MBN-Company

TEHRAN- A 310-strong Italian delegation will arrive in Tehran today to explore new business opportunities in Iran now that the sanctions are being lifted against the Islamic Republic. 

Infrastructure and Transport Minister Graziano Delrio and Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies Minister Maurizio Martina will lead the delegation for the three-day visit, the IRNA news agency reported. 



The delegation comprises representatives of 197 Italian companies and enterprises active in banking, infrastructure, oil, gas, and agriculture sectors. 



Delrio said the trip is a follow-up to the contracts which were signed between Iran and Italy during the visit of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to Italy from January 25 to 27. 



During Rouhani’s stay in Italy, the two countries issued a joint declaration elaborating on a road-map for development of Tehran-Rome ties in political, economic, cultural, tourism, scientific, and technological fields.  



The section of the declaration related to the economic cooperation said the parties shall encourage the expansion of economic relations in all areas of common interest, with specific focus on: reactivating the joint bilateral economic committee, returning to the previous higher level of trade and investment, strengthening bilateral cooperation in key areas and encouraging bilateral banking and credit relations. 



Supporting ongoing negotiations aimed at establishing an appropriate executive mechanism to boost mutual investments, introducing new projects and areas of possible cooperation between small and medium enterprises and promoting exchange of trade and investment delegations to both countries were the other issues focused in the declaration. 



Since 2012, trade between Iran and Italy has slumped from €7 billion (around $7.6 billion) to €1.2 billion a year. 

But now sanctions have been lifted, Italian businessmen are eager to renew ties. 

“Italy was Iran’s leading economic and trade partner before the sanctions,” Italian economic development minister Federica Guidi said a few months ago, seeking to ensure her country regains that position. 

Safety Concerns of Old Wiring

According to a 2009 study by the National Fire Prevention Association, faulty wiring is the most common cause of house and apartment fires in the United States. As fire codes and building codes improve over time, electrical wiring becomes more safe long-term. However, any wiring over 40 years old should be checked by a qualified electrical expert periodically. This is a worthwhile investment for  safety and peace of mind.

Now on its second year, the GESS Education Awards attracted a higher number of entrants in 2015, up by 10% compared to its inaugural edition last year. Significantly, the awards has attracted nominees not just from the GCC, but also from Egypt, Cyprus, United States, UK, Hong Kong, Spain, India, Greece, Denmark, Germany, Tunisia, Netherlands, France, Canada, and Australia, underscoring the global reach of the Dubai-based awards programme.

“The awards are meant to celebrate innovations and excellence in the delivery of quality education and so we are delighted to have received a significantly higher number of entrants this year. This can only mean the awards programme helping set the standards for excellence and quality in the education sector in the region. The interest from international stakeholders is also overwhelming, and highlights the growing importance of the education market here for global stakeholders,” said Matt Thompson, Project Director, F&E Group, organisers of the GESS Education Awards, scheduled to take place on the second day of GESS Dubai on February 25, 2015.

Education luminaries who have contributed significantly to the advancement of teaching and learning in the region will be recognised with the Outstanding Contribution in Education award. The finalists who made the shortlist include Chassie Selouane (Sharjah International American School), Christine Nasserghodsi (Wellington International School), Esra Kaskaloglu (University of Bahrain/Bahrain Teachers College), Hamdy Abdelaziz (Arabian Gulf University), Luay Janem (Fatima College of Health Sciences) and Mark Wood (SPARK).
Finalists in the Global Education Supplier of the Year category include some of the biggest names in the education sector in the region, as well as internationally including LEGO Education, NetSupport Ltd, Digipro Ltd, Languagenut, ITWORX Education, Almotahida Education Group, EducationCity, IPC Middle East, 3P Learning and ITS International Training & Support GmbH.

Meanwhile, the Local Education Supplier of the Year category has shortlisted some of the leading education companies in the Arab world, such as Software Innovative Vision LLC, ABCOM SOLUTIONS LLC, Almoe Digital Solutions LLC, Edutech STEM+ Studio, Biztec Solutions LLC, and Atlab.

