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Development of UAE and Arab Nationals is at the heart of the Bank’s strategy

Standard Chartered participates at the 15th National Career Exhibition
Dubai, UAE – February 18, 2013 – Standard Chartered announced today that it will be participating at the 15th Edition of the National Career Exhibition which is taking place at the Expo Centre in Sharjah from 20th to 22ndof February, 2013.  At the Exhibition, Standard Chartered will be identifying prospect UAE National talent who fit in the various departments across the Bank.

Standard Chartered is also an active supporter of ‘Masrafi’, the UAE government initiative which aims to boost emiratisation levels in the banking sector and is in cooperation with the National Human Resources and Development Authority, ‘Tanmia’ and the Emirates Institute of Banking and Financial Studies(EIBFS). In this context, Standard Chartered is continuously providing training and employment opportunities for UAE National talent. The bank is also an active participant in the banking career days and constantly doing career guidance visits to Colleges, Universities and Schools.
Jane Siney, Head of Human Resources, UAE and Middle East, Standard Chartered.
Commenting on the Bank’s participation at the Exhibition, Jane Siney, Head of Human Resources, UAE and Middle East, Standard Chartered said:
”Creating a talent pool of UAE and Arab Nationals capable of leading the Bank and the industry in the future is at the heart of Standard Chartered Bank’s strategy in the region.  This is reflected in our successful Emiratization strategy which focuses on attracting, training and retaining talented UAE Nationals. Today, 100% of the Bank’s 11 Branches are managed by UAE Nationals. Our participation at this exhibition comes in line with our aspiration to be the employer of choice around the world and in the UAE.”
As a part of its strategy, Standard Chartered has a number of strategic alliances with several UAE based organisations and provides a number of training programmes which make it one of the best employers for UAE Nationals in the country. Below is a list of the programmes that the Bank currently provides: 
The Al Tahadi Educational Support Programme: This programme provides UAE National students with financial support while they are completing their studies, and guarantees access to global opportunities at Standard Chartered. This programme ensures that an increased number of talented UAE Nationals join our Management Trainee Programme.
Management Trainee Programme: Scholars under the Al Tahadi Programme graduate and join the Bank. This programme was first launched in August 2007. This is a structured one year programme with rotations providing broad experience within the Bank, which allows graduates “hands on experience” of potential career paths.
The Consumer Banking Academy and the Al Massar Programme: These programmes aim to acquaint UAE Nationals with the financial services industry, including product knowledge and risks associated with Consumer and Wholesale Banking.
MBA Programme: This programme offers MBA graduates individually-tailored career paths, with significant exposure to senior management and a global MBA network.
International Graduate Programme: The programmes last up to 18 months and provide candidates with an International Induction Programme (IIP) and an academic programme, role rotations in different business or support functions, a regional Action Learning Programme where candidates will collaborate with other graduates to develop and implement projects. The programme also provides extensive formal and informal learning opportunities to accelerate the development of the future leaders of the bank. 
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For further information please contact:
Ramy Lawand
Senior Regional Manager, Corporate Affairs
T: +971 4 508 2564
M: +971566759894
Notes to editors:
Standard Chartered – leading the way in Asia, Africa and the Middle East
Standard Chartered is a leading international banking group. It has operated for over 150 years in some of the world’s most dynamic markets and earns around 90 per cent of its income and profits in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. This geographic focus and commitment to developing deep relationships with clients and customers has driven the Bank’s growth in recent years. Standard Chartered PLC is listed on the London and Hong Kong stock exchanges as well as the Bombay and National Stock Exchanges in India.
With 1,700 offices in 70 markets, the Group offers exciting and challenging international career opportunities for 87,000 staff. It is committed to building a sustainable business over the long term and is trusted worldwide for upholding high standards of corporate governance, social responsibility, environmental protection and employee diversity. Standard Chartered’s heritage and values are expressed in its brand promise, ‘Here for good’.
For further information please visit www.standardchartered.ae. Follow Standard Chartered at www.facebook.com/standardchartereduae and on Twitter @StanChartMENAP.


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Injazat underscores technology’s social impact at Zayed University’s Google Day event.

