Arts and Humanities

Dr Feras Hamza

Associate Professor

Dr Hamza’s principal research interests are on citizenship as practice and identity in emerging societies such as that of the UAE. His principal teaching duties are postgraduate classes on Globalisation and Citizenship, Research Methods and Middle East society, as well as the undergraduate Islamic Culture (GEC).

Qualifications: BA, London University, MPhil, DPhil, Oxford University

Location: Block 15, Floor 2, Room 2-10

Telephone: +971 4 2781925

Email: (@uowdubai.ac.ae):FerasHamza

Dr Feras Hamza is Program Leader of the Humanities at UOWD and Associate Professor in International Studies. Dr Hamza obtained his Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Modern Languages (Spanish and Russian) from London University and an MPhil and a DPhil in Oriental Studies from Oxford University (1997-2002).

Trained as a historian, Dr Hamza spent a postdoctoral year as a Research Assistant in the School of Historical Studies at the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) in Princeton, before returning to London in 2003 to join the Institute of Ismaili Studies, where he remained as a Research Fellow and Lecturer in the Graduate Program in Islamic Studies and the Humanities for 5 years. In 2008 he moved to the UAE, to the American University in Dubai, where he contributed substantially to the creation of a Department of Middle Eastern Studies, the accreditation of a Bachelor of International Studies and a Middle Eastern Studies Certificate. He joined UOWD in 2012.

In the field of International Studies, Dr Hamza’s principal research interests are on citizenship as practice and identity in emerging societies such as that of the UAE. His principal teaching duties are postgraduate classes on Globalisation and Citizenship, Research Methods and Middle East society, as well as the undergraduate Islamic Culture (GEC). His Islamic Studies research centers on Qur’anic ethics inspired by the hermeneutics of Paul Ricoeur.

He is currently co-authoring, with Dr Karen Bauer (IIS), a second volume of An Anthology of Qur’anic Commentaries: Women in the Qur’an, after the success of the first volume, An Anthology of Qur’anic Commentaries: The Nature of the Divine (OUP, 2008). Dr Hamza is General Series Editor for the Institute of Ismaili Studies’ Anthology of Quranic Commentaries Series, published by Oxford University Press, Editor for E.J. Brill’s new series Islamic Literatures: Texts and Studies, and Member of the Advisory Board of The Qur’an Throughout the Ages, a 6-volume reception history of the Qur’an (with OUP), initially begun by the late Professor Andrew Rippin.

Dr William F. Smith II

Associate Professor

Qualifications: PhD, The European Graduate School in Switzerland; MA in Media Studies, The New School of Social Research, New York City, USA; BA in New Media & Moving Image, The Evergreen State College, Olympia, Washington, USA

Location: Block 15, Floor 1, Room 1-08

Telephone: 042781976

Email: (@uowdubai.ac.ae):WilliamSmith

Dr William Smith is Associate Professor at UOWD’s Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences. Prior to joining the University Dr Smith was an Assistant Campus Dean, Program Director, Academic & Program Manager on academic level and Managing Director, Creative Director and Corporate Communications Manager on industry level. He obtained his PhD in Philosophy, Art & Critical Thought from The European Graduate School in Switzerland and holds the title of ‘Antonin Artaud Fellow’ at The European Graduate School in Switzerland.

Dr Smith has extensive experiences in iterative design process, concept and launch for emerging media products and services, emerging media technology development, corporate identity development, brand and specialised product market positioning and innovation and creativity management.

He is teaching An Introduction to Philosophy to undergraduate students and Media & Communications to postgraduate students. His specialist teaching areas include Emerging Media Technology, Media Theory, Media Archaeology, Media & Philosophy, Media Innovation & Creativity, and Artificial Intelligence. He follows a student centred approach and believes in a blended and experiential learning experience.

Dr Smith’s research interests are Emerging Media Technology, Media Theory, Media Archaeology, Media & Philosophy, Media Innovation & Creativity and Artificial Intelligence.

Artistic Projects:

Director/Producer. City Beat/Travel Unraveled. 2004-05, Shanghai Dragon TV, episodic program.

Director/Producer. Ayi-Five-0. 2005, Shanghai 10-minute short movie contest, comedy, digital video.

Writer/Director/Producer. Hambone Saved My Life. 2001, 30-minute, documentary, digital video.

Writer/Director/Producer. Berber Tribes in the Sahara. 2001, 26 minutes documentary, digital video.

