March 18, 2010:Topics as diverse as Arabesque designs, Australian Aboriginal art, mood colors, decoupage and window fashions will be explored at the inaugural Interior Design Symposium 2010: The Impact of Design at Al Ain Women's College on March 23, 2010.

The conference will be held under the patronage of H.E. Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Minister for Higher Education and Scientific Research and Chancellor of the Higher Colleges of Technology. It will be inaugurated with an opening address by H.E. Sheikh Nahayan.

The Interior Design Symposium 2010 will explore the impact of design in the UAE, and the world, and is designed to deepen people's appreciation of the profession of Interior Design, where creative and technical solutions merge to create functional living spaces.

The conference will allow attendees to gain an greater insight into Interior Design by interacting with international leaders in this field, such as Shashi Caan, from New York, Jussi Ängeslevä from Berlin, Dubai's Farida Abdulla Kamber and Tina Burger from Switzerland. 

Al Ain Women's College Director Brent Mills said the conference came about to promote the College's new Interior Design Diploma and was a collaborative approach between industry, the College and its Interior Design students.

Mr Mills said a conference highlight would be the transformation of the College's assembly hall and stage, where the students had to use the elements of culture, society, history, the future and inspiration in the redesign.

"The students, faculty and sponsors have worked tirelessly over the past few months to achieve the highest quality outcome. We are extremely proud to have been a part of this process," he said.

"This unique collaboration with industry has provided our students with an opportunity that would usually only be available to them once they had made the transition from college to work. We extend our deepest gratitude and thanks to our generous sponsors who have supported and encouraged our students through each stage of the design process."

HCT Vice Chancellor Dr. Tayeb Kamali said the conference will be an international standard showcase of interior design concepts.

`"We are delighted that the HCT's Al Ain Women's College is hosting such a prestigious conference, which will provide wonderful opportunities for our students to acquire the skills needed to succeed in the design industry," Dr. Kamali said.

``It is another example of HCT striving to provide the highest quality programs which contribute to the students' holistic development as future leaders and nation builders.

"Everyone associated with the conference has worked extremely hard to achieve this goal, which is a true collaboration of industry and academia.''

The conference will feature a key note address by Shashi Caan President of the International Federation of Interior Architects/Designers (IFI), Chair of the International Design Alliance (IDA) and founder of The Collective. There will also be special addresses by Jussi Angesleva, guest professor at the Berlin University of the Arts and Art Director at ART+COM design agency, and by Farida Abdulla Kamber, President of the UAE's Association of Professional Designers Founder of Cinmar Design, UAE.

The conference will start at 10am on March 23. For full conference details and program visit http://aawcid.aawc.hct.ac.ae/

- Ends -

About the Higher Colleges of Technology
Founded in 1988, The Higher Colleges of Technology is the largest and most progressive of the higher educational institutions in the UAE.  Since the establishment of its four founding colleges, the HCT has gained a well-respected reputation for innovative learning in the UAE. Over 18,000 students attend 17 modern men's and women's campuses in the cities of Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah, Fujairah and the western region of Madinat Zayed and Ruwais. http://www.hct.ac.ae/colleges/aspx/colleges.aspx?p=3

HCT is a leader in professional and applied education and training.  HCT staff, at the forefront of their subject areas, work closely with students to deliver innovative curriculum in technologically advanced facilities.  HCT graduates are actively sought after by the UAE industry. 

HCT offers more than 90 different, English-taught programs in Applied Communications, Business, Engineering, Information Technology, Health Sciences and Education.  These programs are on offer in a range of Master's, Bachelor degrees, Higher Diploma, Advanced Diploma and Diploma levels, all relevant to the UAE's fast growing and evolving economic sectors. All students learn in a technologically sophisticated educational environment that encourages development of the independent and life-long learning skills necessary to success in a fast changing world. 

HCT graduates have developed a reputation throughout the UAE for their technical and communications skills and for their adaptability to actual workplace conditions. Because of this, HCT graduates are eagerly sought by organizations looking to build their workforce with young Emiratis who are capable of operating effectively in today's global business environment.

For more information visit www.hct.ac.ae 

For more information on the conference contact:
Paul Lancaster HCT Publications Coordinator
Tel: +971 (0) 2 6922542
Mobile: +971 (0) 50 6160964
Email: paul.lancaster@hct.ac.ae

Tonia Michael
Al Ain Women's College Events and Media Coordinator
Tel:  +971 (0) 3 7095 263
Mobile: +971 (0) 50 2330250
Email: tmichael@hct.ac.ae

© Press Release 2010