News Article

Canada’s paradise woos Middle East students


11/25/2010 9:18:12 AM


Clockwise from top left, Mian Nazir Arif was placed in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, where he had an opportunity to work with Physics instructor Ranjan Patro in several research projects, including one to study and record the gas exchange, flotation rate, sound pressure, and other interactions of bubbles. Sheroz Kulkarni felt an instant connection to Stephenville and enjoyed the hospitality of the people, the support system at the college and even the weather. Shamsul Huda worked hands-on helping engineer Randal Power create new technologies with CNA’s Office of Applied Research in St. John’s. Mahveesh Malgi embraced the Canadian culture during her four-week placement. The highlights of Nada Yousef Mohaisen and Mahveesh Malgi’s time in Newfoundland included their homestay experience, horseback riding and seeing a large group of whales during a boat tour.

“I’m so glad that I had a chance to visit Newfoundland and Labrador – it’s just a paradise on this planet!”

This, from a young man who lives in a location on the globe many of us in colder climates would consider paradise – the Arabian Gulf.

Sheroz Kulkari was one of eight students from College of the North Atlantic’s (CNA) campus in the Middle East who took part in the official launch this summer of a new work-term exchange program. Sheroz, an Internet Application Developer student at College of the North Atlantic-Qatar (CNA-Q), found himself placed in Stephenville for over three months working in the IT department at college headquarters. He says he had heard of Newfoundland and Labrador from instructors at CNA-Q and was keen for the experience.

“I always wanted to visit Newfoundland,” says Sheroz, “and I can tell you this opportunity completely changed my life.”

The International Work Placement Exchange, which placed Sheroz and seven of his peers at various CNA campuses throughout the province, also saw eight CNA students travel to Qatar to fulfill work-terms at the campus there. Matt Ford, Business Administration (Human Resources) student, now graduate, at Bay St. George campus, was one of the eight chosen to go to Qatar. He worked as research assistant in CNA-Q’s Teaching and Learning Centre, got to go jet skiing in the Arabian Gulf, had his first roller coaster ride in a mall, and was included in the graduation ceremony, as he was missing his own back home. The adaptable young man didn’t notice any culture shock and adjusted nicely to the time change, weather and food, yet the experience changed him deeply.

“I have had the opportunity to see most of [Canada], and that has been a great experience for me. But getting to see a culture so different from ours, and the entire experience, has grown me as a person much more than any one of the things I learned while in Qatar.”
CNA-Q student Mohammad Shamsul Huda, who goes by the nickname “Sham,” arrived in St. John’s June 6 for a 12-week placement. He was agape at everything he encountered from the moment he stepped off the plane.

“Everything was different… I saw things I have only ever seen in the movies – like the way people dress, the music, and the place itself,” Sham remembers. “I was surprised to see large numbers of trees and hills. I have never seen any place like that before in my life… the environment is so pure.”

The Mechanical Engineering Technology student gained valuable experience working hands-on in the Office of Applied Research at CNA. He also had a chance to keep his soccer skills in check, made many new friends, and learned some valuable life skills.

“I had to learn and manage so many things like being on time at work, finishing the assigned job before due time, showing good performance in project activity, things like that,” Sham says.

“The best part of my study abroad was becoming independent. I had to learn to clean my own clothes, cook, save money, and learn skills for dealing with people. I came here and I had to focus.”

Sham plans to return to Canada after he graduates from CNA-Q and complete a degree at MUN.

Another CNA-Q work-term exchange student, Mian Nazir Arif, hopes to do the same. Mian was placed in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, where he had an opportunity to work with Physics instructor Ranjan Patro on several research projects, including one to study the gas exchange, flotation rate, sound pressure, and other interactions of bubbles.

“Mian helped me to gather and analyze statistical data that are important or critical to numerous processes in engineering and science – from chemical engineering to aquaculture, to biofermentation to geochemistry and geophysics,” says Patro.

“This project has been sitting with me for three years but I’ve had no time to devote to it; having Mian here has been a great help.”

Back home in Qatar, Mian was working on several projects connected to his Mechanical Engineering program. He also had an opportunity to work with the Emirates Wildlife Society, to track an endangered species of turtle adopted by CNA-Q.

“I’ve had an opportunity to do some robot building to help save the population of turtles in Qatar,” Mian shares enthusiastically.

“We took one turtle, named ‘Q,’ and put a transmitter on her shell that would help us track her travels. We can know when she is on land to lay her eggs, and can take steps to protect them.”

Two young women also came to Newfoundland and Labrador from Qatar. Nada Yousef Mohaisen and Mahveesh Malgi had the unique experience of spending two weeks in Stephenville for their work-term placements and two weeks in St. John’s. The two Business Management students shared the same home stay and worked together during their placements, so they had a built-in support system while away from home. But they say they found the support everywhere.

“The people we met were nice and all interested to know where we came from and what program we were in,” says Nada. “I was amazed how people live in Newfoundland, they are very happy, relaxed… they were all like one family in a small city.”

She laughs with Mahveesh though, when talking about one alarming experience. They were taken horseback riding and unfortunately Mahveesh’s horse didn’t want to follow the others and bolted into the woods while she screamed and hung on for dear life.

“It was the most exciting part of our trip – the worse and the best!” laughs Mahveesh. “I picked the best looking horse, and that was a mistake.”

Lessons learned, the women plan to return to Newfoundland in the near future.

“This experience was great!” says Nada. “I would definitely recommend this to other students.”

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Media contact:

Tanya Alexander
Public Relations Specialist, Qatar Project
College of the North Atlantic
709.643.0811
tanya.alexander@cna.nl.ca