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ELM signs Memorandum of Understanding with Mohammed bin Rashid School of Government

Agreement focuses on training, education, and leaders’ preparation

Dubai, UAE, October 12, 2017 – ELM Company, a pioneer in business, learning, training, and digital solutions, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Mohammed bin Rashid School of Government (MBRSG) recently at the latter’s headquarters in Dubai, stating the cooperation between the organizations in the areas of training, education, leaders’ preparation, scientific research, and documentation and publication of the best governmental practices. Continue reading “ELM signs Memorandum of Understanding with Mohammed bin Rashid School of Government”

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2nd China-UAE Conference on Islamic Banking & Finance

Conference on Islamic Banking & Finance explores international cooperation in support of ‘One Belt, One Road’ initiative

USD 2.3 trillion Islamic economy is a pivotal player

Dubai’s experience in Islamic Economy will drive the revitalization of the Silk Road connecting Asia & Europe

UAE, September 12th, 2017 – The Dubai Center for Islamic Banking and Finance in Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University (HBMSU) and the Dubai Islamic Economy Development Centre has successfully concluded the 2nd China-UAE Conference on Islamic Banking and Finance. The two-day event held in Shenzhen, China formed part of efforts to drive economic growth and comprehensive development through the Islamic economy, in line with the objectives of the ‘One Belt, One Road’ initiative. It was organized in cooperation with China Islamic Finance Club, ZhiShang Intercultural Communication, and Knowledge Partner Thomson Reuters. Continue reading “2nd China-UAE Conference on Islamic Banking & Finance”

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Global Online Learning Industry

Global Online Learning Industry to Reach USD 325 Billion by 2025, says Study

Middle East market poised for strong growth with rising popularity of smart learning

Orient Planet Academy unveils new course dates for 2017

UAE, September 12th, 2017 – A number of experts agree that the flourishing global e-learning industry is fast climbing, thanks to continuous advanced technological innovations, high modern skill demand in the market, and the need to update individual competencies for career advancement, among other factors. Market research firm Research and Markets predicts that the international online learning market will experience a compound annual growth rate of approximately 7.2 per cent and hit the USD 325- billion mark by 2025. The Middle East’s e-learning sector is picking up, with the regional industry fast gaining traction in light of the rising popularity of smart learning in this part of the world. Continue reading “Global Online Learning Industry”

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Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) Training Proves a Major Success for GCC Students

AAT posts higher enrollees in Accounting Qualifications in 2016 to prepare for upcoming VAT imposition in Gulf
  
UAE, November 2, 2016 – In the wake of the impending imposition of value-added tax (VAT) in the GCC, the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT), a globally recognized player in the accounting and finance sector, has announced an uptake in the number of students taking its Accounting Qualifications in the region. Providing training for a huge range of accounting and finance roles, the Qualifications include comprehensive Indirect Tax, Personal Tax, and Business Tax elements.

Approximately 290 students enrolled in AAT’s

Accounting Qualifications during 2016 to date, compared to 180 students in the whole of 2015. The climb was recorded as many regional businesses gear up for the upcoming introduction of a VAT rate in the GCC starting January 1, 2018. VAT imposition constitutes an important policy reform, aiming to help GCC governments achieve medium- to long-term social and economic policy goals as well as reduce their reliance on hydrocarbon revenues.

