Higher College of Technology

Thursday, February 23, 2012

news & updates (archive)

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2nd Semester 2010 - 2011

1. ITBiz Arranged a Seminar-Workshop on Graphics Design and Web Programming
6/19/2011

A Seminar-Workshop entitled "A Technical Session on Arts, Graphics, Design, and Web Programming" was organized by the ITBiz-Information Systems student organization last Thursday, 16th of June 2011 at N417, New Building, HCT.

The following students who were once winners in the past competitions were invited as Resource Speakers during the Seminar-Workshop to share their knowledge and expertise among Information Systems students:
1. Ahmed Murad Al-Balus - Presentation on Team Work
2. Khattab Al-Mamari - Graphic Design
3. Taha Al-Busi - Art and Design
4. Marwan Al-Busi - Motion & After Effects Design
5. Abdullaziz Al-Rash - Web Programming

Team-building activities were also administered by Said Abdullah Al-Harthy and Rasha Sulaiman Al-Mahfoodhi during break time.

The following were the participants:

To ensure proper supervision and facilitation, the following staff members were present during the activity: Mr. Amando Singun and Ms. Najiba Al-Zadjali, IT-Biz Supervisors; Dr. Maria Elisa Linda Cruz, HoG of Information Systems and Multimedia; and Mr. Majed Al-Ofi, Student Affairs staff member.

The ITBiz Activity Coordinator, Kareem Al-Hudaifi, said "We acquired both technical and soft skills from this seminar-workshop. On behalf of the ITBiz, I express my gratitude to the administration and staff for all their support. "

The seminar-workshop had lasted for almost ten (10) hours.

For more information, browse the Gallery menu of this website (or the news thumb above) to view the actual footages of the event.

Written by: Amando P. Singun, Jr.
ITBiz, Supervisor

2. Kimono Workshop
5/18/2011

Mr.Tetsuya Mizutani, a renowned Japanese designer conducted a Kimono Workshop on cloth designing organized by the Embassy of Japan in the Sultanate at the Higher College of Technology on 9th of May 2011, attended by the Fashion Design students of the 3 levels.

This outstanding workshop comprised two insightful theoretical and practical sessions. In the first session, the Japanese designer briefed the students about the types of Japanese traditional outfit "Kimono" and its basic parts. The second session included a practical work as how the "Kimono" is worn, and the technical parts of its patterns including the prints, as how it can be used to make a nice gown dress with the same pattern of the Kimono.

At this "Kimono Workshop", The Japanese designer explored the Japanese culture with the Fashion design students, presenting the traditional Japanese garments made of pure raw silk.

It enabled the Fashion Design students to enhance their Fashion culture knowledge and experiencing different types of silk materials specially used for the "Kimono" outfit. In addition, they learned the process of developing a gown dress by using the same pattern garment of the Kimono outfit.

In fact, the Kimono workshop was an interactive event; it helped the students to compare between the Omani traditional dress for females and Japanese traditional Kimono.

For actual footages of the event, please click on the news thumb above.

3. 2nd Technical Engineering Gathering Awarding Ceremony
5/18/2011

Please click on the news thumb (at left side) to view the gallery for the event.

4. IT-Business Student Leaders As Delegates of the First Technical Forum held at Nizwa College of Applied Sciences
5/18/2011

Thirteen (13) IT-Business student-leaders participated during the two-day First Technical Forum of Nizwa College of Applied Sciences held last 7-8 May, 2011, with the theme "Work Together to Support Open Source". During the event, the ITBiz student-leaders presented a number of E-Commerce course projects that had been developed using PHP, a Free Open Source Software (FOSS).

