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Newsletter Sept. 2007 Transition of ASAI Leadership: Dr. Ishaq Y. Al-Qutub was named the new President of Arab Student Aid International starting January 2006, by the Executive Committee, following Dr. Joseph Qutub who led ASAI for the past 29 years, decided to retire as President with a remarkable track record of accomplishments and fingerprints in the history of ASAI. Dr. Ishaq, was with ASAI since inception in 1976, and was Director of the first Branch in Kuwait, where the first membership of the Board of Trustees was formed; he also assisted in establishing a branch in Jordan, the West Bank, United Kingdom and Canada. He Studied at Bluffton College, New York City University, Graduate Faculty of the New School of Social Research and received Ph.D. in Sociology/Anthropology from Michigan State University. He had diverse experience in teaching (Jordan University, Kuwait University, York University, Universities of Western Ontario, Toronto (Canada), and Al-Quds University in Abu Dies. He worked for International Organizations: UNESCO, UNDP and ESCWA, and firms ARD and CARE as consultant and Expert in Social and Economic Development Fields. The Mission of ASAI, Dr. Al-Qutub Believes, is, ”to contribute to the enhancement of quality human resources development in the Arab States and enable promising scientists of achieving Ph.D. Studies at renowned and credited universities in USA, EU, and other parts of the Globe”. ASAI will continue its programs in supporting research and improving the academic standards of Palestinian Universities through Financial loans and grants to the Faculty members. Support for training decision takers and policy makers in Universities, NGOs, Private and Public Sectors is considered an additional Human Resources ‘ investment and supplementary to academic scholarship loans. Finally Dr. Al-Qutub believes, that continued success of ASAI as a non-profit, non-political, tax exempt organization, registered in USA, is based on the principle of participation: the Donors, Contributors, Graduates, Academic Institutions, the business and finance communities in addition to devoted Staff at the Head Office and in Branch and affiliated Offices. ASAI New Headquarters: After 29 years of operation in the State of New Jersey, and with the appointment of New President, ASAI Head Quarters will move to Dublin, Ohio and has been registered as a Private Foundation according to the laws of the State of Ohio. The new location in the central region of USA provides ASAI with the opportunity to expand its activities, and be able to reach academic institutions as well as American Arab organization and businesses. Dublin is a suburban growing city near the Capital City of Columbus. ASAI Staff welcomes friends, associates, graduates and people at large to visit the new Headquarters at the address given above. Deadline for Scholarship Loans: Due to the transitory period of moving the office to a new location, ASAI set a new Deadline for receiving applications and requests for financial Aid for the second half of the academic year 2005/2006 to be 1st of October, 2005. Details on procedure for submitting data is stated in the requirement page, Qualifications for scholarship loans include: Completion of one year at the Doctoral Studies level, enrolment at a Credited University, Specializing in highly needed field for socio-economic and technical fields, financial need, readiness to repay the loan within 5 years starting three months from graduation date, and pledge to return to home country. Scholarship Grants for Palestinian Universities: The Executive Committee of ASAI has approved Scholarship Grants Program for Palestinian Universities for the academic year 2006/2007. The Program aims at assisting the universities in up grading the level of professionalism of the academic staff members. Each university will receive an allocation of $9,000 to partially cover the tuition and other expenses provided the candidates meet the requirement. In order to qualify, the candidate should have spent one academic year at a credited university with an average of “B” and above with a condition to honor the contract with his/her university to teach twice the number of years spent while on scholarship. The benefiting universities from the two programs are: Al-Quds University, Al-Quds Open University, Beirzeit University, Al-Najah National University, Hebron University and the Palestinian Polytechnic University in Hebron, Al-Azhar University and the Islamic University in Gaza. Training for NGOs Decision Makers: For the past six years ASAI has successfully financed a training program aiming at improving skills and know-how in West Bank, Gaza Strip, Jordan and Lebanon. The targeted groups are decision takers and policy makers of NGOs, Private and Public Sector. The training program is based on priority expressed needs and centered on capacity building in: advanced skills and techniques in: management, administration, financing, preparing funding proposals, customer service, communication, monitoring and evaluation. Each course consisted of 30-36 contact hours, minimum attendance of 20 participants, and average cost of $ 2,500 per course. During the period under consideration a total of 95 courses were held attended by both males and females almost equally. The total number of participants was 3,750 of Board Members and Managers and top executive of Civil Society Organizations. Total allocation for the four year period was $23,000. The evaluation of Trainees was favorable and extent of benefit was very high. Highlights of Palestinian University Laboratory Development Projects: Realizing the need for high-tech equipment for the purposes of research, teaching and service for socio-economic development of respective local communities, ASAI have provided financial support Palestinian Universities to enable them acquire laboratory equipment based on priority needs. During the past three years ASAI allocated $ 300,000 for 10 technical projects given to 5 Universities namely: University of Hebron, Beirzeit University, Islamic University of Gaza, Bethlehem University and Al-Azhar University. As for the fields and areas of research and teaching the equipment have been used for include: Agriculture and Plantation development, Environment testing a control (water, vegetables, pollution etc.) and animal diseases. New Legal and Chartered Accountant Consultants: ASAI have designated Consultants for overlooking the legal issues related to registration in the State of Ohio and the needs for shifting to a Public Foundation. Also there was a need to designate a Public Chartered Accountant’s office for auditing the accounts and ascertain the income and expenditure operations in order to continue maintaining transparency and accruing in financial transactions. The legal advisor’s office is KEGLER BROWN Hill & RITTER, a renowned office in the State of Ohio. As for the CPA, it is JOHN GARLACH & COMPANY, also a reputed audit firm in Columbus, Ohio. Accepting Donations: ASAI, as a tax exempt Charitable Foundation (ID# 223519297) accepts contributions, endowments, grants in kind or through bank Transfer with the aim of facilitating educational pursuits of refugee and needy students and enabling them to complete their post graduates studies and return to their home countries and assist in building progressive Civil Society and Development. ASAI provides Scholarship Loans (interest Free) to qualified students based on real need ranging from $1,000 - $3,500. Please contribute. Thank you for making it possible for a needy and outstanding student to facilitate his/her graduate studies. |