Mr Ali Salem Saleh Al Alawi, OJT Coordinator of UTAS-Ibri along with 18 Mechanical Engineering students and faculty Dr.V.Sivananth visited Composite Pipes Industry LLC. at Sohar on 15.11.2023. The visit started with a presentation by the Safety Officer about company safety aspects prior to the shop floor visit. Production Head explained the challenges in design and manufacturing of GRE pipes. The students visited the raw material shop and understand the Glass fibers and epoxy resin used for pipe manufacturing. Then the section in-charge demonstrated the working of Filament winding machine and various activities involved in the shop floor for pipe manufacturing. Elbow joint and flange making demonstrated for the students using GRE pipe. Finally closing meeting was held regarding students training and research activities in near future. Overall the visit helped the mechanical student to understand the expectation of industry and the skills needed by the students for the job market.
Date palms, are the main agricultural crop in the Middle East and South-west Asia, though they are widely grown in Northern Africa, Mexico and the United States. Date palms, scientifically known as Phoenix Dactylifera L. is a plant species where male and female inflorescences are on separate palms. In this case self-pollination is impossible and so cross pollination is required to produce fruits. Naturally, pollination in date palms occurs through wind and insects. Unfortunately, this method of pollination has proved unproductive and economically unfeasible, as it leads to the formation of triple parthenocarpic fruits, those fruits of no economic value. So it is necessary to artificially pollinate each female palm to sustain yield levels, enhance fruit set and make the production economically feasible for date farmers.
In Oman, currently farmers pollinate date palm trees manually. They climb up each and every palm tree and collects stamens from the male palm tree. One or more male date palm clusters are then directly placed in the female flower and ties them up with a light strip, which opens gradually with the growth of date. This is done to artificially pollinate female inflorescences to ensure economically sustainable yield, but the process is extremely tedious, unsafe and accident-prone. Mechanical methods of pollination are also being tried, but most systems are seen to be extremely unselective and environmentally destructive. In response to these concerns, a novel model of an automated system that can efficiently and accurately pollinate date clusters using a robotic spraying apparatus mounted on a computer vision android device is designed. The system shall comprise of a robotic arm and a processor controlled sprayer, directed by a computer vision system. The apparatus shall be mounted on an agricultural drone which can access hundreds of date palms in short time. The proposed system is expected to minimize risk of injury, significantly save manpower and deliver the pollens at target location in the right amount, thereby reducing environmental pollution and wastage.
This research was carried out as a two-year work under the RG program in the name of a project titled “A Novel Automated System to Optimise Date Palm Pollination using Computer Vision
Androids and Robotic Arm Sprinklers”, funded by MoHERI, Oman and completed in November 2022.
The Centre for Preparatory Studies (CPS) conducted a training session entitled: “Student Motivation” on Thursday, 16 November 2023. The presenter was Ms Cara Byleveldt, PSC staff member. The topic, “Student Motivation”, was chosen due to the interest shown by the Level 4 lecturers from the needs analysis conducted in the previous week. The session mainly focused on how to motivate Level 4 students for language learning. The presenter brainstormed the ideas related to the types of motivation. The participants were presented with scenarios and questions for discussion. The interactive nature of the session allowed for peer learning, participation and critical thinking on the topic. The topics of discussion focused on different aspects of “Student Motivation”, including intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, classroom consistency, student involvement, teacher attitudes, and teacher struggles. It was very effective discussion on the topic and it received well with positive feedback from the participants.
On November 2, 2023, the Staff Development Committee of the Engineering Department conducted a seminar program titled "Myers and Briggs Personality Types." The program took place from 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM in the Multi-Purpose Hall (Room B102). The primary objective of this program was to enhance awareness and understanding of Myers and Briggs 16 personality types among the engineering faculty and to provide insights into the practical applications of personality types in the academic and professional context.
Ms. Lizette Ivy Pascual, Lecturer, Engineering, UTAS-Ibri, commenced the program by providing a detailed explanation and opening remarks. Her introduction included: A brief overview of the importance of understanding personality types in the engineering field. A warm welcome to the participants and an expression of gratitude for their attendance. An invitation to the audience to actively engage and participate in discussions throughout the seminar.
Throughout the program, various aspects of Myers and Briggs personality types were explored, and attendees had the opportunity to gain valuable insights into how this knowledge could be applied in both their personal and professional lives.
The seminar was well-received by the engineering faculty and staff, who found the information and discussions to be highly informative and beneficial. The event served as an important step in promoting a deeper understanding of personality types within the academic and professional context, fostering personal and professional growth among the attendees.
On 26.10.2023, Dr. Arthur Davis Nicholas delivered a presentation titled "Flaw Measurement Using IR Thermography in Metal Joining Process." The presentation commenced with an overview of common welding defects and the traditional methods employed to assess the flaws. Dr. Nicholas then proceeded to discuss the evaluation of welding defects through Infrared thermograms, providing clear explanations of the IR camera settings and imaging procedures. Furthermore, he presented the findings of 30 sample welding defects during the course of his presentation. In conclusion, Dr. Nicholas highlighted potential applications of IR thermography in various areas
Participation in the 1,000 Paramedics’ Campaign (First Aid Workshop)
The university clinic participated in the 1,000 paramedics’ campaign organized by the Professional Development and Guidance Department of the General Directorate of Health Services in Al Dhahirah Governorate, under a goal derived from Oman Vision 2040: “Our goal is a healthy society protected from dangers and health threats.”
