UAE Ministry of Education & Microsoft honour top 10 students in 'Develop Education through Technology' drive

"Encouraging student proficiency in the latest technologies, is the foundation towards achieving a strong and vibrant national community," Dr. Ahmed Saad Abdullah Al Sherif, Assistant Undersecretary for Student Activities & Welfare, MOE

Dubai, February 5, 2002: The UAE Ministry of Education (MOE) and Microsoft Gulf honoured the top ten student winners of the inter-school technology proficiency competition - Developing Education through Technology - conducted in secondary schools across the UAE.

The special awards ceremony was held at the Microsoft Gulf's regional headquarters in Dubai Internet City, and was attended by senior representatives from the Ministry of Education and Microsoft Gulf.

Delivering his key-note address at the awards event, Dr. Ahmed Saad Abdullah Al Sherif, Assistant Undersecretary for Student Activities & Welfare, UAE Ministry of Education, said that having achieved its objective of substantially raising literacy levels in the UAE, the UAE Ministry of Education was now focusing on raising the quality of education imparted in educational establishments across the country, through the use of technology.

"Given the high student population in the UAE, we believe that encouraging their proficiency in the latest technologies, is the foundation towards achieving a strong and vibrant national community that will have the required skills to support the technology revolution that we are now experiencing. This is the third year in succession that we have partnered with Microsoft in organising such an initiative and we hope that it will spur the student community in the country towards rapid technology adoption."

The competition, which was open to students of all secondary schools in the UAE, invited each institution to nominate the top three students, most proficient in the use of the latest Microsoft software. A judging panel, comprising of senior representatives from the MOE, evaluated entries on the basis of students' proficiency levels and on how these skills were used in optimising their overall education.

The top three winners of the competition were Rasha Nabiel Haj Qasem from Al Morajeb Secondary School, Al Ain; Fatemah Rashid Salem from Falaj Al Moa'alah Secondary School, Umm Al-Qaiwain; and Sarah Eshak Abdulrahman from Zabeel Secondary School, Dubai

Speaking at the event, Mr. Yasser Zeineldin, Marketing Manager, Microsoft Gulf said
"We have had a long and fruitful association with the Ministry of Education and share in their vision to leverage technology to spur education to new heights. Our efforts are constantly encouraged by the Ministry's proactive approach as well as the enthusiasm from the students themselves in pioneering the effort"

"Microsoft worldwide, as well as in this region, has a strong commitment to the student community, be it in the form of software training, discounted pricing of more than 80% for education software and student seminars like OpenDoor Education designed for educators as well as for students themselves".

"Another important ongoing education initiative is the assistance that our Arabic localisation team provides for students doing research papers on Microsoft technology. During events like today's awards ceremony, we get to see first-hand how students avail of these opportunities and become the forerunners of change in today's digital environment. Their achievement today is commendable and, together with the Ministry, we are greatly encouraged to spur our efforts in continuing to assist them."

Fast Lane expands its training to Bahrain.

Dubai, February 6th, 2002: Fast Lane, the Middle East's leading network training and consultancy company, has joined together with training company Fast Track in Bahrain, to bring much-needed certified Cisco training to the country.

Josef Miskulnig, Fast Lane's Managing Partner, said: "We are very pleased to announce the signing of this agreement, which will enable us to provide the highest level of training in Bahrain. People from Bahrain won't have to travel to Dubai to receive the high quality training they require and expect any longer."

Training will be given by Fast Lane's pool of highly qualified, certified Cisco trainers.Fast Lane is one of only a handful of Cisco Learning Partners in the region, and its Bahrain courses complement those it already holds in Dubai, Riyadh and Cairo.

As a Cisco Learning Partner, Fast Lane can offer training expertise second to none in the region, from the basic Cisco Certified Networking Associate (CCNA) to the rare and much sought-after Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE).Fast Lane offers a range of courses in cutting edge network technology, as well as consultancy and project management, strategic planning and performance analysis.

6 February, 2002

MIDDLE EAST SWITCHGEAR AND LEGRAND LAUNCH TRAINING CENTRE

State-of-the-art facility to help further enhance skills of College students, technicians, consultants and contractors

Sharjah-based Middle East Switchgear, a leading manufacturer of quality Low Voltage Switchboards and French electrical products manufacturing giant, Legrand Group have forged a strategic partnership to launch the UAE's first training centre aimed at further enhancing the skills and knowledge of electrical engineering students, technicians, contractors and even consultants and architects in the area of Panel and Distribution Boards assembly and installation techniques.

The unique facility, which is located in the Middle East Switchgear (MES) factory in the Sharjah Industrial Zone, was opened on February 5th, , 2002 by Mr. Gilles Schnepp, Managing Director of the Legrand Group, which manufactures a range of world-class low-voltage electrical installation products. Mr. Schnepp was in Dubai on a four-day visit, during which he also opened the Legrand stand at the Middle East Electricity 2002 exhibition, inaugurated a new Customer Centre in Dubai and addressed members of the French Business Council in Dubai.

Legrand products are used in industrial, commercial, health care and residential projects including circuit breakers, distribution cabinets and enclosures, wiring accessories, emergency lighting and security systems and cable management products. Legrand products have also been integrated into the Main Distribution Boards and Panels manufactured at the purpose-built MES factory.

The MES Legrand Training Centre is equipped with most advanced training technology systems and a sophisticated conference room. Qualified engineers and experts from MES and Legrand in the electrical industry will provide hands-on training to the participants in the LV distribution system.

Mr. Gilles Schnepp said: "The Legrand Group is proud to partner this unique and useful initiative with Middle East Switchgear. This Centre will tremendously benefit all those who require practical technical training and knowledge in handling a range of Distribution Boards and Panels".

Mr. Schnepp added: "This project also demonstrates the commitment of Legrand and MES to community development and to further enhance the skills of young nationals to help them quickly find gainful employment when they graduate from their engineering colleges. Through its subsidiaries or partners worldwide, the Legrand Group has always supported enterprising schemes that help realise the ambitions of students and advance the careers of technicians across the world".

Mr. Allauddin Chughtai, founder and Managing Director of MES said that the Training Centre would be initially open to participants from educational institutions, MES and Legrand customers and professionals in the UAE. However, the programme would be gradually extended to cover the entire Gulf region.

Mr. Chughtai said: "Middle East Switchgear is delighted to see this concept become a reality. We are grateful to the Legrand Group for supporting this endeavour, which fits well into our programme of contributing toward the community that we serve. Usually, electrical engineering students and technicians lack proper hands-on real-life work experience, having mastered only the theoretical part. This Centre will go a long way towards meeting their need for on-the-job training courses that will further enhance their knowledge of Low Voltage Switchgear assemblies".

He added: "The idea of having the Centre in our premises is to provide participants easy access to state-of-the-art equipment that has been installed in our factory. We are confident that the specific type of technical training offered at this Centre will attract students, technicians and a variety of specialists".

The Legrand Group, which was set up in 1860, has plants or subsidiaries in over 50 countries, employing 28,000 people. Over 4 percent of its annual turnover exceeding U.S. $ 3 billion is used for research and development. Middle East Switchgear is a leading UAE manufacturer of quality LV Switchboard and Motor Control Centres. They have teamed up with Legrand to offer quality distribution products and excellent services to Contractors and Panel Builders.