OGTech Foundation Campus

 Located just next to the blue sea, the white fishermen’s boats and the sandy beach in North Al Gubrah, our OGTech foundation campus is a place where students like to be, studying together and exchanging ideas in a relaxed, comfortable environment. “Every morning, when I wake-up, I am already excited to come to the OGTech campus and meet my friends,” said one of the OGTech students recently.

Our campus comprises four spacious buildings, with large windows that allow a lot of light into the classrooms. It is a place that is conducive to learning, with several classrooms, consultation rooms, a multilingual library, a spacious science laboratory and a German Language Centre. Thanks to the laptops provided to our OGTech students and a wireless network that spans the entire campus, accessing computers and the internet is never a problem!  The campus also includes meeting rooms, prayer rooms, a canteen, lockers for all students, and an administration building.  

OGTech Main Campus

OGTech is looking forward to moving to its main campus in the next couple of years. According to the concept of the German architect Ernst Hoehler, the campus will be a city in itself and will grow in stages. “The campus will be flexible to academic change,” said Hoehler. The town-structured campus will have clusters of neighborhoods/quarters that will reflect the traditional Omani architecture in courtyards, gardens and falaj systems. Different natural elements will be included as follows:

Light: Inner and outer courtyards can be used as sun-protected outdoor rooms. Covered pathways will connect the different quarters of the campus.

Water: Water basins and water channels (aflaj) will be used for cooling the courtyards during the day. 

Air: The traditional Omani building-style will have a number of wall-openings that allow good air circulation inside the building and block views from outside into the private courtyard.

The campus will comprise the academic area, research centres, a housing complex, commercial buildings, a mosque and open spaces such as a recreation area with open green parks, sporting areas, experimental areas and an expansion area for further development.  

Laptop computers, emails and wireless network

 All students enrolled in OGTech’s Foundation Programme or Bachelor of Science Programmes are provided with a laptop computer, for the purpose of supporting their learning. Prior to using this computer, students have to sign an “Agreement for the Usage of Laptop Computer” with the University. They may then use the laptop computer in- and outside the University Campus. Students who leave the University after four or more years of study can keep the laptop as their own.

Each student is provided with an OGTech email address and receives a password to register to the OGTech Intranet. The entire OGTech Foundation Campus is covered by a wireless network, so that students can work on their homework and assignments in any of the consultation rooms or common areas made available to them. Students can review lectures online, email their assignments to their teachers, use the internet as a study forum, and communicate with each other. They can even contribute to OGTech’s own blog! 

Have a look at: http://ogtech-students.blogspot.com/

Students in the Intensive English Programme who are not provided with a laptop can make use of the computers installed in the Library. 

Library and textbooks

OGTech has its own library which contains specialized books, magazines in English and German, daily newspapers, multimedia resources and a small language lab. OGTech students can either borrow books and magazines or browse through them in our Reading Corner. Textbooks are made available to students through the Book Bank attached to OGTech’s library. 

Canteen

Our temporary canteen is open from 8.30 am to 6 pm, every day during the week. The canteen offers a range of cold and hot snacks and drinks.

OGTech will soon open its own spacious canteen in the backyard, offering hot meals for lunch and snacks throughout the day.  

Transportation

OGTech provides transportation for students inside the Muscat capital area, at an additional cost. The bus leaves in the morning and collects students from their homes. In the evenings, after 6 pm, the bus brings students back home. For more information, please contact our Student Affairs Department.

Student ID Card

Each student enrolled at OGTech is issued a Student ID Card. The Student ID Card provides access to the University’s facilities and resources. In particular, students will be given access to: 

·      The University’s Information Technology Network and a free e-mail account;

·      The Library’s print and audio-visual resources;

·      The University Cafeteria;

·      Staff of the University (academic and administrative staff) during office hours;

·      The University’s on/off campus sponsored events and activities. 

Student must carry their Student ID Card at all times while on campus and show it to the University staff upon request.  

Printing and photocopying

Students are given an account on one of the University’s photocopy machines, which also works as a printer and scanner. Every student receives a quota of 50 pages per semester free of charge. The cost per photocopy or print is 20 baizas.   

Lockers

Over 150 lockers are available to enrolled students of the University. There is no charge for lockers, but lockers are assigned on a first-enrolled, first-served basis and cannot be reserved in advance. 

Telephone

Students can use the phone in the University’s Reception or Student Affairs Department for local emergency calls, but only with the permission of the office staff.  

First Aid

The University has a First Aid room, an on-call nurse and doctor, and a number of staff with First Aid Certificates. Students should contact the nearest member of the academic or administrative staff if in need of medical attention.

Studying and Research in Germany – DAAD office

Germany offers a wide range of opportunities for study and research to undergraduate and graduate students. To find out more about programmes offered and enrollment requirements, please contact the DAAD representative at OGTech:

Dr. Nicola Huson - DAAD Lecturer

Office hours: Sundays 14.30 – 16.30 and by appointment

Phone: 24 49 30 51 ext. 222
http://www.daad.de/en/index.html 

German Language Classes

While the language of tuition at OGTech is English, OGTech’s students are also offered German language classes throughout their studies.  At the level of the Foundation Programme, classes are optional. However, at the level of the Bachelor Programme, they are compulsory.  

Members of the public who would like to learn German can visit the German Language Center, that is linked to the Goethe-Institut Gulf Region and located on the OGTech campus. The German Language Center offers German courses at different levels of language proficiency, in the afternoons and evenings.

For more information please call 24496013 or visit the website of the German Language Center www.goethe.de/abudhabi