AAT’s wide-ranging Qualifications provide students with an in-depth understanding of relevant VAT regulations and documentations as required in the region. By taking the course, prospective enrollees will build and reinforce their knowledge of regional and global VAT registration requirements, and gain moderns skills for a successful overall career in the finance and accounting industry. Three training providers in the UAE currently offer AAT courses among 11 across the whole of the Middle East. The complete list is available at www.aat.org.uk/middleeast.
Rob Alder, Head of Business Development, AAT, said: “The tax element of the AAT Accounting Qualifications is proving popular with students, especially in the region where preparations for smooth VAT implementation are on full blast. As this is the first time that such a system is being introduced in the region, stakeholders need to gain clear understanding of this intricate and complex framework.”
“We aim to significantly contribute to the process through our Accounting Qualifications, which will equip our prospective students with modern skills, expertise, and competencies necessary to be successful in this field. The Accounting Qualifications improve the capabilities of any enterprise’s finance team, keeping its business one step ahead of its market competitor,” Alder added.
AAT offers various courses and certifications for individuals who want to become tax accountants or tax managers. With over 130,000 members in more than 90 countries, the association, which awards around 90 per cent of all vocational qualifications in accounting, provides practical workplace qualifications for finance staff across the world.
AAT’s universally respected and internationally recognized courses are highly supported by professional accounting bodies such as the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. It supports and develops its members through more than 500-AAT approved training providers across the world.

 

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Koenig Announces Successful Completion of 1st Batch of Trainees for its EC Council ‘Certified Network Defender’ Course

New program aimed at helping Koenig’s efforts to address cyber security skills gap in the region

UAE, October 4th, 2016 – Koenig Solutions, a leading IT training provider and the world’s number one offshore training company, revealed the successful completion of the first batch of trainees for its new course offering, the EC Council ‘Certified Network Defender’ course. 13 participants completed the new course offering, which took place at the Koenig Training Solutions Centre in Dubai. The program has been designed to help address the growing cyber security skills gap in the region—as industry experts have noted the emergence of new cyber threats and criminals becoming more tech-savvy in their operations. Koenig is the first learning partner in the region to offer this course, potentially targeting the millions of IT and Network Administrators that remained untrained on network defense techniques. Continue reading “Koenig Announces Successful Completion of 1st Batch of Trainees for its EC Council ‘Certified Network Defender’ Course”

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Koenig Announces Successful Completion of First Batch of Trainees for its EC Council ‘Certified Network Defender’ Course

New program aimed at helping Koenig’s efforts to address cyber security skills gap in the region
Dubai, UAE – October 4th, 2016 – Koenig Solutions, a leading IT training provider and the world’s number one offshore training company, revealed the successful completion of the first batch of trainees for its new course offering, the EC Council ‘Certified Network Defender’ course. 13 participants completed the new course offering, which took place at the Koenig Training Solutions Centre in Dubai. The program has been designed to help address the growing cyber security skills gap in the region—as industry experts have noted the emergence of new cyber threats and criminals becoming more tech-savvy in their operations. Koenig is the first learning partner in the region to offer this course, potentially targeting the millions of IT and Network Administrators that remained untrained on network defense techniques.
According to a report from Micro Market Monitor, the Middle East and African (MEA) region’s cyber security market is poised to grow to USD 13.43 billion by 2019. Network defense proves to be a timely and strategic course to offer as it represents a broader market globally, as compared to ethical hacking and penetration testing. In fact, the industry will face over 1.5 million unfilled IT security jobs globally in 2020–with 92 per cent of hiring businesses clamouring for highly skilled and fully certified candidates to fill in the openings. To help address this issue, Koenig believes focusing on people and essentially training up the next generation of workers in cybersecurity skills is the first step towards addressing this gap.
“We are pleased to announce the successful completion of the first batch that enrolled for our new EC Council ‘Certified Network Defender’ course. This new offering proves to be both timely and strategic as the number of people and the amount of information available online continues to grow along with the need for more cyber security professionals,” said Aditya Girish, Territory Manager Middle East, Koenig Solutions. “The need to secure network and information systems in the Middle East in general and the UAE in particular, is an essential factor that needs to be addressed in order to keep the online economy running and to ensure economic prosperity. To reduce the skills gap and train a new generation of security specialists, organisations, higher education establishments, and training centres should share responsibility and ideally act together to combat the growing threats in today’s connected world.”
Koenig’s ‘Certified Network Defender’ course is facilitated by EC-Council Certified Instructors with over than 10 years’ experience in the technical and training field. Network professionals with certifications from the likes of CCNA, Network+, Security+, are ideal candidates that need to take this course to upgrade their skills. The course forms the basis on which skilled professionals can pursue Certified Ethical hacking (CEH) and EC-council Certified Security Analyst (ECSA) courses thereafter. The program is designed to give students the opportunity to practice architectural thinking in the design of enterprise IT systems while also be trained on the use of practical tools and techniques, which they can take back and implement in their companies and organizations.
“A recent industry report has forecasted that IT global spending on cybersecurity will grow to USD 170 billion by 2020—which can be attributed to the emergence and continued growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) security market, which is expected to grow from USD 6.89 billion in 2015 to nearly USD 29 billion by 2020. With this in mind, the cyber security market is poised to yield huge economic opportunities. We remain committed to strengthening the UAE’s cyber security industry, and help businesses in the country to seize these opportunities and reinforce the trust of citizens and businesses in the digital world,” concluded Girish.
About Koenig
Koenig is a leading provider of state-of-the-art technical training and certifications across all popular IT technologies available globally. The world class training at Koenig is offered through several innovative learning methods and delivery models to cater the unique requirements of a global customer base. With a workforce of over 300 certified trainers, Koenig offers key certifications via their 30+ authorizations, which includes the likes of Microsoft, Cisco, Oracle, VMware, Red Hat, Novell, EC Council, Adobe, among others. Some of Koenig’s prestigious list of clients in the Middle East and Africa region includes Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, Nakheel, PWC, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, RAK Bank, United Arab Bank Government of UAE – Department of Information, Communication, and Technology, ADNOC, DEWA, Du Telecom, the Prime Minister’s Office – UAE, Saudi Aramco, Saudi Chevron, Etisalat Nigeria, Angola LNG and TRA Tanzania. For more information please visit www.koenig-solutions.com.
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Industry Survey shows Increased Demand for e-Learning to Help Address Skills Gap in the Middle East