Innovation & creativity among Emirati youths key to sustainable growth
January 08, 2013
Global spending on information technology (IT) is expected to cross USD 3.7 trillion in 2013, which is a 3.8 per cent increase from 2012, according to Gartner[1]. Aside from its economic and business benefits, IT also plays an important role in social development. Cognizant of the multiple growth roles of technology, Injazat Data Systems has been supporting various technology-promoting initiatives, a number of which are particularly geared towards young UAE Nationals. Injazat is tapping a recent competition and an upcoming event at Zayed University to further encourage Emirati youths in particular to enhance their technology proficiency and use IT as tools for sustained national development.

To sustain the momentum of its technology awareness efforts, Injazat is sponsoring the Google Day event being held today (Tuesday, January 8, 2013) at Zayed University. Organized by the College of Technological Innovation and run by the Zayed University IEEE Student Branch, the university’s Google Day serves as a platform for discussing the latest technologies related to the Google internet service. Among the topics lined up are Google Chrome Extensions, the Google Web Toolkit (GWT), and Balsamiq Mockups. A workshop on the Android operating system for mobile devices will also be conducted.
In December 2012, Injazat also sponsored the 1st Annual Technology Comics Competition organized by Zayed University’s College of Technological Innovation. The unique contest challenged students to discuss the impact of technology in an entertaining manner via comics as the medium of expression.
“Injazat believes in the importance of instilling the value of technology and its influence on society at an early age. This aligns with our own corporate vision of IT excellence. We are thus highly committed to supporting events by educational institutions that enable students to meet technology professionals, acquire knowledge, and influence young Emiratis to pursue technology-enabled paths to national development. We commend Zayed University for exposing its students to lively discussions and meaningful activities that emphasize the importance of technology for personal, professional, social and cultural growth,” said Ibrahim Mohamed Lari, Chief Executive Officer, Injazat Data Systems.
Abu Dhabi –based Injazat Data Systems is an industry-recognized market leader in the region for Information Technology, Cloud and Data Center Managed Services delivered from the Middle East’s 1stTier IV design and ISO 27001 certified Data Centerfacility. The company is engaged in various initiatives aimed at emphasizing the important linkages between technology development and the UAE’s social and economic development. Injazat regularly extends training, sponsorship and partnership programs to leading local universities.
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About Injazat Data Systems LLC:
Injazat Data Systems is an industry-recognized market leader in the region for Information Technology, Data Center and Managed Services delivered from the region’s most sophisticated and advanced facility, the Tier IV design certified Premier Data Center facility.
Injazat combines its local expertise and presence with its global technology partnership network. Injazat continues to develop market leading IT services to meet the dynamic customers’ needs including: consultancy, project management, system integration, transformation, applications, data center, cloud services & a wide range of managed services that can help make your business more secure and agile
           



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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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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. 


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GCC Student Population to Sustain 1.8 per cent CAGR to Reach 11.3 Million by 2020

GETEX Autumn 2012 fills void in student recruitment for those seeking to study abroad or in prestigious academic institutions in the UAE
Dubai, UAE, October 7th, 2012 – The student population in the GCC has been steadily increasing over the years and is expected to sustain a 1.8 per cent compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) within a 10-year period to reach 11.3 million in 2020 from 9.5 million in 2010. The rising number of students has strongly influenced the increase in demand for higher education in the region, particularly in the UAE which has been aggressively encouraging private sector investments, thereby establishing the country’s private education sector as the biggest in the region with an estimated value of USD 2.8 billion.

