The Information Technology department, through the IT Society organized a workshop titled, “Information Security Applications” which was delivered by Ms Nadia Al Muqrashi, an IT lecturer in 22nd June, 2022. The main objective of the workshop was on the best security applications used around the world for various systems like Android, iOS and Windows. The presentation was attended by some representative from the society, University students and staff.
The workshop talked about some of the main useful applications used to achieve the security to protect the personal data and information in smart mobiles and Widows. Those applications are like the ‘Lookout’ which can be used both for Android and iOS systems, BullGuard used for tracking users of electronic games, F-secure which is compatible with the Android system and Avast Mobile Security application which can be used for the android system to protect the personal data and information. After which, a demonstration on how to install the applications has been exhibited to the audience as different procedures for them to follow and practice.
There were 49 group of attended who benefited the presentation. Moreover, a feedback was taken after the presentation and as a result, a mean score of 4.9 from a scale of 1 to 5 was achieved, where 5 is the highest.
The UTAS-Ibri Engineering Department through the Engineering Society and the Technofest 2022 Organizing Committee held the Technofest 2022 on 16 June 2022 with ten (10) Skills Competitions and chose the Best Project Winners for Semesters 1 and 2, 2021-2022.
For the full report, kindly click on the link. TECHNOFEST 2022
In order to increase awareness on data center, infrastructure and establishment based on international standards, the Information Technology department, through the IT Society organized two (2) sessions about data center infrastructure and design on 16th June and 23rd June, 2022. The session was delivered by Mr. Abdullah Al Shukeily, an IT lecturer.
During the first day (session) of the presentation, the speaker discussed about brief description of what a data center is and its main component. Mr Abdullah also explained the standards used in rating a data center. He further explained the four (4) tiers where a data center can be classified and the criteria for each tier. Towards the end of the first session, the presenter talked about the real life examples of a data center at UTAS-Ibri which was established in February 2021. And at the end of the session, there was an open forum where questions and doubts were raised and cleared.
The second session was conducted in 23rd June 2022. The presenter and some attendees visited the actual data center site at the University, where he explained the complete structure of a data center.
A total of fifty-seven (57) attendees benefited the session, after which a feedback was taken after the presentation and visit. A feedback result of 4.7 out of 5 was taken, this means that the presentation was well taken by the presenter.
The Information Technology department at University of Technology and Applied Sciences – Ibri, through its Innovation Committee organized a Trademark Workshop in 23rd June 2022. The said workshop was delivered by Ms Muna Al-Sawafi from Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Al-Dhahira Region, which aimed at creating awareness on the importance of trademark and its registration especially to young Omani entrepreneurs.
Ms Muna emphasized the meaning of trademark which is a type of intellectual property that consist of a recognizable sign or design that identifies products or services from a particular source or owner that also distinguishes them from others. Furthermore, she also highlighted the importance of having a trademark and the rules and regulations on how to register trademark to our products or services. Towards the end of Ms Muna’s presentation, she reiterated some existing protection laws in Oman relating to trademark and registration.
After the presentation, a certificate of appreciation was awarded by Dr Amal Al-Abri, HoD-IT to the speaker.
The IT Society committee of the IT Department has organized a one-day online training program titled “Home Automation Using IoT” to the community on the 9th June 2022. The session was delivered by Dr Qais Saif Qassim, a lecturer in the IT department. The workshop gave insights on the fundamental concepts of electronics and IoT technology. Moreover, the session described the four main components of an IoT system including the sensors, actuators, communication protocol and the back-end services. The session also demonstrated how to build a small application using the DHT11 and NodeMCU to measure the room temperature and humidity and monitor these physical properties from remote places via the mobile phone or web browser using Blynk IoT platform.
There were 41 participants attended the webinar. The feedback was taken and as a result, the participants rated the webinar 4.8 on a scale of 5. The recorded video of the webinar can be viewed using the following link https://bit.ly/3OfYRkz
The Information Technology Department, through its IT Society has organized a one-day online training program titled “Introduction to Linux Operating Systems” to the community on the 26th May 2022. The session was delivered by Dr Qais Saif Qassim, a lecturer in the IT department. The workshop gave insights on the fundamental concepts of the Linux operating system, its distributions and how to install the Linux OS on Oracle VM VirtualBox. The session also demonstrated how to utilize the Linux OS as an alternative to Windows OS especially for low configuration computers.
