Get Rid of Stress
Panorama
The ‘Power’ of Smart Grid
Mind Over Matter
SQU Celebrates HM’s Return
Department of Public
Relations and Information
Sultan Qaboos University
News Update
Developing Knowledge
Based Economy
through ICT
Issue 312
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View Point
Bioethical Issues
Advances in life and medical sciences and technologies have brought fundamental change in overall conditions of life all over the world which have inevitably lead to the raising of major ethical questions and dilemmas. During the
elaboration process of the UNESCO Universal Declaration on Bioethics and
Human Rights that proclaimed in October 2005, a set of 15 universal principles, the issue of universality and cultural diversity was very controversial and
ended with the recognition of the necessity of respecting cultural diversity and
pluralism in the interpretation and implementation of the Declaration.
Mohamed Salem Al Ghailani
Editorial Supervision
Santhosh Muthalath
Senior Editor
Sara Al Gheilani
Nasebah Al Muharrami
Translation
Ahlam Al Wahaibi
Design & Layout
Photography Dept., CET
Photography
Salim Al Sudairi
Circulation
SQU-info
In Muslim societies, bioethical issues need research and large debate in the
light of cultural and religious traditions and with respect to the modern scientific knowledge and the human rights and fundamental freedoms principles.
In the context of globalization and according to the great diversity of situations in Muslim societies, an empirical question is whether we can have an
Islamic Bioethics and even whether it is desirable. One of the most recurrent
ideas is then to build bioethics on Islamic principles. Thus, a practical question
should be addressed about how we can theoretically and practically deal with
the needs and practices of any Muslim society.
The International Bioethics Conference, organized by Sultan Qaboos University, primarily focused on efforts towards setting up proper bioethics legislations and regulations in the country. The meeting was successful in bringing
religious scholars and scientists from different national and international organizations and firms. The forum witnessed productive discussions and exchange of ideas on different aspects of bioethics. The conference stressed on the
importance of organizing regular meetings with the participation of religious
scholars, medical and ethical professionals with the aim of responding to ethical dilemmas within acceptable time.
Formation of regulations and guidelines on bioethics alone will not work.
What is equally important is the need to empower the public by raising awareness about their rights and the bioethics principles in medical practice. The
conference recommendation to establish a research center in bioethics and Islamic medical ethics in the region is indeed a well thought out perspective.
At the same time, researchers and policy makers should advocate and act for
better education, accessible good quality health services, improved access to
knowledge and assuring equity and equality in the region.
@SQU-info
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.
The views and opinions expressed in the articles published in this newsletter are those of the authors
and are not to be construed as the official views of the publication. 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
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Fax: +968 24413 391
Website: www.squ.edu.om
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Panorama
Get Rid of Stress
By: Bassema Mahyoub Abu Farsakh
Lecturer, Department of Community & Mental Health
College of Nursing, SQU
Since waking up every morning, we indulge in the concerns of everyday
life. Some people thrive on a busy lifestyle and are able to cope well with
daily stresses. Other people feel tensed or stressed by the slightest change
from their set daily routine. Most people fall somewhere in between, but
may have periods when levels of stress increase. Experts offered in the investigation conducted by the magazine “Gazondhayt Bounkt de er” which
means German human health, physical and mental, offers ten ways to get
rid of stress.
sure of it (music) improve our health in general,” despite the potential impact on both body and mind.
Practise exercise
Exercise is an excellent way to clear your mind and prevent stress from
building up in your body. It increases your overall health and your sense
of well-being, which puts more pep in your step every day. It helps your
brain’s feel-good neurotransmitter (endorphins) to pump up, which increase self-confidence and lower the symptoms associated with mild depression and anxiety. By Exercise you’ve forgotten the day’s irritations and
concentrated only on your body’s movements. Remember to Make time for
at least 30 minutes of exercise, three times per week.
Meditation
Experts emphasize that meditation alleviates the negative impact of stress.
Because he has the ability to bring to relax the body and focus the mind.
Experts say that when exercising a kind of meditation requires you to focus
on what is given us of sensory stimuli (sound or smell or texture) and stop
drowning in ideas, then it may become easier to look at the situation from
another angle or from a different point of view and thus to forgive others
and accept the self rather than berate.
Stay away from the source of tension
Please take a rest from the factor that causes stress. Experts say that regardless of the reason or another, the move away from the source of stress for a
period of no more than twenty minutes handy and able to help you. Because
it gives you a time to do any other act or activity may crystallize automatically. And give a chance to look in another way at the original problem or
could bring you serenity to feeling that the situation is not up to the largest
of its ability to deal with the degree. But it is important not to bury the cause
of stress and is ignored, because the original problem needs to be resolved.
