World news story

UK Skills Expo 2013

UKTI Dubai is hosting the first ever Skills Expo to showcase British companies to training departments of major UAE organisations in an effort to promote UK expertise in this growing sector.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Education is at the core of a country’s growth and success. The UK is a world class provider of all forms of education with a long history of partnership in the UAE. But education isn’t just something for school and college, to fully realise the potential of our people we need to continue to invest in learning and development. That is why, for the first time, we have brought together different providers from the UK in the training and skills sector to showcase their expertise in one place. This will provide organisations in the UAE with the opportunity to meet with a variety of world class providers and look at different offerings at a single venue.

2013 has been labelled the year of Emiratisation. The UK has the expertise to provide programmes that will deliver the necessary skills to meet the needs of the local labour market. Training from the UK is business focused and can be developed in partnership with employers to meet sector skills needs. The UK is also able to offer experience in accrediting work based learning and can provide a wide range of industry or sector accredited training which provides trainees with courses that are internationally recognised. During the State Visit of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al Nahyan, the President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to the UK earlier this year, an MOU was signed on agreeing a qualifications framework between the UK and UAE, this shows further recognition of the UK’s education and skills capability.

Foreword

Manchester Business School

Manchester Business School Middle East Centre works closely with UKTI in the United Arab Emirates and plays an active role in supporting and presenting the best of UK higher education in the UAE and surrounding GCC region. Through our work at the Middle East Centre in Dubai, MBS supports a large and growing community of 1,500 part time MBA students who benefit from the distinctive MBS approach of learning by doing. MBS delivers MBA programmes through blended learning with a strong emphasis on face to face contact with peers and faculty, which is so important in the learning process. In addition, MBS is increasingly working with companies in the region to help them develop the skills necessary to deliver strategy - MBS is already working with some of the region’s leading companies providing tailored executive education programmes for senior management teams, led by MBS top faculty. Regardless of whether it is an individual student, a management team or a broader company programme to develop and manage talent, all benefit from the practical approach to learning that quickly converts learning into practical skills for successful management. As a leading global business school, we are delighted to be supporting this UK Skills Expo which will be an outstanding showcase of the UK’s cutting edge expertise in a vital area.

Randa Bessiso,

Director - Middle East.

UK Trade & Investment

UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) is the Government department that helps UK companies succeed in international markets and encourages overseas companies bring their high quality investment to the UK. Based at the British Embassy, UKTI in the UAE supports British organisations, both those based in the UK and in the UAE, to do business here and build winning relationships. We also work with local organisations to look to the UK as their global partner of choice. UK and UAE share valuable and long standing links in the education and training sector and we are keen to enhance these. Please contact the UAE Lead Advisor for Education & Training, based at the British Embassy in Dubai to see how best we can help you.

British Embassy Dubai

PO Box 65

Dubai, UAE

Contact: Sunita Mirchandani

Trade & Investment Advisor

UAE Lead for Education & Training & ICT

Mob: +971 (0)4 309 4239

Email

Website

AQR MENA

Established in 1989 and has evolved into one of the world’s leading edge international test publishers and business consultancies. It now operates in around 40 countries around the globe in the occupational, educational and sports and health markets. Its core business remains the occupational sector where it develops high quality psychometric tests in conjunction with leading universities and organisations in the Public, Private and Third Sector. This approach ensures not only a reliable and valid psychometric tool but also one that is directly relevant to the relevant market, allowing quantitative diagnostic data to be gathered to inform policy and decision making. Clients in the UAE and the Gulf include Kuwait Petroleum, HCT, Jumeirah Group, ADWEA, Abu Dhabi Ports Authority, AD Ministry of the Interior, and Al Ain Hospital.

