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Spencer Striker, PhD, discusses History Adventures development during digital media studies panel at Northwestern University in Qatar

Gulf Times: Digital media experts offer innovative courses at NU-Q

The digital revolution is the source of new knowledge generated by research and field experience, the Northwestern University in Qatar (NU-Q) community was told at a panel discussion titled “Doing Digital: The Knowledge Component,” which featured new faculty in digital media studies.

 NU-Q faculty (L to R) S Venus Jin, Eddy Borges-Rey, and Spencer Striker discuss new digital media course offerings.

“Digital is more than devices; it is theory and knowledge that creates a conceptual roadmap and enhances understanding. The beneficiaries are our students who transmit what they learn far and wide.”

NU-Q Dean and CEO Everette E Dennis

For several years, the school has moved to strengthen its offerings by attracting world-class faculty including recent hires in digital media studies, digital design, and digital journalism. “These new colleagues represent an important development in the history of our school with deep experience in Europe, Asia, and the US – all centered around digital advances. With their help our school is poised to navigate change and cope with the complexity of a dynamic information society,” Dennis added.

The session was led by Internet expert, Banu Akdinzili, associate professor of communication at NU-Q, who appraised the importance of digital literacy and noted its value in understanding the current and future landscape of media and communication. NU-Q’s new faculty members who participated in the discussion were Eddy Borges-Rey, S Venus Jin, and Spencer Striker, engaged the audience with comments about the definition and importance of the digital media economy and ecosystem.

Drawing on their work on data journalism, video games, and technological entrepreneurship, they discussed current and future research projects and demonstrations.
The three drew on their background at a number of prestigious institutions including the USC Annenberg School for Communication, the University of Wisconsin, and other institutions where they have taught such as Scotland’s University of Stirling, Korea’s Sejong University Business School, and Spain’s University of Malaga.

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Competitions History Adventures Spencer Striker PhD

Big History Adventures Makes the Top 10 of the 2017 Dubai Smartpreneur Competition

Big History Adventures – Top 10 Finalist

-10 business ideas shortlisted for final round of the competition

-Top 3 winners to receive cash prizes and access to training and support

-Al Zaabi: High number of promising submissions reflects strong innovative culture of Dubai’s entrepreneurial ecosystem

Dubai, UAE: The Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry is set to announce the winners of the 2nd cycle of the Dubai Smartpreneur Competition on May 17th, during the closing ceremony of the ArabNet Digital Summit 2017.

Ten ideas have been shortlisted for the final round of the competition, which requires candidates to present their ideas at ArabNet. The top 10 submissions are: Drivu, mobile application that enables any restaurant or coffee shop to have a drive thru facility; FriendyCar, for car sharing service; Nester, mobile based parking rental platform that connects parking owners with people looking for place to park; CorporateStack, web-based solution that is designed to manage and improve business processes; TruKKer Technologies, for trucking and shipping business; Smart School Solutions, an app used by teachers, students and parents to learn and track progress; WYN, for innovative learning solutions including digital business training games; Big History Adventures, an interactive idea for next generation for history learning experience; YallaShip, an app for cargo shipping; NOW Money, app based current accounts for people earning less than 5,000.

The Chamber initially received more than 700 innovative ideas in the competition’s current cycle, an increase of 100% compared to the 350 submitted last year. These were narrowed down to 50 and the top 10 candidates later qualified for the final round. An expert panel of judges from Dubai’s entrepreneurship community is tasked with evaluating shortlisted ideas and selecting the winners.

The top three winners will receive cash prizes and access to training, and support, which is designed to help them turn their business ideas into a reality. The competition, open to all UAE-based entrepreneurs, required participants to submit ideas that support one of the Smart Dubai dimensions, namely smart economy, smart living, smart mobility, smart governance, smart environment, smart people, and smart ICT infrastructure.

The competition, launched in cooperation with the Smart Dubai Office, aims to strengthen the role of entrepreneurs in contributing to Dubai’s Smart City vision. Applications for the Dubai Smartpreneur Competition are evaluated based on the following criteria: the specific problem addressed by the business idea, the idea’s value proposition, customers’ need for the product or service, and the idea’s ability to support one of the Smart Dubai dimensions.

Essa Al Zaabi, Senior Vice President, Institutional Support Sector, Dubai Chamber and General Coordinator of Tejar Dubai, said the high number of promising submissions this year reflects the strong innovative culture of Dubai’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, adding that many of ideas can support Dubai’s Smart City transformation.

Joining this year’s panel are: Hans Henrik Christensen, Director, Dubai Technology Entrepreneurship Centre, Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority, Saoud Mohammed Al Jassem, Division Head – Head – Government Banking Division, DNE, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Sulaf Saleh Al-Zu’bi, CEO of INJAZ UAE, Tarek Ghobar, Startup Manager, 1776 Dubai, Fahad Al Bannai,  CEO of Axiom, Rekha Setpal, Head of Community Services, DIC and In5, Marwan Salem Abu Nawas Al Mheiri, Head of Business Banking, Emirates Islamic Bank, Saif Al Shafar, Chairman of Tejar Dubai Youth Council, Nadine Halabi, Business Development Manager, Dubai Business Women Council, Mohammed Mahgoub, Administration Director, Dubai Chamber, Wael Abu Shadi, Finance Director, Dubai Chamber, Talal Al Mazrooei, Senior Vice President Head of Distribution, Liabilities and Wealth Management, EmiratesNBD, and Dr. Abdul Kareem Sultan Al Olama, CEO of Al Jalila Foundation.