Newsletters & Statistics
Regional Statistics
Population: 337 million *
GDP per capita average: US$12,887 *
Literacy average: 78.3% *
Higher Ed Students: 7.8 million **
Australian Student Enrolments: 7,974
Source: *CIA World Factbook 2005/06 estimates, **UNESCO Global Education Digest 2005, AEI 2006
MEGAA Newsletters
Issue 3: Dec 06 MEGAA'zette
Issue 2: Sept 06 MEGAA'zette
Issue 1: June 06 MEGAA'zette
MEGAA'ZETTE CONTRIBUTION
If you would like to contribute any articles, funny stories or photos
to the upcoming MEGAA newsletters, please email
Jo.
Major News & Coming Events
4 Oct: Ski Dubai
How does Saturday afternoon, 4th October, sound for all the mad skiers amongst us, along with those who'd like to give it a go perhaps for the first time? Family and friends are most welcome.
Mid JULY: MEGAA Meeting
The meeting at the Consulate in Dubai was lively and interesting. We met with new members and some old hands. It was Margaux Mansour's first time to join us. Some outcomes of the meeting included the decision to continue to send out monthly enews; hold quarterly meetings in Dubai and Abu Dhabi; resume the publishing of our quarterly newsletter which Waleed Al Marzouqi has kindly volunteered to edit; include more events each year (in addition to and separate from the ones AEI sponsors).
29
FEBRUARY: SUNSET CHARITY DRUM CIRCLE 2008
Kempinski Hotel Ajman,
Dubai Drums and others joined forces through Al Ihsan Charity
Center to raise funds to send children back to school. It was an extravaganza of tribal
drumming on a private beach to the glowing rays of the
sunset.
8 FEBRUARY: AJMAN DESERT EXPERIENCE
This event was so amazing :-) The group was initially driven in 4x4
into the desert to a "camp
site". From there they climbed a high dune to take in the view,
went on long camel rides, watched Peregrine Falcon owners training
their birds, listened to an astronomer point out the major
stars and constellations, peered through a huge telescope at Mars,
were entertained by a talented poet, enjoyed a delightful Arab feast,
and were treated to fireworks! View the photo
gallery.
DISCOUNTS FOR MEGAA AT AUSSIE BBQ, YALUMBA RESTAURANT
Yalumba Restaurant, LE MERIDIEN Dubai, have started a new promotion
on Wednesdays called Aussie BBQ nights. MEGAA members will receive
20% discount upon presentation or mentioning that you are a MEGAA
member. In addition, if you make a booking of 10 people of
more you will receive 2 people FREE! To book call 04 217 0000
SCHOLARSHIP OFFER - GREAT OPPORTUNITY!
The Council for Australian-Arab Relations (CAAR) is sponsoring some
short-term scholarships for current post graduate students from Arab
League countries to study in Australia. It covers the costs of
university course fees for Masters or PhD students for 3-6 months.
It is very easy to be eligible and apply! Please do so as quickly
as possible. Find out more from CAAR
Scholarships web site or email
CAAR.
GULF
NEWS PROFILE INTERVIEWS
To showcase Alumni from Australian education, Rema from Gulf News
is looking for three or four graduates. She will interview by email
and follow up by telephone. It will be a great opportunity to promote
Australian education and yourself! Please email
Nada Salha
28
NOVEMBER: MEGAA SOCIAL EVENT WITH QUT
The dinner with MEGAA and visitors from Queensland
University of Technology (QUT), including the two senior lecturers
along with 20 construction students on tour in Dubai was great.
Everyone enjoyed the full buffet with drinks at the Meridian (near
Dubai Airport). Check out the gallery of
photos from the event.
22 OCTOBER: CPA AUSTRALIA NETWORKING FUNCTION
Certified Practicing Accountants (CPA) Australia invites you to a
networking evening at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Dubai on Monday
October 22nd at 6:30pm. CPA Australia Deputy President, Professor
Richard Petty will be in Dubai to discuss CPA Australia's plans
in the UAE market. Drinks and canapés
will be served. RSVP email
Yuki-Ann Worsch by 5 Oct
5
OCTOBER: MEGAA IFTAAR DINNER - Cancelled
So sorry, but our numbers are seriously depleted at the moment. Many
are away with work or are on holidays, and have asked for another event
next month, November. Therefore, we will make arrangements
and will keep you informed.
8
SEPTEMBER: MEGAA SNOW FUN AT EMIRATES MALL
A group of MEGAA members went to the ski slopes of Emirates Mall
in Dubai on Saturday 8 September. Please email if
you're like more MEGAA ski events
9
SEPTEMBER: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT INVITATION
On Sunday,
9 September, Professor George Earl, Head of Bond University
Mirvac School of Sustainable Development gave a public talk at
Sheraton Jumeirah Beach in Dubai on sustainable development. It
focused on property development and investment, and recent developments
in triple bottom line sustainable development in Australia linked
to similar developments in the USA and Europe, including international
green development tools such as LEED, BREEAM and the Green Building
Council Australia star rating system.
Education News
VICTORIA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF SHARJAH WILL OPEN IN SEPTEMBER 2007
The Victoria International School with an Australian curriculum is scheduled to open in September 2007 in Sharjah, UAE. Read more
AUSTRALIA ANNOUNCES TWO YEAR VISA FOR GCC NATIONALS
The validity period for tourist visas and business visitor visas has been extended from one to two years for citizens of the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, and Kuwait. Additionally, GCC natioanls can now obtain visas to travel to Australia without having a label placed in their passports. This can be done on line www.immi.gov.au or through a travel agent. These initiatives will greatly improve client service and processing times for families travelling from the Gulf. More information: Dept of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs
Announcements
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITY
If you work for a company that may be interested in being a sponsor of the MEGAA network do let us know. MEGAA is currently seeking applications for Premier, Major and Support sponsors. Please email Margaux for details.
CALLING FOR PHOTOS
Do you like taking photos? Would you like to showcase them on our site and/or enter them to be chosen and displayed as Photo of the month?
Remember docking your cap and proudly wearing the famous black cloak on your graduation day? We would also love to see your photo and/or include them on this site.
Please email Jo
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