Dubai American Scientific School partners with leading American education group to roll out innovative approach to learning

September 1, 2010

Dubai American Scientific School (DASS), a private school providing high-quality American education in Dubai, has recently signed an agreement with Mosaica Education, Inc., a global leader in education reform, to implement a new education model tailor-made for schools in the Middle East and North Africa. Under the agreement, the specially developed education model, which combines the best practices of the American education system with the region’s cultural values and heritage, will initially be implemented at DASS in Dubai and will gradually be introduced to other private schools as part of a wide-scale initiative to overhaul and enhance the education system across the region.

Up to 80 per cent of the UAE population is made up of foreign nationals, while several other countries in the Middle East likewise feature a high percentage of expatriate population. This highlights the importance of implementing a specialised education model that considers the cultural diversity present in schools across the region.

Hikmat AlHaj Al-Kaitoob, Vice Chairman, DASS, said: “With its rich history of contribution to knowledge, the Middle East is a natural venue for such a powerful partnership and a groundbreaking learning concept. Having a student population that represents diverse cultures, the Dubai American Scientific School, for its part, is uniquely positioned to launch this education model, which we hope to introduce throughout the region. DASS had been on the lookout for the best K-12 education provider and we are pleased that Mosaica has come up with an education model that we believe is best suited for the Middle East. We are thrilled to be part of this groundbreaking initiative, which we believe will also complement the goal of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, of raising the standards and quality of education in the region.”

Michael J Connelly, Chief Executive Officer of Mosaica, added: “Mosaica has developed a new educational model that integrates the best practices of the American education system with the region’s cultural values and heritage, optimising the learning experience and protecting the sensitivities of children from different cultural backgrounds. We believe that Dubai American Scientific School is the ideal partner for the launch of this education model because of the school’s excellent track record and its unique schooling philosophy that embraces modern and innovative education concepts. We are confident that DASS will successfully help us illustrate the great value and importance of the new education model, which will ultimately encourage private investors, governments and other education stakeholders to adopt this powerful education concept in private and public schools across the Middle East.”

DASS is a high-quality K-12 private school in Dubai that is renowned for its unique and modernschooling philosophy that applies the rules of scientific research to the education model. The school features a highly competent teaching staff and is managed by a school board made up of prominent members of the UAE’s education sector.

Mosaica currently operates over 80 elementary, middle and high school programs in the USA and other countries, and has served more than 40,000 students in the last 13 years. Building on its extensive experience working with a variety of schools, Mosaica has been developing independent and private schools around the world, providing quality education programs tailored to their particular needs and cultures.

Bassam Samman

Collaboration, Management and Control Solutions (CMCS) recently announced that Active Risk Manager (ARM), the leading enterprise risk management (ERM) software from Strategic Thought Group, a CMCS partner in the region, has been selected by the world’s largest oil producer - Saudi Aramco.

Saudi Aramco supplies around 10 per cent of global oil demand, and has major proven oil and natural gas reserves. In addition to being the top ranked global producer, Saudi Aramco operates refineries, distributes domestically and markets oil internationally as well as owning a tanker fleet. The company has major global investments in refining, marketing and distribution ventures in countries such as Japan, China, South Korea and the USA.

“We are delighted that Saudi Aramco, the global number one in its field, has selected Active Risk Manager. ARM has the proven capabilities to enable the oil industry to take an enterprise approach to risk management,” commented Lynton Barker, Executive Chairman of Strategic Thought Group.

Saudi Aramco joins a growing group of global players which use ARM to meet their project, program and enterprise-wide risk management needs. The list includes Rio Tinto, Nestle, NASA and SABIC.
 
CMCS, a leading provider of Project Portfolio Management (PPM) solutions, had recently partnered with Strategic Thought Group to promote broader use of its web-based Enterprise Risk Management software to enhance enterprise and project management capabilities in the Middle East region. Under the partnership, CMCS will act as the regional distributor and representative of Active Risk Manager (ARM), the most widely deployed Web-based ERM software in the world that is developed by STG. CMCS will be involved in the deployment of ARM in some of the region’s largest and well known companies.

