FAQs
Dear Conference and Summit Participants:
From the sunny land, Egypt, and behalf of all the iEARN team, I would like to extend our warm greetings. We can not wait to welcome you very soon in July 2007. We know that you probably have many questions. Through the Q & A section, we are trying to answer all the questions, and information you need. However, if we did not answer everything, please be in contact with us.
What is the conference venue?
The conference venue is the Mubarak City for Education, 6th October City in Cairo. It is a HUGE place for professional development and is unique among the Middle East countries. The Mubarak City is a Ministry of Education facility and has a number of impressive facilities including high speed connectivity, theatre, hotel, conference halls, video conferencing, etc. ALL conference events will be held at the Mubarak City including the opening and closing ceremonies. For the conference and summit participants that will choose the Mubarak City hotel, they will need to be 2 – 3 minutes walk from the conference halls. For the others that have chosen one of the hotels (e.g. Hilton Golf Resort), daily shuttle busses will be available. Shuttles’ schedules are listed later in this document.
Can I delay the payment till I arrive and pay on board?
NO. Conference organizers need to know in action that you are coming and therefore reserve your place. However, people can register for the conference on site BUT conference committee will NOT be responsible for their accommodation. Also registration fees will be higher.
How can I calculate the exact amount of payment?
The exact amount that you will be paying depends on your accommodation and participation in different events:
conference/summit registration
+ accommodation type
+ meals
+ gala dinner
+ excursions
Case Study:
Ali is a Secondary teacher presenting in the conference. Ali's wife is accompanying him and does not know how much she needs to pay?
Ali's wife invoice
- If she needs to attend the conference and be 100% involved in ALL conference activities then she needs to follow the common grounds conference/summit registration + accommodation type + meals + gala dinner + excursions
- If she needs to be staying at the same accommodation, eat with Ali, attend the gala dinner, and accompany him in excursions but does not want to be registered in the conference, therefore she will pay everything except the conference registration.
- If she will be staying at the same accommodation, going on excursions, and attending the gala dinner only with no meals nor attend the conference therefore she will be paying accommodation + excursions + gala dinner.
The conference organizers tried to separate the costs so as to suite everyone as much as possible based on your needs. Therefore, while you are calculating your expenses, just add up what you want to have during the conference and we will make it happen.
Where will we stay?
The conference is offering two options for accommodation.
- Mubarak City for Technology and Education
- Hotels in 6th October City
- Hilton Golf Resort
- Movenpick Hotel
- Swiss Inn
Please note that payment for option
(a) is to iEARN Egypt/E-ERA and for option
(b) is to KARNAK as they are in charge of the hotel accommodation and placement. Please check the conference registration application.
What are the rates for Mubarak City?
The below rates are per person for the duration of 7 days and 6 nights (20 - 26 July).
|
Single |
Double |
Triple |
More |
International Teacher |
___$252 |
___$189 |
___$126 |
N.A. |
Egyptian Teacher |
___$202 |
___$139 |
___$76 |
N.A. |
International Student |
N.A. |
N.A. |
___$100 |
___$85 |
Egyptian Student |
N.A. |
N.A. |
___$85 |
___$70 |
Is there a room service at Mubarak City accommodation?
NO, there is no room service in Mubarak City accommodation, which is considered as a dorm. Conference and summit participants need to bring with them their towels, soap, shampoo, hair dryers, etc.
In Mubarak City, how is the setting concerning gender issues?
In Mubarak City, accommodation will be based on same gender allocation. Therefore, you will not be able to stay with a colleague/friend/spouse of a different gender than yours EXCEPT for married couples. However, if this is a necessary issue for you then you will need to register in one of the three hotels.
For adults, will I be able to drink wine with meals?
In Mubarak City, it is not allowed to use alcohol during meals. However, if you decide to stay in one of the hotels, you will have more freedom as there are different types of bars, coffee shops, etc.
What about meals?
If you have paid for meals, then you will be entitled to be served 3 meals daily. Upon registration in the conference venue, you will receive a small coupon of all your lunch and dinner meals. On each meal, you will need to submit the correct lunch/dinner slip to the volunteer at the restaurant entrance. Thank you for understanding. If you lose your slips for any reason, you need to contact the help desk or registration desk by the theatre entrance.
Breakfast will be served in your residence/accommodation location. Breakfast includes boiled eggs, cheese, butter, jam, bread, tea/coffee, and Egyptian traditional breakfast food items e.g. beans and falafel.