The ITBiz President - Ms. Miaad Al-Obaidani said, "I strongly believe that the group had acquired essential socio-academic learning experiences in this activity. We are looking forward to a similar activity in the near future." Along with Ms. Miaad were other ITBiz student-leaders namely:
1. Adil Al-Shihi
2. Bashayer Al-Ajmi
3. Basma Al-Burtumani
4. Bushra Al-Abdali
5. Fawaz Al-Farsi
6. Kareem Al-Hudaifi
7. Khalida Al-Siyabi
8. Majed Al-Balushi
9. Marwa Al-Hadabi
10. Moath Al-Zkwani
11. Shamsa Al-Rashdi
12. Zamzam Al-Farsi

For more information, browse the Gallery menu of this website (or the news thumb above) to view the actual footages of the event.

Written by: Mr. Amando P. Singun, Jr.
Supervisor, ITBiz Student Organization

5. Pharmacy Staff Elected as the Board Members of Oman Pharmaceutical Society
5/2/2011

Election of the Oman Pharmaceutical Society board’s members took place in the General Assembly Meeting on Thursday 28th April at 10AM at Higher College of Technology in Multipurpose Hall.

Members of the society from different health sectors were invited to attend the meeting. The event was arranged by the Pharmacy Department staff members who are the members in the society. The main agenda of the meeting was to elect the new board members for the year 2011-2013 and to discuss the previous financial and administration reports of the society. HCT Pharmacy staff members Mrs Muna Arif Al-Juma and Ms. Al-Khansa Khalid Al-Hashmi were elected as the board's member for the year 2011-2013. We congratulate and wish them good luck.

6. Appointment of Acting Head for IT Department
4/30/2011

Internal Administrative Decree No. ( 3 / 2011)
Appointment of Acting Head for IT Department

With reference to the above subject and as per the responsibilities given to the College Dean in Article (9) : 4 of the Bylaws of Colleges of Technology, the following has been decreed:

Article 1:
The Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs is appointed as Acting Head of IT Department in addition to his reponsibilities.

Article 2: This decree is effective from its date of issue.
Issued on : 27th April 2011.

Ahmed Al Ghassani, PhD
College Dean

7. A Big Day for IT-Business Students and Staff
Theme: "It is our time to shine."
4/16/2011

The ITBiz, newly-launched student organization of the IT-Business specialization, had organized an activity last 22nd of March 2011 in MPH with the theme "It is our time to shine."

The venue was attended by students and staff of different departments, a number of HCT heads, guests such as Y Magazine and Muscat Daily media representatives, and sponsors.

The following were the highlights of the programme:
- launching of IT-Business program logo;
- launching of ITBiz student organization;
- induction of the newly-elected student officers; and
- awarding ceremony (logo competition and staff development program).

The programme had started formally by Ms. Miaad Al-Obaidani, President of ITBiz, with her welcome message. Dr. Maria Elisa Linda T. Cruz, head of the IT-Business and Multimedia groups, had formally launched the ITBiz student organization and had given the student officers' oath of office.

Intermission numbers were given by Abdullah Al-Alawi and Zamzam Al-Farsi with their poetic prowess. Using flowery Arabic words, the former expressed his ineffable love for His Majesty Sultan Qaboos while the latter fluently stated in English words her pride and love for HCT. After rendering her poem, bouquets of flowers were handed to Dr. Ahmed Masoud Al-Kindi, Head of the IT department, and Mr. Ibrahim Al-Amri, Assistant Dean for Administration and Finance, as a gesture of appreciation for their support to the students.

An informative as well as an entertaining movie, with ITBiz student officers as the main characters, was viewed. The movie promoted the IT-Business program.

Dr. Ahmed Masoud Al-Kindi, Head of the IT department, and Mr. Ibrahim Al-Amri, Assistant Dean for Administration and Finance, had officially launched the IT-Business program logo. Ms. Nawal Al-Dhanki, member of the board of judges of the logo competition, had announced the names of participants and presented the winners of the logo competition as follow:
- Adil Khamis Al Shihi (Diploma) - First Prize (winning logo designer);
- Shamsa Said Saif Al-Harthy (BTech) - Second Prize;

The other participants of the logo competition were: Bushra Marhoon Al-Wahaibi, Entisar Salim Suliman Al-Dihani, Hamed Rashid Al-Hajri, Kareem Rashid, Majid Abdak Al-Balushi, Marwa Al-Haddabi, Rasha Hamed, and Shamsa Mohammed Al-Rashdi.