Classroom learning and teaching in the GCC have made significant strides in the last few years, thanks to innovative practices introduced and adopted by the following companies who have made it to the shortlist of the Innovation in Education category, including Ahmad Sabatin, Learning Design, Consultant and Trainor (TOT) in Invention & innovation, STEAM;  Asmaa Al-Mohaely, Supervision Office of Mohayl Aseer; Bijal Damani, S N Kansagra School - The Galaxy Education System; Catalina Marin, Secondary Technical School for Girls; Charbel Najjar, International Concept for Education; Dr. Vandana Lulla, Podar International School; Essam Mahmoud, M.A.T.E.S Training Association; Ivan Kuzio, Teacher Trainer College (TTC); Kawthar Bejaoui, Ali Trad Middle School; and Mark Wood, SPARK.

Other categories being contested include Product Innovation Award, Best use of ICT/eLearning in the Classroom, Resource/Equipment Supplier of the Year (Early Years, Primary, Secondary, and Higher Education and Special Needs); as well as Best ICT/App Product (Free and Paid), Best Non-ICT Resource or Equipment, Best Product to Promote Health and Fitness in the Classroom, Community Award for Citizenship, and Ambassador for the Environment.

GESS Education Awards will also be handing out the coveted Lifetime Achievement Award this year, and will be given to the individual or organisation that has made the most significant contribution to the advancement of education in the Gulf.

The GESS Education Awards is an initiative of GESS Dubai, the largest exhibition and conference in the education sector in the region. Now on its 8th year, and originally a Dubai-based show, GESS has now international editions taking place in Mexico and Indonesia.

The show features leading suppliers all over the world who will showcase the very latest products and solutions for the education sector on February 24-26, 2015 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
The Global Education Forum (GEF), happening along the show and organised with the help of the Ministry of Education, will feature leading global education experts such as Enrique Gabriel Legaspi and Stephen Heppell, among others to talk about Smart Ideas Driving the Education sector in the region.

The repair and maintenance of ophthalmic equipment, including surgical instruments and diagnostic devices, can be compared to the maintenance of a motor vehicle, something many of us understand well.

If you had a car, would you drive it until the fuel runs out or until a tyre punctures, and then abandon it to buy a new car? Of course not. However, many eye care units purchase (or receive as a donation) expensive and delicate equipment which, because of poor maintenance, ends up breaking down. If there is not a system in place to report breakdowns and to plan or carry out repairs, equipment can remain unusable for long periods of time. Sometimes, this equipment ends up being

dumped

Good maintenance habits and an effective repair system will minimise the amount of time equipment is unusable.

Who does what?

In our experience, approximately one-third of problems reported with ophthalmic equipment arise from problems caused by the user, one-third from easy-to-solve technical problems (such as a blown bulb or fuse, or a loose power cord), and only one-third require more serious fault-finding procedures and special knowledge of the equipment. Equipment users therefore have a significant role to play in the everyday care and maintenance of equipment.

Usually, a well-balanced mix of user, in-house, and outsourced maintenance and repair leads to the best results - both technical and financial - in settings with limited resources. If it is not feasible for an eye care unit to have an in-house equipment maintenance and repair team, you may consider sharing such a service among several units. Depending on the equipment, you may have a service contract with the vendor or manufacturer, who will be responsible for more complex maintenance and repairs. These will be carried out by specialised maintenance and repair personnel, either employed by the vendor or manufacturer, or working as independent maintenance contractors. Whatever system your eye unit has in place, the maintenance and repair of equipment should be centrally managed. The person responsible (the ‘equipment person or technical expert’) will assign tasks, keep maintenance and repair records, design maintenance schedules, and arrange the necessary training of staff.

From the serious education skills gap and technology adoption in classrooms, to the entertaining use of football to help students learn better English, the Middle East’s leading education exhibition and conference have attracted its biggest audience yet

More than 7,000 education professionals are expected to attend the 7th edition of the Gulf Educational Supplies and Solutions (GESS) exhibition and Global Education Forum (GEF) that kick off today at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

Highlights of today’s conference include the Opening Address to be delivered by His Excellency Dr Humaid Al Qattami, Minister of Education for the UAE, Ministry of Education; to be followed by the Ministerial Panel Session, featuring  HE Dr Majid Al-Naimi, Minister of Education for the Kingdom of Bahrain; HE Dr Mugheer Al Khaili, Director General of Abu Dhabi Education Council; and HE Dr Ali Al Karni, Director General of Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States.