“Laugh, laugh when you lower”
To eliminate stress, please SIMLE. It is beneficial to the body because it helps
him to secrete serotonin, which plays an important role in the regulation of
human temperament, which is also dubbed the “happiness hormone”. If
you cannot laugh, it is sufficient to close your eyes and sit back and smile for
the secretion of the hormone of happiness. It is also possible to have a cup of
tea is able to give you a sense of relief
Listen to Music
Music have the ability to give you a sense of relief. Studies shown that music helps to relieve pain and stimulate memory, and continued “We are not
Remember good holidays
Ongoing work is exhausting and puts you in a state of boredom, you always need to gain some rest and breathtaking. You can breathtaking by seeing the pictures of holidays; as to view these pictures inspire a sense of feeling in that holiday and its attendant feelings of satisfaction and happiness.
Sleep well
Sleep Few is a cause of stress then disruption of the body’s functions, Getting a good night’s sleep allows you to rest your mind and body. Close mobile phone and easing the use of “Facebook”.
Using mobile phone and technical device cause stress, as experts advise to
abandon a 24-hour technical devices.
Dance practice
The dancing burns calories in the body in a fun way and contributes to
obtain serene mood.
Enjoy chocolate
The last advice reflected in good perception of all that is fun, if you eat
chocolate pieces must be entrusted to slowly and left melt in the mouth,
as long as the chocolate helps to sort the hormone of happiness. Studies
reported that eating dark chocolate is happening certain chemical reactions
within the veins and arteries that contribute to the regulation of blood flow
and reduce the risk of hypertension.The study, published in the Journal of
Proteome Research has shown that eating about 5.42 grams of dark chocolate every day for two weeks reduces the stress hormone when those who
feel great psychological pressure.
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News Round Up
EAGE Student Chapter
Launched
Earth Science major students from Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) were participants in the first EAGE Forum
for Students and Young Profes­sionals held in Abu Dhabi,
2012. They ended up win­ning the best poster competition
and that suc­cess inspired SQU students to start their own
EAGE Student Chapter at the university in ad­dition to
the existing Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG)
Student Chapter. The EAGE members have majors in geology and geophysics. Elections took place in December
2014, for office holders in the new chapter which lead to
Marwa Mohammed Alkhayari, a fourth year geophysics
student, be­coming the first female president of an EAGE
student chapter in the Middle East!
The aim of having the EAGE student chapter at SQU is
to develop young student’s awareness of the opportunities in geoscience and related disciplines and reduce the
gap between aca­demia and industry. The most recent
event organized by the stu­dent chapter in cooperation
with Geo Group, the earth science department students’
group, was the Second EAGE Forum for Students and
Young Professionals, which was held in SQU (1-9 December 2014). This proved a great opportunity for students to
interact with young professionals and key note speakers
from the industry.
MSM Gathering at SQU
The 10th edition of the Muscat Securities (MSM) Gathering organized by
the Eco-Fin Group of the College of Economics & Political Science at Sultan Qaboos University, in association with the Muscat Securities Market
(MSM), was held under the patronage of H.E. Saud Bin Nasser Al Shukaili,
Secretary General of Taxation at the Ministry of Finance. The forum continued for two days and the participants included senior officials from the
financial sector in Oman, CMA, Muscat Clearing & Depository Company,
Brokers Association Oman, local and international banks, Omani brokerage firms, and students from SQU.
The event included Muscat Securities Market’s exhibition on education, in
addition to the activities of some participating students from the faculty of
Economics & Political Science at SQU in related aspects of investment and
savings. The gathering offered investment experience to the students. Brochures and pamphlets were distributed among visitors to raise awareness
on the saving and investment knowledge among visitors.
Several lectures on investment and banking were also held on the sidelines
of the exhibition. Officials from Bank Nizwa delivered a seminar on the
difference between conventional and Islamic banking systems and its implications. Lectures were held on the topics “how MSM supports Oman’s
economy?” and “how to invest in Muscat Securities Market”.
Student Advisory
Council Established
The event started with a field trip to discover one of
Oman’s geological wonders, ophiolites. This trip was
organized in cooperation with the Geological Society of
Oman (GSO). The forum’s activities covered many sessions and panel dis­cussions under the theme ‘Empowering young talents’. In addition the forum included best
poster and the Geo-Quiz competitions, which added excitement and enthusiasm among stu­dents.
