CONFERENCES HOSTED BY CCEO
Caledonian College of Engineering strives to play the role of a mediator and to bridge the gap between academics and industry professionals by hosting conferences at national, regional and international levels. The College has successfully organized the following conferences.
National Conference on Design and Construction
The Department of Built & Natural Environment at Caledonian College of Engineering, a University College in Oman, planned and organized the First National Conference on “Design and Construction Practices in Hot & Arid Regions, DCPHAR”, on 22 March 2004.
The Conference consisted of two parallel technical sessions and an exhibition of manufacturers displaying their wares. The tally of the delegates was 160, 24 papers were presented in the two parallel technical sessions and 12 stalls were erected on the occasion.
The organization and planning of conference, themes identified, paper presentations, exhibition and the panel discussion were of great importance to the delegates and for those who participated in the conference.They have stated that Caledonian College of Engineering has achieved a new milestone in its history and added a new feather in their cap. They mentioned that the conference of this stature had left a deep imprint on the canvass of Caledonian. Team members from GCU and SQU have also acknowledged the excellent conduct of the proceedings of the conference.
Regional Conference on Recent Trends in Maintenance Management
The Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering at Caledonian College of Engineering, Oman, had organized the regional conference on “Recent Trends in Maintenance Management” on 2 October 2005 at Hotel Crowne Plaza, Muscat.
The Conference had been planned with four parallel technical sessions. Three papers were presented in these four parallel technical sessions. The conference was attended by more than 300 delegates from Ministries, industries and other organizations.
UICEE Annual Conference on Engineering Education
The 9th UICEE Annual Conference on Engineering Education of the UNESCO International Centre for Engineering Education (UICEE), was held in Muscat, Oman, during 11 - 15 February 2006. The conference was held under the auspices of the Ministry of Higher Education in Oman, with considerable support from Galfar Engineering and Contracting LLC and the British Council. The conference was inaugurated by HE Dr Yahya bin Mahfoodh Al Manthri, President, Majlis Al Dhawla.
The UICEE is based at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, and was developed in accordance with the principal of global solidarity. The Centre has carried out a wide range of activities in engineering and technology education in order to assist developing countries and countries in social, political and economic transition to improve and advance their education systems. Caledonian College of Engineering, a University College, became the Gulf Centre for Engineering Education (GCEE) in 2002, a satellite centre of the UICEE, and aims to highlight the role and development of engineering education in the GCC region.
International Conference on Harnessing Technology 2008 (ICHT)
The first International Conference on Harnessing Technology was held in Muscat during 12-13 October 2008 and was inaugurated by HE Maqbool bin Ali Sultan, Minster of Commerce and Industry. The Conference received overwhelming response from the region as well as internationally through paper contributions and invited talks.This conference has brought academia, researchers, industries and other stake holders together to share knowledge, and encourage research in developing technology. Furthermore, the Conference assisted in identifying future needs, expanding on current innovations, and bringing forward target-effective, goal-orientated solutions for key issues in Energy, Environment and Natural Resources. The Conference was attended by more than 200 delegates from a span of countries.
The Conference was chaired and guided by H.E. Sultan bin Hamdoon Al Harthy, Head of Muscat Municipality and members of the Steering, Advisory and Technical Committee, Mr.Saif Al Hinai, Oil Director, North PDO and Dr.Ahmed Al Naamany, Sultan Qaboos University. In his inaugural address, HE The Minister outlined the importance of the conference and expressed his satisfaction that such a high-profile event was taking place in Muscat. He commented on the challenges and opportunities faced by GCC states in their continuing quest for natural, renewable and alternative energy resources and the importance of professionals in the field sharing their knowledge regarding discovery, production and sustainability of such resources. He also highlighted the need for Oman to continue in its process of economic development by building industrial bases in the country and taking a step towards the development of alternative energy resources and technology as Oman faces the challenges of rising oil and gas prices with limited resources of its own.
ICHT 2011
The International Conference on Harnessing Technology, 2011 (ICHT 2011) was organised on 13th-14th February 2011, at Crowne Plaza, Muscat, by CCE, under the auspice of H E Darwish Ismail Ali Al- Balushi, the General Secretary, Ministry of Finance. The Conference was a grand event with researchers and academicians from over 33 nationalities, presenting latest papers on renewable and sustainable technologies. The highlights of the two day event were the keynote and Invited speeches by several experts in the area and from various research institutes and universities. There were over 34 papers presented in 9 technical sessions in 2 days. Around 60 staff members from CCE attended ICHT 2011. The conference concluded with valid findings on the prerequisites to convert Oman into a renewable energy producer.
Among the keynote and invited speakers were H E Mohammed Al Mahrooqi, Chairman, Muscat Municipality, Mr Werner B Koldehoff , Board Member, German Solar Industry Association, Germany, Dr David S Renné, International Solar Energy Society, USA, Dr David Carr, West Texas A&M University, Alternative Energy Institute (AEI), USA, Prof ChemNayar Curtin University and Regen Power Pty Ltd, Australia, Dr DetlefBahnemannInstitutfürTechnischeChemie, Leibniz Universität, Hannover, Germany, Prof Ali Sayigh, Chairman of WREC and Director General WREN Editor-in-Chief, Renewable Energy and Prof B K N Rao COMADEM International, UK. The speakers gave presentations on topics pertaining to Renewable Energy, its global status, impacts, economics, and possibilities in Oman and Other GCC regions. The experts formed a panel and gave their analysis of the region’s capacity to shift to renewable energy. An action plan was also suggested for the benefit of the government, layman and the region as a whole, as to what is to be done in order to embrace clean energy.
From the feedback and observations given by the delegates, various session chairs and keynote/invited speakers, the panel considered some of the reformations and deliberated on it to make some key recommendations. Oman should prepare an energy road map for the future, taking into account Government policies, environment investment, grid interaction, resource availability and R&D breakthroughs. The implementation of renewable energy projects is primarily restricted due to high start-up costs and convenient storage. In order to reduce cost, technology development, cutting edge research and economies of scales should be encouraged for the deployment of solar technologies. Inculcating the value of energy-saving and efficiency amongst people is also paramount to an energy abundant future. It was suggested that government organizations start and encourage low-energy buildings and initiate a green approach in schools and public buildings. Potential wind projects and medium scale applications are to be given priority. Subsidies for using PV devices for domestic application can encourage off grid systems. Collaboration and R&D within the GCC states is very important for sharing resources and information. CCE should lead the way in touring schools for dissemination of knowledge about global warming, environmental issues in general and the role of renewable energy in addressing these critical areas. Where appropriate, the use of Islamic values & Islam to promote awareness on renewable energy is to be considered.