HIGHER COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY

I T NEWSLETTER

DEPARTMENT OFINFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

V o l . 1 , I s s u e 0 3N o v e m b e r

HOD'S MESSAGEWelcome to the November 2016 issue of this IT Newsletter! I am tremendously thankful to the industry and academia representatives who had shared their precious time and contributory efforts to be with the depart-ment on this month and onwards! With a sense of appreciation, the department has been gaining much of brilliant ideas that lead to improvement efforts and foster a stronger and gracious relationship with them. Appar-ently, teamwork among the staff, students, industry linkages, academia, community, and other stakeholders bring forth great possibilities which keep the IT Department move forward!

Final examination period is fast approaching as the semester moves so swiftly! May the students always continue to sharpen their knowledge and skills for the better and do their best during their final examinations!

Dr. Huda Al-ShuailyHead of IT Department

w w w . h c t . e d u . o m

NEWSLETTERSUB-HEADINGS

I T NEWSLETTERWelcoming a Rejoining IT Staff

A Course Project Exhibition with the theme “Innovative ideas start from us; Ideal projects are built with us”" was held in N330, HCT last November 22, 2016. One highlight of the event was the participation of industry representa-tives who were invited as evaluators and judges to determine the top three best course projects among nine entries. The department is grateful to the following industry representa-tives: Dr. Ali Al-Shidhani (Director of ICT, The Research Council), Ms. Emmee Haun (Business Development Consultant, ITA), Mr. Khalid Al-Balushi (Omantel), and Mr. Qais Al-Amri (Omantel), and Mr. Khalid Al-Huraibi (CEO od Riyada). Dr. Ali Al- Shidhani (Director of ICT, The Research Council) talked about “Upgrade – a program to transform Graduation Projects into Startups”.

Congratulations to the following winners of best course projects: First Prize – “Internet of Things, Smart House System” by Ahmed Al-Hinai and Anwar Al-Jahwari; Second Prize – “On the Job Train-ing e-Log Book for Higher College of Technology” by Habib Thani Al-Mawali and Ahmed Omair Ali Al-Baloushi; and Third Prize – “3D Muscat Plaza” by Jawaher Al-Shuriagi and Huda Al-Badaai. ***

The IT Department is pleased to welcome Dr. Manal Nasser Al-Rawahi, Networking Lecturer, who rejoined the department this November 2016. ***

COURSE PROJECTS EXHIBITION

round-table discussion with the industry and academia representatives

P a g e 1 o f 5 | V o l . 1 , I s s u e 0 3 , N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 6

A round-table discussion with the theme “Open Discussion: The Opportunity and Challenges in Students’ Final Year Project” was conducted in N310, HCT last November 22, 2016. The participants were the following: Dr. Ali Al-Shidhani (Director of ICT, The Research Council), Dr. Huda Al-Amri (SQU), Ms. Waseela Al-Busaidi (SQU), Mr. Tamim Al-Qasmi (ITA), Dr. Huda Salim Al-Shuaily (Head of IT Depart-ment, HCT), Dr.Fatema Saif Hamood Al-Yazeedi (Head of IT Section, HCT), Mr. Talib Al- Mahruqi (Head of Multimedia Section, HCT), Ms. Areej Alma-jed (HCT), Mr. Imad Al-Barwani (HCT), Ms. Rehana Al-Ameer (HCT), Ms. Jacqueline Fat Yara (HCT), and a number of student representatives. During the round-table meeting, the UPGRADE program was introduced. The UPGRADE program is a competi-tion for all Bachelor/Final-Year Course Projects in Oman. It is a collaborative effort among different companies/organizations: TRC, SAS, IDO, Riyada and Omantel. ***

NEWSLETTERSUB-HEADINGS

I T NEWSLETTERmobile app project with ITA FIELD VISIT AT VR CENTRE,

MOBILE APP CENTRE AND INCUBATION CENTRE OF ITA

P a g e 2 o f 5 | V o l . 1 , I s s u e 0 3 , N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 6