46, Block 9

Knowledge Village

Dubai, UAE

AQR MENA

Contact: Amanda Kelleher

Managing Director

Mob: +971 (0)50 565 1623

Email

Website

A1V1 And Info Security

A training and vocational qualification organisation which specialises in entrepreneurship and technology projects. The company was created, by an ex-university lecturer, in 2001 to fill the gap between academic knowledge and business skills. Our aim is to deliver flexible work based training and vocational qualification relevant to an entrepreneur or a member of staff. We also integrate business English and other evolving needs in our training projects. We have developed strong professional relationships with universities, colleges, private institutes, specialist institutes, consortium, awarding bodies and most importantly prestigious and satisfied clients. We follow innovative training project models to fit in a society, business sector and industry’s learning & development projects. We also specialise in project trouble shooting services.

42-A, Burlington Gardens

Acton, London

W3 6BA

UK

Contact: Naeem Chowhdary

Director

Mob: +44 783 305 3448

Mob: +971 (0)56 724 5608

Email

Website

British Council

One of the world’s largest education and cultural relations organisations and is a leader in the field of English language teaching and training. We work in 110 countries and territories around the world and have been in the UAE since 1967. We connect people worldwide with learning opportunities and creative ideas from the UK, and build lasting relationships between the UK and other countries. We administer internationally recognized qualifications and deliver general and workplace English to members of the public and private/public sector clients and offer consultancy to assess the English ability and skills of employees and design programmes to enhance the English capacity of the workforce. These programmes may include workplace English, soft skills and tailored courses for specific sectors or exam preparation.

Oud Metha

PO Box 1636

Dubai, UAE

Contact: Mark Elliott

Assistant Teaching Centre Manager

Mob: +971 (0)56 174 0311

Tel: +971 (0)4 131 5527

Email

Website

Business English UK

A national association formed by a group of leading training centres specialising in English and communication training for business and professional people worldwide. Our members have a wealth of experience in providing tailor-made language courses for all industries and professions. Our expertise is in the training of language skills, communication skills and cross-cultural skills. All members are accredited by the UK government and committed to the highest professional training standards.

Contact: Sarah Wang

International Manager

Tel: +44 20 7608 7960

Email

Website

219 St John Street

London

EC1V 4LY

UK

Cambridge English Language Assessment

Provides the world’s leading range of qualifications, and English language education services, for learners, teachers and administrators. Each year our examinations are taken by over four million people in more than 130 countries. Part of the Cambridge Assessment Group, we are a non-teaching department of the University of Cambridge and a not-for-profit organisation. Our expertise, gathered over 100 years of language learning and assessment, has led us to build strong relationships with other organisations, and by working with other experts and education professionals, we combine our strengths to offer learners enhanced quality, choice and opportunity. We are supported by a permanent staff of around 500, based both in our head office in the UK and our offices in 19 countries around the world and employ more than 25,000 consultants worldwide who work in the areas of examining, training and quality assurance.

Cambridge English

Language Assessment

1 Hills Road

Cambridge

CB1 2EU

UK

Contact: Zara Shahid Khan

Marketing Manager, UAE

Tel: +971 (0)4 294 9989

Email

Website

CIMA

Founded in 1919, is the world’s leading & largest professional body of Management accountants, with members & students operating in 173 countries. CIMA provides an internationally recognised accountancy qualification, which is unique in its focus on accounting for business. We are a world leader in vocational education. We operate in over 80 countries and have over 130 years of experience in designing qualifications and providing learners with real-life, practical skills needed to succeed in the modern workplace. We work with governments to develop skills solutions and embed our qualifications into the national education system and curriculum. Our qualifications are widely accepted by employers around the world as the benchmark for excellence and help to create a mobile and flexible workforce suitably qualified to succeed even in today’s challenging economic climate.

CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants)

804, 08 Floor

Liberty House, DIFC

PO Box 506527

Dubai, UAE

Contact: Geetu Ahuja

Head of GCC, CIMA Middle East

Tel: +971 (0)4 434 7370

Email

Website

City & Guilds

A world leader in vocational education. We operate in over 80 countries and have over 130 years of experience in designing qualifications and providing learners with real-life, practical skills needed to succeed in the modern workplace. We work with governments to develop skills solutions and embed our qualifications into the national education system and curriculum. Our qualifications are widely accepted by employers around the world as the benchmark for excellence and help to create a mobile and flexible workforce suitably qualified to succeed even in today’s challenging economic climate. Over the last 20 years alone, more than 20 million learners received a City & Guilds certificate from over 10,000 approved training organisations around the world.

Contact: Tony Degazon

Regional Manager

Mob: +971 (0)56 695 5914

Tel: +971 (0)4 437 7580

Email

Website

City & Guilds

F05 Block 12

Knowledge Village

PO Box 501719

Dubai, UAE

Creative Concepts HR Solutions Ltd

An international provider of Training and Development Interventions, Coaching and Human Resources Consultancy. We work with organisations who wish to develop their people strategies in order to achieve more targeted and successful outcomes, creating and sustaining a high performance business. By working in partnership with the CMI (Chartered Management Institute), we provide professional qualifications in management and leadership, allowing individuals to ultimately achieve the status of Chartered Manager. The CMI is the only Chartered body for management and leadership qualifications in the UK. In addition we offer a range of bespoke training programmes, positive “Can Do” coaching for managers and executives and a full range of Human Resources consultancy.

Contact: Lynn Marie

Director

Tel: + 44 797 398 2664

Email

Website

2 Vaughan Close

Hampton, Middx

TW12 3XL

UK

Grayling

A leading global communications network founded in 1981 to deliver data-driven strategies for Public Relations, Government Affairs, Investor Relations and Event Management. We have been operating in the Middle East for almost 30 years and have offices in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Doha and Istanbul; we also have strong affiliate offices in KSA, Egypt, Jordan, Oman, Kuwait, Syria, Bahrain. In addition to our core strategic communications offering, Grayling Middle East also offers a dedicated media skills and crisis training practice. Our bespoke training programmes are tailored to meet the specific needs of individual clients and are designed to be as practical and real-to-life as possible. Our UAE based instructors have successfully delivered media training sessions for clients across public and private sectors.

Grayling

337 Building 10

Dubai Media City

PO Box 24554

Dubai, UAE

Contact: Seth Hand

Regional Director

Mob: +971 (0)50 557 3019

Email

Website

Heriot Watt University

With a history dating back to 1821, Heriot-Watt University has established a reputation for world-class teaching and practical, leading-edge research, which has made us one of the top UK universities for business and industry. Here in Dubai, we have grown to become the largest branch campus in the UAE with more than 40 UG and PG programmes and our own purpose-built campus. We work very closely with the local industry and government and often offer training programmes for organizations that aspire to become leaders in their field. We have a long list of courses that we can offer as part of corporate training packages, many of which are accredited by the relevant UK professional institutions such as the RICS, ICE, IoE, IMechE, etc. We also offer bespoke programmes following thorough and comprehensive analysis of organizational needs.

Heriot Watt University

Dubai Campus

Dubai International Academic City

PO Box 294345

Dubai, UAE

Contact: Amar Kaka - Deputy Principal, Exec.

Dean & Head of the Dubai Campus

Tel: +971 (0)4 361 6999

Email

Website

Involved Learning

An educational and employability provider with its head office in the UK. We work with clients throughout Northern Europe and the Gulf Region. Delivering upon significant Government contracts by partnering to meet social and policy objectives, Involved Learning operates in delivering innovative education, training and employability solutions to achieve specific, measurable results. Our suite of training programmes include employability and employment advice, interview skills, in-work support, literacy and numeracy, motivational workshops, train-the-trainer programmes, vocational learning, accredited training, executive coaching, organisational development, leadership & management development and human capital development. Alongside this we offer the ability to work with organisations to develop and deliver their own in-house programmes. Involved Learning is looking to further expand their presence within the middle-eastern region.

