Manipal University - Dubai Campus: 15/11/09

Thursday 19 November 2009

ISG AL Habtoor Interior Design Student Challenge - INDEX 2009‏

The Annual INDEX Interior Design Student Challenge for the year 2009 was hosted by ISG Al Habtoor, a premier in the Construction and Design Industry at the Interior Design Expo (INDEX), held at Dubai International Convention Center (World Trade Center) from the 14th to the 17th of November 2009.

Display of work at the Convention Center

The Interior Design Department – Manipal Universit Dubai Campus, was invited to display their students’ work for the prestigious event. The main idea of ISG Al Habtoor was to focus a search on young flair and talent, in the students fraternity in UAE.

Display of the work done by the students of the Interior Design Department

The ISG AL Habtoor Interior Design Student Challenge 2009 was primarily aimed at bringing the students of various universities together to work on a series of projects during the course of the four day event. The universities that participated in the esteemed projects are as follows

· Manipal University Dubai Campus

· Abu Dhabi University

· American University of Sharjah

· Preston University – Ajman

· Ajman University of Science and Technology

· Zayed University

The Bachelor of Arts – Interior Design students participated in the various competitions that were held by ISG Al Habtoor.

Farseena Farook won the 1st place in the Integrated Dining Table and Seating

· Deepa Venkatraman of the 3rd year B.A.I.D program won the 1st place in the Portable Temporary Office Desk category.

· Farseena Farook of the 3rd year B.A.I.D program won the 1st place in the Integrated Dining Table and Seating only from plywood category.

· Priyank Ladhawala of the 3rd year B.A.I.D program won the 1st place in the Relaxation Furniture for an Autistic Child category.

All in all it was a great experience from which the students gained immense knowledge and an exposure to the industry.

Courtesy Dept. of Interior Design

Manipal’s Ibda’a 2009 Nominee

Ibda’a Awards, the global media awards for students was launched in the year 2001 under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

An initiation of Dubai Media City in alliance with the International Advertising Association, its aim is to appreciate young media talent from all around the world.

This year participating students could send in entries in any 12 categories which are Journalism, Radio Feature, Animation, Graphic Design, Analogue Photography, Digital Photography, Print Advertising, TV Advertising, TV Documentary, Film/ TV Feature, Mobile Film and Digital Design.

The winner of each category will not only get to meet top notch media industry professionals but intern with them as well. In the last three years, Manipal University has seen a number of media students participating in this competition with two of them even making it to the final round. This year again, two of their students have been nominated in the category of Journalism (non-news).

In this issue we interview one of the nominees- a first year student, Nikita Arora from the Department of Media and Communication.

Q: How do you feel being selected amongst all the other participants?

A: I am extremely glad that I have managed to make my university and my professors proud. This feels surreal. I now hope I can make it to the final three.

Q: Can you tell us something about your article?

A: It is based on protecting the environment on an individualistic level.

Q: How strong do you think your chances are of getting the award home?

A: I right now am very nervous but I do know the competition is extremely tough so may the best one win.

The short listed participants will arrive at Media City on November 16, 2009 and the final results will be declared at a gala dinner arranged especially for Ibda’a participants on the 19 November, 2009. We wish this young nominee the very best and hope she continues to succeed in all her future endeavors.

By Disha Laungani

The World within a Store

Photo Credit: Google Images

Book World by Kinokuniya at The Dubai Mall

Stepping through the entrance, one cannot help but be in awe of this massive bookstore. And why not, with more than half a million titles and thousands of magazines under its roof, Book World by Kinokuniya at The Dubai Mall is the largest book store in Dubai. Covering an area of 68000sq.ft, rows and rows of neatly stacked books and magazines are all that the eye can see.

From New Arrivals and Best Sellers to Literature, Travel, Hobbies & Craft, Food & Drink and Performing Arts; you name it, they have it. There also is a stationary section and an art gallery showcasing little figurines of famous movie characters, which is quite interesting.

Stocking 29 different categories under English books/magazines and books in 6 languages (English, Arabic, German, Japanese, French and Chinese), it won’t be surprising if you do not know where to start from. The store is as good as a library and provides excellent resources for research purposes. There is a little gallery within the store where book connoisseurs can pick up a book and read to their hearts content.

A reader’s paradise? This is where it is!

By Rabiya Sonde

LSD through Rhythm

Pink Floyd was a progressive rock band formed in the 1960s rising to fame with their psychedelic rock music. They released their first studio album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, in 1967. They had decent measures of success with their following albums but, not until their sixth studio album did they catapult to fame.

The Dark Side of the Moon was released in 1973 and is amongst the most successful rock albums ever produced. It remained on the Billboard 200 for 741 weeks (14 years), the longest for any album in history. Each song in the album is a continuation of the previous track. The range of music on this one album really highlights the band’s amazing creativity. It contains a conventional rock track, in Money and then moves onto a soulful opera in The Great Gig in the Sky. Money has been the most commercially successful track of the album.

It is an album not to be over looked by any fan of the rock genre. It is one of the most unique albums ever made. It is not an album to be heard, it is one to be experienced. It is available in the U.A.E at all Virgin Megastore outlets for AED 110.

By Jeraz Pastakia

Manipal hosts the 2nd Annual India UAE Taekwondo Championship

The 2nd India UAE Taekwondo Championship was held in the Salahudin Club in Mamzar on November 6, 2009. Sponsored by Manipal University and co-sponsored by Round Table Pizza, this championship saw trained junior and sub-junior teams from both countries battle it out for the title.

The best of 23 fighters, between the ages of 6-15, were chosen from all over India and UAE, through national competitions. The UAE National Championship was held in February 2009.

Taekwondo can be translated to 'The art of Kicking and Punching' or 'the art of unarmed combat'. The sport has been founded in Korea and is one of the world’s most popular martial arts. Taekwondo philosophy represents the principles of the changes and movements in human beings. Taekwondo combines combat techniques, self-defense, sport, exercise, meditation and philosophy. Making its Olympic debut in 1988 Korea games and is now continued as an Olympic medal sport since 2000 in Australia games.

They were judged on the basis of three events - Individual tool, Group tool and the Sparring. Al three events were intensely competed for by both the teams. The UAE team walked away with 15 gold medals, thereby bagging the Championship title. The Indian team won themselves a proud 10 gold, settling at second place to the title.

Krishna Kumar, Manipal University's Facilities Manager said “Manipal is proud to be associated with sports events like these. Taekwondo is all about boosting confidence and helps one to practice self defense.”

The man who made the event possible, Saeed Alrahyi, a Taekwondo practitioner himself said, “Taekwondo helps in the all round development of the individual. This is our second tournament and we would love to participate in competitions in India as well as other countries.”

M. Abdurahiman, the instructor of the UAE team expressed his joy at having won the championship, "We’re proud to have reclaimed the title", said the beaming coach.

Coach Pradeep. J, who accompanied the Indian team, said "We are very happy to be here, representing India. The kids performed better than we expected". He thanked Manipal University and said he was enthusiastic about more events like these in the future.

Mrs Nidhi Sharma, a proud mother of two participating children said that it was "quite an opportunity for the children to be representing their country at such a young age."

The Indian team was flown in for the event on the 4th of November. The youngest member among the Indian team was nine year old Namya Shree who was accompanied by her elder sister, also a competition entrant.

By Blassy Boben and Zaheen Hussain