Dubai Women's College offers insurance program

The program is initiated based on a Memorandum of Understanding that was signed back in March 2006 between Sheikha Lubna al Qassimi, Minister of Economy, and Sheikh Nahayan bin Mabarak Al Nahayan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, to provide an educational program appropriate for the UAE insurance sector.

The Ministry of Economy had requested in December 2004 that the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, of which the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) are a part, develop an insurance program designed to produce UAE nationals with knowledge and skills in the field of insurance. This request is an essential component of the Government's plans to enhance the participation of nationals in the insurance industry. Given the vocational nature of the insurance field, the HCT was selected as the appropriate educational establishment to deliver the program given its success in other similar programs.

The Advanced Diploma in Insurance Services and Management is an 18-months program benchmarked against the UK Chartered Institute of Insurance (CII), a recognized professional body in the field. This qualification is internationally recognized as being the industry standard in insurance. The program, supported By HE Ahmed Al Tayer, former minister of finance and industry and communications, and Chairman of Emirates international Bank and Commercial bank of Dubai,will be initially delivered from DWC but will be rolled out through the UAE via HCT's network of colleges.

HCT has recruited Graham Spriggs to lead the curriculum development and deliver the program. Graham comes from the United Kingdom with a background of 26 years in the insurance industry and is a Fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute (FCII). Graham joins HCT from Aon Limited where he was a Business Manager with responsibility for staff training and development

On December 20, a meeting was held at DWC between HCT and several representatives from UAE's leading insurance companies to discuss employers' views on the program and to put together a Steering Committee to help promote and create awareness of the program. The meeting was attended by HCT representatives and managers from Emirates Insurance Association, Al Sagr Insurance, Gargash Insurance Services, Dubai Insurance Company, and The Chartered Insurance Institute. "The intention is to get companies to employ new recruits and immediately register them on our program so they get quality training and because they will be at the college for three days a week they will get to put the skills they are being taught here immediately into practice," said Spriggs.