HCT and SKMC join forces to develop UAE's new cadre of health care professionals

HCT and SKMC entered into the agreement to formalize their willingness to collaborate as effective contributors to the professional development of the healthcare sector in Abu Dhabi, and the UAE as a whole.

The parties envisage this aim being facilitated by providing professional learning, development and research, which will support the growth of SKMC employees, as well as create career opportunities for HCT students.

The agreement was signed by Dr. Tayeb Kamali, Vice Chancellor of the Higher Colleges of Technology and Mr. Fred De Grandis, Chief Executive Officer of SKMC.

Under the terms of the agreement, HCT and SKMC have agreed that SKMC will be given access to HCT students for the purposes of utilizing those students as volunteers in SKMC-organized events, as well as any potential volunteering opportunities within the SKMC premises.

Students will be involved with patients through con- patient activities, community awareness, hospital events and projects (either with patients or with hospital) and perform administrative tasks in the hospitals.

Mr. De Grandis, Chief Executive Officer of SKMC, expressed his optimism about this partnership, and said, " He is looking forward to a successful alliance with HCT, that will support HCT students as well as our employees in order to help advance the healthcare sector of Abu Dhabi."

HCT will be given priority to any available volunteering activities at SKMC in order to allow its students to gain valuable work experience. Furthermore, the HCT students will dedicate a minimum of 100 hours per academic year once they are committed to volunteering services at SKMC.

SKMC will further agree to match the HCT students' skills with its appropriate departments and offer in-house training to the student volunteers as required.

Dr. Tayeb Kamali, Vice Chancellor of the Higher Colleges of Technology, welcomed the agreement as part of an exciting partnership with the Sheikh Khalifa Medical City. "We are very pleased to be collaborating with an industry leader such as Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, which will result in our students gaining career-oriented experience to meet the specific needs of the local economy," Dr. Kamali said.

"This collaboration will help to develop HCT students with the knowledge, skills and confidence to contribute effectively to the nation and to reach their full potential, by giving HCT healthcare students the opportunity to actively participate and learn in the workplace, as well as help others in the community, which are all fundamental aspects of the learning by doing philosophy used throughout all of HCT's 17 colleges," Dr Kamali added.