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The Emirates Institute for Banking and Financial Studies (EIBFS) holds compliance workshop in Abu Dhabi.

Event serves as strategic platform to learn more about compliance risks and strengthen ties with fellow compliance professionals.
The Emirates Institute for Banking and Financial Studies (EIBFS), the sole provider of specialized knowledge and enhanced learning experiences for the UAE banking and financial sector, successfully organized a special compliance workshop for banking professionals in the UAE capital at the EIBFS campus in Abu Dhabi. The event served as a strategic platform for members of the UAE banking community to share experiences and knowledge in managing compliance risks while at the same time reinforce ties between fellow compliance professionals.
 

The event was highlighted by key speeches and presentations made by leading compliance experts that included;
·        Kenneth Lobo, Head of Regulatory Compliance and Monitoring-Group Compliance, Dubai Islamic Bank (Developing an Effective Regulatory Compliance Program)
·        Columcille O’Donnell, Head of Group Compliance-Compliance Division, National Bank of Abu Dhabi (Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act)
·        Umair Hameed, Assistant Director for the Financial Services Industry, Deloitte Corporate Finance Limited (The impact of increased regulations on the financial services sector)
The specialized workshop also included a panel discussion where participants and speakers were able to interact and discuss timely issues and challenges in compliance across the UAE banking scene.
“The Middle East region’s financial markets, particularly in the UAE, have witnessed the emergence of more rigorous regulatory scrutiny, which in turn has resulted in a stronger concentration on compliance,” said Essa Al Zaabi, Deputy General Manager, EIBFS. “The workshop aimed at addressing the key challenges presented in compliance, which is marked by our call for a more vigilant compliance function that can eventually create a more effective and sound system of control. We would like to express our appreciation at the participants who attended and the compliance experts who shared their knowledge with us. True enough, the event demonstrates our steadfast commitment towards providing the banking and finance segment with strategic and relevant training programs and courses.”
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NOTE: For more information, interested enrolees can contact EIBFS at 06-5728880 (Sharjah)  02-4464666 (Abu Dhabi) and  04-6070444(Dubai)
About the Emirates Institute for Banking and Financial Studies (EIBFS)
The Emirates Institute for Banking and Financial Studies (EIBFS) is the UAE’s sole provider of specialized knowledge and enhanced learning experiences for the local banking and finance sector. Established in 1983, the institution offers a wide range of both training and academic programs that have been developed to meet the needs of the country’s banking, insurance and finance sectors. Bolstered by its vision to become a leading institution that provides world-class education and training in banking and finance at local, regional and international levels, EIBFS has also forged strategic partnership with leading international institutions abroad. With campuses located in Sharjah, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the institution continues to remain true to its three-fold objective of raising the standard of performance of the banking workforce; qualify UAE nationals for successful careers in the industry and strengthen the country’s pool of skilled nationals.    


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UAE among top 20 countries that have students studying in UK.

Enrolments expected to grow 45% until 2020: EDUKEX 2012
Lara Khouri of British Council says: ‘This is remarkable considering UAE’s small population compared with counties like India and China’
Dubai, UAE, 19th November 2012: The 13th edition of the annual Education UK Exhibition “EDUKEX 2012”, organised by the British Council, concluded in Dubai with a message that UK remains the top higher education destination for UAE-domiciled students, despite the variety of higher education options available locally and internationally.

