66 Shatifa Al Lami Firat Omani graduate rom AUC, 1956 fateh {with hor daughter Dr Asyah Al Bua) I never thought that | would be honed one day fr being te fist Omani graduate from the AUC, an in- stitution, which skaped my peisonal- ty, charactor and my career. Many of im classmates in AUC have become leaders in various fel. I do apres that more students fam Oman should join such universities to make @ mar In various sectors,THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2010 | TIMES «OMAN Woman of letters Sharifa Lamki is Oman's first graduate from the AUC | w RAHIMA AL BALASH! | MUSCAT | “I always ty 10 inspire my kids by telling them about my experience,” the fst Oman greduate ofthe Amen can University ip Cairo (AUC ) tells Times af Oman ‘Sharia int Mohammed bin asser AL Lams, 29,8 Oman's first graduate fom the Amet- can University of Cairo (AUC), ‘wh eof at ates “1 ean't imagine how peo- ple sleep on weekends up to 1am, Besides studying, you have to do something creative and reveal your hidden talents. Sharia bint Mohammed bin Nasser Al Lami While rvs a student, | opened | aradio station in Cairo speale Sharifa A Lami had the dis- to achieve their dreams.” | ing in Swah was the only tneion of working with some While realing ber meme | announcer in Swahili, which of the eminent Egyptian news ries back, Shatfa said “I grad- | made me work seven days 1 roadster, who include Ab- ated from the AUC in 1955, week but [was also doing my dal Heme Al Hadidi (head of hut for anereasonor the othe, Unversity studies normally,” Exypdan Radio Broadcasting), received my certieate in 1956. Shacifa said fang Ahmed Taher (head of — In fac joined the AUC by eo Bom in Zanzibar in 1931, ‘Sawt Al Arab” Radio station inciéer she studied economic and po. — Voice of Arabia) ‘When’ my father sent me lial science in AUC, 1951- AS would have happened from Zanzibar to Cairo for 1955, and)was. subsequently with aay other idealist, Sharfa stud, 1 actualy wanted to jin elected head ofthe AfficanSta- {oo had to face tough time for Cairo University. But, unforts- dent Association (ASA), Caio, het view on independence. The nately Iasi taken ih because {position she oveupied frm administration of the AUC, re» my standard of Arabic was nat 1982 to 1955, apon receiving fused o allow her fo graduate upto the mark Then AUC was the approval of former Eayp- her in 1955 the second choice." tian president Mohammed An- The univesity’s chancel tear AlSadat Anwar AI Sadat lor then informed fer that the Scholarships Yeas he seeretary-peneal ofthe university policy was to award What ste ‘one’ memory thet Tnvertatnal Islamic Confer students as opposed to political you brought it back to Oman ence activists rom AUC? “The people whom ‘Upon returning to Zanzibar, met there! It was the perfect Swahili Department ——sharifa notified the university platform to meet all kinds of In 1933, based in Cairo at the that she was intending to raise people from different back Egyptian radio headquarters her issue with the World Hu- grounds and cultures. At thet fon Al Sharifin Street, Sharifa man Rights Association, which time, the Egyptian govemment ‘Al Lamki established a Swa- then forced the university lo is- gave special scholarships for | file Department in Egyptian sue her certificate in 1956. Palestinian studentsaterthewar | National Broadcasting; largely ‘How do you feel about be- in 1948, "I came to know about | withthe suppor of president Al ing honoured by the AUC as people who were lade later Sadat, the first Omani graduate? in Palestine and Jordan. We ‘As founder of the Swahili “Jam happy and indebted to used to meetup in te eafé and cpartment, her objective was the university forall heir sup- discussed various issues. Every to create awareness about the portduring my study times, minute of those meetings was, consequences of British coloni- “Asan honour to an Omani, precious.” Sation, and to establish pla the youngsters would feel