Involved Learning

The Knowledge Centre

Wyboston Lakes, Wyboston

MK44 3BY

UK

Contact: Thomas Spencer-Bancroft

Business Development Director

Tel: +44 0 1480 471068

Fax: +971 (0)2 622 1179

Email

Website

Manchester Business School (MBS)

UK’s largest campus-based business and management school. Part of the University of Manchester, MBS is a research driven business school with a global reputation and is consistently ranked amongst the world’s top schools. The MBS Middle East Centre at Dubai Knowledge Village, United Arab Emirates, is one of seven international centres of Manchester Business School and supports more than 1,500 part time MBA students representing 85 nationalities residing in the Middle East region. The MBA students are working professionals with leading multinationals companies in the region. MBS has over 50 years’ experience of working in partnership with our clients to develop unique executive education that inspire leaders, change cultures and transform organisations. MBS is also working with some of the region’s leading companies providing tailored executive education programmes for senior management teams, led by MBS top faculty.

Manchester Business School

Block 2B, Office F116

Dubai Knowledge Village

Dubai, UAE

Contact: Saad El Hajj

Head Corporate Relations

Tel: +971 (0)4 446 8664

Email

Website

Pearson

The world’s leading learning company with a portfolio that provides innovative textbooks, online testing, software solutions and integrated services. We create interactive online learning that supports every learner, regardless of their age or ability because it is never too late to start learning – or start enjoying it. We believe education is for everyone, and we provide the tools for people to learn: whatever their age, wherever they are, in whatever fashion they choose. Our textbooks, courses and resources are available in print, online and through multi-lingual packages distributed to teachers and students all over the world. We provide education and assessment services in more than 70 countries. Every day all over the world our products and services help learning flourish, and wherever learning flourishes, so do people.

Pearson

Office 306, Arjaan Tower

Dubai Media City

PO Box 500598

Dubai, UAE

Contact: Mark Andrews

Regional Director

Pearson Qualifications

Tel: +971 (0)4 446 8664

Email

Website

RogenSI

Has been helping organisations and individuals in more than 100 countries to reach their goals and inspire them to achieve exceptional performance. We are proud of our history, which spans 45 years, and the milestones we have reached. RogenSi operates out of 13 centres in 10 countries across four continents and works with more than 20,000 people from a wide range of sectors. Our exceptional performance formula evolved on the back of our global research and assessment. In 2013, we became a full-service training and consultancy firm specialising in applied leadership and sales execution. We continuously learn from our clients and create and disseminate meaningful insights.

RogenSi

Block 4, Office F12

Knowledge Village

PO Box 500692

Dubai, UAE

Contact: Kelly Hanrahan

Business Consultant

Mob: +971 (0)50 652 3142

Tel: +971 (0)4 364 4581

Email

Website

Sir John Cass Business School

Part of City University London, is one of the world’s leading business schools located in the City of London – London’s financial centre. Cass’s Dubai Centre was established in May 2007 and is a regional centre of educational excellence for the Middle East and North Africa. Cass launched a Dubai-based Executive MBA programme in 2007 which has been growing in popularity ever since. Cass EMBA in Dubai is tailored to the agendas of the region’s managers and business leaders. The Centre also runs City University London’s MSc programmes in Aviation. In addition, it offers customised executive education courses, business and consulting service.

Cass Business School

City University London

Gate Village, Building 2, Level 3

Dubai International Financial Centre

PO Box 482070

Dubai, UAE

Contact: Ehsan Razavizadeh

Regional Director

MENA, Head of Dubai Centre

Mob: +971 (0)4 401 9318

Email

Website

Stadium TM

A unique and diversified events company. We provide the following training services: Logistics, Traffic Management, SIA security, Event Stewarding, Hospitality and Customer Service qualifications. Our training department has experiences in the British Army and the West Midlands Police Forces where they trained candidates up to the highest standards. Currently, StadiumTM provides these services at well known UK football clubs including; Liverpool FC, Derby FC, Burnley FC and Blackburn Rovers. StadiumTM also provided successful stewarding, security and traffic management services at the non-competition venues during the London 2012 Olympics. We pride ourselves in ensuring that all of our staff have a minimum of Customer Service NVQ level 2 and Spectator Safety NVQ level 2 training qualifications. Our mission is to train candidates globally in a variety of skills to the UK national standards which are recognised worldwide.