Mark Andrews

Dubai, UAE, 30th August, 2010: An expert in professional education has said that while companies in the MENA region are showing strong commitment to long-term training and professional development of employees, more needs to be done.

Mark Andrews, MENA Regional Director, Edexcel, said that although some corporations in the Middle East are setting up their own institutes to deliver training programs, the training and qualifications they offer may not meet international industry quality standards.

“Businesses should take a wider responsibility for supporting skills-related issues within their industry. They should be encouraged and provided with incentives to invest in education and professional development – not just their company but the sector as a whole on a global scale.”

Andrews added: “The efforts of business and industry to take responsibility for training the workforce should be applauded. Even if the focus for many companies is restricted to ‘educating their own’, the net impact on the skills pool is undoubtedly positive. However, it is not a good sign that many businesses are operating in isolation and educational content, teaching methods and resources are not shared with market peers. Education should facilitate the flow and sharing of knowledge across boundaries, not restrict it.”

Edexcel, the leading UK based awarding body, is part of Pearson, the world’s largest education services providers. It offers academic and professional qualifications and testing to thousands of schools, colleges, employers and other places of learning globally, and has over 4 million learners enrolled on its highly regarded courses in more than 85 countries.
 
In the UAE, Edexcel works with many private institutions as well as government-funded training providers responsible for educating the local population, which include the National Institute for Vocational Education, the Institute for Vocational Development and the Sharjah Institute of Technology.

Andrews added: “We should openly debate on how effectively the employment and training needs of employers, individuals and governments are being met by education and training systems in the Middle East. This balance between the supply and demand sides of education is becoming more and more intense as countries across the world struggle to cope with difficulties triggered by the current economic downturn. It makes what we call ‘effective education for employment’ an even more fundamental issue. We live in an environment which is constantly influenced by global factors and education must be no exception – while it should be local in flavour, it must be global in scope.”

“It is obvious there is a significant disconnect between education systems and the needs of 21st century employers, both public and private. The match between what employers, individuals and governments seek and what respective education and training systems provide appears ill-fitting in many countries.”

Andrews added: “Managers should become better educators of their own staff. Mentoring is an extremely effective mechanism for employees to develop functional understanding and business socialization. Engaging managers and leaders in the ongoing education of their own staff is a high-impact, low-cost approach that can be easily adopted in an organization of any size.”

Andrews said the chances of building a job-ready workforce will increase significantly if we can embed this learning into primary and secondary education, with fine-tuning during higher or further education. Apprenticeships and internships should be revived and incentivized as they represent a highly successful model for involving business and industry in education, and results are almost universally positive. Many countries are beginning to see the value in this approach, but more can be done – in particular, incentivizing business involvement and supporting investment.

ALHOSN University, a leading Abu Dhabi-based university dedicated to high-quality value-based education, has been commissioned by the UAE’s National Transport Authority (NTA) to conduct a comprehensive nationwide road safety study. The results will be used to formulate better strategies, standards and policies and define the role of various institutions in developing an advanced national land transport program. 

The NTA is the government entity that oversees the efficiency and safety of the UAE’s land and sea transport networks. The Authority recently signed a contract with ALHOSN to perform a study covering the collection of traffic accident statistics over the past few years; an analysis of the causes of accidents; preventive measures; the economic effects of accidents; optimal speed limits; road and vehicle safety standards; and comparisons with GCC and global road practices and conditions.

“The NTA is currently preparing long-term plans to improve the UAE’s land transport system which emphasize our commitment to community safety.  These involve the harmonization of related standards across the Emirates, so we need to have an accurate overview of current road conditions. Through the experience and scientific competence of ALHOSN’s team and the university’s advanced facilities we are confident that we will acquire all the necessary information to proceed with our programmes and better serve the public,” said H.E. Eng. Abdulla Salem AlKhatheeri, Acting General Director, National Transport Authority.