In pursuance to the Memorandum of Agree-ment between ITA/Mobile project and the HCT/IT department in the field of Mobile Appli-cations, a meeting was held in the IT depart-ment between the ITA Mobile project repre-sented by Mr. Muhannad Al-Naabi (Project Manager, ITA), Mr. Valmeti Srinivas (Center Head, ITA), Mr. Prasanna Venkatesh (Technical Lead, ITA), and Mr. Mallikarjuna Jana (Techni-cal Consultant, ITA). The IT Department was represented by Dr. Huda Salim Al Shuaily (Head of IT Department, HCT), Dr. Fatema Saif Hamood Al-Yazeedi (Head of IT Section), Mr. Talib Al Mahruqi (Head of Multimedia Section), Ms. Areej Al-majed (IT lecturer, Head of Course Project Steering Committee), Mr. Mohammed Said Sulaiman Al-Bahri (Course Project Steer-ing Committee), Dr. Manal Nasser Al-Rawahi (IT Lecturer, Networking), and Dr. S.K.Abdul Rahiman (IT Lecturer, Mobile Computing). ITA provides a generous offer to conduct a fast track training course for the HCT students who are going to have a course project in mobile applications. The training will take place at the end of January 2017 in the HCT labs. ***

A group of students and staff visited the Virtual Real-ity Centre, Mobile Application Development Centre and the Incubation Centre of ITA last November 3, 2016. Students had gained actual VR experience, information on Mobile Application Development Training, and are motivated to become future entrepreneurs after witnessing the infrastructure and support garnered from the incu-bation centere, ITA. The students were accompa-nied by Ms. Rahma Al-Habsi and Ms. Rachana Marathe. ***

FIELD VISIT AT OMANCERT-ITA

A group of Internet and E-Security and Network-ing students with the supervision of IES Lecturers: Ms. Shaima Al-Amri and Mr. RVL Narayana visited the OmanCert, ITA last November 17, 2016. Students were provided with information about Oman National Certification, its real workplace environment and its services.***

NEWSLETTERSUB-HEADINGS

I T NEWSLETTER2ND Oman mathematics day

workshop on spss

P a g e 3 o f 5 | V o l . 1 , I s s u e 0 3 , N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 6

The Omani Mathematics Committee of the International Cooperation Office at the Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) organized the interna-tional conference on innovative mathematics trends and curriculum on November 20-21 to mark “the 2nd Omani Math Day” under the auspices of Dr. Madeeha bint Ahmed al Shaibaniyah, Minister of Education. Staff and students of the department attended the said event. Mr. Qais Hamdan Al-Farei (Math Lectur-er) served as one of the members of the Orga-nizing Committee of the Conference and its Exhibition. Mr. Waleed Al-Barwani (Information Systems Lecturer), Dr. Brijesh Jajal (Database Lecturer), and Mr. Qais Hamdan Al-Farei served as the members of the jury of the com-petition on student projects and exhibition.

The following students participated during the competitions: Habib Thani Al-Mawali (Informa-tion Systems) and Hajir Saleh Al-Sharji (Data-base). Moreover, Dr. Saad Ahmed (Head of Math Section) received an award during the said conference. The award was handed over to Dr. Saad by Dr. Madeeha bint Ahmed al Shaibaniyah, Minister of Education. ***

school visit at um saad al-ansari school

The staff and students visited the Um Saad Al-Ansari School in Muscat last November 13, 2016. Ms. Rahma Masoud Al-Habsi (Database Lecturer) had joined the following four students who showcased their course projects during the event: Juhaina Al-Filaiti and Maryam Al-Malki who presented their course project entitled “Online Pharmacy System”, and Muthla Al-Falahi and Al-Ghalia Said Al-Ham-rashdi who presented their “Fit Me Game”. ***

Succeeding sessions on “Data Analysis using SPSS” were delivered by Dr. Ashish Rastogi last November ١٠ and ٢٠١٦ , ١٧, respectively. The first session was about models and primary data while the second session provided test files used for the analysis. ***

