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Real World Training for AUD Information Technology Students

Contribution from SITA : New CISCO Routers
Dubai: The Information Technology Department at the American University in Dubai ( AUD ) has recently received 20 Cisco 3600[i] and 2600[ii] series multiservice platforms to be used in the AUD Network Infrastructure lab, a generous contribution from SITA - world's leading specialist in air transport communications and information technology solutions.

Commenting on the SITA 's dedication to local communities, Mr. Mohamad Bailoun, SITA Director of Global Services, MENA, says:

" SITA has always been dedicated to serve the communities where it is present, specially the educational institutions that produce future business leaders. SITA has been providing internships, training and various forms of support to engineering students. This donation is a symbol of SITA 's continuous commitment to this field and we are very pleased that AUD will use it to further the education and hands-on training for its students."

SITA 's contribution comes in time with the Department's plan to improve its network and IT infrastructure lab. Dr. Khalid Khawaja, Chair of the Information Technology Department at AUD comments:

"This generous gift from SITA will enhance the Networking concentration within our program and will allow our students to get more relevant exposure in the lab. We are very impressed by the community outreach demonstrated by SITA and we look forward to more collaboration in the future"

The AUD IT Department's strategy is to stay connected with the IT community in Dubai. "Thus, we are in continual contact with some senior managers and executives in various companies. The relationship with SITA is a byproduct of our efforts to remain in touch with our surrounding", comments Dr. Hassan Zeineddine, Assistant Professor of Information Technology at AUD .

Having a relatively large number of routers in the IT lab allows AUD students to investigate data networking scenarios; for instance, their projects can now be closer to real industry structures rather than just academically simulated environments. The new routers will reduce resource contention among the students and widen their senior projects options.

After setting up these devices besides the existing ones (Cisco 1800 series), the AUD IT Lab will have 26 operating routers; thus, every student in a data networking class can have a dedicated router throughout the term, which he/she can configure and reset at his/her will as part of any laboratory training.

-Ends-

About AUD
The American University in Dubai ( AUD ) is a private, non-sectarian institution of higher learning founded in 1995. It serves UAE nationals and international students who seek world-class career-oriented education. AUD , as an international institution of higher education, encourages global understanding by providing an atmosphere of cultural diversity and opportunities for an international education.

AUD is accredited by the Commission on Colleges (COC) of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) to award Bachelor's and Master's degrees.

AUD is officially licensed by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of the United Arab Emirates. The Ministry has accredited the university's programs in Architecture, Business Administration (both undergraduate and graduate), Communication and Information Studies, Engineering, Information Technology, Visual Communication and Interior Design, in addition to a Certificate in Middle Eastern Studies program.

AUD holds an Agent's License issued by the District of Columbia Education Licensure Commission (Washington, DC, USA), and is approved to operate by the State of Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission (NPEC).

AUD has received specialized accreditation for its Bachelor's of Business Administration (B.B.A.), and Master's of Business Administration (M.B.A.) degree programs in business through the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE). The university's undergraduate concentrations in Marketing Communications and Advertising (Creative) have been accredited by the International Advertising Association (IAA) in New York.

All programs (i.e., Civil, Computer, and Electrical Engineering) of AUD 's School of Engineering are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. The Bachelor of Information Technology (B.I.T.) program is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET.

For more information, please visit www.aud.edu.

About SITA
SITA is the world's leading specialist in air transport communications and IT solutions. SITA delivers and manages business solutions for airline, airport, GDS, government and other customers over the world's most extensive network, which forms the communications backbone of the global air transport industry.

SITA 's portfolio includes managed global communications, infrastructure and outsourcing services, as well as services for airline commercial management and passenger operations, flight operations, aircraft operations and air-to-ground communications, airport management and operations, baggage operations, transportation security and border management, cargo operations and more. With a customer service team of over 1,600 staff around the world, SITA invests significantly in achieving best-in-class customer service, providing integrated local and global support for both its communications and IT application services.

SITA has two main subsidiaries: OnAir, which is the leading provider of in-flight connectivity, and CHAMP Cargosystems, the world's only IT company dedicated solely to air cargo. SITA also operates two joint ventures providing services to the air transport community: Aviareto for aircraft asset management and CertiPath for secure electronic identity management.

SITA is one of the world's most international companies. Its global reach is based on local presence, with services for around 550 air transport industry members and 3,200 customers in over 200 countries and territories. In 2009, the company celebrates 60 years in business. Set up in 1949 with 11 member airlines, SITA today employs people of more than 140 nationalities, speaking over 70 different languages. SITA had consolidated revenues of over US$1.47 billion (€1.13 billion) in 2008.

For further information go to www.sita.aero

For more information, please contact
Ms. Rim Ibrahim
Marketing Communications Coordinator
American University in Dubai
T. +971 4 3183 139
E. ribrahim@aud.edu

[i] The Cisco 3600 Series is a family of modular, multiservice access platforms for medium and large-sized offices and smaller Internet Service Providers. With over 70 modular interface options, the Cisco 3600 family provides solutions for data, voice video, hybrid dial access, virtual private networks (VPNs), and multiprotocol data routing. The high-performance, modular architecture protects customers' investment in network technology and integrates the functions of several devices into a single, manageable solution. Source: http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/routers/ps274/index.html

[ii] The Cisco 2600 Series Multiservice Platform is a modular multiservice access router that provides flexible LAN and WAN configurations, multiple security options, and a range of high-performance processors. With more than 70 network modules and interfaces, the modular architecture of the Cisco 2600 Series allows interfaces to be easily upgraded for network expansion. Source: http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/routers/ps259/index.html

© Press Release 2010