Abu Dhabi DED establishes 'Department of Economic Development Dean of Entrepreneurship' at HCT

The agreement was signed in Abu Dhabi by HE Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Chancellor of the Higher Colleges of Technology and HE Nasser Ahmed Alsowaidi, Chairman, Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development.

The three year commitment by DED is to sponsor a Dean of Entrepreneurship who will be responsible for the HCT Executive MBA in Innovation & Entrepreneurship. This unique program was developed in close cooperation with MIT Entrepreneurship Center. The HCT EMBA program features the best professors from leading institutions around the world including Harvard, Stanford and MIT.

Its distinctive model of management education empowers and assists innovative and entrepreneurially-oriented students to move ideas to the marketplace. The program's intensive curriculum provides the conceptual background and business skills needed to identify, mobilize, develop and succeed in implementing business opportunities to a commercially successful outcome. The position will also work with other deans, department chairs and faculty throughout the HCT 16 campus system.

"The Department of Economic Development of Abu Dhabi is fully committed to encourage entrepreneurship among UAE national talents and this new agreement with the Higher Colleges of Technology will enable both organisations to achieve this goal. Economic prosperity necessitates the creation and adoption of new employment opportunities and business ventures, which will in turn attract the brightest minds and further the economic growth of our nation,"

said HE Nasser Ahmed Alsowaidi, Chairman, Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development.

As part of its 20th anniversary initiative, the Higher Colleges of Technology established in 2007 the HCT Foundation with a mandate to provide partnership opportunities for the corporate sector. In less than two years, the Foundation has added 30 companies who made significant gifts to its 100 Club.

"We are extremely delighted with the close relationship with DED. The support of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development further supports our efforts in positioning the HCT Executive MBA in Innovation & Entrepreneurship as the number one initiative in preparing young UAE nationals to build their ideas into sustainable businesses. The DED Dean of Entrepreneurship will be a part of a team which will produce graduates with a strong foundation in business and in particular, entrepreneurship. We are pleased the DED has joined the growing list of HCT Foundation supporters," stated Dr Tayeb Kamali, Vice Chancellor of the HCT.