Dubai Women's College students visit China

The IST lasted for 10 days during which students participated in Business Fairs in both Hong Kong and Guangzhou, China.

With China playing an increasingly significant role in the development of Dubai as an international commercial hub, the Applied Business and Technology Diploma Department at DWC decided to provide their students with a valued study experience to China. "China is the tip of the iceberg and we make sure at DWC to provide our students with ISTs that enable them to keep pace with Dubai and meet DWC's objective of fostering an entrepreneurial college," noted Dr. Howard Reed, Senior Director at the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) and DWC Director.

In addition to exposing students to Chinese businesses, the IST aimed at educating students about the availability of Specific Chinese products for Dubai's market. Attending the Canton Export Commodities Fair, students visited stalls exhibiting diverse materials and IT products, networked with exhibitors, negotiated prices and packages of products and processed these orders through export and import companies. Purchased products are to be soled at Al Waha, the student-run retail business of DWC.

The IST included a visit to Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education where students presented a brief historical background about the UAE and the HCT. Facilitated by the UAE Embassy in Beijing and the Consulate General in Hong Kong, the IST delegation visited the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council where they interacted with members of the organizations and were provided with presentations on the stock exchange operations and the benefits of establishing business with mainland China via Hong Kong.

Dr. Aisha Bilkhair, Supervisor of DWC Career Center, Derar Yaghi and Michael Bowie, DWC faculty members who manage AlWaha store, escorted the group to China. "This trip was an eye opener to our students who grasped the magnitude of the Chinese business diversity in contrast with Dubai's market demands," Dr. Bilkhair remarked. This trip was made possible by the financial contributions of Dubai Duty Free, Mohamed Al Fahim and Silk Road Shipping LLC.