The show organizers said that tuition fees have remained unchanged this year for international students and the UAE belongs to the top 20 countries in the world in terms of the number of students enrolled in UK universities.
Lara Khouri, Education UK Marketing Manager, British Council UAE, described this status as remarkable considering the small population size of the UAE, compared to other counties like India and China.
The show attracted a large number of parents and students who visited the three-day event to learn more about the wide range of Foundation Year, Bachelors and Masters courses from representatives of the over 50 UK education providers that participated at the show in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
H.E Dominic Jermey, UK Ambassador to the UAE, inaugurated the exhibition in Abu Dhabi, while H.E Edward Hobart, HM British Consul General in Dubai, opened the show in Dubai.
HE Hobart said: “This show reaffirmed UK’s traditionally leading position as a great place to continue university studies. UAE students are warmly welcomed in the UK as an important part of the community. The UK education system remains highly appealing to parents and students from across the world. This is where shows like EDUKEX play a central part in sustaining this understanding and advocacy.”
HE Hobart added: “The UK has four out of the top six global universities as per a recent study. Another reputable study shows that for the top ten universities worldwide, there are two from the UK. We actually have the best and the largest variety of institutions in the world, not to mention the multicultural education ambience offered in the UK.”
Khouri noted: “Visitors to the exhibition were introduced to a wide range of courses. The professionalism and outstanding presentation skills of the university executives at the booths were impressive, as reflected in the manner of assessing students’ needs and shortlisting programmes.”
A 5 per cent increase in UAE students going to the UK is expected over next year.  A growth rate of 45 per cent is projected until 2020 in numbers. By providing prospective students across the UAE with opportunities to achieve UK qualifications, the British Council is enabling them to return to the UAE and develop both society and economy through their entrepreneurial plans and ideas.
Khouri said: “The British Council’s education initiatives played a key role in promoting the UK education offerings to the students in the UAE, and EDUKEX is no different to this direction. The show raises awareness of the quality of life and study options across the UK education spectrum. It also worked on creating mutual understanding between education providers and students to create a professional bond between both.”
Simon Foster, International Liaison Officer, Aston University: “The UAE is an important market for Aston. Students who visited Edukex were of very high calibre. We came here to promote our courses and we got positive response mainly for chemical and mechanical engineering courses. Other subjects like business management are increasingly becoming more popular among UAE students.”
Jo Sayahi, International Officer University of Brighton: “Edukex gives us access to the UAE market. Business and Engineering majors are high in demand. This is our second participation and we are receiving well-rounded students to study abroad because of the international schools present here. The education system offered to the UAE students is of highest standards.”
Peter Muncey, International Officer & Student Advisor, University of Surrey: “We have received good quality students mainly from Indian schools. We are happy with the way UK universities are being promoted. As a 140 year old institution it is important for us to be part of Edukex. The most popular courses among students here are mechanical engineering, science and computer studies.”
Rolf Jespersen, Senior International Officer, City University London: “We were here to increase exposure in the key UAE market. Most of the courses that students ask about are business, engineering and economics. Most of the students here are well prepared. We have been participating in Edukex for the last 6 years and we are keen to be present in the next edition.”
Stephanie Wood, International Recruitment Officer, University of Bristol: “We were founded 103 years ago and we have around 180 undergraduate courses. Engineering, medicine and law in addition to modern languages are very popular among students. We received a decent number of interested visitors and we look forward to more successful participation in the future.”


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GETEX Autumn 2012 to open on November 21st, 2012

GETEX Autumn 2012 to open on November 21st featuring over 400 study programs for students & working professionals
Dubai, UAE, November 21st, 2012 – The region’s leading forum on education and training, GETEX, will return this Autumn with regional as well as international institutes showcasing the widest range of top-quality academic, vocational and training programs for students as well as working professionals. More than 50 exhibitors will show at GETEX Autumn 2012, which will run from November 21 to 23 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, featuring diverse levels of higher education and professional development, a global business school fair segment and several exclusive presentations of interest to learners looking to pursue further education and training.
Exhibitors will include top universities from the UAE, Australia, USA, India and Switzerland along with a strong participation from UK-based universities this year. In meeting with the increasing demand for higher education options in the UAE and GCC, GETEX Autumn 2012 is suitably timed to allow students to register for courses starting in early 2013.

Anselm Godinho, Managing Director, International Conferences and Exhibitions (IC&E), organizer of the event, said: “The participation of renowned academic institutions from all over the world remains the main attraction of GETEX Autumn. As such, students, parents and industry professionals attending GETEX Autumn 2012 are sure to find suitable educational and professional development programs that match their specific needs and preferences. Moreover, we have also prepared extensively for the specialized segments of the show such as the Global Business School Fair which further reaffirm GETEX as the premier networking platform for the region’s education sector.”
Organised under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Higher Education, this edition of GETEX Autumn will see the launch of the Global Business School Fair, which provides an opportunity for MBA schools from all over the world to meet with potential UAE-based postgraduate students.


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British Council Appoints Virtue PR to Highlight Strengths of UK Higher Education

EDUKEX 2012 the right platform to raise awareness of standards and legacy of UK education, says Virtue
Dubai, UAE, 13th November 2012: The British Council, the United Kingdom’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities, has appointed Virtue PR & Marketing Communications to run a PR programme focused on highlighting the superior levels of UK higher education for the UAE market.

