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Green Degrees Grow at Arab Region Universities

By U.S. News & World Report

It was after watching former Vice President Al Gore’s documentary, “An Inconvenient Truth,” that Aimina Ayoub found her calling.

She says the film opened her eyes to “how sick the planet was,” and motivated her to act.

“The Earth is afflicted by countless environmental health issues deriving from our activities such as water pollution, air pollution, global warming and natural resource depletion, which also affect human health,” says Ayoub, who is French-Lebanese. “We lead a lifestyle as if we had another planet to colonize once the Earth’s ability to sustain our activities will be shattered, which is currently happening.”

Ayoub’s goal is to help develop creative and innovative solutions to environmental challenges and move society toward a more sustainable mentality. She just graduated with a Bachelor of Science in environmental health management from the Canadian University of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

The university currently offers three programs through its School of Environment and Health Sciences: Bachelor of Science degrees in environmental health management, health organization management and health information management. According to Rami El Khatib, associate professor and chair of the environment and health sciences school, the university also soon plans to offer a two-year diploma in food safety.

Explore the [Arab region universities that produce the best environmental science research.]

Ayoub says professors at the school encourage students to be active in the field. She participated in the 2012 Clean Up the World Campaign in Dubai and the Emirates Environmental Group Inter College Environmental Public Speaking Competition in 2012 and 2013. She also interned in Dubai for the environment, health and safety department of Alstom, a French multinational energy and transportation company.

El Khatib says graduates of his university’s programs can work in several sectors. These include government ministries, health care institutions, environmental agencies, educational institutions and research organizations, as well as industries linked to health safety and hazards, food safety, water resources, oil, real estate development and waste disposal.

Some senior positions in the governmental sector may be available to non-nationals, El Khatib says, but “non-nationals can always apply for senior positions in private sectors of the industry.”

With events like Expo 2020 in the UAE and the World Cup 2022 in Qatar approaching, both countries are using the events as an opportunity to take the lead in eco-friendly construction and development.

“UAE is promoting sustainability in different ways such as hosting different environmental conferences at governmental and private levels with major awareness campaigns,” says El Khatib.

For students interested in pursuing green degrees at Arab region universities, the move toward greener societies, particularly in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, can yield greater opportunities.

“Certainly we would like to see more qualified graduates with sustainability credentials,” says Cynthia Skelhorn, postdoctoral research specialist at the Qatar Green Building Council. “This is especially true for Qatar and the GCC region, where development is moving so rapidly, and yet, we hope to see that this is well planned and a long-lasting development, guided by the most cutting-edge and thoughtful design solutions.”

Find out how [Arab universities are adapting to a changing regional job market.]

The QGBC is working with Qatar‘s Hamad Bin Khalifa University on course development for its two new graduate programs — sustainable energy and sustainable environment — with classes beginning this fall.

The American University of Beirut offers several green degrees ranging from a Bachelor of Science in environmental health to what the school calls a Pro-Green diploma. The latter is a postgraduate certificate program, aimed at professionals, with three specializations: energy, water and buildings. Students must have a B.S. in science or engineering to be admitted.

“The reason that I chose AUB is because it’s one of the top universities in Lebanon and also because it is offering this diploma, which is one of the first of its kind in the region,” says Lebanese-American Mahmoud Harb, who has a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from the University of Houston and has worked for two different companies in the oil industry in the U.S., Oman, UAE, Mexico and Spain.

Makram Suidan, dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture at AUB, says graduates of his school’s green programs have opportunities to foster links with stakeholders in business, industry, nongovernmental organizations and governmental agencies for the advancement of green technologies.

“Engineering firms requiring green training and education, water conservation and management agencies, alternative energy solution providers and various agencies will be in high demand for such recruits,” he says.

Check out how [Arab region STEM programs are drawing women.]

Harb plans to use his extensive experience in the energy field to transition into a career in the green sector, where he would like to pursue raising environmental awareness among the younger generation. He sees “a lot of opportunity for improvement from a sustainability point of view in Lebanon and the Arab region.”

Meanwhile, this fall, Ayoub will attend the University of Montreal in Canada for her master’s degree in environmental and occupational health. Upon completion, she hopes to return to the UAE.

“The green sector is a budding sector so it will probably be easier to find a job there,” says Ayoub. “And, I love my life in Dubai.”

See the complete rankings of the Best Arab Region Universities.

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Green Degrees Grow at Arab Region Universities originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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