Lunch will be served at the restaurant in Mubarak City. It is a light lunch with diversity in tastes to suite special diets and dietary restrictions. Lunch includes two medium size sandwiches (e.g. meat & cheese), juice, and a bottle of water. If you are vegetarian or have any special dietary requirements, you have to list that in your registration form.
Dinner will also be served in Mubarak City (except for the Hilton residents). It will be a hot meal in an open buffet style. Soft drinks are not included in your meal plan but will be available for your purchase. Wine and beer are forbidden in the Mubarak City.
Which hotels other than Mubarak City are available for accommodation?
Hotel Name |
Stars |
Rate in U.S.D |
Basis |
||
SGL |
DBL |
TPL |
|||
Hilton Golf Resorts |
5 |
$90 |
$100 |
$110 |
H.B |
Movenpick Media City
www.moevenpick-hotels.com/hotels/Cairo_Media_City/welcome.htm |
5 |
$80 |
$90 |
- |
B.B |
Swiss in 6th October
|
5 |
$55 |
$75 |
$102 |
B.B |
For all hotels, what are the terms and conditions?
Indicated prices are:
Per Room, Per Night all inclusive of services charge & Taxes
On B.B = Bed & Breakfast basis
Child below 6 years sharing parents same room are offered free accommodation & meals with max 2 children per room
Child from 6-12 years old sharing parents same room are offered 50% off of meals prices
Booking deadline 20 Mar.07, any booking made after this date a supplement of U.S.D 5.00 per room / per night will be added to above prices and will be subject to availability
Payment of 1st night together with your booking form should be made by either credit card upon filling credit card registration form or by bank transfer to Karnak travel as mentioned in the payment terms & conditions.
Any cancellation made after 25 Mar.07, a penalty of the 1st night cost will be charged (No refund).
Which hotel should I choose?
This is a real hard question!!! It really depends on your preferences and budget. Mubarak City has the BASICS needs. Their rooms have 3 – 8 beds, however the conference organizers will put a maximum number of 1- 5 people in the room depending on the choice of participant (e.g. single, double, triple, or more as for the youth). For the hotels, it really depends on your preference and budget. Also you can check where your friends are if you need to network with them after conference hours.
How far are the hotels from the conference venue?
All three hotels are within 10 minutes by bus. Please note that there will be FREE shuttle buses on daily basis to/from conference venue. The timing of the shuttle buses are:
To Conference From Conference
07:30 14:00
08:00 18:30
12:00 19:30
Where will the youth stay?
We are placing all youth at the Mubarak City for different reasons e.g. safer, less expensive, and more fun.
What is the dress code?
As a tradition in iEARN, the conference and summit participants enjoy informal, simple, and comfortable clothes. However, please note that on the opening and closing events, conference participants are expected to be in formal clothing as a way of showing respect to the invited VIPs who will attend the events. If you decide to use your national dress instead of the formal wear then that is fine too. Kindly consider your general dress code during the conference/summit events according to the moderate international and Middle Eastern standards (e.g. kindly NO hot shorts!!). We appreciate your understanding.
What is the weather like in Egypt in July?
Egypt is the SUNNY land so you should expect some heat. July and August are the peak of Egypt's summer but it is not bad news after all. First, every part of the conference venue and ALL accommodations do have AC. Second, half day excursions will take off after 7:00 p.m. which is after the heat waves. Third, all shuttle busses and excursions are air conditioned.
What should I get with me to Egypt?
Simply, bring all your sense of humor, energy, and curiosity. You need to bring lots of sun creams, hats, sunglasses, and practical shoes as there will be a LOT of walking around. Conference and summit participants need to bring with them their towels, soap, shampoo, hair dryers, etc. You can also get some insect replant. Please do NOT bring expensive jewelery/watches or large amounts of cash.
Do not forget to get materials about your iEARN local program, souvenirs to share with other participants and friends, posters of your country, and many other symbols that would represent your culture.
What other logistics should I consider?
Electricity!! In Egypt, the electricity current AC is 220V in round shaped plug ends.
What is the exchange rate? What are the available exchange facilities?
Egypt is a touristic country, so we are ready for your needs. Banks and exchange offices receive all major currencies. A quick note of the exchange rate e.g. $1 = L.E. 5.6, 1 Euro = L.E. 7.5, etc. Banks open 08:00 a.m. – 14:30. Exchange offices are everywhere and open 10:00 – 22:00 on daily basis. Hotels do have many banks’ representatives.
Will there be a meet-assist/transfer at the airport?
The conference offers complimentary FREE group shuttle service on 19 – 21 Jul at the following times:
03.30
15.30
22.30
For any individual who doesn't want to wait at airport to and join the FREE group shuttle, he/she will need to bare the price of meet/assist/transfer of $16.00 per person. Please advise all your arrival details to book your seat.
