Innovation, dedication and passion were celebrated by the Higher Colleges of Technology today, as winners of the Nikai Student and Faculty Awards for the 2011/2012 academic year were announced.
The annual Nikai Awards were held during the first day of the United Arab Emirates’ inaugural Curriculum Conference and Curriculum Institute at the HCT- Dubai Men’s College, which saw hundreds of international and locally-based educators and specialists, interested in advancing teaching and learning through curriculum development and design, attend to discuss how digital content and technology integration can be incorporated into modern classrooms. The two-day conference was inaugurated by H.E. Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Minister for Higher Education and Scientific Research and Chancellor Higher Colleges of Technology.
The Nikai awards are proudly sponsored annually by the Nikai Group which supports innovation in education, by students and faculty members who demonstrate great aptitude, creativity, innovation and dedication to their studies and fields of endeavor at the HCT. The awards are a highlight of the HCT calendar and are worth AED 25,000 each and the winners receive cash prizes, electronic equipment and a commemorative certificate.
In the student category there was one overall award winner and the judges considered the students’ suitability under the criteria of Academic Excellence (maintaining a minimum semester GPA of 3.5); Community Service; Significant contributions to student life and college activities and Awards/distinctions received.
The Nikai faculty awards were given for each of the two semesters and areawarded to innovative programs, projects or initiatives which enhance student learning and skills. The award criteria includes innovation in teaching and the criteria considered were Quality; Creativity and timeliness; Efficiency and cost effectiveness; Sharability and replication; and Sustainability.
The winner of this year’s annual Nikai Student Award was Mariam Mohammed Abdulla Husain Marzooqi of Al Ain Women’s College for her academic excellence, community service and contributions to the college. Mariam received 17 nominations for the award.
It was the third consecutive year that a student from Al Ain Women’s College (AAWC) won the annual student prize. Last year AAAWC student Asma Ibrahim Al Baloushi was the deserved winner.
The Nikai Faculty Award for Semester 1 was awarded to Shankar Subramani from Dubai Women’s College for his innovative project i-Connect-V-Learn.
Mr. Subramani’s project was a novel approach to student learning whereby “live” online sessions were facilitated by using the ‘Wimba Classroom’ functionality in BBVista, and integrating it with the ‘Quomo’ smart-board and e-learning software such as ‘Articulate Presenter’ and ‘Respondus Studymate’.
His project was considered a worthy winner as it showed great potential for further use as the Higher Colleges of Technology in general, and DWC in particular, experience increasing enrolment from students who prefer evening classes. It also fosters excellence in online facilitation skills for faculty, thereby providing HCT with a strategic advantage in the local environment.
Mr. Subramanistated that a reason for the project was that modern organizations are increasingly moving towards collaborative virtual teams and proficiency in these technologies better prepare students for the workplace.
The Nikai Faculty Award for Semester 2 winner was Guy Brooksbank of Dubai Men’s College for the group student-centered activity The Dubai Student Film Festival (DSFF): Embedded Scaffolding in Event–Specific,Student-Centered Learning.
The DSFF was a group, student-centered activity wheregoals for completion and success were determined by the students. The assignment was to create and brand a unique festival highlighting student films. The project succeeded because the DSFF incorporated all aspects of the HCT Applied Communications curriculum; put students in charge of their own success; and culminated with a well-publicized and supported event.
The student and faculty awards are as a result of the generous sponsorship of the Nikai Group of Companies and its Chairman Paras Shahdadpuri said the company was honored and privileged to sponsor the awards for excellence in education over the past years.
Mr. Shahdadpuri said the corporation’s partnership with HCT was aimed at playing a pivotal role in enlightening, educating and motivating the students, faculty and professionals across the HCT colleges.
HCT Vice Chancellor Dr Tayeb Kamali thanked the Nikai Group for its long and generous association with the excellence in innovation awards. “It is through close partnerships like this one with the Nikai Group that the Higher Colleges of Technology is able to provide such high standards for the education and development of its students and faculty, as well as to nurture and assist innovation,” Dr Kamali said.
ENDS
About Nikai: The Nikai Group is a global conglomerate with business interests in: Electronics & Appliances; Information Technology; General Trading; and Food. The Nikai Group of Companies has grown into an international operation from a humble trading enterprise in a time span of just over decade.Nikai Electronics is the torchbearer brand of the group that symbolizes excellence at all levels. It encapsulates all the other core values like quality-commitment, service-integrity, and technological advancement. The unprecedented growth of the brand in an already saturated electronics market can be attributed to its promise of reliability. Today Nikai has established itself as a major brand in the region offering over 400 electronic and household appliances. Thus labeling it as The Total Home Solutions brand. Manufactured to stringent quality control standards and guided by a philosophy of excellence in quality and service standards, Nikai is known for its superior product. Keeping abreast with the latest advancements in technology, Nikai constantly introduces new products, thus gaining a competitive edge over other players in the category.
Contacts
Abhilash Mathew
Marketing
Nikai Group Of Companies
+971 4 355 4242 ext. 246
abhilash@nikai.com
www.nikai.com
www.facebook.com/nikaielectronics
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