ener- The experience taught Shar- | form supporting the ides of an geticand would get encourage- ifs how to be independent ard | independent African continent, ment to move forward in order groomed her personalityMUSCAT The American Spiversty in Caio (AUC) pes fe fet Snr students aking ip dhehelor's and ater’ 2c programmes "Rt presi we have a small umber of Omae SRudens in AUC. We wil iove 10 see 4 sgaiicnt increase Inthe years f0 come," David D. Aro president AUC told Omen ‘rame There are many oppor nities fr students ty Specilied subjects at RUC We have a well developed bachelor’s degre and mate's depres prageanmes in around 20 Ernerent feds. Weil soon sat» ne PHD pr frame, AUC Is et ps8 Enwerity in Egypt But 3 research, cent for the (ste Arab world” hess Our ees a8 much ow erincomparsonto univer Stiesin the US. And many ot our programmes. ere Secreted” he sid boyd Foghe chairman of the board of tastes, said "Wer ace surprised Sih the response fo the yecrultment session We ad St prospective st: densattendig he session Itiswonderfltohavessch 2 response, We. are ver ease th the fama esd Pro tothe aur mst ing therecrutmentsesion Srganised by AUC. for dinsion To. various degree programmes atthe university witnessed a foo tout of stents Seuorosiealsof theo verity nevered 10 the David D Arnold. queries and explained about the facilities on the ‘new campus. The universi ty offers a range of pro- ‘grammes in science, engi neering, humanities and ‘other fields in the new aca- ‘demic year beginning Sep- tember, they said. ‘Ahmed Al Azizi, a ste dent of Manhal Private School, who attended the session, said: “The subjects 2 NESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2010 a (Omani students attend the recruitment session, offeredby AUCareinterest- ing, My favourite subj is tcleum engineering. Basoondecidewheter © jomaue™ tina and Skahad, stu dents of the same schoo, sid tat hey were Keen on pursuing courses in archi Ifa sn nw respective tye wil decide n on ig AUC sor” they said ‘UC war founded in 1919 by Americansdevated toeducation andcommuni- ty service in the Middle East. AUC is an independ- tent, non-profit and equal- portunity stitution, fully accredited in Egypt and the US. AUC is the region's premier English anguage university. The university's new 260acre ‘main campusin New Cairo represents & major inves. = Teaine AUG i seca vnlyprogisnnes outa Reus that wine sccreied Science ace tet Accredt for Engine tology vent AUG student 113 count More than 6 ndergaluster ftom AUCS pouranne fed india AUC alumni hold ot -together Reporter GmAN TRIBUNE MUSCAT The Oman alumni of The American University in Cairo (AUC) held their first get together in 15 years in ‘Muscat on Monday. Of the 60 AUC alumni in Oman, around 45 attended the get-together held at Al Bustan Palace Hotel, Among those pres- ent. was Sharifa Bint Mohammed Al Lamki, the first Omani graduate from AUC. Sharifa was honoured on the occa- ‘Speaking on the ocea- sion, she urged the alum- i iy Oman to remain ‘The Oman alumni of The American Univ during the get-together at the Al Bustan Palace on Monday. active. Recalling her time at AUC, she said: “If his tory were to be repeated, would love to go back to AUC." NutaylaAl Kindy, head of corporate communica~ tions, PDO, a student of the 1997 batch, told Oman Tribune: “Studying in AUC was exciting and challenging. It provided an opportunity tointetact with people of diverse celtures.” “We had a tough cur siculurn,” Nutayla said. Abdul Rahim Al Maimani, chief technical ‘offices, Mazon Mobile who i396 Gent, sai Sbrons provie Opportunity te unaer Shin others catore sy sugestion Icha ere Sid more Omni st dents should pursue education at AUC. Edu tation in AUCIS not ery expensive” hes David 8. Amoi, pres ident, AUC. Senn peg fn opportand nectith the akan “We Ive aroun of ahumatin Oman. Many of hem fame stacy inthe 198 nd 19008. We are nov Orman stedents to tay AUC new fclty i New Cae Sw said el