‘Vocational training vital in meeting growing HR demands’

Technical and vocational training is vital in meeting the growing human resource demands of strategically important business sectors in Dubai, offering a fast and effective solution to develop talent from within the UAE, said Mohammad Abdullah, Managing Director of Dubai International Academic City (Diac).

Speaking at the launch of the UK College for Business and Computing, one of London’s most reputed higher and vocational educational institutions, at Diac on Monday, he said, “Welcoming the college to our thriving community of leading educational institutions and vocational training providers marks a further milestone in our support towards Dubai’s economy by supporting business growth through the provision of a highly-trained workforce.”

The college currently has six campuses in Central & Greater London that offer courses in Business Management, Computing, Health & Social Care, Travel & Tourism as well as accounting courses. The Dubai Campus will initially deliver Pearson Btec qualifications in business management, computing, travel & tourism, and health and social care eventually expanding to other qualifications that suit the UAE’s higher education and employability needs.

Employers increasingly prefer to hire graduates who can demonstrate work ready skills.

Btec diplomas provide students with industry experience from ground level.  Students are required to complete assessments based on real companies or scenarios which helps build skills such as decision making, communication and other interpersonal skills, said the college’s Director of Finance and Operations, Bhargav Busa, FCCA.

“With the UAE government’s initiative and emphasis on additional vocational qualification for the citizens and residents, we are seeing that vocational training is taking off in the UAE,” he said. Jonathan Sandling, Director of Studies at UKCBC, said, ‘We believe we have the right mix of courses and credibility that will help our students progress in their academic journey. Our courses are carefully designed to suit the needs of all learners.”

Source: http://www.gulftoday.ae/portal/a9218b7e-9e58-467b-a490-680212414292.aspx