The members of the board of judges also received an award of appreciation namely:
- Mr. Mohammed Mushtaq (Multimedia, IT Lecturer);
- Ms. Nawal Al-Dhanki (Web Administrator, ETC Staff);
- Ms. Warda Al-Hooqani (Multimedia, IT Lecturer).

Mr. Randall Bernard, Sales Director of Friendie Mobile, had talked briefly about their products and services. As one of the sponsors of the activity, Friendi Mobile had given away prizes such as Friendi Mobile modems for the logo competition winners and a number of SIM cards to lucky winners during the raffle draw.

The staff members who had been invited as Resource Speakers and who had organized the IT-Business Value-Added Courses and the Staff Development Program also received an award of appreciation as follow.

Staff Development Program:
- Dr. Girija Narasimhan(Resource Speaker, DFD and Normalization);
- Ms. Amna Omar (Resource Speaker, Statistical Analysis) ;
- Mr. Mohammed Mushtaq (Resource Speaker, Web Development);
- Mr. Amando P. Singun, Jr. (Resource Speaker, Desktop Publishing);
- Ms. Ronette Rabanal (Resource Speaker, Desktop Publishing);

Value-Added Course Program:
- Mr. Ahmed Al-Qudah (Resource Speaker, Normalization)
- Ms. Zainab Al-Qurashi (Resource Speaker, Normalization)
- Ms. Eman Al-Abri (Resource Speaker, Introduction to C Programming)
- Ms. Vinu Sherimon (Resource Speaker, ASP.Net)

Organizers:
- Ms. Mercy Claravall (Organizer, Staff Development Program)
- Ms. Mariam Al-Hinai (Organizer, Value-Added Course Program)
- Ms. Najiba Al-Zadjali (Organizer, IT-Business Logo Competition)
- Mr. Amando Singun, Jr. (Organizer, IT-Business Logo Competition)

Special awards of appreciation went forth to the following sponsors:
- Friendi Mobile
- Candy Bouquet
- Al-Zummorodha Enterprise for Trading
- Al-Juma Enterprise for Trading

Kareem Rashid Al-Hudaifi, Activities Coordinator of ITBiz, had formally closed the programme with an expressive closing message. In his message, he encouraged his fellow students to take part in any socio-academic activities of the ITBiz that would hone them as holistic individuals, staying with the theme "It is our time to shine."

The activity lasted for almost two (2) hours.

For more information, browse the Gallery menu of this website (or the news thumb above) to view the actual footages of the activity or paginate the official gazette archives of Y Magazine and Muscat Daily, which had featured the activity as well.

Written by: Mr. Amando P. Singun, Jr.

8. Seminar-Workshop on Test Construction
Theme: "Quality Exam Spells a Difference"
4/16/2011

The IT-Business group of the Department of Information Technology had conducted a seminar-workshop among IT and Math staff members last 5th of April 2011 in the Multi-Purpose Hall. The theme of the activity was "Quality Exam Spells a Difference" with emphasis on test construction using a renowned effective tool called Table of Specifications.

The programme was started formally by Dr. Ahmed Masoud Al-Kindi, Head of the IT department, with his genial words of welcome.

One essential part of the table of specifications is the writing of meaningful, effective and SMART objectives. Mr. Amando P. Singun Jr., an IT Lecturer, shared his expertise on the techniques and tips of writing such objectives. It was followed by the presentation of the Table of Specifications as a tool in test construction by Dr. Maria Elisa Linda T. Cruz, head of the IT-Business and Multimedia groups. An open forum had followed thereafter.

To stimulate the participants after two (2) successive lectures, Ms. Mariam Al-Hinai and Ms. Mercy Claravall, IT lecturers, had introduced a number of 'ice breaker' activities. Prizes were awarded to participants who were able to solve the mind-breaking problems.