Dr. Hesham El-Kaliouby, the faculty advisor of the SQU
chapter and a member of the steering committee for the
EAGE forum said: ‘The experience that our students
gained from the organization and participation in the
differ­ent activities of the forum is priceless. I am sure that
SQU students will be able to achieve more through the
EAGE Student Chapter, which will enable them to participate and compete with their peers on the regional and
international levels. The EAGE student lecture tours will
also expose them to industry and academic pioneers from
all over the world. Having this European EAGE student
chapter a long with the existing American SEG chapter
will give the opportunity to SQU earth sciences students
to learn and contribute to the state of the art in Earth Sciences”.
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SQU Student Advisory Council was launched on Monday, 30 March 2015,
under the patronage of HE Dr. Ali bin Saud al Bimani, the Vice-Chancellor
in the presence of Dr. Yousef bin Salim al Hinai, Dean of Students Affairs,
academicians, administrators, technical staff and students from various
colleges of the university. The Student Advisory Council office is located
in the Commercial Centre next to the Student Service Centre at SQU.
The Council aims at promoting SQU students’ aspirations in academic
field by involving students in addressing the challenges and difficulties
facing the University’s students and in improving the education and research processes. Students will also be involved in improving the services
rendered to them. The Council also aims at providing students with the
fundamentals that foster their personality, promote teamwork spirit and
encourage dialogue and respect of the others.
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News Update
SQU Celebrates HM’s Return
Hundreds of students, employees and their families participated in the
“SQU March” titled “Qaboos our Pride” organized by SQU to mark the
safe return of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Al Said. Students, faculty members, administrative, technical, and medical staff gathered near the conference hall for the procession which continued up to the amphitheater. The
participants carried national flags, carried placards and wore shawls carrying images of His Majesty and other symbols depicting the unity among
the people of the Sultanate. HE Dr. Ali bin Saud Al Bimani, the Vice Chancellor of SQU led the procession. The amphitheater, was alive with live performances of traditional dances and music, recitation of poetry and other
light and sound shows.
Sea gliders to Monitor
Algal Blooms
Periodic algal blooms hitting the Omani coastal waters is a serious ecological issue resulting in numerous fish kill incidents, terminations in desalination plant functioning, and causing problems for numerous tourists visiting Omani beaches. In monitoring algal blooms, Sultan Qaboos University
has worked out an innovative approach dealing with the application of
sea gliders. Sea gliders are autonomous robotic systems equipped with numerous sensors allowing recording of physical, chemical, and biological
parameters of the water column. This records could be carried out every 6
hours, on the way to the surface (from the depth of about 1000m) and back.
Dr. Sergey Piontkovski is the Principal Investigator leading the project
linking scientists from SQU, University of East Anglia, and Washington
University. The team has launched two gliders in March 2015, with the
prospective to keep them scanning the Omani shelf waters throughout the
year, recharging batteries every 4 months.
In reaching the surface, the glider transmits recorded data via satellites and
gets a new command- on what to do and where to sail. Data on vertical distribution of temperature, salinity, water density, current speed, dissolved
oxygen concentration, phytoplankton biomass, and sound scattering layers
(mainly formed by fish schools) could be complemented by a traditional
sampling on board a research vessel coming from time to time to visit the
glider. The sampling based on glider’s information allows scientists to
understand what organisms and species have played the most important
role in the formation of blooms and layers. On a long run, series of gliders
cruising along the Omani shelf could set up a system of reliable monitoring, which the state needs so much.
SQU Approves Proposal to
Develop Brand Identity
SQU Council held a meeting for the academic year 2014-2015 on Monday, 30 March 2015, under the patronage of HE Dr. Rawya bint Saud
al Busaidiya, Minister of Higher Education and Chairperson of SQU
Council. The agenda of the meeting included a number of topics for
which the council took appropriate decisions. The Council okayed a
proposal to develop the brand identity for SQU. It also approved a
proposal to re-constitute SQU Scientific Research Council, as well as
the proposed risk management policy.
The Council discussed SQU education rehabilitation diploma proposal which will be introduced by the University starting from the
academic year 2015-2016 after maintaining coordination with the respective authorities. The meeting also approved a proposal about the
expected number of students (3,325) to be admitted to SQU in 20152016.
