Dubai Monitor August 22. 2004

DNRD calls on the public to be vigilant against visa confidence tricksters

Recent investigation reveals networks involved in the production and possession
of fake visas with the intention of sale

August 21, 2004

The Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department (DNRD) has appealed to
the general public to be increasingly vigilant against groups involved
in the production and sale of counterfeit visas for entry into the UAE.

Recent investigations conducted by Investigation and Control section at
Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department, lifted the lid on groups
engaged in the production and sale of fake employment and visit visas.
The members of these groups befriend individuals and offer them a chance
to buy an employment or a visit visa. They then print the details of the
person seeking entry into the UAE on a fake blank pink colour visa sheet
and sell the fake document at rates between Dhs 3500 to Dhs 5000. Authorities
had recently apprehended individuals involved in the racket and recovered
58 fake visas and Dhs 39,900 in cash from them.
The counterfeits are easily recognisable because of the inferior quality
of the paper and the absence of many embedded security features that form
an important part of an authentic visa.

Brigadier Saeed bin Belailah, Director, DNRD, said: "Expatriates benefit
from the flexible laws and regulations set to obtain either employment
or visit visas. Competent individuals, in accordance to the UAE laws and
regulations, can apply for visas through the legitimate channels only.
The general public are advised to be on guard against anyone who claims
they could get him or her visas upon payment. They are also urged to report
incidents involving individuals promising visas for sale or the share their
knowledge of such illegal activity with the DNRD."

"The DRND has put in place sophisticated systems to detect and prevent
people possessing counterfeit visas from entering the country. DNRD aims
to work with the members of the general public to curb such illegal activity.
The members of the public are urged to contact the DNRD to check the authenticity
of the visas obtained by them and to report any abuse," added Bin Belailah.

Lt. Col. Rashid Bakhit Al Jumairi, Assistant Director, Investigation and
Control section, said: "We are committed to rooting out this illegal activity
and protect members of the general public who lack the knowledge of proper
legal procedures to obtain a visa from being swindled. We are issuing a
stern warning against individuals who are involved in this practice, to
let them know that the DNRD will spare no expense in tracking down the
perpetrators and bring them to book." (keralamonitor.com)

e-TQM College continues accepting registration for 4th term of its Masters
programme

August 21, 2004

eTQM College, the Dubai-based electronic college specialising in conducting
online programs in Total Quality Management (TQM), has announced that it
is continuing to accept registration for the 4th term of its Masters programme
in Total Quality and Performance Management.

The two-year postgraduate course is the first of its kind in the Middle
East, launched in collaboration with the University of Bradford in the
UK, ranked the 16th top university in the world. It is the only programme
at such an advanced level to offer learners in the region the flexibility
of distance learning and e-learning.

Commenting on the Msc programme, Professor Mohamed Zairi, Dean, eTQM College,
said: "The Masters program was conceived to encourage learners and professionals
to delve deeper into the subjects of quality management and quality measurement,
through a flexible instructional model. Quality management being a concept
that is applicable to professionals in a variety of fields, from business
to medicine, engineering or media, the course content has been designed
to meet local requirements, while at the same time incorporating globally
proven TQM techniques."

The registration for the Masters program takes place three times a year,
in January, April and October, with two modules per semester. The program
consists of 180 credit hours of instruction where the learner will study
eleven compulsory courses and one elective course out of seven for 120
credits. With a reasonable tuition fee of 45,000 UAE Dirhams for the two
year program, the learner gets full access to books, CDs, DVDs, e-Library
and e-Tutor support.

Throughout the program, the learner can benefit from the academic support
provided by eTQM College's expert faculty. During admissions, prospective
learners are assigned an e-Mentor, to guide them in the application and
registration process, courses selection, and even in their career choices
or continuing education throughout the duration of the program. e-Tutoring
is made available to each student for fours hours per week, where they
can request assistance in academic matters. Thus, eTQM combines the best
of distance e-learning with a strong physical support system.
The candidate's performance will be assessed through a mixture of group
projects, individual assignments and written examinations. In the graduation
term the candidate has to submit a dissertation for 60 credits which will
be an original body of work having between 19,500 and 22,500 words, written
as literature review or through applied research within an organization.
There are also online group discussions, assessments and assignments so
learners can benefit from practical and theoretical learning in a virtual
environment.