Orient Planet Academy Announces Online Course Dates for Q4 2016
UAE, September 18th, 2016 – Demand for e-learning in the Middle East continues to expand to address the challenges of skills gap in the region. According to the Middle East Skills Gap Survey released this year, the market in the region is in dire need for qualified personnel. This is especially the case with vacancies in senior-level positions, as 70 per cent of respondents confirmed the difficulty of finding candidates with the necessary skills and knowledge to fill the positions. E-learning is a vital tool that can be used to address this issue being accessible to people from all walks of life and presented at a lower cost.

 E-learning has also been proven to be effective, with studies showing that online courses increase retention rates up to 60 per cent in comparison to face-to-face training, which only registers an 8 to 10 per cent retention rate.

In recognition of its benefits and to address the needs of the market, Orient Planet Academy, the first online PR and Communications Academy in the Middle East, has announced its enrollment dates for the last quarter of 2016. The schedule was developed to meet the Arab World’s growing demand for e-learning segment and the popularity of the Academy’s courses. Interested learners can enroll for the October 13, November 17 and December 8, 2016 batch, depending on their convenience.
Nidal Abou Zaki, Managing Director, Orient Planet Group, said: “Orient Planet Academy has been a frontrunner in the Arab World’s move to integrate e-learning in its development. We have especially designed these courses to help individuals expand their skill set and explore new professional opportunities. We have had strong positive feedback from people across the region. We remain committed towards equipping people across the Middle East with the necessary knowledge, skills and expertise according to international standards to help raise the benchmark for global excellence.”
The Academy aims to address gaps in the market by working with the Irish Academy to offer internationally recognized certificate courses in Public Relations (PR), Marketing, Journalism, Event Management and English Grammar. It also offers localized Arabic courses in Online Marketing and PR as well as a Diploma in Event Management. Each course takes 10 to 12 weeks and students are required to complete one module every week and pass all requirements before a certificate is awarded.
Orient Planet Academy is a direct collaboration between Orient Planet, one of the Middle East’s most rapidly growing PR marketing and communications consultancies, and the Irish Academy of Public Relations, an Ireland-based international online education provider of courses in communications disciplines. Orient Planet Academy’s courses have been exclusively developed by the Irish Academy to suit the needs of individuals within the Arab World.
For more information about the Academy’s courses, visit www.opacademy.com.
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New Accounting and Finance Qualification Courses Made Available for the First Time in UAE