3RD IT STUDENT GENERAL MEETING

NEWSLETTERSUB-HEADINGS

I T NEWSLETTER

P a g e 4 o f 5 | V o l . 1 , I s s u e 0 3 , N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 6 3

CURIO: TREASURE HUNTING

student workshop on game development

Habib Thani Al-Mawali (Information Systems) and Malik Al-Kharousi (Information Systems) had conducted a one-week Game Development Workshop among fellow students last November 13-16, 2016. Ms. Shaima Al-Amri (Internet and E-Security Lecturer) had supervised the students throughout the workshop. ***

Student Council members, IT Council members, IT lecturers and IT students had attended the third student general meeting in the College Auditorium last November 30, 2016 with the following agenda: presen-tation of student council members to other students, discussing the issues with IT students, awarding of certifi-cates, announcement of department achievements, and many others.

Moreover, the IT Council took the opportunity to listen from the students about their challenges, difficulties, or needs. ***

Treasure Hunting is the game, with curiosity, intelligence and appreciation, where the partic-ipants will rush for their gift, whose clues are avail-able at different places. This is planned to be done at least once every semester. The aim of this activity is to create the excitement at work. For this semester, Mr. Samuel Giftson Durai (Soft-ware Engineering Lecturer) is the winner. ***

UPCOMING EVENT. . .

Effective Semester 1, in addition to the two external reviewers of Course Projects in the department, one additional external reviewer from Omani Companies, Authorities or Industries shall participate in the evalua-tion of the Bachelor course projects during the Final Course Project Presentation.***

I T NEWSLETTER

P a g e 5 o f 5 | V o l . 1 , I s s u e 0 3 , N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 6

I graduated from Muscat Technical Industrial College (now, Higher College of Technology) in 1998 with General National Vocational Qualifi-cation Diploma in Information Technology, with special distinction. I joined the National Bank of Oman in 1998. In 2009, I joined Oman Oil Com-pany SAOC as Human Resources Assistant. Cur-rently, I am the Human Capital Team Lead (Poli-cy, Compensation and Benefits) in OOC.

I have the following points I wish to share among the new graduates to help them build their own careers: (1) Create a resume/CV and build on it and move forward, (2) Seek out experts to guide career journey, (3) Do some research about the market, (4) Find a suitable job, train-ing or internship programs to gain professional experience immediately after graduation, (5) Do not commit to more education before map-ping out a career plan. However, if one is not able to get a job, then grasp further education-al opportunities, and (6) Expand one’s social network such as meeting professional people in order to build one’s professional network. ***

EDITORIAL BOARD

Moderator: Dr. Huda Al-ShuailyEditor-in-Chief: Dr. Amando P. Singun, Jr.Graphic Designer: Mr. Waleed Al-Barwani Content Editors:1. Mr. Talib Al-Mahrouqi2. Ms. Rachana Marathe3. Ms. Rowena Simplina4. Dr. Vinu SherimonContributors: Department CommitteesPublicity: Ms. Samar Abdullah Al-Araimi

The send-off party that was dedicated to Dr. Khal-fan Al-Masruri was held in the College Multi-Purpose Hall last November 14, 2016. The highlights of the party were the following: HoD Welcome Note, Funny Skit, Interview with Dr. Khalfan, Dinner Break, Some Games, Awarding of Tokens of Appreciation. Dr. Khalfan, the former Head of IT Section, is now the Assistant Dean for Academics of the Nizwa College of Technology. ***

send-off party alumni corner

Ms. Yusra Mohammed Al-RawahiHuman Capital Team Lead, Oman Oil Company SAOC

biggest candle-lit flag

Dr. Kauther Al-Kaufi, Dr. Fatema Al-Yazeedi, and Ms. Samar Al-Amri coordinated the participation of students during the biggest candle-lit flag held in Auditorium, Al-Quroum Park, Muscat last Novem-ber 20-21, 2016 which gained a recognition from the World’s Guinness Record. ***