Therefore, a workshop on “First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation” was coordinated for university students and employees at the branch on October 5, 2023 from 12 – 2 PM in VIP room, presented by Yousef bin Salem Al-Ghafri, Head of the Directorate’s Career Development and Guidance Department, and Amna bint Khalfan Al-Muqbaliya from the Directorate’s Career Development and Guidance Department.
During the workshop, the importance of first aid, the qualities that a paramedic must possess, the correct methods for dealing with cases of cardiac arrest and cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and how to use a defibrillator were introduced. The practical application was also illustrated on how to deal with emergency situations, how to deal with mild and severe injuries, sports accidents, especially tongue muscle relaxation accidents, and the practical applications on how to deal with cases of suffocation in adults and children. Fifty Students and Staff members attended the workshop and practiced quality procedures of First Aid during health emergencies.
The workshop Feedback link: Click Here
On 31st October 2023, the Staff Development Committee organized a webinar program on "Implementation of Distributed Generation with Evolutionary Computation" through MS Teams from 10.30 AM to 11.30 AM. The program aimed to create awareness about cutting-edge advancements in distributed generation and the application of evolutionary computation techniques in the field. The targeted audience for the webinar was all the Engineering faculty members of UTAS-Ibri. Dr. Gopisetti Manikanta, an esteemed Assistant Professor from Dayanand Sagar College of Engineering in Bangalore, India, served as the guest speaker. During the webinar, Dr. Gopisetti Manikanta provided a comprehensive overview of the key concepts and practical applications of distributed generation. He highlighted the role of evolutionary computation in optimizing and enhancing the efficiency of distributed generation systems. Dr. Manikanta's insightful presentation shed light on the latest research and developments in the field, captivating the audience's attention.
He also discussed the challenges and opportunities associated with the integration of distributed generation into the existing power infrastructure. Dr.Manikanta emphasized the need for sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions, demonstrating how evolutionary computation can help in achieving these goals.
The event provided valuable insights into the implementation of distributed generation and its synergy with evolutionary computation, making it a significant learning experience for the Engineering faculty members of UTAS-Ibri.
The Preparatory Studies Centre (PSC) of UTAS-Ibri, conducted a successful online IELTS intensive course from October 22 to October 26 2023. The aim of this course was to assist students in their preparation for the IELTS test, which took place on October 28 and was administered by the British Council. This intensive course was designed to provide students with the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in the IELTS test.
The course provided a comprehensive review of all four IELTS modules, encompassing Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. Students had the opportunity to clear their doubts and strengthen their command over these skills. Our expert IELTS tutors, Maha Al Darei, Hind Al Marouqi, Miriam Cordova, Jabez Syam and T. Rao, ensured that the course was both engaging and enjoyable through interactive sessions. This extensive IELTS course received very positive response from the participants.
The PSC continues to empower students to achieve their academic and professional dreams and remains dedicated to providing top-notch resources and support for IELTS preparation. The students seeking to excel in the IELTS test, will find similar assistance in the upcoming courses organized by PSC, UTAS, Ibri.
The Preparatory Studies Centre (PSC) conducted a training Workshop entitled: “Using Moodle”, held on Thursday 26 Oct., 2023. The presenter was Mr Said Al Manthari, ETC staff member (admin of Moodle). The session mainly focused on the theoretical aspect of Moodle. He highlighted different uses of Moodle such as creating courses, enrolling students, uploading course materials, assignments, documents, etc. Moreover, he also explained how Moodle can be used effectively for assessment such as creating quizzes, scheduling them, marking them, giving feedback, etc. The presenter stressed upon the importance of the Moodle platform for teaching and learning. He encouraged the participants to learn its practical utilization in their classrooms. In future, Moodle could replace other platforms such as MS Teams. The practical sessions of the Moodle training will be organized in the coming days so that the staff could master the use of Moodle for their classroom teaching and learning. The session was received well with positive feedback from the participants.
On 24th October 2023, the Staff Development Committee organized a webinar program on "Engineering Education for Sustainable Development" through MS Teams from 11.30 AM to 12.30 PM. The program aimed to create awareness about sustainable development in the technical teaching field, and the targeted audience for the webinar was all the Engineering faculty members of UTAS-Ibri.
Dr. T.V. Christy, M.E., Ph.D, Vice–Chancellor and Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Ponnaiyah Ramajayam Institute of Science & Technology (PRIST), Thanjavur, India, served as the guest speaker. During the webinar, Dr. T.V. Christy elaborated on the importance of sustainable development in engineering education, emphasizing its role in preparing students for the challenges of a rapidly changing world.
He also discussed the impact of sustainable development in engineering education, highlighting how it equips future engineers with the knowledge and skills to address pressing global issues such as environmental sustainability, resource conservation, and ethical considerations in design and innovation. Dr. Christy provided a detailed list of reasons why incorporating sustainability into engineering education is essential for a healthier and more sustainable future.
The webinar was a great success, and the participants expressed their appreciation for the efforts of the Staff Development Committee in organizing such an insightful program.
