Desert islands education centre partners with city & guilds for testing accreditation
March 11, 2009
Abu Dhabi’s Desert Islands Education Centre (DIEC), has partnered with City & Guilds (C&G), the UK’s leading vocational awarding body, which will see the facility – the first professional education operation on Dalma Island in the emirate’s western province (Al Gharbia)- become an accredited C&G training and examination centre.
“This is a significant stride forward in the DIEC’s overarching aim of preparing Dalma’s population for careers which will result from the emergence of Al Gharbia’s tourism potential,” said Lee Tabler, CEO of Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC) which operates the centre.
DIEC now offers City & Guilds training in English. Future plans are to offer City & Guilds training in Tourism and Business related skills. 14 students were enrolled in City & Guilds IESOL A1 Preliminary, in which all of the students were successful in passing. In addition, two students enrolled in City & Guilds ISESOL A1, seven students enrolled in City & Guilds ISESOL A2 and three students enrolled in City & Guilds ISESOL B1, all of whom are still waiting for results.
“C&G has an impeccable reputation for working closely with employers to ensure that the qualifications it awards are a true reflection of the relevant skills and competence levels students are seeking,” said Bernie Roy, Deputy Director of Education, TDIC.
“In sealing this partnership TDIC has demonstrated its commitment to providing ‘best-in-class’ opportunities to DIEC students and Dalma’s overall population.”
Funded by the Abu Dhabi Government, DIEC has over 500 students on its register. The 1,000 square metre, purpose-built centre in Dalma Mall boasts three classrooms and two computer laboratories which can accommodate 32 students at any one time.
Dalma is the second largest of the eight Al Gharbia islands making up the Desert Islands multi-experiential destination, which opened its first phase in October 2008 – namely the 64-bedroom Desert Islands Resort & Spa and the Arabian Wildlife Park on Sir Bani Yas Island.
Desert Islands is a flagship destination from the expanding portfolio of TDIC, a major developer of Abu Dhabi’s tourism assets. The nature-based Desert Islands project is seen as the first major step in opening Al Gharbia up to international tourism.
“There will be numerous career opportunities for local residents from Desert Islands and to assist in preparing the local population to better understand these we have created a ‘walk-in’ experiential centre at DIEC where students learn more about the destination’s proposed future,” explained Roy.
Staffed by a faculty of overseas teaching professionals and UAE nationals working in administration positions, DIEC courses are free-of-charge for Emirati students with course fees being levied for non-nationals.