Also, during the activity Dr. Ahmed Masoud Al-Kindi, Head of the IT department, took the chance to award the Employee for the month of March in the person of Ms. Warda Al-Hooqani, an IT Lecturer of the Multimedia group.

Ms. Muna Al-Rahbi and Ms. Rowena Simplina, the Masters of Ceremony, had synchronized the activity and ended with the hope that the recently-conducted seminar-workshop had provided a good avenue for the staff members to have a rich pedagogical experience.

The activity lasted for almost two (2) hours.

For more information, browse the Gallery menu of this website (or the news thumb above) to view the actual footages of the activity.

Written by: Mr. Amando P. Singun, Jr.

9. Pharmacy Staff- Mohammad Yahya attends DUPHAT 2011-Dubai
3/28/2011

Mohammad Yahya, Lecturer in Pharmacy department, attended "Dubai International Pharmaceuticals and Technologies Conference and Exhibition (DUPHAT)'" held at Dubai, 22-24th March 2011. DUPHAT - has evolved to be one of the most important annual pharmaceutical event since its inception in 1995. Mohammad Yahya was selected and sponsored by the Oman Pharmaceutical Society for attending this Conference.

The intensive three-day scientific program which encouraged the pharmaceutical Professionals to evolve and enhance their education levels for an improved understanding of pharmaceutical care was presented through the following themes: redefining pharmacists role, upgrading quality standards, social pharmacy practice, health economics, ensuring quality use of medicines, pharmacoeconomics and medication management, protecting public health, perspectives on new technologies, quality, safety and research and clinical challenges in oral drug therapy.The conference also highlighted topics: such as Medication Safety in US Hospital and Health System Pharmacy, Role of pharmacists in safe and efficient pharmacotherapy and Quality use of medicines in hospitals, etc.

DUPHAT 2011 conference was accredited by the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia (SHPA), Dubai Health Authority (DHA), and Saudi Commission for Health Specialities.

10. DAS Awards Certificate of Appreciation to Deserving Staff
3/19/2011

The Department of Applied Sciences (DAS) headed by Dr. Samia Salim Said Al-Jaaidi, awarded CERTIFICATE of APPRECIATION last March 7, 2011 at the Multipurpose Hall, to some staff for their hard work and commitment. The Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs, Mr. Mohammed Terawnah graced the occasion with his presence and was requested to award the Certificate of Appreciation. He was assisted by Dr. Samia Salim Al-Jaaidi, Ms. Saba Sulaiman (Head of Chemistry Section), Ms. Laila Al-Haddabi (Head of Biology Section) and Mr. Zuhair Salmeen (Program Coordinator). The event was presented by Mr. Ahmed Al-Maamari (Biology Lecturer).

The following were the awardees:

DAS Distinguished Staff

1. Ms. Geetha Pradeep
2. Dr. Roger Maximo Pua
3. Ms. Wafa Al-Rawahi
4. Ms. Manjula Gumma
5. Ms. Nair Sajitha Bijukumar

Awardees for their participation and valuable contribution in the analysis of LNG Equipment Specifications

1. Dr.Sindhu Menon
2. Mr.Tobias Rempillo
3. Dr. Fakhri Omar Mohammad
4. Ms. Rosa Maria
5. Ms. Nair Sajitha Bijukumar
6. Prof. Esmail Kadhom Shubber
7. Mr. Michaelangelo Medina
8. Dr. Maximo Roger Pua
9. Dr. Syed Samiuddin

Awardees for their valuable contribution in the preparation of posters, displayed during the 26th Anniversary of HCT

1. Ms. Nair Sajitha Bijukumar
2. Prof. Esmail Kadhom Shubber
3. Dr. Fakhri Omar Mohammad
4. Mr. Mohammed Fasiuddin
5. Dr. Syed Samiuddin
6. Dr. Maximo Roger Pua
7. Dr.Sindhu Menon
8. Ms. Rosa Maria
9. Mr. Michaelangelo Medina
10. Mr. Eduard Jandonero