“We appreciate the NTA’s tireless efforts to improve road safety in the Emirates. Just recently the Authority unveiled plans to enhance the National School Transport System so their activities have direct effects on the welfare of our students. Our partnership with the NTA is thus a welcome opportunity for us to support the Authority in its admirable work while contributing to the well-being of our community,” added ALHOSN University Vice Chancellor and CEO Prof. Abdul Rahim Sabouni.

The NTA aims to sustain improving road conditions by implementing progressive traffic safety initiatives and collaborating with various institutions such as ALHOSN University, which actively participates in various road safety campaigns. Last year, the university hosted a special road safety session organized by Salama® - For Road Safety Public Awareness, an initiative of the Emirates Foundation for Philanthropy. Formula 3 driver and UN Road Safety Youth Ambassador Basil Shaaban personally helped conduct the seminar.

Ehsan Razavizadeh, Regional Director for Middle-East and North Africa region at Cass Business School

Dubai, UAE, August 24th 2010: Cass Business School, a leading UK business school with a campus at the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), has launched a new Middle Eastern scholarship fund designed to nurture the region’s future business leaders.

The new scholarship aims to build the leadership, management, finance and entrepreneurial skills in the region by funding the studies of talented, locally-based students through the Cass Executive MBA (EMBA) offered at DIFC.

Ehsan Razavizadeh, Regional Director for Middle-East and North Africa region at Cass Business School said: “As a leading provider of business education, an experience at Cass can shape the future of a student and the scholarship fund will help talented individuals, who are already contributing in the region’s business sector to further their education and fast-track their careers.

 “The fund is in line with Sir John Cass’ philanthropic vision to support ambitious students who may be without financial means, and the scholarship will be funded by individuals and companies in the GCC region.  Cass is encouraging local business leaders to come together to support the opportunity to help nurture rising local business stars, “Razavizadeh added.

The school started its prestigious EMBA programme in collaboration DIFC in 2007, and currently more than 120 professionals from the region study in the programme. The Cass Dubai EMBA programme is ranked second in the UK and fifth in Europe by the Financial Times, and the programme is specifically designed for ambitious regional professionals who want to accelerate their career while remaining in full time employment.

Roy Batchelor, Professor of Banking and Finance at Cass Business School, and Director of the Cass Executive MBA programme in Dubai said: “The Middle East scholarship fund is yet another example of the strength of commitment from Cass Business School to this region. The UAE especially is an important commercial and financial hub and as this region continues to secure its position as a major player on the international business stage it needs to ensure it has the right people to drive this growth.

“The region is home to a young, rapidly growing and talented workforce and we hope that this new scholarship fund, in addition to the other scholarships that Cass and the DIFC already offer, will continue to support the impressive business talent pool that there is in this region.”

In addition to the new Middle East scholarship fund, Cass Business School also has two other forms of scholarships or funding support available to EMBA students.

As the only course of its kind currently offering a specialisation in Islamic Finance, scholarships for the Cass Executive MBA in Islamic Finance are available courtesy of DIFC. The DIFC Scholarship aims to promote the future of Islamic Finance in this region and gives two full sets of fees for the EMBA programme, which are divided into partial funding for between 6-8 students.

The scholarships are made available for students with a background in Islamic finance, and those who receive the support are expected to make a future contribution to the Islamic finance industry.

Rehan Pathan, Cass Business School EMBA alumnus said: “Scholarships play an important part in bridging the gap financially for many students who may not otherwise have the capacity to make this investment in their study.  I received a partial scholarship from the DIFC to study the Islamic Finance elective of the Cass EMBA and it took away some of the financial pressure and allowed me to better focus on my studies.”