With studies showing that 95 per cent of all females and 80 per cent of all males enrolled in the final year of secondary school applying for admission to a higher education institution in the country and abroad, the UAE naturally attracts the largest number of high-profile academic institutions from all over the world.
GETEX Autumn 2012, a dedicated platform to showcase the widest range of top-quality academic, vocational and training programs from leading regional and international schools, is one of the key initiatives supporting the sustained growth of the academic sector in the UAE and across the GCC.
Anselm Godinho, Managing Director, International Conferences and Exhibitions (IC&E), the organizer of the event, said: “GETEX provides a dedicated networking platform that stimulates the continued growth of the education sector, while supporting initiatives by governments in the GCC to enhance the quality of education in the region. Moreover, it significantly broadens the academic choices of students by filling a void in student recruitment for those seeking to study abroad or in prestigious academic institutions within the UAE.”
Organised under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, the UAE Minister of Higher Education, GETEX Autumn 2012 will run from 21st to 23rdNovember 2012, at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.
GETEX Autumn 2012 will showcase a wide selection of Higher Education and Professional Development programs, including graduate and postgraduate degrees along with vocational and professional courses.
New to the event this year is the Global Business School Fair featuring a collection of MBA schools from across the world looking to meet with potential UAE-based postgraduate students. The Global Business School Fair will host a Business Seminar that will provide students with resources to help them make sound career choices, while enhancing their employment potential in both the public and private sectors.


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Skyline University College (video)

Skyline University College (SUC) was established in 1990 in Sharjah, a city that has been recognized as a hub for education, culture and heritage by UNESCO. The SUC was established under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, the member of the UAE Supreme Council and the Ruler of Sharjah. H.H. Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi has always supported SUC in its pursuit to offer high quality education. SUC believes in responding innovatively and effectively to train human resources and fulfill educational needs of industries like Aviation, Hospitality, Travel & Tourism, Information Systems, Marketing, Business Management and Finance sectors, and is presently one of the leading Universities in Northern Emirates.



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ALHOSN University taps multicultural expertise to deliver world-class education with local vision

Educators from 36 nations set to engage Abu Dhabi’s bright young minds at 2012 Fall Semester
Complementing the Abu Dhabi Vision 2030 development plan’s focus on further raising local standards of education, ALHOSN University has assembled a prestigious lineup of educators from 36 countries that will instill the institution’s vision of ‘global knowledge with local vision’ during the 2012 Fall Semester.

The Vision 2030 framework aims to bring in more expertise from abroad to reinforce Abu Dhabi’s education sector and ensure that the curriculum and quality of delivery are at par with the world’s best. ALHOSN has taken this approach to heart by welcoming onboard academicians from all over the world who are highly qualified to impart the skills necessary for students – especially Emiratis who form 60 per cent of the university’s population – to become productive contributors to the formal economy and society as a whole. To meet the specific needs of its students, ALHOSN has developed nineteen undergraduate and graduate programs in Engineering, Business, and Education. All these programs have received accreditation from the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in the UAE, and several have also been granted accreditation from prestigious professional international accreditation boards.
ALHOSN has announced that it will be accepting applicants for the upcoming 2012 Fall Semester during its ‘Registration Weeks’ from September 2nd to 23rd. To spice up the registration period, the university will offer scholarships, raffle off free Admission fees, and launch exciting campaigns on Facebook and other key social networks. ALHOSN will also continue its advocacy of encouraging more women to participate in technical fields such as Mechanical, Industrial and Civil Engineering by offering special scholarships. There are currently about 200 new incoming students already registered, with more expected to follow in the coming two weeks. Classes are scheduled to begin on Sunday, September 9th.
“If we want to help our students make a difference in the world, then we must bring global experiences and expertise to them,” said Prof. Abdul Rahim Sabouni, ALHOSN’s Vice Chancellor and CEO. “ALHOSN invests heavily to ensure that its academic personnel are up to the challenge of molding productive citizens and future leaders who have a global view of things while they seek the betterment of their community.  For this coming Fall Semester we have assembled a dedicated and highly competent team of educators of almost 40 nationalities who will ensure that we live up to our commitments to our students and their parents and guardians.”
“We also want to maintain an equal-opportunity environment and fill the gender gap in some professions in the UAE and the region, by encouraging our female students to pursue Engineering degrees such as Civil Engineering, and Industrial Engineering” Prof. Sabouni added.
ALHOSN University has been experiencing a remarkable period of growth which has seen its student body grow to more than 1,600 at the start of Fall Semester. This year’s graduating class is expected to top the previous year’s class of 250 graduates. ALHOSN continues to reap praises for equipping both UAE Nationals as well as expat students from around the world with skills and competencies above and beyond those sought by the organizations they have joined.