Brian Lewis, CEO of US-based, global non-profit International Society for Technology in Education, will lead discussions on Innovative Professional Learning for a Connected World which hopes to provide a framework for evaluating the skills educators need to teach, work, and learn in an increasingly connected global and digital society, using the ISTE Standards - the definitive framework used by educators to implement digital learning strategies that will help foster the transformation of learning and teaching in the Middle East.

Meanwhile, Dr. Ayoub Kazim, Managing Director, Dubai Knowledge Village and Dubai International Academic City, Education Cluster, TECOM Investments chairs a special session on Skill Gaps and Trends in the Education Sector - DIAC and Deloitte’s Regional Work Force Planning Study which presents key trends in post secondary education, enrolment trends, the growth of the education sector in the UAE, as well as top skills in-demand in the labour market.

“The exhibition promises an interesting mix of the latest gadgets and gizmos that support the region’s growing appetite for technology use in classrooms; as well as enlightening conference sessions where delegates can glean invaluable insights anywhere from becoming a more effective teacher, collaborating to develop mobile apps among teachers and students; there is even a session on English and Football, two of the world’s most recognisable ‘languages’,” said Matt Thompson, Project Director, F&E Group, organisers of GESS.

For its significant role in advancing the cause of education, GESS and GEF have earned the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and is supported by His Excellency Humaid Moh’d Al Qutami, Minister of Education for the United Arab Emirates

 Today, upon approval of the 2010 financial reports, the imec board confirmed that 2010 was a solid year. The board looks with confidence to the future. Imec’s total revenue of 2010 amounted to 285 million euro. 42.7 million euro was granted to imec Belgium by the Flemish government, to guarantee imec’s long term research and investment in new research initiatives, and imec the Netherlands at Holst Centre received 6.2 million euro from the Dutch government.

Middle East eLearning revenues to reach $560 million in 2016

Revenues from sales of eLearning products in the Middle East will reach $560 million in 2016, driven mostly by extensive content digitization efforts, as well as large-scale deployments of tablets and smart learning tools across the education systems throughout the region.

Ambient Insight’s Middle East Market for Self-paced e-Learning Report identifies the most lucrative revenue opportunities for suppliers, such as the thriving private school market and the demand for digital English language learning content. The United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Jordan have the highest percentages of private schools in the world at 65%, 46%, and 42%, respectively. Private schools are avid buyers of eLearning content, tools, and platforms.

The broader landscape of technological advances in education will be discussed at length in various keynote presentations that will be made at the Gulf Educational Supplies and Solutions (GESS) exhibition and Global Education Forum (GEF) which begin today and will last until March 7, 2013 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

Under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, GESS and GEF 2013 will feature experts from technology powerhouses such as Google, Microsoft, Intel and Samsung who will share best practices in adopting smart learning tools for classrooms as well as leveraging technology to help enhance the quality of education in the Arab world.

HE Humaid Mohammed Al Qutami Minister of Education for the UAE will deliver the Opening Address for the region’s biggest and most prestigious educational exhibition, which offers a comprehensive programme of workshops, presentations and panel discussions from world-renowned experts on smart learning tools and technology.

Keynote presenters include Dr Mansoor Al Awar, Chancellor Hamdan Bin Rashid Bin Mohammed e-University, who will speak on Smart Teaching and the University of the Future; John E Davies, Vice President for Intel Corporation, who will present Intel’s World Ahead Programme; Mr Bum-Coo Cho, Senior Vice President (Global), Enterprise Business Team, Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, whose presentation will focus on Samsung’s Smart Education Initiatives.

Meanwhile, Joice Fernandes, Worldwide Senior Director – Public Private Alliances, Microsoft, will present Microsoft’s Shape the Future project; Ross Mahon, Global Awareness Manager, Google Education, will share insights on Learning on the Web; and Dr. Khalifa Al Suwaidi, United Arab Emirates University, will speak

on Teacher’s Stress Relievers.

