Read all about it right here! The crazy goings-on at Abu Dhabi Wankers' Camp ... er, sorry - Abu Dhabi Women's College!

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Better places to go...

Well, it now appears that Emirati students themselves have realised what a shitehole HCT has become in Abu Dhabi, and are now avoiding the place like the proverbial camel-shit sandwich.

A recent edition of The National lays bare the unfortunate truth for the HCT Provost, Mark Drummond (pictured alongside), that virtually ALL of the country's Universities are receiving more applications than HCT.

Overall, the HCT colleges have received about a thousand fewer applications than at this time last year, which is something like a 15 % drop. However, in AD the situation is MUCH worse. As the newspaper reports, "The biggest drops were seen at the HCT colleges in Abu Dhabi, where the number of applications fell by 27 per cent, and in Madinat Zayed [Abu dhabi region], where they dropped 45 per cent."

But Mark Drummond appears to be putting a brave face on things, claiming that it's all due to technology - "the decline could be attributed to this year's switch to online applications, which have allowed figures to be compiled earlier than in previous years."

Or not. Because the returns from other institutes in Abu Dhabi indicate an increase, as many Emiratis are now turning to the newer universities, such as Khalifa University and Abu Dhabi University.

According to a more informed observer, these two places are "really gaining ground with Emiratis." In contrast, the HCT Goliath seems to be running out of ground.

Quo Vadis, King Tubby?

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have heard that Emirati students read this blog too, and are not best pleased with the antics described. More importantly, they don't want to back, or be seen backing, an obvious loser, and so naturally gravitate towards the sparkling new universities available.

Anyway, HCT's a mere college. It's much better to attend a university.

Anonymous said...

Yes, one of my students said he'd advised his brother and sister to go elsewhere. Kustar seems to be a great attraction for them, although I reckon they'll be a lot more picky than HCT about who they accept.

Barring a major overhaul of their many outdated courses and alienating management practices, I can't see HCT lasting much longer. Thankfully I'll be out the door well before then!

Anonymous said...

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CBwQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fm1014.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Flaneyray_photos%2FMark%2520Drummond%2F&rct=j&q=mark%20drummond%20kampirada&ei=3so4TcOPDYik8QOitdm6CA&usg=AFQjCNF1olUnr7FFOBp17oCyl4A3KKZqlQ

Anonymous said...

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=4&ved=0CCkQFjAD&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.arktimes.com%2FArkansasBlog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F10%2F29%2Fhenderson-president-applies-at-asu&ei=wjY5Tci_Ho7H4Aad8L2UCg&usg=AFQjCNEXHjRVKSWK06GNb9mRISIDTckvrg

Anonymous said...

http://www.asuherald.com/news/search-committee-to-conduct-interviews-1.2353633

On his way ?.......Maybe not yet !

Raja Karma said...

About 60 students from Los Angeles Trade Tech raked the Board and administration over the coals for having the school's accreditation downgraded to PROBATION. They were shouting for the immediate dismissal of the administrators of Trade Tech who embarrassed the school.

ONE ACTIVIST BROUGHT AUDIBLE GASPS WHEN SHE TOLD THE BOARD THAT THEY HAD WARNED THE BOARD THEY DID NOT WANT A RECYCLED CHANCELLOR IN THE FORM OF DR. MARK DRUMMOND. SHE SCREAMED, "EVERYONE KNOWS HE'S AN ALCOHOLIC AND A WOMANIZER." SHE DESCRIBED THE RUMOR RUNNING AROUND CAMPUS THAT ACTING CHANCELLOR BERRERA AND ANOTHER STAFF MEMBER WENT TO DRUMMOND'S PLACE BECAUSE HE DID NOT SHOW UP AT A BUDGET MEETING. APPARENTLY, AT 10 AM HE WAS COMPLETELY INCAPACITATED BY A DRUNK BINGE, SHE SAID. THEN SHE POINTED OUT THAT DRUMMOND HAD GOTTEN HIS WIFE (NOW EX) A VICE PRESIDENCY AT LA TRADE TECH. THEN SHE CLAIMED THAT DRUMMOND HAD GOTTEN ONE OF HIS GIRLFRIENDS A PRESIDENCY OF ONE OF THE COLLEGES. DRUMMOND "RETIRED" EFFECTIVELY AT THE END OF THIS MONTH.

Anonymous said...

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CBwQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fs1014.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faf261%2Flaneyray_photos%2FMark%2520Drummond%2F%3Faction%3Dview%26current%3DMarkandKampirada2.jpg%26sort%3Dascending&ei=ekA9Tc64EMayhAfl6PSQCg&usg=AFQjCNEB5LHxKOJLk6SZWH-hzmR_LVnPTw

Dr. Drummond and new wife Kampirada
from Thailand

Anonymous said...

Maybe those students are going to NYU - see this from The National.

http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/education/nyu-abu-dhabi-applications-soar-on-last-year

HCT, your days are numbered!

Anonymous said...

Antonio's Great Ripoff: 1,000 New DWP/IBEW Jobs, College Bond Misuse, Community Betrayal
By Ron Kaye on May 25, 2010 8:34 AM | Permalink


"FUK EM" !

That was the immortal email response from LA Community College District Chancellor Mark Drummond 13 months ago when Assemblyman Kevin de Leon raised questions on behalf of the Northeast LA community about betraying the commitment to build a badly-needed satellite campus in the old Van de Kamp's bakery site in Glassell Park.

Drummond's contemptuous words are set to become official policy of the LACCD board when it meets Wednesday to approve the centerpiece of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's political agenda for job creation, anti-gang programs, clean energy -- a strategy that tramples on the rule of law, makes a mockery of public policy and benefits the few at the expense of the many.

On the 365th day after the contemptuous response from Drummond (who was axed for misconduct last summer), Deputy Mayor Larry Frank told the LACCD Board of Trustees exactly what the site was going to be used for.

Anonymous said...

Look at your 'sister' college..

http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/education/hct-retracts-decision-to-dismiss-students-1.772639

OR



Dubai: After initially dismissing students at the Higher Colleges of Technology's (HCT) Fujairah Women's College who performed poorly in their studies, the institution has decided to give them a second chance.

Over the past two weeks BlackBerry messenger (BBM) messages were doing the rounds among the furious students who believe they were unfairly dismissed. They alleged that 18 students had been dismissed and that the number would reach 28.

Poor academic progress

"The overall academic progress of a small number of students at the HCT Fujairah Women's College has come under scrutiny as a result of their overall GPA (Grade Point Average ) scores falling below acceptable levels, as prescribed by HCT policy," officials said yesterday.

After a further review of the students' progress it was decided the students in question would not be dismissed from the college.

"The college is developing a plan of studies for the students to follow so as to improve their GPAs to the HCT permitted standards, so that they can continue with their studies."

Last week, however, HCT officials told Gulf News that a "small number" of students from Fujairah Women's College "were dismissed as a result of their overall GPA scores falling below acceptable levels, as prescribed by HCT policy".

Officials said the HCT policy provided to students clearly states that any student performing below a GPA of 2.0 in their programme for two consecutive terms will be dismissed on academic grounds.


Yes, well..Ha ha..what a J for joke.............

Anonymous said...

Yes, they WILL be dismissed, unless ... they go crying to TK or Daddy, or they have wasta, or they can think up ANY excuse for their disgraceful academic record - i.e., went shopping in Switzerland for a couple of weeks before exams, had a bad migraine for a month, etc.

Yes, a joke indeed. The whole system of education in the Gulf is a sham, and nobody should EVER take it seriously!