MUSCAT: A new batch of Foundation Year Students was introduced on Saturday morning to the German University of Technology in Oman (GUtech). For 150 Omani and international students, last Saturday was the first day at the university and the beginning of a new phase in their lives.
"GUtech is the only German University in the Gulf region. I will study Urban Planning and Architectural Design. In my view, this programme of study is very special and tailor-made for the region. GUtech students are already well-recognized and I am sure I will have bright job perspectives," said 19-year-old Amira Al Balushi, who joined the GUtech Foundation Year Programme. Amira's dream is to pursue a career as an urban planner at the Ministry of Housing or the Supreme Council for Town Planning.
Eighteen year old Yasmin Adel, who graduated from Al Hail Al Awamir School, will also study Urban Planning and Architectural Design at GUtech. "Initially, I wanted to study medicine, but then I heard about GUtech and the study programme in Urban Planning and Architectural Design. I applied at the Higher Education Admission Center and received a full scholarship," said Yasmin.
"I want to study close to my family here in Muscat," said 19-year-old Rashid Al Jabri, who will study Mechanical Engineering at GUtech. "I heard about GUtech from the newspaper, the internet and from friends, then I decided to shift from Salalah to Muscat. Since the age of 13 I want to study Mechanical Engineering," said Rashid.
On Saturday morning, the students registered at GUtech and received in return their GUtech student ID cards, locker-keys and the student handbook. Then, they were welcomed by Mr. Hussain Al Salmi, Deputy Rector for Administration and Finance and Professor Dr. Barbara Stӓuble, Deputy Rector for Academic Affairs at GUtech.
"During the first day of the studies, we introduce the student to their programmes of study, their professors and academic life in general," said Professor Barbara Stӓuble. In his welcome address, Mr. Hussain Al Salmi stressed the importance of taking responsibility for the studies.
Furthermore, senior students, the so-called GUtech Student Ambassadors, shared their experiences from a student's perspective. "I chose GUtech because the study-environment is very special. You study in small groups, you learn how to work independently and the relation between academic staff is relaxed," said Nasser Al Sayegh, first year BSc Urban Planning and Architectural Design student. "At GUtech, we study hard and apply our knowledge," stressed Nourhan Abdelhalim, fourth year student in Applied Information Technology, while referring to the numerous field-trips, conferences, seminars that GUtech students attend outside the university.
Study hard, cooperate with your classmates and do not copy knowledge from others, these were some of the topics addressed during the students presentations. "You should never plagiarise," stressed Qais Al Maskary, first year Bachelor of Engineering student at GUtech. "Work in a team and you can reach more," said Kawthar Al Qaraishi, fourth year BSc Applied Geosciences.
The student presentations were followed by a movie, that showed GUtech student and academic activities including the Annual National Day celebrations, football matches, the chess tournament, the Applied IT Day, the Annual Charity Event organised by the Students Council, the student's participation in the Cancer Walkathon and the Muscat Youth Summits as well as a number of study-trips to GUtech's parent-university RWTH Aachen University in Germany and Geosciences study-trips to the Pyrenees mountains in France and Spain.
GUtech is located in Al Athaiba. The university offers a Foundation Year leading to four Bachelor of Science programmes (Applied Information Technology, Applied Geosciences, Urban Planning and Architectural Design, Sustainable Tourism and Regional Development), as well as two Bachelor of Engineering programmes (Mechanical Engineering and Process Engineering). In addition, the university offers two part-time programmes in Integrated Urban Planning and in Petroleum Geoscience.
For further details, please check out the university's website: www.gutech.edu.om
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© Press Release 2011
