in vitro fertilization, would be appropriate tools to combat the continued population decline of endangered species in Oman. Such innovative
technologies play a pivotal role in tackling future challenges related to climate
change, environmental stress and inbreeding depression found in endangered
species captivity breeding programs”, Dr. Baqir said.
30 May 2012 P3
Insight
Every Writer Needs a Reader
By: Jodi Lefort, Student Support Unit Head,
Language Centre, SQU
Writing Centres gained popularity in the 1970’s along with a Writing
across the Curriculum movement that was a response to a perceived
“literacy crisis” in western universities. The past 20 years have seen
Writing Centres emerge worldwide in hundreds of English medium
universities and colleges throughout Europe, Africa and Asia.
The SQU Language Centre (LC), under the direction of Dr. Saleh Al
Busaidi, opened a Writing Centre last academic year to provide individualized writing support to LC students. The Writing Centre, in
its provision of feedback that is essential to the writing process, promotes academic success by improving written communication.
Academic (and professional) success relies strongly on one’s ability
to communicate in writing. However, regionally, data suggests that
though faculty would like students to produce essays and reports,
they feel students’ writing ability is frequently too weak to effectively communicate thinking or content knowledge. Fortunately, it is
widely agreed that students in all academic settings, and particularly
those studying in a second language, benefit from explicit instruction
and practice in academic writing skills guided with ample feedback.
Individualized writing conferences offered in a Writing Centre setting allow students the opportunity to get specific verbal feedback to
trace the causes of their writing problems and to develop strategies
for improvement.
Writing needs are highly individualized, and particularly so in an
English as a Second Language environment. The Writing Centre approach therefore favors one-to-one conferences. The writing conference helps writers to develop and strengthen their work and provides
them access to a reader who can address their questions. Learning
and critical thinking are promoted by helping writers to focus on elements of meaning and by involving them in reflection on their work.
30 May 2012 P4
Language Centre students are welcomed to the LC Writing Centre
on a drop-in basis or by appointment and sessions typically last 30
minutes. A specific protocol is followed to ensure that engagement is
collaborative as the Writing Centre is strictly not an editing service.
The students are encouraged to bring their work at any stage of development and writing conferences are designed to support them
throughout the entire writing process. Students decide how best to
use a session in the Writing Centre, whether it be to discuss brainstorming techniques, project outlines, drafts, instructions for assignments, the effectiveness of support or thesis statements, grammar,
organization or any other aspect of the writing process.
The methodology used in the LC Writing Centre is intended to facilitate an interactive and collaborative dialogue between student and
writing tutor that is driven by the student’s questions, ideas, goals,
and needs. Writing Centre methodology maintains that students
who come to the Writing Centre be approached as writers. Often,
students seem to face a problem with confidence as much as ability;
thus, the Writing Centre strives to make students feel welcome and
comfortable in the physical environment as well as in interaction with
the tutor.
In the words of a former LC student, Al-Yaqdhan Hamood al Habsi,
“Actually the Writing Centre helps me not in writing only. It helps
me in self-confidence. They make the students feel self-confident and
independent. They teach him some strategies that he will use when
he writes essays. Just like when they teach you write freely, don’t feel
afraid of mistakes. This helped me a lot.”
For more information about the LC Writing Centre or about writing
centres in general, please contact Jodi Lefort, LC Student Support
Unit Head, at jlefort@squ.edu.om
Mind Over Matter
mentally and socially to their fullest potential, to express
their opinions freely, and to participate in decisions affecting their future. It also ensures that they develop their
personalities, abilities and talents to the fullest. The CRC
is a legally binding international treaty that incorporates
the full range of human rights, “civil, cultural, economic,
political and social”. It provides a vision of children as
individuals, and as members of the family and community, with their rights, and responsibilities, appropriate to
their age and stage of development and assures that children have access to education and health care and have
the right to nationality, to a name, to freedom of speech
and thought, and to freedom from exploitation, torture
and abuse.