There were 41 participants attended the webinar. The feedback was taken and as a result, the participants rated the webinar 4.7 on a scale of 5. The recorded video of the webinar can be viewed using the following link https://bit.ly/3OetAOY
The University of Technology and Applied Sciences (UTAS) – Sohar Campus organized its Tenth Annual Graduation Project Competition (UTAS GPC-2022) on 26th May 2022. This competition has aimed at gathering all graduation projects for the Academic Year 2021-2022 from graduating IT students across all the UTAS branches.
All students were invited to participate on the event and the organizer (UTAS-Sohar) has selected and awarded the best three (3) student projects through online.
The Information Technology (IT) department through its course project committee has identified 2 projects who were nominated and at the same time participated on the said event. Below are the details:
| Supervisor | Level & Specialization | Group Details | Project Title | |
| Dr. Qais | B.Tech Phase II (Information Security) | 76S1815923 | Marwan Rashid Hamed Al Hinai | Protection of Circuit Breakers |
| 76S177 | Fatema Rashid Hamed Nasib Al Azri | |||
| 76J1918495 | Asila Said Nuaaman Al Alawi | |||
| Ms. Moza Al Balushi | B.Tech Phase II (Software Engineering) | 76S1642 | Amani Saif Mubarak Al Rajaibi | Career Application |
| 76J1626 | Hajar Ali Mohammed Al Naseri | |||
| 76S161975Sharooq Mohammed Al Shuhumi | Sharooq Mohammed Al Shuhumi | |||
| 76S163710 | Maha Awadh Khalfan Al Kalbani | |||
According to Stephen Krashen, learners with high motivation, self-confidence, a good self-image, and a low level of anxiety are better equipped for success in language acquisition. A game is a good method that can achieve this objective. In this regard, the Students Activities Committee has initiated a Games Club after initiating Arts and Music Clubs on 24/05/2022.
The first games club was led by Ms. Samiya and Ms. Moza on 15/06/2022.
Students welcomed the club with active participation. Many lecturers from the ELC joined the games club with students in different fun competitions. After a grand success in the first games activity, the committee members conducted the second games club on22/06/2022.
Many students participated at different levels with so much enthusiasm. There were many gifts were given to all the attendees for their participation in the various games. The students were motivated and they asked for more activities in the coming academic year.
The English Language Centre scripted history when ELC Research Team won MOHERI Funded URG Research Projectunder Block Funding Program in this academic year 2021-2022.
The ELC Research Team, comprising of Student Researchers across various disciplines and ELC Faculty mentors brought accolades to ELC by winning this Research Project. It is true that this momentousoccasion had indeedturned out to be a matter of pride and joy for ELC as it is for the first time that ELC has won MOHERI Funded Research project in itshistory since its inception.
The ELC management ,under the headship of Dr.Abdulsalam AL Manthari , Head of the Centre, Dr.Maryam Al Ghafri ,HOSand Dr.Sultan Al Ghfari ,HOS has always been an embodiment of constant support and encouragement to ELC Staff in enhancing their Research Engagements .
In line with it, as part of encouraging, motivating and appreciating the immense efforts of student researchers and Faculty mentors of the Research Project ,the ELC management undertook a praiseworthy initiative to felicitate all the Researchers of the Research Project in a Felicitation Ceremony.All the Researchers were felicitated and were given certificate of Appreciation by the Heads of the Sections,Dr.Sultan Al Ghafri and Dr.Maryam Al Ghafri
The Student Researchers of the Project are : IbtisamSaif Rashid AL Muqrushi( Student Team leader ), Abdul azizSalimmohammed Rashid AL Farsi, Amjad Mohammed Nasser Talib Al kalbani,SafaAwadhSulaiman Al-Kalbaniya and Tif Rashid Mohammed Nasser Al Shahoomi and the faculty mentors of the Project are Dr.PriyaMankaraVijayan and Mr.DennisPrimneCorbita
The success story of the ELC Research Team in winning the MOHERI Funded research Project has indeed become a great source of inspiration to ELC staff .It infact has facilitated in enhancing the number of submissions of ELC Research Proposals for the next call for MOHERI proposals _2022,the involvement of more ELC staff members in varied ELC Research Proposals and in promoting the research culture of ELC.
The IELTS free course was conducted from June 19 to June 23, 2022, as students took the IELTS test on the 24th and 25th of June,2022 at UTAS-Ibri. Around 15 students attended the course and found it very beneficial. Ms Sharon Devaneson focused on giving essential strategies that would enable a student to score high. Activities related to the strategies were dealt with in the classroom. Certificates were given to them at the end of the programme.
Dr Sultan Al Ghafri and Ms Sharon Ruth Devaneson coordinated with the rest of the team to enable the smooth functioning of the Community Courses