Director of Cinematography. Shoot the Girl. 2000, 90-minute, Independent feature, 16mm & DV.

Writer/Director/Producer. Voyeurism. 2000, 17-minute, documentary, digital video.

Actor/Director. Bastards with Fathers. 1999-2000, Public Television, episodic comedy TV program.

Community Theatre Actor. Various Roles, 1994-99. Seattle, Washington.

Group Show. 1993, Performance Art Project at Memphis Museum of Art – PBS TV

Lead Actor. Maintenance Men. Performance Art at Memphis State University 1987

Dr Imene Ajala

Assistant Professor

Dr Ajala’s research interests are Comparative politics, Foreign Policy Analysis, Diaspora studies and multiculturalism with a particular focus on Muslims in Europe. Dr Ajala is keen to familiarise her students with key political science and international relations concepts, ensuring that they develop critical-thinking and rigorous analytic skills.

Qualifications: PhD, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva-(IHEID); M.A, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva-(IHEID): Kyoto University International Education Programme Certificate , Kyoto University (Academic Exchange); Diplôme de Sciences Politiques, Grenoble Institute of Political Studies(IEPG)

Location: Knowledge Village Block 15, Office 217-A

Telephone: +971 4 278 1950

Email: AjalaImene@uowdubai.ac.ae

Dr Imène Ajala is Assistant Professor at the University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD) and currently teaches Introduction to Philosophy, Advanced Topics in International Studies and Social Change and Development at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

She obtained her PhD from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva where she wrote a dissertation exploring Muslim communities’ perspectives on foreign policy in France and Great Britain.

Prior to joining UOWD, Dr Ajala held positions as Adjunct Lecturer at Webster University in Geneva, Adjunct Lecturer at the Geneva School of Diplomacy and International Relations, and as Researcher and Teaching Assistant at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva (IHEID). She was also a Project Manager working on the issue of Foreign Terrorist Fighters at the International Institute for Peace, Justice and Human Rights in Geneva (2014-2015).

In 2015, she was selected by the United States Mission to the United Nations in Geneva to complete an International Visitor Leadership Programme (IVLP) on the theme of “Women Leaders: Promoting Peace and Security”.

Dr Ajala’s research interests are Comparative politics, Foreign Policy Analysis, Diaspora studies and multiculturalism with a particular focus on Muslims in Europe.

Her recent publications include:

2017. “Muslim youth and consumerism: a study of Islamic street wear” Contemporary Islam. Online First. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11562-017-0411-9.

2016. With Francesco Candino and Linda Fouad. “Foreign Terrorist Fighters: Perspectives from Islamic Organizations in France and Great Britain” S&F Sicherheit und Frieden - S&F Security and Peace 34 (4): 263 -269.

2014. “Muslims in Europe after 9/11: Securitization, Identities and Loyalties”. Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs, Vol. 34, No. 2-3 April 2014: 123-133.

2013. “French Muslim communities and debating the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: mobilization and narratives”. French Politics, Vol. 11(3): 259-271.

2011. “The Muslim vote and Muslim lobby in France: Myths and Realities”. Journal of Islamic Law and Culture 12 (2): 77-93.

Dr Swapna Koshy

Associate Professor

Dr Koshy’s research interests include assessment practices in higher education, consumer behaviour studies and methods of improving communication. Dr Koshy's teaching subjects include Business Communication, General Management and Marketing.

Qualifications: BA, MA, TESOL, Trinity College, London, CBM, MSM, University of Wollongong in Dubai, PhD, University of Kerala

Location: Block 5, Floor 1, Room 1-38

Telephone: +971 4 2781934

Email: (@uowdubai.ac.ae):SwapnaKoshy

Dr Koshy is an Associate Professor in Arts and Humanities at UOWD and an award winning teacher and researcher who specialises in innovative assessment design.

Dr Koshy has degrees in English Language and Literature, Business Management, Marketing and TESOL and she was top graduating student. Her research also covers diverse areas in Arts and the Social Sciences including comparative literature, journalism, marketing and pedagogy. She is the recipient of the Vice Chancellor’s award for Outstanding Contribution to Teaching and Learning- UOW, Teaching Excellence awards from UOWD, ITC award for Leadership, awards for Best Assessment Design (Association for Business Communication), Innovation award UOWD (finalist), Service award as Chair, Library Committee UOWD and Best paper awards for research.

She is also committed to student mentoring and organises and trains students for speaking and debate competitions.