Carrying on the journey …
Beginnings, endings and in-betweens make up our lives. We’re constantly shifting from one stage to another. Any beginning comes hand in hand with an ending and vice versa. This is where we remember memories of how things were and envision how we want things to be.

Like any year, 2008 has many beginnings and endings for us in store… with many “firsts” and “lasts”.

This year will witness the opening of the long-awaited Industrial Park on campus which is the first of its kind globally, epitomizing an ideal bridge between theory and practice, a live collaboration between academia and market. If you still don’t know what it’s all about, here’s your chance as we’re covering it this issue.

Having ‘home grown’ teaching assistants is also another “first” for the GUC: Thirteen Management graduates from class 2007 have been appointed as TAs. We have met up with those pioneers to give you an insight on how it feels to shift from being a student to a TA in just some months.

Another record-setter in 2008 is the existence of a “two-digit” semester i.e. the “10th semester”: The first batch of Engineers and Pharmacists is only one semester away from graduation. For them, this will be the last semester with the last finals ever. I’d like to wish them all the best of luck and we know they will be outstanding wherever they pursue their career.

Among the soon-to-be graduates are ECHO’s founders and cornerstones. They’ve certainly done a very impressive job starting from scratch to bring this very fine publication where it is today. It is a highly interesting journey, as you will see in the interview a few pages ahead.

Now, it’s time for a new team to carry on that journey. I’d like to use this opportunity to thank the old members for their support and to welcome all the new members aboard. As always, Echo is the voice of this university. There can only be an Echo when there’s a voice. We want to turn up the volume and only you can help us by sending us your ideas, questions and feedback.

I hope you enjoy all the firsts and lasts in this year and everything in between…
Youmna Younes
Senior Editor