Cass Business School also support their EMBA students in Dubai with the Cass Studentship, which provides partial funding for around 15 students per year. In exchange for a studentship, chosen students assist as ambassadors for the school.

Mark Andrews

Edexcel regional director: “Education is the key to business development”

Dubai, UAE, 12th August, 2010: An academic expert has urged the MENA business sector to support and promote innovation in the workplace as part of corporate culture. 

Mark Andrews, MENA Regional Director of Edexcel, a leading provider of internationally recognised academic and professional qualifications, acknowledged that MENA-based companies have shown significant progress in the field by investing in the enhancement of their staff’s skills as part of a region-wide drive to spread a culture of innovation.

Andrews pointed out that companies in the Middle East have, in recent years, adopted radical changes in running their businesses by integrating information technology into almost every aspect of business, providing customers with better services and connecting and empowering employees.

These moves have undoubtedly supported the organisations in their bid to boost their business and expand their footprints across global markets.

Andrews indicated that there exists an interactive relationship between innovation and creation of business opportunities and that education plays a key role in providing individuals with the skills to develop innovative ideas that help companies expand.

The MENA market is experiencing an upsurge in the training middle and senior management or private companies and across all levels in government departments. According to Andrews, this proves that the region as a whole is committed to setting a foundation for strong, sustainable growth and highlights the importance of governments and private companies sharing expertise.

Edexcel’s vocational qualifications provide a practical, real-world approach to learning alongside a theoretical background. They are designed both to replicate the professional working environment and provide learners with the skills, knowledge and behaviors they need to succeed in an increasingly competitive global market.

Edexcel, the leading UK-based awarding body, is part of Pearson, the world’s largest education services providers. It offers academic and professional qualifications and testing to thousands of schools, colleges, employers and other places of learning globally, and has over 4 million learners enrolled on its highly regarded courses in more than 85 countries annually.

In the UAE, Edexcel works with many private institutions as well as government-funded training providers responsible for educating the local population, which include the National Institute for Vocational Education, the Institute for Vocational Development and the Sharjah Institute of Technology.

Various opportunities for progression to higher education are available for Edexcel’s BTEC HND holders in North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Australasia and 85 professional organisations such as the Chartered Institute of Marketing and Association of Chartered Certified Accountants grant exemption for their own professional qualifications for holders of the relevant BTEC qualifications provided by Edexcel.

• Comparative study of UK & ME organizations shows significant gap in risk management adoption
• 59 per cent of risk-conscious ME firms develop complete risk management plans for each project
• More frequent updates to region’s corporate risk databases needed

Bassam Samman

A comparative survey of UK and Middle Eastern companies conducted by Collaboration, Management and Control Solutions (CMCS) shows that 59 per cent of Middle Eastern respondents have a risk management policy in place, as opposed to 73.5 per cent in the UK. Of those Middle Eastern organizations that do have policies, 59 per cent fully implement the policy and adhere to pre-defined procedures for risk management, compared to 73.4 per cent in the UK. The results highlight the need for more improvements to the region’s risk management attitudes and practices. A risk policy is an indication of whether senior management considers risk management important to their business success or not, and has to do with the commitment to adopt risk management across the organization. 

The CMCS study, which focused mainly on project-based construction firms, analyzed the degrees of adoption of formal risk management policies and procedures and the importance given to risk management as a tool for business success. Among the key findings from the Middle East were that 45 per cent of firms with formal risk management policies have a dedicated Risk Management Officer to handle the risk management process (UK: 51 per cent); 49 per cent do not start projects without a complete Risk Register (UK: 69.6 per cent); 61 per cent assess each risk against the probability of occurrence and impact (UK: 79.2 per cent); and 69 per cent of management identify risk response actions for high-exposure risks (UK: 72.3 per cent).