StadiumTM

Coventry University Techno Centre

Puma Way, Coventry, Warwickshire

CV1 2TT

UK

Contact: David McAtamney

Managing Director

Tel: +44 777 199 1648

Email

Website

Strathclyde Business School

The leading business school in Scotland for executive education, providing customised programmes to companies from FTSE 100 powerhouses to awardwinning start-ups. Working closely with our clients and drawing upon academic resources from across the UK’s reigning Times Higher Education University of the Year and largest institute of postgraduate education, the executive education team at the Centre for Corporate Connections helps organisations and individuals to build capability. Strathclyde regularly provides research, consultation, advice and structured programmes to top management teams in both the public and private sectors, including HM Treasury, Scottish Government, PwC, European Commission, OECD, US Transport Security Agency, Diageo, BAE Systems, Babcock International Group, SSE, ScottishPower, Bombardier, First ScotRail, EDF, Thales, and Weir Group. Strathclyde Business School has been in the UAE for 18 years and has campuses in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi. With quadruple accredited programmes (3x international plus Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research) and a well-established regional presence, Strathclyde is uniquely positioned to align learning with organisational development strategy and provide our UAE corporate connections with impactful on- or off-site programmes.

Strathclyde Business School UAE

177 Cathedral Street

Glasgow, Scotland

G4 0RQ

UK

Contact: Deborah Blinder

UAE Public Relations Manager

Mob: +971 (0)50 661 7519

Email

Website

University of Bolton

RAK campus commenced academic operations in 2008 in Ras Al Khaimah and offers programmes in a multitude of disciplines. The campus is home to over 350 students representing 30 nationalities with the majority of students being from South East Asia, West Africa & the Middle East itself. The university has introduced several new courses as part of its Executive Education provision which cater to the training needs of many companies based across the UAE. The executive education offering covers areas such as Leadership, Management & Supervision, Managing Finance, Business Processes, Re-engineering, Health Care Management & Logistics apart from certificate programmes in Health & Safety, Managing Safely. The intent is deliver quality, flexible courses that can fit around work and other commitments for both individuals and organizations aiming to provide continuous staff development to its personnel.

University of Bolton RAK Campus

c/o Western International College (WINC) FZE,

P.O. Box 16038

Ras Al Khaimah, UAE

Opp RAK Mens College (HCT–RAK)

Al Hudaibaa Road Burairaat

Ras Al Khaimah, UAE

Contact: Dr. Zubair Hanslot

Provost - External Relations

Tel: +971 (0)7 221 1221

Email

Website

University of Bradford

A traditional British University established by the Royal Charter in 1966. The University’s campus in the UK offers over 140 undergraduate and 80 postgraduate courses in Computing, Engineering, Health and Life Sciences, Management, Social and International Studies. In terms of regional presence, we recently opened our first Regional Office in Dubai Knowledge Village that offers admission assistance to students and also supports delivery of the Executive MBA and MSc International Health Management and serves as a hub for all of the University’s recruitment activities in the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia. There are additional plans to expand a portfolio of courses delivered locally by bringing MSc Nursing Studies, BSc Nursing and BSc Midwifery to UAE by September 2014.

University of Bradford

University of Bradford Regional Office

Block 13, G39

Knowledge Village

Dubai, UAE

Contact: Mrs Ruth Girdham

Head of Division of Nursing

Tel: +44 1274 236349

Email

Website

Website

Published 20 November 2013