Agricultural Festival Held
The Seventh Agricultural Festival , organized by the Agricultural &
Marine Sciences Students Society at Sultan Qaboos University, was
opened under the patronage of HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdullah
Al Hinai, State Advisor. The annual Agricultural Festival showcases
the research and innovative ideas of undergraduate students from
the College of Agricultural & Marine Sciences at SQU who belongs
to five groups namely, Agricultural Engineering Group, Food Science
& Nutrition Group, Natural Resources Economics Group, Plant Sciences Group and Marine Sciences Group.
Amani Al Hadi, Deputy Head of the Agricultural & Marine Sciences
Students Society said that all the five students groups had come up
with three projects each this year. “At the end of the three day festival,
the best project was selected and given a prize. This year, the Society
also organized an Open Day at the Agricultural Experimental Station
at SQU, as part of the festival. Student entrepreneurs from SQU and
outside attended and shared their experiences with the students”, she
said. The festival exhibition showcased student projects on wastewater treatment, braille’s food fact labels, aquaponic systems, agricultural land conservation, production of Omega 3 capsules, impact of
industrial activities on marine environment, nanotechnology in agriculture, and so on. A number of school students from Oman also
participated in the exhibition with their school garden projects.
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Insight
Developing
Knowledge
Based Economy
through ICT
By: Kamla Ali Al-Busaidi, Associate Professor
Information Systems Department
College of Economics & Political Science
A knowledge economy (KE) is the “production and services based on
knowledge-intensive activities that contribute to an accelerated pace of
technical and scientific advance, as well as rapid obsolescence”. What differentiates the knowledge economy from traditional economies is that KE
relies upon intellectual capabilities more often than physical input or
natural resources. Additionally, a knowledge economy involves a workforce dominated by knowledge workers, those who work with their brains
instead of their hands. The key strengths of KE is that it is based on an
abundant resource, knowledge, not a scarce resource such as oil and other
natural resources. Also, knowledge grows further when used and applied,
unlike diminishing traditional resources.
In today’s Knowledge Era, information and knowledge strengthen individuals and organizations, as well as national economies. governments, organizations, and individuals that manage and exploit knowledge most likely
improve their operational and innovative performance and, consequently,
achieve competitive advantages.
The four pillars of a knowledge economy, according to the World Bank, are:
(1) economic and institutional regimes, (2) education and human resources,
(3) information and communications technologies (ICT), and (4) innovation systems. These pillars are prerequisites for the effective use of knowledge for economic growth. Sweden, Finland, Denmark, the Netherlands,
Norway, New Zealand, Canada, Germany, Australia, and Switzerland,
in that order, currently lead the knowledge economy index (KEI), which
includes 146 countries (World Bank, 2012). This article is a summary of a
recent conference publication of SQU granted research project, that aims to
provide evidence linking ICT in the development of knowledge economy
and its pillars.
construction of ICT centers (40 IT community centers for 1.2 million
people) throughout the country, as well as additional investments in
education and human resources. Traditional learning entities (e.g.,
physical schools and universities) in any given nation may not have
the capacity to enable the development of human resources. Thus,
ICT tools, including learning management systems and e‐learning,
enable governments to grow their educational capacities and expand the reach of education.
Third, ICT can play a major role on innovation. The information technologies market, which includes hardware and software, is by itself a
rich market for innovation and the production of new products. The
top ten global companies ranked in 2010 by U.S. patents are electronics and IT companies: IBM, Samsung, Microsoft, Canon, Panasonic,
Toshiba, Sony, Intel, LG, and Hewlett‐Packard. In addition, ICT provides important support for innovation as well as research and development for businesses, governments, and scientific and social fields.
The World Bank measures the ICT index based on telephones, computers and Internet users. For other indices, the pillar of education
and human resources is measured by average years of schooling as
well as secondary and tertiary enrolment. Economic incentive and institutional regime is measured by tariff and nontariff barriers, regulatory quality, and rules of law; and the innovation systems pillar
is measured by royalty and licensing fee payments and receipts, patent applications granted by the U.S. patent and trademark office, and
quantity of scientific and technical journal articles. The average index of each pillar is used in this analysis. Based on the analysis of the
World Bank data of knowledge economy (KE) indices of worldwide
countries in 1995, 2000 and 2012, this study detected significant associations between ICT and knowledge economy pillars in these years;
hence it plays a significant role in the development of knowledge‐
based economy and its pillars. The the ICT pillar is the only pillar
that has been consistently significant and positive factor on knowledge economy and each of knowledge economy pillars. Finally, ICT
has been the most critical pillar on innovation.