“Although our survey indicates an upward trend in risk management adoption in the Middle East, it also shows more room for improvement in terms of policies and practices. Project-based companies are especially encouraged to enforce better risk management frameworks in light of the volatility of their markets. While projects are inherently risky, a better understanding of potential hazards and how to prevent or deal with them puts a company in a more advantageous position, which makes sound business sense,” said Bassam Samman, CEO and Founder, CMCS.

Survey results also showed that, among Middle Eastern firms with risk management provisions, 53 per cent develop a complete risk management plan for each project (UK, 69.3 per cent); 53 per cent formally implement their plans and conduct periodic risk assessment reviews (UK, 71.5 per cent); and 46 per cent update their risk database after project completion (UK, 39.6 per cent). Risk management studies are of significant value to the region, where project and investment failures commonly trace back to poor risk management strategies.

UAE-based CMCS is a leading regional provider of project portfolio management solutions for project-driven businesses. It uses advanced solutions from Oracle Primavera, Hard Dollar, Deltek, EcoSys, ADePT, eTimeMachine, and Synchro to meet the unique needs of various sectors such as Engineering & Construction, Power, Energy & Process, IT & Telecommunication, and Government.

The company is a registered education provider for the Project Management Institute, the Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering, the Construction Specifications Institute, and the International Institute of Business Analysis. Aside from the UAE, CMCS also serves Qatar, Bahrain, KSA, Egypt, Kuwait, Jordan, Oman, Libya, Kenya, India, Italy and Greece.

Only three UAE universities recognise BTEC certification, compared to 48 in the UK

Mark Andrews

Dubai, UAE, August 10, 2010: Edexcel, the UK’s largest academic and vocational qualifications awarding body and part of Pearson, the world’s leading education services provider, has urged UAE universities to transfer credits of vocational training programs to allow working people to pursue lifelong learning.

Mark Andrews, MENA Regional Director, Edexcel said: “We urge universities in the UAE to allow candidates who have completed BTEC National Diploma or Higher National Diploma qualifications to transfer their credits to bachelors or masters degrees. This will go a long way in permitting people to continue their education without compromising their careers.”

Currently, only three UAE universities – Middlesex, Heriot-Watt and American University in Emirates – compared to 48 in the UK allow holders of Edexcel BTEC HNDs to transfer credits to the relevant Associate or Bachelors programmes.

Edexcel’s exclusive BTEC qualifications provide a practical, real-world approach to learning alongside a theoretical background. They are designed both to replicate the professional working environment and provide learners with the skills, knowledge and behaviours they need to succeed in the current job market. Various opportunities for higher education are available for BTEC HND holders in North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Australasia.

Andrews added: “A large portion of the population in the Gulf is below 22 years of age. These people will enter the job market soon and it is imperative to arm them with the right professional tools, besides the theoretical knowledge. The region’s education system is working to support the rising demand for skill sets and this is one of the most effective ways of doing so. Moreover, employability of students is a big challenge if not accompanied with practical skills and knowledge”.

Edexcel is the UK’s largest awarding body offering academic and vocational qualifications and testing to schools, colleges, employers and other places of learning in the UK and internationally.
 
Edexcel’s general qualifications offered worldwide include GCSEs, IGCSEs, and GCE AS and A Levels, while vocational qualifications include NVQ and BTEC from entry level to higher national diplomas. Each year, over 4 million learners enroll for an Edexcel qualification in more than 85 countries.

“UAE universities are renowned for their academic excellence and commitment to delivering professionally relevant programmes. In order to maintain that reputation, they must either start preparing students for the workplace by adding more vocational courses or qualifications to the official curriculum in order to meet employers’ needs, or at least recognise the value of vocational qualifications by granting holders of such qualifications credit towards a university degree,” said Andrews.
 
In addition to university recognition, 85 professional organisations such as the Chartered Institute of Marketing and Association of Chartered Certified Accountants grant exemption for their own professional qualifications for holders of the relevant BTEC qualifications.

