DM, UoW ink MoU to bolster cooperation

The MoU, which was signed by Hussain Nasser Lootah, Acting Director General of Dubai Municipality, and Prof. Nick van der Walt, CEO of University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD), stems from the municipality's policy in forming strategic alliance with the country's universities and higher education institutions for the benefit of its existing and prospective employees.

Mr. Lootah said the MoU would pave way for academic and work-related cooperation between Dubai Municipality and the University of Wollongong in such fields as conducting academic studies, training human resources, and organising academic seminars and other programmes of mutual interest. The initiative will ultimately help the civic body achieve performance excellence on corporate and individual levels.

Under the MoU, he added, the university will offer special training and educational programmes for the municipality staff in order to equip them with modern skills and advanced technology to face future challenges.

Prof. Nick van der Walt said the university would offer a 10 per cent discount to the municipality staff wishing to join any academic programmes of the university, including the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) which is a prerequisite for pursuing any academic programme in the university, if they are sponsored by the municipality. If the candidates themselves are bearing expenses of their education, they will be offered a 15 per cent discount on the university fees. One free scholarship will be offered to the employee suggested by the municipality for any Master's programme.

Besides, the staff will be invited to attend lectures, seminars and other research activities organised by the UOWD from time to time. The university will also provide the municipality with lists of its outstanding graduates who can be employed at the municipality.

The municipality had in the past signed similar agreements with institutions like the e-TQM (Electronic Total Quality Management) College, Zayed University and the Higher Colleges of Technology.