PhD degree in dreaming | NUST fashion show

Saudi academy to offer PhD in dreaming
Riyadh: Dreaming of an advanced degree? Try a doctorate in dreams, something which could soon become a reality in a new Saudi academy offering undergraduate and graduate degrees.

Yusuf al-Harthy, a well-known Saudi dream interpreter, plans to start up an institute offering bachelors and masters degrees as well as even a PhD in explaining dreams and visions, Al-Hayat newspaper reported on Sunday.

"Dream interpretation is by nature a way of counseling a person," said Harthy, who already runs an instructional website on deciphering the meaning of dreams.

His academy will be linked to an unnamed Arab university, he said.

Islam has a long history of dream interpretation, with the seventh century-born scholar Muhammad Ibn Sirin, a native of Basra in present-day Iraq, credited with authoring a classic Islamic catalogue on dream interpretation.

Harthy, who discusses dreams on radio and television shows, disagrees with the Saudi Islamic Affair's Ministry view that dream interpretation is not a teachable science but something born of inspiration, Al-Hayat reported.

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NUST fashion show
Islamabad: 'EVOLVE-Fashion Show 2010' - the event that took the audience to an enthralling ride and was not to be missed - proved to be a platform for the expression of talent and engraved its presence in the flourishing life of NUST Business School (NBS).

Organised by 'Cognition' - the marketing batch of 2006, EVOLVE was held here recently at the University premises in Sector H-12. The team's efforts were evident from the wonderful modelling and performances by students and the management of activities in their entirety.

As part of the graduating batch's annual project and as a well-established tradition of NBS, the purpose of this fashion show was to create learning through practical execution. EVOLVE, according to them, is a reflection of a journey through time, the evolution of mankind, and his development in the various walks of life, with music on one horizon to the corporate world on the other, with a traditional yet contemporary touch.

The event revolved around various segments related to men's fashion around the globe. Starting off with music mainly comprising of its different facets followed by 'Sherwani' - an exclusive and royal manifestation of men's wedding wear, the event took off with the vibrant and awe-inspiring offbeat and corporate attire. Not only did the casual and funky outlook stimulate the audiences' cheers, but the formal business suiting also truly left a lasting impact.

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MoU between CPSP and RCP to benefit mid-career doctors
Rawalpindi: The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Pakistan (CPSP) and the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) of London have recently agreed to work in collaboration to continually improve medical standards in their respective countries.

Health experts termed the signing of Memorandum of Understanding between the two organisations a major breakthrough in the medical field as the collaboration would improve the education and training of doctors in the field of medicine tailored to the specific needs of the communities they are serving.

Controller of Examination at the CPSP's Federal Chapter Dr. Shoaib Shafi said that the MoU would last in the first instance for five years. He said that the MoU would provide great opportunities of training in the UK to mid-career doctors and specialists who have passed the final fellowship examinations of the CPSP.

The purpose of the partnership between CPSP and RCP is to facilitate placement of doctors from Pakistan in appropriate UK clinical training opportunities for up to 24 months. The partnership would also facilitate placement of mid-career doctors and specialists who have passed final fellowship examinations of the CPSP in advanced specialist training skills attachments (observer status), said Professor of Medicine at Rawalpindi Medical College Dr. Shoaib.

He said that the organisations would collaborate in educational initiatives and online resources apart from strengthening examiner training for the CPSP. To a query, Dr. Shoaib said that the RCP would identify clinical placements in the UK for Pakistani doctors who have passed the Intermediate Module in Medicine (IMM) of CPSP to gain relevant experience for up to two years in accordance with RCP sponsorship scheme regulations. He added that under the MoU, the RCP would support the development and adaptation of clinical guidelines for the needs of clinicians and patients in Pakistan.

"The CPSP would work with RCP experts to develop techniques in the production and adaptation of clinical guidelines and to publish and encourage the adoption and promotion of these across Pakistan," said Dr. Shoaib.

He said that for the financial arrangements on activities under the partnership, the two parties would negotiate and agree on a viable solution as per requirement of the activity. "The financial arrangements would be negotiated and agreed by both the parties at the time of presentation of an activity or programme as no permanent settlement has been made on the subject," he said. The news

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Educational Broadcasters Forum launched
Islamabad: The universities should not be only limited to spread the existing knowledge but they should also extend their wings to the formation of knowledge through research work said Allama Iqbal Open University's (AIOU) Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Nazir Ahmed Sangi on Tuesday.

He was addressing the signing ceremony to launch the Educational Broadcasters Forum (EBF) at AIOU.

On this occasion a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed to constitute an "Educational Broadcaster Forum". AIOU VC Prof Sangi, IIUI President Dr Siddiqui, Fatima Jinnah Women University VC Prof Dr Saeeda Asadullah Khan, National University of Modern Languages Rector Brig Dr Aziz Ahmed Khan, Riphah International University VC Prof Dr Anis Ahmad, National University of Science and Technology Rector Lt Gen Muhammad Asghar, Women Institute of Science and Humanities President Prof Tayyab Gulzar Khan and FG Margallah College for Women Principal Khadija Javed signed the MoU. Daily times

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2 Beaconites selected as ambassadors for US summer programme
Islamabad: Abdullah Tajwar and Zarak Rahman, two A Level students of the Beaconhouse School System, Banigala Campus, steered through all selection rounds to be announced as the only selected young ambassadors from Islamabad region for the Benjamin Franklin Transatlantic Fellows Initiative Summer Institute Programme 2010.