Section / Unit Distinguished Staff

Biology Section
1. Prof. Esmail Shubber
2. Ms. Sivarajan Anandi
3. Mr. Michaelangelo Medina

Chemistry Section
1. Dr. Sindhu Menon
2. Dr. Gareeballa
3. Ms. Manjula Gumma
4. Mr. Tobias Rempillo

Environmental Science Section
1. Dr. Maximo Roger A. Pua
2. Dr. Syed Samiuddin

Physics Unit
1. Dr. Alexander Mishin

In his message, the Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs, congratulated the awardees and motivated the staff to continue their good works and commitment. On the other hand, Dr. Samia who believes in transparent governance and leadership stressed in her closing remarks that the said occasion is only the beginning of giving due recognition to genuine hard work and commitment of staff in the department.

Written by : Dr. Roger Pua

11. In a Voting Process, Seven IT-Business Student Organization Leaders were Elected
3/14/2011

Students are agents of change. They are described as catalysts for improvement or reservoir of brilliant ideas. They deserve to be heard and considered.

"It is our time to shine.", a student nominee expressively mentioned during the citing of platforms and plans during the election of IT-Business student officers last 8th of March, 2011 in N244. The election of officers had formally started with a warm welcome message by Dr. Maria Elisa Linda T. Cruz, HoG of IT-Business program, which was followed by a presentation delivered by Mr. Amando Singun, the supervisor of the IT-Business Student Organization. Ms. Najiba Al-Zadjali, also a supervisor of the organization, had maintained a smooth flow of the voting process. Special guests also joined the event namely, Dr. Ahmed Al-Kindi, the HoD of the IT Department and Ms. Rowena Simplina, an IT-Business staff member.

A significant number of IT-Business students had joined the activity and had voted for the following student leaders:

President - Miaad Abdullah Al Obaidani [Higher Diploma]
Vice-President - Majed Al-Balushi [Diploma]
Secretary - Bashayer Obaid Al-Ajmi [Diploma]

Committee Coordinators
Activities Committee Coordinator - Kareem Rashid Al-Hudaifi [Diploma]
Media Committee Coordinator - Bushra Saoud Al-Abdali [Diploma]
Public Relations Committee Coordinator - Basma Khamis Salim [Diploma]
External Affairs Committee Coordinator - MoathAbdullah Alzkwani [Diploma]

After the election, the Committee Coordinators were given the privilege to select the members of his/her respective Committee. The complete list includes the following members of the different Committees:

Activities Committee Members
1. Abdullah Al-Alwi [Certificate]
2. Majed Abdullah Al-Obaidami [Diploma]
3. Marwa Al-Hadabi [Higher Diploma]
4. Saeed Al-Harthi [Higher Diploma]

Media Committee Members
1. Adil Khamis Al-Shihi [Diploma]
2. Shamsa Al-Rashdi [Diploma]
3. Zakariya Al-Balushi [Certificate]
4. Zakariya Ali Al-Balushi [Certificate]

Public Relations Committee Members
1. Abeer Al-Hadrami [Higher Dimploma]
2. Lujaina Al-Barwani [Higher Dimploma]
3. Rasha Al-Mahfodi [Diploma]
4. Zamzam Al-Farsi [Diploma]

External Affairs Committee Members
1. Khalida Al-Siyabi [Diploma]
2. Majid Al-Ismaili [Diploma]
3. Mohammed Al-Ghafri [Diploma]
4. Mustafa Al-Rashidi [Diploma]

The election had lasted for two (2) hours. ***

12. MM University has accepted to publish an article by Mr V. V. Vara Prasad, Lecturer in Marketing Specialization
2/21/2011

*MM University, India, has accepted to publish an article by Mr V V Vara Prasad, Lecturer in Marketing Specialization, in the forth coming issue of their journal, "MM University Journal of Management Practices (ISSN 0974 7257). The article is entitled, "Global Marketing of Services - Marketing Implications and options." The abstract of the article is presented below and please contact the author in case you need the full text at varaprasadvv@rediffmail.com

*MM University, Mullana- Ambala, 133-207 (Haryana) INDIA.

