Employees Make Use of Reduced Workload in Ramadan to Invest in Developing their Soft Skills

Demand for training programs targeting middle managers sees 15% increase in Ramadan, compared to monthly average, says IH Dubai
Dubai, UAE, July 13th, 2014 – International House Dubai (IH Dubai), a leading institution offering practical skills-based courses with international accreditation, has reported a 15 percent increase in admissions to training programs during Ramadan, compared to the monthly average in the first half of 2014.
The company attributed this rise to the reduced working hours in the public and private sectors, which allows more executive trainees to enroll in training sessions for career development.
Clair Hattle, Director, IH Dubai said: “Business continuity and performance are the main challenges for employers during Ramadan, but soft skills improvement for employees can bring benefits for both employers and employees, especially if the programs offer certificates with international accreditation.” 
Hattle added that these qualifications are preferred mainly by UAE nationals because they hold value in the Emiratisation drive, opening new doors to rewarding careers in the private sector.
“We have seen a dramatic increase in demand for management programs and English, and we responded by developing a flexible schedule during Ramadan until July 28. We expect the higher demand for such programs to continue until the end of 2014,” Hattle said. “The UAE public and private sectors have a better understanding, nowadays, of applying international standards to the local workplace by investing in the soft skills of their employees during Ramadan.”
A majority of trainees during Ramadan are middle managers who are climbing up the ladder in their professional career paths. They choose Ramadan because of reduced workload in their workplace, and this leaves room for pursuing skills development programs.
Failan Saleem, Marketing Director, IH Dubai added: “We reduced the registration fees by 15% until the end of this campaign on the 28th of July, however training can commence anytime before the 31st of December, 2014. Our aim for this offer is to encourage companies in the UAE to consider this period for employees’ skills improvement.
Saleem concluded: “We take pride in enjoying a significant share of the training sector in the UAE. We notice that language, soft skills and ILM programs are among the top choices for local trainees during the Ramadan period.”
IH Dubai has been operating in Dubai for the past 10 years. It is part of IHWO, a 61-year-old body that represents a network of institutions worldwide committed to implementing high quality standards in education and training.