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>> Infotour to Dubai and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates 2003

"Vocational Education made in Germany"
iMOVE presents initial and continuing German training in the United Arab Emirates

iMOVE conducted two information seminars in Dubai and Abu Dhabi within the framework of its activities in the field of international marketing for German initial and continuing training programmes in collaboration with the German Industry and Commerce Office in Dubai and the Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) in February 2003. The objective of these seminars was to present the “export product of vocational training” to a broader public in the UAE and thus Germany as a competent partner in solving problems in the field of initial and continuing vocational training. For this reason an effort was made to promote the strengths and relevance of German vocational education and training as well as present opportunities and programmes offered in the area of continuing vocational training “made in Germany”.

Background

The need for vocational training in the countries of the Gulf region is growing unabated. In view of the finite oil supply, the UAE is investing increasingly in alternative sectors and in addition attempting to decrease its dependence on foreign workers, who account for up to 75% of the workforce. Some countries have already introduced requirements that 60% of the workforce be domestic nationals.

On top of this the population is exploding. The percentage of the young population who need to be trained for the future labour market is on the rise. In view of this situation the UAE is facing ever more severe problems in the labour market. There is a shortage of qualified labour in many sectors, and there is a shortage of institutions which can provide this training.

Germany has a lot to offer in the area of initial and continuing vocational training. German vocational education and training also enjoys a high reputation in the region and political and economiv relations between Germany and the UAE. The positioning of German vocational training in this market thus appears to hold out considerable promise.

The participants

In addition to iMOVE, the GTZ and the German Industry and Commerce Office in Dubai, the Federal Institute for Vocational Training (BIBB) also took part in the event, presenting specific elements of the German VET system within the framework of the key note presentation. Deutsche Lufthansa AG also presented the advantages of vocational training.

The following training providers took advantage of the opportunity to present their spectrum of services and establish contacts:

Carl Duisberg Centren, Cognos AG, Internationaler Bund, IMAGO Thomas Heine GmbH, Lufthansa Technical Training GmbH, WBS Training AG

The broad variety of programmes ranged from international management courses on training in quality to project management in the field of automation technology. At the same time, continuing training in Germany oriented towards the field of practice was also on offer along with customer-specific in-house training programmes.

Have a look at the brochure on the participants at the events.

The programme

The informational events took place on two days.

The first day was respectively the main event day (Dubai: February 16, Abu Dhabi: February 18). This day kicked off with the welcoming address and greeting by the staging organisation, local partners, and representatives of the German embassy in Abu Dhabi respectively the German General Consulate in Dubai. The German vocational training system and its specific strengths were then presented. This part consisted of expert presentations by representatives of BIBB – Dr. Gisela Dybowski gave the keynote address – the German Industry and Commerce Office Dubai, the GTZ and the representative of Deutsche Lufthansa AG in Dubai, who shed light on vocational training from a company perspective.

After this, German training providers who are interested in being involved in future activities in the Gulf region or who are already active in the region presented their programmes on offer within the framework of individual presentations. The day was concluded with a reception by the German embassy in Abu Dhabi and the German General Consulate in Dubai.

An opportunity was provided on the second day to conduct individual discussions with potential partners and visit companies on-site.

The event was oriented towards decision-makers from the field of policy-making and business (domestic and German companies) as well as colleges responsible for vocational training.

You will find the programmes here.

Presentations

Ambassador Alexander Mühlen.

State Secretary Dr. Uwe Reinhardt, Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture

At the same time as the presentations were taking place, there was an all-day exhibition which offered training providers an additional opportunity to present their programmes and hold talks.

Dr. Gisela Dybowski (BIBB) informs interested visitors

Dr. Heinz Hofmann (GTZ) engaged in a discussion

Prominent visitors at the exhibition

Stefan Herzog (Lufthansa Technical Training) in a discussion

There were a lot of visitors at the information seminars – approximately 100 participants – which confirmed the lively interest in the Emirates for German vocational and education and training.
You can read the reports in the local press here:

June 2003: GATE

May 2003: Review World Education Market 2003

May 2003: Preview World Education Market 2003

March 24th 2003: Times of Oman

March 24th 2003: Oman Daily Observer

March 22nd 2003: Times of Oman

March 19th 2003: Oman Daily Observer

March 2003: CEDEFOP

February 2003: Business Times

February 2003: Gulf Times

November 2002: BiBB News

April 2002: Preview Magazine World Education Market 2003