Virtue’s main brief was to drive the PR strategy for the 13th edition of the Education UK Exhibition “EDUKEX”, an annual event that provides UAE students with the opportunity to meet representatives from a large number of UK universities and colleges.
“We were looking for the right PR consultancy to manage this PR programme that would highlight the legacy of the UK education system and update potential students on options for continuing their studies in the UK. Virtue demonstrated the right credentials for the job, mainly through their structured and strategic approach as well as their understanding of our and our audience’s needs,” said Lara Khouri, Middle East & Africa Education UK Marketing Manager, British Council UAE.
Mirvat Naba, Director, Virtue PR & Marketing Communications added: “We are extremely pleased to be appointed by British Council to handle this PR programme. Our strategy is to communicate to stakeholders what UK education system has to offers vis a vis other players. We are a leading PR agency with proven record in managing education clients as well as handling exhibitions and fairs across different specializations.”
At this year’s event from 11th to 13th November 2012 (in Abu Dhabi on first day and in Dubai on second and third day), more than 50 UK universities and specialist colleges have showcased a wide range of bachelors and masters courses, as well as foundation year courses. The UK Border Agency and British Council executives were also present to answer visa-related, English language and IELTS queries.
Khouri added: “There are a few universities in the UAE that offer UK-based degrees. UK universities in Dubai currently hold the highest proportion of postgraduate students and there are more than 50 UK higher and further education qualifications available for study at both Emirati institutions and UK branch campus institutions.”
Naba added: “The British Council’s education initiatives have long been a part of the UAE education landscape. This show supported the British Council high level objectives of highlighting the opportunities presented by UK universities as well as building long-term institutional and individual links between higher education institutions in the UAE and the United Kingdom.”
The show provided a platform at which students considering higher education, whether in the UK or, as yet, undecided locations, have met representatives and learnt more about courses, entry requirements and application procedures. Moreover, it provided both UAE and UK institutions an opportunity to meet potential partners for collaboration.
EDUKEX is part of the British Council’s initiative to enhance cultural and educational relations between the UAE and UK by helping create a knowledge-based economy.
Virtue is a marketing communications agency that is led by credibility, innovation and transparency. The consultancy is committed to providing an integrated communications campaign focused on empowering British Council to achieve its goals. Headquartered in Dubai, Virtue PR & Marketing Communications is one of the Middle East’s fastest growing public relations, marketing and communications agencies. 


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Emirates Institute for Banking and Financial Studies (EIBFS) – Holds Unique Employee Engagement and Performance Improvement Workshop

‘An Even Better Place to Work’ sessions help participants increase company profit margins and create prosperous and productive working environment
Abu Dhabi, UAE, November 7th, 2012 – The Emirates Institute for Banking and Financial Studies (EIBFS), the sole provider of specialized knowledge and enhanced learning experiences for the UAE banking and financial sector, and Teamworking International Ltd., the market leaders in corporate training, revealed the successful hosting of ‘An Even Better Place to Work,’ a unique employee engagement and performance improvement workshop, held recently at the EIBFS Campus in Abu Dhabi. The event was highlighted by lively and strategic conversations that taught participants on how to collaborate effectively and help drive up company profit margins while at the same time create a prosperous and highly productive working environment. 

‘An Even Better Place to Work’ is the culmination of over 20 years of work in organizations on leadership, culture and engagement issues–sharing best practices and productive initiatives from leading experts. The workshops featured key interactive sessions and discussions that were led and moderated by Tom Flatau, renowned executive coach and speaker from Teamworking International. During the sessions, participants learned how to measure current staff engagement levels and the tools needed to make significant changes; achieve higher ownership levels; reduce levels of people problems; create greater trust and openness between colleagues; develop savings in time, staff absenteeism and people turnover; achieve less financial waste on dysfunctional conflict and how to develop a more effective and productive workforce.
“Even in the light of the impact made by the recent economic gridlock, businesses in the Middle East have positioned themselves well on the path to recovery. The workshop sessions we hosted with Teamworking International aimed at giving companies and organizations a one-step advantage from their competition—teaching them on how to increase their profit margins and also on how to create a working environment that increases productivity and improves efficiencies. The high number of participants and the positive responses we received have given us the inspiration to connect closely with the local business segment and live up to our commitment of providing them with more specialized trainings and workshops,” concluded Jamal Al Jasmi, Director General, EIBFS.
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About the Emirates Institute for Banking and Financial Studies (EIBFS)
The Emirates Institute for Banking and Financial Studies (EIBFS) is the UAE’s sole provider of specialized knowledge and enhanced learning experiences for the local banking and finance sector. Established in 1983, the institution offers a wide range of both training and academic programs that have been developed to meet the needs of the country’s banking, insurance and finance sectors. Bolstered by its vision to become a leading institution that provides world-class education and training in banking and finance at local, regional and international levels, EIBFS has also forged strategic partnership with leading international institutions abroad. With campuses located in Sharjah, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the institution continues to remain true to its three-fold objective of raising the standard of performance of the banking workforce; qualify UAE nationals for successful careers in the industry and strenghten the country’s pool of skilled nationals.