General Motors and (UAE) Ministry of Education sign agreement for automotive training partnership

HE The Minister of Education, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mabarak Al Nahyan and General Motors' Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Rick Wagoner, signed the agreement at the Dubai Men's College, where the first phase of the programme will be implemented.

"We are delighted to extend our global programme of educational support into the UAE, where we will establish a Dubai Campus of the GM University at the Dubai Men's College in 2005," said Terry Johnsson, Managing Director of General Motors Middle East. "We have committed to an ongoing investment programme which will begin with dedicated premises, the provision of diagnostic tools, software and equipment including two wireless networked classrooms. This will cover both our own internal training needs and the future development of local UAE national talent in a diverse range of skills related to the automotive industry."

The Director of Dubai Men's College, Dr. William Vega, said that the agreement was an important milestone in the College's on-going objective to provide a high- quality, career-oriented education for UAE nationals.

"General Motors has been supportive of the Dubai Men's College for many years and this announcement takes our relationship to a new level," he said. "As the first auto manufacturer to officially partner with us, together we are breaking ground to develop courses which will provide career opportunities for young UAE nationals in one of the region's most important and fastest growing industries."

GM sees the announcement as the first small but very significant step forward in developing a wide range of automotive related training programmes across the Middle East. The company aims to work with regional educational authorities to create apprenticeship and graduate training programmes for Arab nationals.