This study’s results provide insights into the value of ICT that can inspire countries, including less developed nations, to empower themselves with ICT. For instance, countries can use ICT, including e‐
learning and mobile learning, to extend their capacities in education
and building human resources. To improve innovation in any domain,
other kinds of ICT such as groupware, knowledge management systems, and business intelligence technologies can be used. Moreover,
the ICT sector and industry in any nation, if well developed and financed, can be a source of innovation and contribute greatly to national GDP, as demonstrated in the U.S., Singapore, and South Korea.
A dynamic information infrastructure is needed to facilitate effective communication, dissemination and processing of information and knowledge,
and consequently the knowledge-based economy. First, several international reports have highlighted the power of knowledge for any national
economy and is institutions and regimes. Knowledge‐intensive business
services and products (e.g., consulting and design) are major contributors
to the GDP of developed countries in North America and Western Europe.
In these countries, ICT has proven essential to the effective and efficient
development and distribution of such digitisable products and services.
Even for firms with physical products, information technologies can add
great value; firms can use information technologies to improve its business
operations according to different functions. In North America and Western
Europe, the ICT industry is critical to national economies and is also crucial
in several Asian countries. For instance, according to the Bank of Korea, the
contributions of the information technology (IT) industry to South Korea’s
GDP were estimated to have increased from 7.7% in 1997 to 12% in 2003.
Second, ICT can play a major role on developing people’s knowledge, education and skills, a major pillar of the knowledge economy. For example,
Malaysia developed an ICT program that successfully drove growth in
human resources and bridged the digital gap. This program included the
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Mind Over Matter
The ‘Power’ of Smart Grid
By: Dr. Nasser Hosseinzadeh
Dept. of Electrical & Computer Engineering
College of Engineering, SQU
“Smart grid” refers to a class of technology people are using to bring utility electricity delivery systems into the
21st century, using computer-based remote control and automation. These systems are made possible by twoway communication technology and computer processing that has been used for decades in other industries. They
are beginning to be used on electricity networks, from the power plants all the way to the consumers of electricity in homes and businesses. They offer many benefits to utilities and consumers- mostly seen in big improvements in energy efficiency on the electricity grid and in the energy users’ homes and offices. The “grid” amounts
to the networks that carry electricity from the plants where it is generated to consumers. The grid includes wires,
substations, transformers, switches and much more. Much in the way that a “smart” phone these days means a
phone with a computer in it, smart grid means “computerizing” the electric utility grid.
The electric power infrastructure, ‘the grid’, that has served us so
well for a long time is running up against its limitations. To solve
some of the problems associated with this grid, the electric industry needs to make the transformation from a centralized, producercontrolled network to one that is less centralized and more consumer-interactive. Such a transformed grid is called ‘smart grid’.
A smart grid consists of a power grid equipped with communications, controls, computers, automation, and other new technologies
working together to respond to the integration of renewable energy
sources to the grid, demand side management, and in general respond to the continuous changes expected in the power grids of
the future. In fact, even now, the transmission system – which is a
part of the grid - is relatively smart. But, the distribution system
is not so. Therefore, the target is to make the distribution network
also smart by adding to it a two-way communication along with
distributed generation, storage and smart meters.
People are often confused by the terms ‘Smart Grid’ and ‘Smart
Meters’. Are they not the same thing? Not exactly. Metering is just
one of hundreds of possible applications that constitute the Smart
Grid; a smart meter is a good example of an enabling technology
for the smart grid. Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) is an
approach to provide consumers with the ability to use electricity
more efficiently and to provide utilities with the ability to detect
problems on their systems and operate them more efficiently. AMI
enables consumer-friendly efficiency concepts like this: Assuming
that energy is priced on what it costs in real-time, then price signals
are relayed to “smart” home controllers or end-consumer devices
like thermostats, washer/dryers and refrigerators. The devices, in
turn, process the information based on consumers’ learned wishes
and power accordingly. Because this interaction occurs largely “in
the background,” with minimal human intervention, there will be
a dramatic savings on energy that would otherwise be consumed.
Another imperative, the distributed generation is the use of smallscale power generation technologies located close to the load being
served, capable of lowering costs, improving reliability, reducing
emissions and expanding energy options. An automated, widely
distributed energy delivery network, will be the smart grid of the
future. Adoption of the smart grid will enhance every facet of the
electric delivery system, including generation, transmission, distribution and consumption. It will energize those utility initiatives
that encourage consumers to modify patterns of electricity usage,
including the timing and level of electricity demand. It will increase
the possibilities of distributed generation, bringing generation closer to those it serves (think: solar panels on your roof rather than
some distant power station). The shorter the distance from generation to consumption, the more efficient, economical and “green” it
may be. It will empower consumers to become active participants
in their energy choices to a degree never before possible. And it will
offer a two-way visibility and control of energy usage.