Some of the world’s biggest providers of ICT and e-learning solutions, interactive technologies, scientific and laboratory equipment and a large range of other educational supplies will be showcasing their products and solutions at the exhibition, including a Humanoid Robot from Dubai-based learning specialists Edutech.

“Since 1991, Edutech has been contributing to the creation of a knowledge workforce in the region through a cradle to career concept by implementing a robust array of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) solutions. Through a combination of curriculum, hands-on and technology based resources, teacher training and competitions, Edutech’s solutions inculcate the ability to think critically, solve complex problems, and drive advancements in science and technology,” said Samsul Karim, Director, Edutech Middle East, which will showcase solutions in stimulating areas such as Robotics, Green Energy, from Vernier, LEGO Education, PITSCO, SolidWorks, NAO Robotics among others.

“With a wide range of products, live demonstrations and a comprehensive 3-day conference programme, GESS has become the absolutely pivotal event to experience the latest education technologies and solutions in action,” said Matt Thompson, Project Director, F&E Group, organisers of GESS.

Last year, GESS 2012 recorded its highest ever participation by exhibitors, with over 250 businesses and organisations from more than 30 countries. The 5th edition of the event attracted 6,000 key decision makers and ministerial delegations from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain. This included a cross section of teachers, heads of department and heads of schools, as well as procurement managers, school owners and bursars. This year, GESS will welcome nearly 300 companies from more than 30 countries.

Notes to Editors:

Countrywide academic content digitization efforts are underway in most of the countries in the region. Many of these initiatives include the provision of tablets on a national scale. This essentially creates a new delivery platform for suppliers. Several of the initiatives are quite ambitious:

• The goal of Kuwait's "e-education" plan is to deploy eLearning in all schools by 2013. The program deployed learning technology and digital content in 2011 starting with high schools. In 2012, the government began rolling out the eLearning products in the middle schools, elementary schools, and kindergartens, respectively. As of October 2012, all the textbooks in Kuwait were digitized.
• As part of a $1.4 billion initiative, Turkey intends to equip over 15 million students across 40,000 schools with tablets in the next four years, which represents a huge new delivery ecosystem for learning technology suppliers.
• In January 2012, the Supreme Education Council (SEC) in Qatar announced a series of "e-education" initiatives that include digitizing all the content used in the schools and providing each student with a personal learning device by 2014.
• In October 2012, the UAE government indicated that they were on track to get 400 schools equipped with learning platforms by 2015, well ahead of schedule on a project that started in 2010 to deploy learning technology in all 425 state-run public schools. This effectively creates a nationwide delivery platform for suppliers that will reach over 294,000 students.

Blueprint is an interesting technical way of showing the design of the conceptual work with details that can be understood by all the technical staff within the team to create the component. This is used in almost all the engineering fields and to explain the details of the workflow and components. John Herschel introduced this concept in 1842. It is a detailed document to understand the different technicalities of the construction of the project.

Electrical equipment that has been properly designed, constructed, installed and maintained does not present a risk of electric shock or burn injury when properly

used.   The general requirement for the design and construction of electrical equipment is that it is suitable for its intended use and the environment in which it is to be used.   Electrical equipment is susceptible to failure from water and dust ingress, damage by impact and general deterioration and should therefore be protected from these effects by installing it in a dry environment free from damage or in suitable weather proofed and protected enclosures. 

Electrical installations must conform to relevant British, CENELEC and IEC standards. All equipment must be marked with an appropriate CE marking or equivalent. 

All installations, including those for the control of motor drives, must be capable of being effectively isolated by readily accessible lockable isolating devices.  The means of isolation, whether isolating switches, fused isolators, circuit breakers or other devices, must be capable of being locked in the “OPEN” or “OFF” position only and clearly labelled to show the equipment or circuit that it controls.  

Some electrical equipment may be designed to be locked in the “OPEN” or “OFF and “ON” position. Where this equipment exists, this must be effectively managed to prevent danger. One example of this equipment is High Voltage switchgear that is frequently locked in the “ON” position to prevent unauthorised operation of the switchgear. 

Where emergency stopping devices and or safety interlocking devices are fitted to equipment and machinery these should be designed to be readily accessible, not easily 

defeated and fail to safety in the event of fault.