GLOBAL MARKETING OF SERVICES
Marketing Implications and Options
By
V.V.Vara Prasad*

It is a fact that many nations world wide have realized the importance of services and their contribution to the foreign exchequer, thereby extending their full support in the form of subsides and putting forth the government support mechanism to this flamboyant sector. For example, the contribution of services sector to India's GDP in the last few years was to the tune of around 55 per cent, compared to that of 60 per cent to Bangladesh, 77 per cent to Maldives, 52 per cent to Pakistan and 55 per cent to Sri Lanka. The magnitude of this contribution has prompted the governments to declare this sector as priority sector.

However, there are some striking differences between the marketing implications of services and products and the resultant strategies to mitigate the challenges. Product marketing is much easier than services as they are tangible and can be stored and transported, but the problem with services is they are intangible and cannot be stored or transported. The very feature of intangibility puts a point of doubt in the mind of the potential customer and the task of marketing manager of a service firm is daunting in establishing that the service is matching the desired expectations of the customer.

The task of marketing is much enduring in case of global marketing, where the customers are unique from market to market with high quality competition in front. The implications of marketing are to be carefully matched with the options and alternatives to get the desired benefits.

This paper tries to examine various features of services and their implications and recommended marketing strategies for a service firm to be global.

* Earlier worked as Associate Professor, and HoD, Department of P.G.Courses-MBA- Former Group General Manager, Globe Investments Ltd., Malawi, Central Africa, varaprasadvv@rediffmail.com

13. Muna Al Juma presents a paper at KIPC2011, Kuwait
2/21/2011

Ms Muna Al Juma, a lecturer in Pharmacy Department attended and presented a paper at the 3rd Kuwait International Pharmacy Conference (KIPC2011). She presented her paper in the poster presentation session of the conference entitled '"Community Pharmacist's Views and Attitudes to Continuing Professional Development After a Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 CPD Support Package".

14. New Heads for Administration Department and Library Section
2/5/2011

Effective on 2nd February 2011, Mr. Ashraf bin Sultan Saif Al Mahrouqi is appointed as Acting Head of the Administration Department, while, Ms. Najiya bint Mubarak bin Rashid Al Amrani is appointed as Acting Head of the Library Section. This is with reference to the Bylaws of Colleges of Technology and Ministerial Decision No. 325/2009, and Internal Administrative Decree No. (1/2011). This Decree overrides any Internal Decree that conflicts with it.

15. HCT’s 26th Anniversary Celebration
1/30/2011

The Higher College of Technology celebrated its 26th Year Anniversary on January 22, 2011. The occasion started with the unveiling of the mosaic sand art picture of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said at the HCT Main Building ground.

The following were highlighted in the main programme, which was conducted at the HCT Multipurpose Hall:
- the college's starting years;
- giving of tokens for the first batch of graduates from the year 1985;
- giving of tokens for the college staff that rendered more than 20 years of service;
- and the college's achievements

Token of appreciation was also given to the former administrators of the HCT.

The occasion concluded with exhibits from different departments, showcasing their accomplishments and contributions to the college.

16. Brainstorming Workshop on Entrepreneurship for Students
1/30/2011

The Higher College of Technology successfully hosted the training program entitled "National ICT Incubation Programme - Brainstorming Workshop on Entrepreneurship for Students", on January 15 2011, which was conducted by Information Technology Authority.

Mr. Peter Harman, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of UK Business Incubation Ltd. (UKBI) facilitated the program, which was attended by fifteen (15) students from other colleges, including three students from HCT, namely:
1. Sumayya Hilal Mohsin Al Habsi, Engineering Department;
2. Ulaziz Saud Sultan Al-Rashdi, IT Department;
3. Azza Mohammed Salim Al Badi, Business Studies Department.

The workshop was inaugurated by HCT Dean Dr. Ahmed Al Ghassani and was participated by other members from ITA.

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