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Straight Talk
Prof. Colin Riordan
Prof. Colin Riordan is the President and Vice-Chancellor of Cardiff University, of the United Kingdom.
Previously he was Vice-Chancellor of the University
of Essex. He moved to Essex from Newcastle University, where he had been Pro Vice-Chancellor and
Provost of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. Prof. Riordan recently led a Cardiff University delegation to Sultan Qaboos University, to explore partnerships in academic and research fields.
Horizon: Could you please give an overview of Cardiff University’s per-
formance as a leading academic and research institution in the Wales, UK?
Prof. Riordan: Cardiff University was ranked 5th amongst UK universities in the 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF) based on quality,
and is a member of the Russell Group, a group of 24 leading UK research
intensive universities. We have around 28,000 students enrolled, representing over 100 countries. The number include 21,020 undergraduates, 7,520
postgraduates, 5,885 international students. Cardiff has risen 17 places on
the quality measure, making us the fastest rising amongst the leading research universities of the Russell Group, climbing from 22nd in 2008. Regarding impact of research, we have performed outstandingly well, ranked
2nd in the UK. This means an impressive 87% of our research was assessed
as world-leading or internationally excellent. This extraordinary achievement marks us out as a world leader and puts Cardiff on the map globally
and nationally. We are an extremely ambitious and innovative university.
Achieving this outstanding result is a testimony to the excellence and hard
work of all our staff. It is part of a very clear strategic vision for the university, one that will see our reputation rise globally to the benefit of Cardiff,
Wales and the UK.
Horizon: What are your strengths?
Prof. Riordan: Cardiff is a comprehensive university which is home to
a variety of schools and faculties which focus on academic excellence and
world quality research. Cardiff achieved outstanding results for its engineering research in REF 2014. Civil and Construction Engineering research
is ranked first in the UK for its Grade Point Average and the four star impact
of its research. We were awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher
and Further Education in 2013, a result that confirms Cardiff’s place as a
world leading centre for excellence in engineering research. Researchers in
Civil and Construction Engineering are at the forefront of finding solutions
to some of the most pressing global challenges relating to the built and natural environments. Cardiff is officially one of the UK’s top three universities
for its world-leading research in psychology, psychiatry and neuroscience,
breaking the grip of the UK’s golden triangle of research intensive universities. According to the Research Excellence Framework (REF), a national
exercise that assesses the quality and impact of research in UK higher education institutions, published in December 2014, Cardiff has secured a podium
finish and a place amongst the world’s leading research intensive universities in the field.
Horizon: Cardiff is reputed for communication and media studies. Could
you elaborate?
Prof. Riordan: Cardiff University’s communication, media and cultural
studies research has been recognized for its exceptional originality, significance and rigor in the Research Excellence Framework (REF), a national
exercise that assesses the quality of research in UK higher education institutions. The 18 December 2014 REF results endorse the strength and excellence
of the University’s research in these fields, ranking Cardiff second in the UK
and judging 100 percent of its research as ‘outstanding’ for its cultural, social
or economic impact.
Horizon: Your talks with SQU officials focused more on ties in medical and
nursing education. Can you shed light on your medical school?
Prof. Riordan: Cardiff University Medical School is the oldest Medical
School in Wales and one of the largest in the UK. The School is ambitious
and forward-looking and everything we do is aimed at improving the quality of care of patients. The Medical School is unique because of its ‘real focus
on the patient’, the ‘opportunity to work with teachers and researchers who
are world experts’, and being able to develop an ‘excellent insight into what
life as a doctor will be like’. With Sultan Qaboos University, we look for
sustainable partnerships in medical education and research. The ties can be
initiated through student exchanges and collaborative research.
Horizon: Are you looking for collaboration in Arabic language teaching?
Prof. Riordan: Arabic economies play an important role for European
business and leisure travel. This has prompted a growing demand for Asian
and Arabic studies. The Cardiff Centre for Lifelong Learning offers Arabic
language courses. Arabic and other Asian languages are not widely taught
in the UK and we are very proud to be able to run courses at different levels
to suit all abilities. We look for potential collaboration between Centre for
Lifelong Learning at Cardiff and the Arabic language Department, and the
Omani studies Centre at Sultan Qaboos University.
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