Department of Engineering
Contributor: Engr. Arnold N.Santos
ICT engineering student project that seeks to address a worldwide trend where millions of people lose their life for failure to monitor an abnormal heart and blood pressure conditions at an early stage won the “Best Scientific Merit Project” in the recently concluded 4th Engineering Students Gathering held at Sultan Qaboos University on 4-6 April 2010.
Sheika Moh’d Saeed Al-Mukhaini and Aida Ali Said Al-Mahrooqi, Higher Diploma Electronics & Communications Engineering students, beat all the odds as they presented their project entitled “ECG and BP Monitoring Device” in front of an international jury at the Sultan Qaboos University Conference and Exhibition Hall. They competed against 69 other project entries from the best colleges and universities not only in the Sultanate of Oman, but also from other GCC countries that included UAE University, Sharjah University, Qatar University, and University of Bahrain.
The winners acknowledged their project supervisors, Mr. Arnold N. Santos, head of Electrical and Electronics Engineering section and Mr. Antonio S. Gonzales, Jr., Electronics technical instructor, for providing the materials and the technical know-how in the scientific procedures that paved the way for the successful project completion.
Ibra College of Technology was able to participate for the first time in this big gathering through the initiatives and dynamic leadership of Dr. Faris S. Al-Naimy, the new head of the engineering department.
Aside from the winning project, ICT engineering department also submitted three other entries in the competition, namely:
(1) Automated Handwash Station by Sami Tayseer Jumah Al-Jamei and Younis Sulaiman Mohd. Al-Barwani (2) Automated Product Conveyor for Can Crusher by Hamza Salim Saleem Al-Mussalami and Sultan Salim Rashid Al-Amri (3) Automatic Polishing Machine by Mohd Khamis Nasser Al-Rashdi and Saeed Nasser Hamed Al-RawahiThe Engineering Student Gathering is a biennial event organized by the Engineering Students Society of Sultan Qaboos University. It is an opportunity for participants to meet, interact and learn from each other. It lasts for three days during which, students exhibit their projects, attend technical seminars from industry and alumni and participate in design and cultural competitions.
ICT higher diploma engineering students Yonus Sulaiman Moh’d Al-Barwani (2006410), Sheika Moh’d Saeed Al-Mukhaini (2007227) and Sami Tayser Jum’ah Al-Jam’Ei (2006174) bagged the second prize trophy in the Annual General Engineering Quiz Competition concluded at Al-Musanna College of Technology on February 28, 2010.
The trio bested five other participating teams sent by the different Colleges of Technology and settled behind Shinas College of Technology by very slight margin. ICT ranked first in the elimination round garnering a total of 21.7 out of 30 points and earned the early respect of the spectators and the teams from Al-Musanna, Shinas and Salalah Colleges of Technology who came in second, third and fourth places, respectively. These first four teams who garnered the highest points merited the rights to be in the final round.
The grueling final round showcased the wit and determination of the Ibra-based quizzers who lead and set the pace throughout the competition. In the penultimate question, however, the ICT team failed to submit the correct answer in a problem solving question worth 10 points, forcing them to drop to second place against Shinas College of Technology by only 2.5 points. Last year’s defending champion and host college, Al-Musanna came in third place.
Mr. Arnold Santos, Head of Electrical & Electronics Engineering section, acted as coach and prepared the team for the rigid competition barely two weeks after receiving the short notice from the event organizers.
The quiz competition is an annual event organized by the Al-Musanna College of Technology in coordination with students’ Technical Engineering Club (TEC). Aside from testing the knowledge of the participants in the general engineering courses which include Chemistry, Physics, Calculus, C-Programming, Engineering Drawing and Workshop Technology, the event aims to promote camaraderie among the engineering students of the seven colleges of technology.
Ibra College of Technology arranged one day workshop on "Moving from theory to practical through Virtual Instrumentation" on 20 December 2009.
The aim of the workshop is to provide a platform for staff members from Colleges of Technology to get an exposure to the various tools provided by National Instruments to enhance practical learning in various Engineering courses.
Dr. S. N. Murugesan, Head of Engineering, welcomed the gathering. Dr. Qassim Murtadha Al Mara'shi, College Dean inaugurated the workshop.
Mr. Elie Abou Naser of National Instruments conducted the workshop.