Landmark Partnership Makes PAC Professionals & Accountancy Centre First Training Provider of AAT Qualifications in Dubai
Dubai, UAE, August 10th, 2016 – AAT (the Association of Accounting Technicians), a globally recognized player in the accounting and finance sector, has joined forces with PAC Professionals & Accountancy Center Dubai to deliver AAT’s highly respected and internationally recognized accounting and finance courses in the UAE for the first time.

With over 130,000 members in more than 90 countries, courses offered by AAT are not only internationally recognized but are based on practical, real-world accounting knowledge that any student can put to use from day one. AAT is a leader in the finance and accountancy industry, providing practical workplace qualifications for finance staff across the world. It awards around 90 per cent of all vocational qualifications in accounting, and is sponsored by professional accounting bodies such as the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland.
Under the terms of the agreement, individuals in the region seeking to take up these prestigious AAT courses in accounting or bookkeeping may now enroll at PAC Dubai.
PAC Dubai is the latest strategic addition to over 500 training providers of AAT accounting and finance courses across the world. These sought-after professional courses are mainly designed to effectively reinforce the capabilities of any organization’s finance team, and have been developed for anyone eager to boost their business skills and start out on a career in finance.
Rob Alder, Head of Business Development at AAT, said: “We are very excited to be working closely to provide PAC Professionals & Accountancy Centre with all the support and guidance it needs to efficiently deliver AAT qualifications in the region. We are eager to work together for the benefit of our students and to invest in their futures. We will help them move up the ladder or even launch a whole new career in accountancy by equipping them with the right expertise, in-demand qualifications, and confidence needed to succeed in today’s highly competitive industry. Given PAC Dubai’s impeccable track record, we are confident that we will be able to achieve our set objectives and targets.”
Mian Ahmad Farhan, President at PAC Dubai says: “AAT provides a wide range of practical qualifications for beginners in accounting to help them build a bright career. The beauty of AAT qualifications is that they cover practical accounting topics and are also equivalent to formal academic studies which are recognized in the UAE as well as around the world. AAT qualifications can play a vital role in helping UAE Nationals hold positions in the Public and Private sector.”
For more information about how AAT courses at PAC Dubai can help anyone wanting to begin a career in finance, visit www.pacdubai.com  
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University of Salford Delivers Disaster Management Training in UAE

United Arab Emirates, November 15th, 2015 – The University of Salford, United Arab Emirates (UAE), has joined forces with the Abu Dhabi Police to train and educate specialist Emirati agencies in leadership and disaster management.

In collaboration with the police force, experts from the University of Salford delivered a specialist workshop entitled ‘Achieving Leadership in Disaster Management’. The session gave relevant organisations and stakeholders from across the UAE the opportunity to learn, discuss and debate the best way to handle disasters in the region. These situations could range from natural disasters such as an earthquake to man-made incidents like an oil or gas explosion or terrorist attack.
The UAE is one of the fastest growing nations in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, both in population size and economic growth. This rapid expansion has seen significant changes to the country’s infrastructure and built environment. These changes would be heavily impacted by any natural disaster or man-made emergency.
The event, which was opened by the University’s new Vice-Chancellor, Professor Helen Marshall, and Chair of the Salford UAE Advisory Board, Dr Alaa Garad, was backed and attended by The National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA).
The NCEMA is the body responsible for regulating and coordinating all efforts of emergency, crisis and disaster management in Abu Dhabi. It is also responsible for the development of a national plan for responding to emergencies, working under the supervision of the Supreme Council for National Security.
Issues covered included three specific areas of disaster management at a regional and international level. These were ‘Collaborative Risk Assessment Environment in Disaster Management’; ‘The Strategic Approach to Emergency Preparedness in the UAE’, and ‘Community Centred Disaster Management within UAE: Challenges & Opportunities’.
The workshop sessions were delivered by academic experts from the University of Salford’s internationally renowned School of the Built Environment. The School is recognised as one the best in the UK and globally ranked in the top 40 by the prestigious QS World University Rankings. It works closely with professional institutions such as the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS); The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB); The Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT) and The Royal Institute of British Architect (RIBA)
The academics were:
  • Professor Vian Ahmed, Professor in Built Environment and Director of Postgraduate Research Studies at School of the Built Environment
  • Dr Aziz Zeeshan, Programme Leader for the MSc in Construction Management
  • Professor Terrence Fernando, Scientific Director of the THINKlab