Also if you decide not to use KARNAK services, you can take either (Please note that they are different companies and that the average fare would be $36 for one way):
Cairo International Taxi (Yellow cabs) Tel.: 19970
Limousin Egypt (Merceeds cars) Tel: 2 685 6721
Airport Shuttle (Vans) Tel: 19155 or 19730
What is the Global Village Exhibition?
The Global Village (GV) Exhibition is an opportunity to involve a number of schools, universities, companies, non-governmental organizations, international organizations and agencies, etc. The purpose of GV is to extend an invitation to all stakeholders to share knowledge, explore innovations, network, and relate to the life experiences through the different GV participants. Each GV booth will be a unit of 3 m * 2 m (Total 6 Sq m) and will be over July 21 -25. The price per unit is $200 during the GV duration. GV participants can take more than one unit. For GV registration, pls. contact dalia@iearnegypt.org.
Why should I get my flag?
You are kindly requested to bring your flag with you. As you may know, in iEARN International conference we have the tradition of country greeting on the opening day and having your flag will add so much colours and diversity to the opening ceremony. You can also use your flag in different other events e.g. your presentation, hang it out of your room, etc. On the 2007 conference iEARN forum, many have suggested to bring flags for exchange of flags with other delegates.
What is the World Flag?
In iEARN 2006 Int. Conference, iEARN Egypt has distributed an empty papyrus with the following instructions to portray the papyrus paper:
- Use your imagination to draw a flag of One World within the dimensions of 10cm x 15cm
- Share with us the most famous landmark(s) of your country
- Stamp your fingerprints on the papyrus' borders
- Sign your country name in English and native language
In addition to drawing and painting the papyrus, you need to bring to Cairo in July 2007 as there will be a wide exhibition on the different perspectives of a World Flag.
What is the Gala Dinner?
The Gala dinner is the fun part for closing the conference. It will be held at the Hilton Golf Resort Hotel. It will be on July 25 July, 2007 @ 7:00 p.m. The gala will include an Open Buffet Dinner, and One soft drink per person. There will be a number of delicious Egyptian dishes. For the program, there will be a Folkloric show and a DJ. We are also working on getting the TRANSIT band, who consist of 4 members (2 males and 2 females). They are wonderful and play a variety of music. Most above all, they make the dancing floor a busy place!! Do not forget your dancing shoes and enjoy the remarkable unforgettable evening. Get also your favorite CD and a taste of your cultural music to be played. The price is $35.00 including service charge & taxes. For booking, kindly pre-register and send payment to KARNAK. Try to bring your National dress for the Gala Dinner.
Will there be half day and full day excursions? If yes, how much and when?
YES. On July 21, 22, and 24, there will be half day excursions. So by the end of the conference/summit, you will be able to visit all different places. Half day evening tours include:
Departure Time |
Tour |
Price/Person |
07.00 pm
|
a. Sound & light performance |
$28 |
In addition, there will be full day excursions on Jul 23. The following options are available for the full day excursions.
Departure Time |
Tour |
Price/Person |
08.00 am |
Full Day Outside Cairo: b. City Fayoum + Lunch |
$85 $50 |
09.00 am |
Full Day Inside Cairo: c. Full day Tour to Pyramids + Sakkara + Sphinx +Memphis + Lunch. d. Full day Egyptian Museum + Citadel + Mohamed Ali Mosque + Khan + Lunch. |
$65
$52 |
10.00 am |
Half Day Inside Cairo: e. Half day Pyramids + Sphinx. f. Half day Egyptian museum g. Half day Citadel & Mohamed Ali Mosque h. Half day Coptic Church i. Half day Islamic Cairo |
$25 $24 $23
$15 $15 |
All Tours are including:
- Transportation from your accommodation/hotel and back
- Guidance
- Entrance fees for different sites
Pre – Registration for above tours is required in your registration form.
Payment & Reconfirmation for above Tours will be at KARNAK Travel desk in our hotel or at Mubarak city in cash 2 days before your chosen tour.
What if I decide not to go on any excursions on July 23rd? will there be any activities?
ALL excursions are optional. On July 23rd, we are offering a variety of excursions (as listed earlier) and also some educational trips (e.g. Sekem Organic Farm). However, if you decide not to get on any of our organized trips and have some other fun your own way, that is fine too. In addition, the summit organizing committee has planned a FULL day activities for summit participants who will not be going on any of the excursions and staying at the Mubarak City. Check the Summit program on the conference web site.
Will there be a medical insurance?