Society Should
be More Alert
to Child
Maltreatment
Does child maltreatment exist in Oman? There are no statistics to indicate the frequency of such treatment, but according to medical experts at Sultan Qaboos University, child maltreatment does exist in this country. Prof. Lamk Al Lamki of the College of Medicine & Health Sciences at Sultan Qaboos University says: “It is possible
that in Oman, because of culture and religion, the magnitude of child maltreatment
is lower, but, such a conclusion would require substantiation by research employing
rigorous methodology. Children are deprived of their rights in many ways and it is
a universal problem”.
The paucity of data on the degree of child abuse in Oman, and, for that matter, the
rest of the world, hinders the implementation of evidence-based prevention and intervention. According to Prof. Al Lamki, gathering more data on the prevailing situation in Oman would be an essential first step. “The Research Council of Oman (TRC)
should perhaps consider calling for more research on the different types and causes
of child abuse in Oman. TRC has now received, and is considering, one research
proposal on this topic. We hope more research studies will be conducted to shed
light on the situation in Oman that would have direct bearing on prevention of harm
to children, and also lead to the treatment of the adults involved. Likewise, research
is needed to highlight the specific forms of child abuse and maltreatment that may
exist in Oman”, he said.
The UN General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)
in 1989 and it was the fruit of 10 years of comprehensive negotiations between experts
from governments, non-governmental organisations, various advocates of human
rights and lawyers, as well as health specialists, social workers, and educators. The
CRC recognises the rights of all children (persons under 18) to develop physically,
There are several ways a child can lose his/her rights.
This can be in a form of child abuse, which includes “doing anything that results in harm to a child or puts a child
at risk”. Prof. Al Lamki adds that “child abuse can be
physical, sexual, or emotional; neglect, i.e. not providing for the child’s needs, is also a form of abuse as it deprives the child of the basic rights delineated in the CRC.
Among the cases reported to child protection services, neglect is by far the most commonly observed child abuse,
followed by physical and sexual abuse”. Approximately
5.5 million children are neglected annually and 3 million
cases of other incidents of child abuse are reported each
year. Most abused children suffer greater emotional than
physical damage. This can range from being withdrawn
to being severely depressed. Sometimes emotional abuse
subsequently triggers drug or alcohol abuse, or running
away from home. Unfortunately, a study in United States
has shown that the majority of children who run away,
are taken into a prostitution ring within 48 hours. On asking about child prostitution in Oman, Prof. Al Lamki said
that we have to be very resolute and diligent, in protecting our children against all forms of exploitation, as our
society is rapidly changing with young children increasingly spending hours on the Internet and in Internet chat
rooms.
What can we do to ensure the preservation and improvement of child rights in Oman? According to Prof. Al
Lamki, we need to make diligent efforts both individually and also collectively. “The country could promote a
public education campaign (e.g. TV shows) that openly
discuss the issue of child abuse and how it can be prevented or avoided. Such a campaign should target both
parents and children”. The Ministry of Social Development has formed executive committees to celebrate 2012
as the ‘Year of the Child’ in Oman, and will establish a
cultural centre for children to enhance children’s capabilities and polish their skills. In Prof. Al Lamki’s opinion,
this is great news and should be met with rejoicing by all
the people in Oman. “Non-governmental organisations
need to work on, or support, others’ efforts in improving the acceptance of child rights in Oman. More individual effort is also overdue. The Ministry is playing its
role; for instance, they have opened a Child Help Line
which both children and adults can access, but this help
line may not be sufficient to getting calls all from the children who need help in the whole country. To make this
better, teachers, nurses and day-care workers need to be
educated”, he said.
“There are no reports of child prostitution and child labour is not a problem in Oman” according to a US Report. Nevertheless, more individual efforts and efforts by
the media, both electronic and print, are urgently needed
to stop cases of child maltreatment. Children need a fully
protective environment in order to thrive so we need
more enthusiasm by everybody concerned to live up to
the spirit of the CRC.
