Higher Colleges of Technology holds comprehensive orientation program at DMC

To prepare new students for the forthcoming years of study at HCT, a comprehensive orientation program has been designed to ease the students' transition into academic life and start being productive.

During the day, new students have been introduced to their faculty and college rules, procedures and policies and facilities. With the presence of heads of departments and faculty, new students gathered in the ceremony in the main auditorium to meet and greet their faculty, supervisors and members of staff.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Robert W. Richards, College Senior Director says: "HCT is proud to welcome our new students in their first academic journey, and to make sure they start their successful academic year, we will provide them with all the support and guidance they need to have a solid incentive to settle in and take more responsibility of their future."

Peter Hatherley-Greene, Foundations Chair, explained to students the Foundations course in the college:

"Starting college can be a daunting prospect, but we will help to make the transition to life in the HCT as smooth as possible" says Hatherley-Greene, "To help students settle in, HCT offer a comprehensive orientation programme where students learn all about studying in HCT and how to use all the facilities on campus, It is especially developed for students who are new to academic life. Students will find information about life in the College, how they will be expected to study and how facilities can be used."

The heads of departments in HCT have found in the occasion the perfect opportunity to showcase the highest quality of academic standards HCT offers its students in terms of facilities and education standards.

Phil Corcos, Associate-Director highlighted the importance of the orientation program , he says : "Many informative sessions and presentations have been used to introduce both general and specific information about the college and the short courses that will make new students productive in a short period". "To get the most out of their time, new students are provided with practical tips on how to adapt to university life with ease
to quickly achieve a sense of community and belonging along with developing important contacts with their peers and staff" he adds.

This year, the Welcome Ceremony and the Foundations Orientation Program was kindly sponsored by Emirates NBD who also provided two excellent guest speakers, Hassan G. Sajwani (Product Manager-Bancassurance, Emirates NBD) and Saeed Al Falasi (HR Manager, Emirates NBD), both of whom are past DMC graduates.