Both Abdullah (8 As) and Zarak (10 As) went through a rigorous selection procedure for the programme to be held later this year that involved academic merit, experience of a variety of co-curricular activities, applications, recommendations and communication with possible host families in the US. They got selected for the programme after completing two tough and competitive phases of the application process, which culminated in an interview, conducted by three representatives of the US Consulate in the federal capital.

The Benjamin Franklin Summer Institute Programme is a month-long programme for young people from Asia and the US aged 16-18. Young ambassadors from around the globe convene for the intensive programme, focusing on global issues of common interest, leadership and media training, collaborative project development, community service, educational travel and plans for follow-on activities. The challenging and comprehensive programme involves interactive activities, practical experiences and other hands-on opportunities.

The Pakistani fellows will be joined by 28 others from Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan, nominated by US embassies in these countries as well as 10 fellows from the US.

Mrs Riffat Arif, headmistress of the Beaconhouse Banigala A Level Campus, said it is Beaconhouse's commitment to all students' overall intellectual grooming, development of research skills and consistent training to acquire the tiers of soft skills that enhance the academic ability of each student. "The same enabled Abdullah and Zarak to beat all other candidates from the region to be selected for the two positions allocated for applicants from Islamabad."

She expressed her pride and delight over both the ambassadors being selected from Beaconhouse, having met the criteria and proving to the best out of all applicants for the programme catering to the modern, international global requirements and standards for education, recognising not just academics and grades alone but also the crucial areas of talent and interest that make each student unique and special.

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Students protest against demolition of school wall
Islamabad: The demolition of boundary wall by civic authorities has made hundreds of students of the Islamabad Model College for Boys (IMCB), F-11/3, vulnerable to terrorist threats as anyone could now have an easy access to its premises.

The staff of Enforcement Directorate of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) rushed to the school at daytime on Monday when students and faculty members left for their homes after closure of classes and started demolishing its boundary wall.

When the security guard informed the principal about 'operation' of the CDA, he immediately reached the college but no one from the CDA staffers gave an ear to his arguments and continued their work until complete demolition of the 120 feet long boundary wall.

When students came to know about the incident the next day, they started protesting against the demolition of boundary wall and it became difficult for the principal to control them.

Deputy Commissioner (Islamabad) Amir Ali Ahmed and the SHO of the relevant police station contacted the principal and asked him to pacify the angry students.

Talking to this scribe, IMCB Principal Dr. Ali Ahmad Kharal said that it was really a strange act as no one from the CDA ever informed the college administration about the status of the boundary wall. "I heard from them only when they were pulling down the boundary wall as they were doing it as part of their campaign against encroachments in the city," he added.

"What should I say about the mentality of our civic managers as encroachers are grabbing every inch of our markets, bazaars and other public places but the boundary wall of the college is the only thing they can see and demolish," he said.

He raised the question whether it was not necessary to issue any kind of notice to the college administration to inform them that the boundary wall was built illegally in the past. "If it was illegally built then they should have issued a notice and informed us so that we could be able to rectify the situation because the local administration gave us strict orders to raise boundary walls in the face of terrorist threats," he said.

When contacted, CDA Director (Public Relations) Ramzan Sajid said the school administration illegally occupied three kanals of land and it was asked time and again to itself demolish the wall built without any permission from the relevant authorities.

"The school administration should itself think whether it suits them to illegally occupy a piece of land. We repeatedly asked them to undo their act and at one stage they assured the CDA chairman that they would demolish the wall but instead they started constructing rooms, so we could not allow them to do so," he said.

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Distinction
Islamabad: Fahad Mahmood, a bright Pakistani student, won the Frederick Emmons Terman Engineering Scholastic Award, which is presented to those students who rank academically in the top five per cent of the graduating senior class of Stanford University, California, USA.

Terman, who was the dean of the School of Engineering from 1944 to 1958, initiated this award programme, which is now named in his honour. Each recipient of the award nominates a high school teacher, who has been the most influential in the student's academic career.

Fahad Mahmood was among the 22 students, who could call their schoolteacher. He invited Muhammad Younous, who was his Mathematics teacher in O and A Level at The City School, Capital Campus, Islamabad as the teacher who had influenced him the most.

Mohammad Younous was called to Stanford University, USA to attend the ceremony where Fahad was presented with the award. Younous, who has been teaching at The City School for the past 15 years, has several Cambridge International Examination distinctions in O and A Level Mathematics to his credit. He was also presented with a certificate by James D Plummer, Dean School of Engineering, Stanford University.

Besides being among the top five per cent of students, Fahad has to his credit double graduation in Astronautics/Aeronautics Engineering and Physics. After graduating in June 2010, Fahad will be joining MIT, USA for his doctorate. The news

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