30 May 2012 P5
News Round Up
Singaporean Students
Visit SQU
A student delegation from Singapore Management University (SMU) visited
SQU, as part of the their bi-annual Business Study Mission to the Middles East,
which is in its fifth year. They were received by Dr. Shahid Al Balushi, Assistant
Dean, College of Commerce & Economics, and officials in the Office of External Cooperation and the Public Relations and Information Department at SQU.
The delegation of 68 students completed their visits to UAE, and Qatar, before
coming to Oman and SQU to foster ties with their counterparts. The visit was
aimed at exploring the emerging markets of the Middle East for business opportunities.
Liu Xuanyi, one of the students, said that the tour is the last phase of the a
13 week Business Study Mission, which includes an intensive curriculum of
company case studies, student projects and guest lectures. “We are very excited
about our visit to Oman and impressed by the cultural richness of the country
and the hospitality of the people”, he said. Another female student said: “With
the Middle East becoming increasingly significant on the global stage, it is no
surprise that my classmates and I relish this opportunity to understand the
intricacies of Arabian culture and more significantly, the importance of building relationships through our networking sessions with executives based in the
Middle East”, she said. The students toured the Cultural Centre and different
colleges and centres at SQU.
Malaysian University
Seeks Tie Up with SQU
Future Lies in
Innovation: Litman
The Innovation Affairs Department of the Deanship of Research at
SQU, recently organised a talk entitled “University Research and
the Patent System” delivered by Richard C. Litman, Registered Patent Attorney with Litman and Law, the US agency specialised in
international intellectual property and technology law. His talk focussed on three points, innovation in research, the value of patent
rights and technology transfer.
Elaborating on the concept of innovation, Litman said that innovators make things happen in all areas of life; they get everyone
around them to innovate, thus becoming agents of change. “Innovation is a dynamic process and one may not expect quick results. A
good innovator is dedicated and committed to his work and considers failure as a part of the process of being more and more innovative. The genuine innovator have fun in the process of innovating”,
he said. The purpose of the patent system, according to Litman, is to
encourage innovation. An invention is fully disclosed to the government, and, in return, rights are awarded for a limited period of time.
“Patents protect useful innovations and the look of useful things.
Machines, compositions, articles of manufacture and processes can
be patented. Even small improvements sometimes qualify for patenting. To be patented, an innovation must be new and not obvious
to an individual in field in view of prior art, or printed publications
and things which are already known”, he said.
SQU Professors Co-edit
Book on Goat Meat
Famous publishers CABI Bookshop recently brought out a
book on goat meat production, co-edited by two professors in
the Department of Animal & Veterinary Sciences of the College
of Agricultural & Marine Sciences at SQU. Prof. Osman Magoub and Prof. Isam T. Kadim of SQU edited the book “Goat
Meat Production and Quality” along with Dr. E. Webb from
the University of Pretoria, South Africa.
HE Dr. Ali bin Saud Al Bimani, Vice Chancellor of Sultan Qaboos University,
recently received in his office a delegation from the Sultan Idris Education University, Malaysia, headed by Prof. Dato Dr. Zakaria Kasa, the Vice Chancellor.
They discussed possible academic tie ups in different programs in education to
be activated through exchange of academics and students.
Written by some of the world’s leading goat meat scientists,
and drawing from the most recent publications in the field,
this book comprehensively covers the most important areas
of goat meat production. Chapters discuss the role of genetics, breeding, reproduction, and nutrition in producing good
quality, profitable goat meat. The mineral, amino acid and fatty
acid composition of goat meat is also addressed, along with
a discussion of its nutritive value, aimed at highlighting its
health benefits over other red meats.The book will be of use to
students and researchers in animal science, animal production
and meat science, plus goat meat producers and breeders.
