The new provost of New York University Abu Dhabi said the Covid-19 pandemic was an opportunity for students to learn about strength in the face of adversity.
The pandemic has resulted in schools and universities across the world having to cope with many students learning remotely, while those who are in classrooms have to practice strict social distancing measures.
Dr Arlie Petters, who took over as provost at the university at the start of September, said he was impressed by how the students have adapted to the new measures put in place.
“They have shown great resilience even though the connections they would usually have with other students are not there right now,” said Dr Petters, who was selected for the role of provost following a nine-month global search.
There has been a willingness to help each other that has shown me the better side of humanity
“I am very proud of how they have handled it, especially in terms of continuing their studies.
“It’s a challenge for everyone but I firmly believe we will all get through it.”
He said the response from students and staff at the university had shown him the importance of human connection.
“I have been impressed by how students have been helping each other, how the staff have been working overtime and how the faculty has responded to all these variables,” he said.
“There has been a willingness to help each other that has shown me the better side of humanity.”
Restrictions of pandemic can encourage innovation
Dr Petters said there were also opportunities to explore new methods of education, which would not have been possible before the pandemic.
“We are drawing more and more on online innovations for learning,” he said.
“We also seeing the benefits of it right now in meeting the different learning styles of students in ways that would not be so easily done in an in-person classroom.
“I believe when we get back to in-person learning, whenever that might be, these elements will continue to benefit us.”
Dr Petters was 14 when left his native Belize to move to New York. He went on to secure roles at prestigious colleges including Princeton University, where he served as assistant professor of mathematics, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) as an instructor of pure mathematics.
He also was the Benjamin Powell professor of mathematics and a professor of physics and economics at Duke University, where he had been on the faculty since 1998.
His own heritage makes him uniquely qualified to talk about the racial divisions and the resulting riots that are now commonplace in the US.
“I come from a mixed heritage, my mother is black and my father is a Mestizo,” he said.
“Belize is a small country, of about 350,000 people, but it is so diverse, I remember meeting so many people from diverse backgrounds when I was a child.
“After moving to the US I found myself having to deal with racism, I was part of a group that felt oppressed.”
Rather than become embittered, he said his experiences made him question why such divisions existed.
‘You have to ask is there a misunderstanding between people that is bridgeable,” he said.
“One positive opportunity that comes out of the protests and the pain we see in the US is it allows us all to really try and increase our capacity for empathy.
“It’s an opportunity to increase intercultural understanding.”
University leader has a global vision
That empathy and compassion are key tenets of his vision for NYU Abu Dhabi.
‘We want to foster excellence in our students so they become global citizens,” he said.
“With that comes empathy for our fellow human beings. That is among the best qualities we can offer our undergraduates, graduates and faculty.”
He said the set-up of NYU Abu Dhabi makes it perfectly positioned to be a microcosm of the world, with 115 different nationalities all learning together.
“An important part of my ethos is to create a desire to understand someone who is different from you and has a different view,” said Dr Petters.
UAE adapts in effort to overcome Covid-19:
“It’s important to be able to sit with that difference even if it makes you uncomfortable at times.”
He added that he took the role at NYU Abu Dhabi because he believed the university shared his values.
“I am drawn to an environment that promotes key human qualities, I know I will continue to grow and we will continue to be a role model for the world,” he said.
“We want to develop our capacities in ways that promote peace, cooperation and productivity in the world.”
The specs: 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLE
Price, base / as tested Dh274,000 (estimate)
Engine 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder
Gearbox Nine-speed automatic
Power 245hp @ 4,200rpm
Torque 500Nm @ 1,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined 6.4L / 100km
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
Abu Dhabi World Pro 2019 remaining schedule:
Wednesday April 24: Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, 11am-6pm
Thursday April 25: Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, 11am-5pm
Friday April 26: Finals, 3-6pm
Saturday April 27: Awards ceremony, 4pm and 8pm
The specs
Engine: 0.8-litre four cylinder
Power: 70bhp
Torque: 66Nm
Transmission: four-speed manual
Price: $1,075 new in 1967, now valued at $40,000
On sale: Models from 1966 to 1970
Everton%20Fixtures
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ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Series info
Test series schedule 1st Test, Abu Dhabi: Sri Lanka won by 21 runs; 2nd Test, Dubai: Play starts at 2pm, Friday-Tuesday
ODI series schedule 1st ODI, Dubai: October 13; 2nd ODI, Abu Dhabi: October 16; 3rd ODI, Abu Dhabi: October 18; 4th ODI, Sharjah: October 20; 5th ODI, Sharjah: October 23
T20 series schedule 1st T20, Abu Dhabi: October 26; 2nd T20, Abu Dhabi: October 27; 3rd T20, Lahore: October 29
Tickets Available at www.q-tickets.com
Stat Fourteen Fourteen of the past 15 Test matches in the UAE have been decided on the final day. Both of the previous two Tests at Dubai International Stadium have been settled in the last session. Pakistan won with less than an hour to go against West Indies last year. Against England in 2015, there were just three balls left.
Key battle - Azhar Ali v Rangana Herath Herath may not quite be as flash as Muttiah Muralitharan, his former spin-twin who ended his career by taking his 800th wicket with his final delivery in Tests. He still has a decent sense of an ending, though. He won the Abu Dhabi match for his side with 11 wickets, the last of which was his 400th in Tests. It was not the first time he has owned Pakistan, either. A quarter of all his Test victims have been Pakistani. If Pakistan are going to avoid a first ever series defeat in the UAE, Azhar, their senior batsman, needs to stand up and show the way to blunt Herath.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
Godzilla%20x%20Kong%3A%20The%20New%20Empire
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAdam%20Wingard%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EBrian%20Tyree%20Henry%2C%20Rebecca%20Hall%2C%20Dan%20Stevens%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPowertrain%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle%20electric%20motor%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E201hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E310Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E53kWh%20lithium-ion%20battery%20pack%20(GS%20base%20model)%3B%2070kWh%20battery%20pack%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETouring%20range%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E350km%20(GS)%3B%20480km%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh129%2C900%20(GS)%3B%20Dh149%2C000%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