NO. The conference will not be supplying any medical insurance on conference and summit participants. We expect that you will be buy your medical and travel insurance before coming to the conference/summit. However, if you did not yet buy your travel insurance, you can buy it through Thomas Cook or other medical insurance companies.
Will there be a doctor or nurse at the conference venue?
YES. There will be a full time general practice doctor. He/she will be there 24 hours. In addition, there is the Dar El Fouad Hospital located 10 minutes from where we are for any emergency. However, we recommend that you bring your own medicine if you have a specific illness e.g. allergy, etc. Most Pharmacies are open 24 hours but you can have at least your basic medicine supplies (especially teachers, who are traveling with a number of students, please bring a Kit of First Aid with you for any emergency). In addition, we will have two ambulances on board for any emergency transport and 2 first aid support staff. So you are in safe hands, just be careful and enjoy the days of the conference.
Will there be a safe?
In Mubarak City, there is NO safe. Participants staying at the Mubarak City will need to be fully responsible for their valuables, money, etc. However, in all three hotels, there are hotel safes either in the rooms or by the front desk.
What are the types of daily entertainments?
Not yet decided. However, we ensure that you will be entertained. On daily basis, we will have an afternoon assembly meeting that is focused on CULTURAL understanding, which will include folklore, dancing, music, etc. Daily afternoon activities will include sports activities, cinema show, music court, and fun games.
Do I have to present in the conference or summit?
Of course not but if you decide to do present that would be much better as the conference/summit is a REAL chance to share knowledge, skills, and human and developmental experiences. If you decide to present, you need to fill out the Call For Paper. The deadline has been extended to March 31, 2007. Kindly note that you need to fill the Call For Paper in a FULL manner as this will help the Program Committee to decide to accept or not to accept the proposed presentation. In addition, we need your full filled Call For Paper so as to give an adequate information about your presentation in the conference booklet.
What are the types of presentations?
During the conference there will be daily assembly and plenary sessions, country meetings, workshops, international nights, poster sessions, ICT corners, demonstrations, cultural and fun activities, and much more. There will be presentations related to professional development, new educational developments, new developments in ICT, iEARN initiative and management, global dialogue and rural development. When submitting a presentation, kindly request the appropriate type of session to your presentation The program committee will be selecting proposals for different types of presentations that will address the theme of the conference from iEARN members, field experts and other professionals worldwide.
Types of presentations:
1) Papers (45 minutes): It is an oral summary with occasional reference to notes or text, describing and discussing what the presenter is doing or has done and includes handouts and visual aids.
2) Demonstration (45 minutes): It is a technique or demonstration of the applications of technology and other educational tools to classroom instruction used for showing, rather than telling, including handouts and visual aids.
3) Workshop (90 minutes - two slots): It is an activity emphasizing participants' involvement, carefully structured by the facilitator, and containing minimal lecturing. Workshop audience actively needs to be for at least 50% of the duration of the workshop through small assignments, sub-group work related to the subject of the workshop.
4) In Progress Meetings (45 minutes): It includes Country meetings, iEARN regional meetings (Europe, Asia, Latina, and Arabia etc.), assembly and special task forces (Country Coordinators), project meetings (Global Teenager Project, WEC, etc.)
5) Poster session (45 minutes): It is a pictorial representation of a project or activity to be displayed through posters, drawings or other related materials in a "Walking Gallery" with the presenters Standing By available for explanation and discussion.
6) ICT Corners (45 minutes): It is mainly on a PC showing the presenter's applications or practices with ICT. These could include practices with digital film making, web design, graphics etc.
What are the emergency numbers that I can use?
Kindly note that those are EMERGENCY numbers so we expect that you only use them if needed as listed:
- Logistics: Mrs. Sahar Farouk 002 010 104 9504
- Program: Mr. Ahmed Abdel Sattar 002 010 527 9391
- Cultural: Mr. Adel Hamouda 002 010 689 3423
- Summit: Mr. Ahmed Gamal 002 010 350 0162
- Registration: Ms. Yasmina Helmy 002 010 645 9156
Karnak Company:
Airport Office: 002 012 162 5853
Mohamed Abdel Aziz: 002 010 750 9041
Heba Momtaz: 002 010 179 1134
iEARN Egypt office: (Office hours 09:00 – 17:00 Except Friday and Saturdays)
97 Cornish El Nile, Building 4, Suite 603
Roud El Farag, Cairo
Egypt
Tel: 202-245-80198
Fax: 202-245-78262
Email: dalia@iearnegypt.org & info@iearnegypt.org
Country Coordinator: Mrs. Dalia Khalil 002 012 219 0763