The delegation watched a video presentation on SQU, its colleges, and the
progress that it has made in different areas including research, teaching, community, and internationalisation. HH Sayydiah Dr. Mona bint Fahd Al Said,
SQU Assistant Vice Chancellor for External Cooperation and the Deans of the
Colleges of Education, and Arts & Social Sciences were present on the occasion.
Prof. Isam T. Kadim has over 30 years’ experience in research,
teaching and community service. He is specialized in quality,
hygiene and nutritive value of different types of meats. Prof.
Osman Mahjoub has been involved in research and teaching in
the area of growth and development of meat animals for over
thirty years.
30 May 2012 P6
From 557 in the year 1986, the number of students rose to
14722 in the academic year 2007-2008. This figure includes
Diploma, Bachelors, Masters and PhD students. There has
been gradual increase in the number of graduates as well;
from 284 graduates in the year 1990 to 2422 in 2011.
A Sun that never sets
Straight Talk
Ali K. Daud
Ali Kamal Daud, CEO and Development Licensee of McDonald’s Oman, is based in Muscat with various business operations
in Oman. Ali’s early education was at Aiglon College in Switzerland followed by his Bachelor of Arts Degree from New York
University in 1988. Ali is currently the President of the Muscat
American Business Council and has served on the Executive
Council since 2004. Ali visited SQU recently as a panel member
on Franchising organized by the College of Commerce & Economics, in association with Muscat American Business Council.
Excerpts from his conversation with Horizon:
How did you develop interest in and
get started with McDonald’s franchising business in
Oman?
Horizon:
Ali: In the late 80s while I was still at university, I met
somebody whose family had the McDonald’s franchise
in New York. As I spoke to them about their business,
I got encouraged to contact McDonald’s with a view
to bringing them to Oman. So I called up the company
and they sent me an application, but asked me to wait
until they start expanding in the Middle East region. I
kept on calling them every three or four months until
1990 when they informed me that they would like to
interview me as a possible candidate for Oman. After
several interviews with various people at different levels in the company in the UK, in the US and further on
job evaluation, I was the one they finally selected. After
that I had to go through rigorous training for one year
in the UK, Singapore and the US. My training for that
one year took place in the restaurant where I worked
and trained as a crew member, then in various managerial positions in the restaurant and finally as a Restaurant Manager. In addition to the Operations training,
there was also training in Marketing, Real Estate Selection, Purchasing, and Construction; all the disciplines
that go into building and operating a McDonald’s.
How would you explain the growth of
your franchisee business over the years?
Horizon:
Ali: The critical driver of our growth has been always
to look after our customers and not compromise on our
standards and to always serve quality food in a clean
and wholesome environment with fast and friendly
service.
Horizon: What are the prerequisites for a successful
entrepreneur?
Ali: Hard work, self belief, persistence and a good motivated team.
Horizon: What are the most crucial things that you
have done to grow your business?
Ali: Hands on approach. I am an owner-operator
which means I not only own the business, I also operate
it. Self involvement is very important in one’s business.
If you leave it in other people’s hands, you run the risk
of having a mediocre business. Having said that, it is
important you have a capable team around you as the
business grows, because you simply cannot do everything on your own.
Many youngsters at SQU have plans to
start their own business. What advice would you offer
the entrepreneurs starting out today?
Horizon:
Ali: My experience proves that franchising is a good
way of doing business because of many reasons. First
of all, your business is based on a proven model. A
good franchisor provides support by way of training,
setting up the business, sharing know how and best
practices on how to run the business. This covers marketing, operations, mentorship and whatever else that
is important to run the business. Another advantage of
franchising is, banks are more likely to lend you money,
because typically a franchise is seen as a proven model
and less risky. Of course, there will be challenges; but
you are not on your own.
Would you suggest any franchising business ideas for your entrepreneurs in Oman?
Horizon:
Ali: I would advise the youngsters to look at the ‘Service’ sector and start small. I know the US has a lot of
franchises out there. Do your research, see what is suitable for your own market and go for it.