Foundation year at UAE state universities to be scrapped from 2018 (February 4) refers to a debate that has been going on for a long time, and now a deadline has been set.
What I don’t understand is the apparent insistence that all Emirati high school graduates obtain a qualification in English, which is not their mother tongue.
This rule assumes that all students are identical academically and equally gifted. Nowhere in the world is every student capable of successfully learning a second language.
Those who cannot learn English should be encouraged to study Arabic to a tertiary level. Their skills could be used in the workforce to help strengthen trade and relations between the UAE and other GCC countries.
The other point I’d like to raise is that only 49 per cent of UK high school graduates applied for places at university last year. While factors such as the cost of education may have had a part to play, it shows that many people are aware that university is not where they will excel.
Some people choose to enter the workforce and get on-the-job training through apprenticeships or being sponsored by their companies to attend evening classes.
Other high school students may prefer to attend a two-year college course that will give them a trade licence, and they will become plumbers, electricians or mechanics, for example.
As the article states, some students are not equipped with the appropriate study skills, work ethic, level of maturity or knowledge to study science and maths. This is not restricted to the UAE, it is a global issue.
UAE schools have been set quite a challenge, but I really think an equal amount of focus should be spent on providing further education which will meet the needs of all learners and not just those who are gifted academically.
Name withheld by request
Brotherhood show their true colours
I refer to Hassan Hassan's opinion article Even as the sands shift, the Brotherhood stays the same (February 4).
Even if the Muslim Brotherhood stays the same, the Brotherhood’s pillars are gone from Egypt.
Its ideologies and ways have surfaced, letting Egyptians know exactly what it and its members hold dear.
Azza Sedky, Canada
Lorry drivers must heed safety rules
Safety is of paramount importance when it comes to the presence and behaviour of lorries on our highways (Set maximum driving hours for truck drivers, UAE transport companies told,February 3).
It is important for drivers of heavy vehicles to have periodic training about maintaining safety and discipline on the road.
It is essential for logistics controllers to allow sufficient time for vehicles to complete a journey, taking into account all anticipated traffic delays on the route.
It is also very important for other road users to report any rash driving involving heavy vehicles.
All large vehicles should be required to display a reachable contact number for other motorists to contact if they see poor driving, speeding or a faulty vehicle.
This should also be the case for lorries coming into the UAE from other countries. Often their number plates are hidden behind a road permit board.
Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi
Rubbernecks are a nuisance on roads
Rubbernecks could be jailed, traffic prosecutor says (February 4) raises a good point.
These people are nuisances, and when you honk at them, they glare at you in their rear-view mirror.
Osama Rashid, Dubai
Cheaters may get wrong message
In Abu Dhabi wife stabs 'cheating husband' with kitchen knife over alleged affair (February 5), a police officer warns men who are unfaithful to their wives not to keep sharp kitchen utensils.
How about warning them not to cheat on their wives in the first place?
Sarah Norton, UK
Would couples in this situation have to eat out every day?
If they have no sharp knives, there would not be many utensils left in the kitchen to cook with.
A Watt, Sharjah
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The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
How does ToTok work?
The calling app is available to download on Google Play and Apple App Store
To successfully install ToTok, users are asked to enter their phone number and then create a nickname.
The app then gives users the option add their existing phone contacts, allowing them to immediately contact people also using the application by video or voice call or via message.
Users can also invite other contacts to download ToTok to allow them to make contact through the app.
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
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Miss Granny
Director: Joyce Bernal
Starring: Sarah Geronimo, James Reid, Xian Lim, Nova Villa
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(Tagalog with Eng/Ar subtitles)
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How being social media savvy can improve your well being
Next time when procastinating online remember that you can save thousands on paying for a personal trainer and a gym membership simply by watching YouTube videos and keeping up with the latest health tips and trends.
As social media apps are becoming more and more consumed by health experts and nutritionists who are using it to awareness and encourage patients to engage in physical activity.
Elizabeth Watson, a personal trainer from Stay Fit gym in Abu Dhabi suggests that “individuals can use social media as a means of keeping fit, there are a lot of great exercises you can do and train from experts at home just by watching videos on YouTube”.
Norlyn Torrena, a clinical nutritionist from Burjeel Hospital advises her clients to be more technologically active “most of my clients are so engaged with their phones that I advise them to download applications that offer health related services”.
Torrena said that “most people believe that dieting and keeping fit is boring”.
However, by using social media apps keeping fit means that people are “modern and are kept up to date with the latest heath tips and trends”.
“It can be a guide to a healthy lifestyle and exercise if used in the correct way, so I really encourage my clients to download health applications” said Mrs Torrena.
People can also connect with each other and exchange “tips and notes, it’s extremely healthy and fun”.
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Brief scores
Barcelona 2
Pique 36', Alena 87'
Villarreal 0
Banthology: Stories from Unwanted Nations
Edited by Sarah Cleave, Comma Press