Interactive whiteboards, student response systems and mobile class pads to help students engage in discussions and interact with teachers and peers

August 05, 2010

Edutech, a leading provider of technology-enabled learning solutions, has announced its partnership with elnstruction, a leading education technology company dedicated to providing interactive teaching, learning, and assessment technology and services. The agreement involves a new breed of interactive learning technologies, including interactive whiteboards, student response systems and mobile class pads, which can help enhance student engagement and interaction with their teachers and peers.

Among the elnstruction solutions to make their debut in UAE is the ‘INTERWRITEDualBoard’, a solution that allows students to work simultaneously at the front of the classroom through an interactive whiteboard with two interactive electromagnetic pens, which can be used at the same time on a single digital whiteboard. The company also offers ‘INTERWRITEMOBI System’, a multi-user interface designed specifically to support student-centred, collaborative learning, where teachers and students can concurrently interact with and contribute to the same digital content. Designed to enhance classroom productivity, ‘Interwrite PRS’ can be used to take attendance, give quizzes and tests, or for lesson review, thereby enabling teachers to focus more on teaching rather than on paperwork and grading.

“As one of the pioneers of interactive learning devices, eInstruction has an impressive track record in the market, with products that have evolved alongside the needs of modern classrooms, teachers and students,” said ASF Karim, CEO, Edutech. “eInstruction is a focused company that provides technology-driven products and services that form an integral part of our ‘21st century learning’ philosophy, and we are looking forward to unveiling their excellent interactive solutions among academic and vocational institutions across India and the Middle East.”

Engaging students and getting them to pay attention, participate and interact with teachers and other students has been shown to help them learn and perform better in both formative and summative assessments. eInstruction’s research-based solutions have had proven results in increasing student engagement and achievement while providing real-time feedback and performance data to educators and administrators. Backed by Edutech’s market knowledge, demonstrated after-sales service support and widespread reach, the company seeks to offer educators and administrators a family of solutions to help teachers teach and raise student achievement through interactive engagement, collaboration and real-time formative assessment.

“We have identified Edutech as the perfect partner in our expansion to the Middle East and India given their extensive reach, market knowledge and close to two decades of combined experience across these markets. We are confident that this collaboration will drive our presence within the growing education sectors, and consequently fuel the adoption of our solutions across various academies and institutions,” concluded John Elliott, Sales Director - EMEA, elnstruction.

Gems World Academy

Dubai, August 1, 2010:  This summer, students have been enhancing their English language abilities at the GEMS English Language Summer School at GEMS World Academy in Dubai.

The English Language programme - which incorporates the latest educational technology and includes active games, music and video as an integral part of the learning process - has been a resounding success, with students gaining in fluency, competence and confidence as a result of the intense two-week programme.

Developed by GEMS to improve the English language skills of students, the summer school focus is on small group tuition supported by individual and collaborative learning using interactive teaching methods.  All classes are run by experienced native English speakers with a love for their mother tongue, and the richness and diversity of the English language. Courses run for two weeks, with five two-hour classes per week, and cater to students from grade 1 to grade 10. Each teaching group is tailored to a student’s level of proficiency.  

Martin Clark, Senior Director Ventures, GEMS Education, said: “English has become the Lingua Franca of today’s world – especially in business, and it contributes greatly to a student’s career prospects. But more than that, English language learning at GEMS Summer Schools is about developing a love for the language, and enjoying the results of becoming increasingly fluent throughout the course. The students who have completed the programme so far this summer have come on in leaps and bounds. The format of daily sessions provides a real boost in developing language skills, and with such an intense and focused programme our pupils are achieving outstanding results.”

GEMS Education is now accepting students for the final session of its English Language Summer School - Programme Four, which runs from Sunday 15 August. Parents interested in enrolling their children on the final course should contact Dorlyn or Lynette on 050 554 6890, or email fortuna.dougherty@gemseducation.com  for further details