The academics worked in collaboration with representatives and stakeholders from police forces across the UAE to deliver the workshop.

The workshop was also attended by stakeholders from the UAE Space Agency, the country’s Ministry of Defense and the senior representatives from the gas and petroleum sectors. The industry and government figures were joined by academics from Abu Dhabi, Khalifa, Sharjah and Zayed universities.
Hasan Altug, Regional Director, Middle East,  at the University of Salford, said: “The University is committed to building long-term partnerships in the UAE and developing new academic and professional collaborations in education and industry across the region, and this includes going beyond the usual industry, education and policy areas to more niche, but equally important, sectors such as disaster management.”
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Dubai Maritime Training Center Establishes New Standards of Maritime Vocational Training

An Initiative of Dubai Maritime Creativity Lab
Innovative professional programs aimed at enhancing human resource investment and solidifying Dubai’s leading position in local and global maritime industry
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, October 17th, 2015 – The Dubai Maritime City Authority, the government authority charged with regulating, coordinating and supervising all aspects of Dubai’s maritime sector, has lauded the operations of the Dubai Maritime Training Centre which represents a valuable addition to the initiatives aimed at enhancing the performance, safety and competitiveness of the local maritime sector while also promoting the emirate as a leading global maritime hub. The Dubai Maritime Training Centre is an initiative developed by the Dubai Maritime Creativity Lab, which was launched earlier by DMCA. The centre work revolves around supporting the government’s efforts to introduce and position Dubai as a safe and sustainable maritime hub via the implementation of comprehensive set of world-class workshops and training programs.
H.E. Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chairman of Dubai Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation and President of DMCA said, “The Dubai Maritime Training Centre represents an important step into achieving our vision of fully developing our maritime human resources segment, which is deemed as an essential element in promoting Dubai as a global maritime hub while also helping bolster the country’s economic sector and addressing its future needs. Implementing the centre’s training programs will allow us to equip a generation of human resources that can continue the current development of the local maritime sector and promote the emirate as a regional and international pioneer maritime center, in line with the vision and directives of the wise leadership.”
The Dubai Maritime Training Center is one of DMCA’s quality-focused initiatives, which aims to promote Dubai as an international maritime center by focusing on exchanging the latest industry information, introducing the latest practices and organizing international exhibitions, conferences and events, as well as improving training and education directed to those concerned with maritime matters. Considered as a leading drive for the development of human resource investment within the maritime sector, the Dubai Maritime Training Centre aims to collaborate with the best experts and pioneers to design and implement integrated training programs that address rapid international and regional changes and promote Dubai as a leading destination for maritime training and an attractive business environment for leading international maritime companies.
Amer Ali, Executive Director, DMCA, said, “The workshops and training courses introduced by the centre have been created based on highly accurate and comprehensive methodology, industry knowledge exchange and the integration of theoretic maritime education and practical training—ensuring highly positive results. DMCA has initiated a wide-scale plan to renovate and update training facilities and provide it with the latest world-class technologies and equipment in order to achieve the objectives of the Dubai Maritime Training Centre for the optimal investment in human resources. We are preparing a series of training programs specifically tailored to equip floating restaurant employees and owners of jet skis and leisure boats with the latest information and practical competency needed to insure highest safety levels. We are committed to expand the range of training programs to include all the needs of water sports enthusiasts and marine craft operation managers as well.”