Thirty participants from different Colleges of Technology including Ibra College of Technology attended the workshop. It was concluded by the vote of thanks by Mr. Arnold N. Santos, HoS Electrical & Electronics. »View Photos
Three Higher Diploma Electronics & Communications Engineering students have shown their great potential and proven that Ibra College
of Technology (ICT) is indeed one of the best technical colleges in the Sultanate.
Aseela Yahya Al-Harthy, Faheema Rashid Al-Shuhaimi and Safeyya Juma Said Al-Sulti bested and outshined thirty (30) other entries from among the seven colleges of technology by bagging the First Prize in the recently concluded project design competition. The contest was held at Higher College of Technology (HCT) last May 16-18 and was organized by the Engineering Society of HCT in coordination with the Oman Engineers Society.
The winning project, “Electrocardiogram (ECG) Data Acquisition System” was developed under the direct guidance of Mr. Arnold Santos, project supervisor and head of the Electrical & Electronics section and Mr. Antonio Gonzales, Jr., Electronics technician-in-charge. The project seeks to address a worldwide trend where millions of people lose their life because of the failure to monitor an abnormal heart condition at an early stage. By using locally available electronic components, a simple and inexpensive heart monitoring system was designed and implemented.
In general, the project will contribute to the health scenario of Oman, whose population is predominantly situated in the desserts and is widely distributed in remote geographical locations. With this system, inadequacy in health services and medical facilities maybe alleviated.
More importantly, since the device is handy and very easy to use, it can bridge the physical distance between the patient and the doctor or specialist. Patients that require frequent heart monitoring need not go to hospital for examination because this can be done any time even at home by any individual with little training. The project was an early favorite among the spectators. Students, lecturers and other visitors were very much impressed with its capabilities that most of them commented the project is a sure winner.
The second prize was given to the “Home Management System” entry of the Higher College of Technology. In an informal interview, Safeyya Juma Said Al-Sulti, the group leader, said that they attributed their achievement to the patience, dedication, motivation and support of their supervisor and laboratory technicians.
THE WINNING TEAM - (From L-R) Mr. Antonio S. Gonzales, Jr., Ms. Safeyya Juma Said Al-Sulti, Ms. Faheema Rashid Al-Shuhaimi, Ms. Aseela Yahya Al-Harthy, and Project Supervisor Engr. Arnold N. Santos, during a photo courtesy after bagging the First Prize in the recently held project design competition at the Higher College of Technology in Muscat last 16-18 May 2009. The first ever Technological Engineering Gathering was sponsored by the Engineering Society of HCT in coordination with the Oman Engineers Society. - ICT/ETC
ICT Media/30 June 2009 Contributor: Engr. Arnold N. Santos
As a new batch of graduating college students joins the ranks of job hunters, recruitment is in full swing for one of the
Sultanate's pioneering mining company, VALE International, Oman.
Wednesday, 3rd of June, a cluster of Diploma Engineering students, most of whom are doing Enhancement Practical training (EPT) and anticipating to graduate by the end of summer, attended a career talk organized by the Engineering Department with the help of the College On-the-Job training Department. The event was facilitated
by a team of dedicated representatives from VALE.
The activity which took place at the College main hall included a short talk followed by a video presentation that highlights information about the company and its current project and activities in the Sohar Plant.
Attendees were likewise given the opportunity to ask questions after the discussions. In addition to the traditional modes of promoting and hiring, like newspaper ads and video commercials, visiting colleges for career fairs, information sessions, interviews and other events is a part of the company's efforts of making itself visible to potential recruits.
The company is planning to recruit 127 engineering diploma holders specializing in Mechanical, Electrical & Instrumentation.
"By bringing the company closer to the students, we are increasing their chances of getting hired," said Mr. Walid AI-Shukaili,
Training & Development Specialist of VALE International, Oman.
The initiative to set up the plant in Oman reflects Vale's strategy to support the steel industry in the Middle East. The construction and development of the SOHAR iron ore pelletizing plant was started in 2008 and is scheduled to come on stream in mid-2010.
The company will provide employment to thousands of workers and ultimately aims to achieve 80 per cent Omanization by 2015. VALE is a Brazil-based, highly diversified global mining company, converting minerals into essential end products for use in daily life.
Its mission is to transform mineral resources into prosperity and sustainable development. Its commercial Middle East office is located at Muttrah in Muscat.
