• Home

e-TQM college, Kuwait authority sign pact

The signing coincided with the opening of the 'Excellence in Education' conference at Dubai Jumeirah Beach Hotel held under the patronage of General Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Minister of Defence.

The conference is the first-of-its-kind in the region. The MoU, the first between e-TQM and an external Arab government body, was signed in Dubai by Chancellor of e-TQM college, Major-General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police, and Director-General of Kuwait's General Authority for Applied Learning and Training, Dr Hamoud Al Mudaf.

Maj Gen Dhahi Khalfan said an agreement was reached with the Kuwaiti institution on the implementation of e-TQM college's special quality education model based on growth, development and constant evaluation.

Maj Gen Dhahi Khalfan pointed out the agreement was the first step in the direction of excellence in education for this sector established by the college. He noted that through it e-TQM would be the gateway to knowledge for many educational bodies to support the 'excellence in learning' initiative at the UAE and on a pan-Arab level.

"The educational sector is vital for any economy, as learning is the cornerstone of knowledge-based economies in various forms. In the Arab world, for instance, there are many challenges but through sustained learning there will be ways to support illiteracy eradication programmes and other educational schemes, to be implemented while preserving the unique cultural and social environment of the Arab world," he added.

The MoU is aimed at facilitating the exchange of information and best practices in the administrative field. It is also aimed at promoting world-class guidelines and recommendations in the implementation of self-evaluation and the use of all quality initiative tools in the learning process, under top specialist supervision and administration.

e-TQM college was recently launched as a pioneering initiative with the support of the government of Dubai to encourage sustained quality learning via a state-of-the-art IT tool. The conference is aimed at introducing the quality programme to the Arab world.

On the opening day of the conference, the setting up of the first e-TQM's centres was announced. e-TQM's first centre will specialise in 'excellence in learning' and introduce the Lloyds TSB Quality criterion in education programme to the Arab world.

The quality programme will enable educational institutions to evaluate quality standards of their teaching curricula, administration and methodologies according to the European Foundation for Quality management (EFQM) model which has effectively raised the standards of education across Europe.

Dr Al Mudaf noted that the agreement strengthens cultural bonds between the UAE and Kuwait and cooperation between educational institutions in the two AGCC countries. He said the MoU would help achieve the vision of the Kuwaiti institution and e-TQM to enhance scientific and educational cooperation. He said both sides were willing to deepen existing relations and encourage cultural and scientific exchange. "e-TQM is proud to support education programmes and preserve the unique cultural and social environment of the Arab world," said Dr Mansour Al Awar, Director of e-TQM college.

Professor Mohammed Zairi, e-TQM Dean, said: "e-TQM college is the first government project that allows life-long learning opportunities to various educational classes and has been established basically to concentrate on learning and education in the fields of total quality management."

Top speakers are taking part in the symposium, which, according to Dr Al Awar, is the first step in a long-term commitment towards transforming the educational environment across the Arab world.

"With the vision, support and leadership of General Shaikh Mohammed, our aim is to work towards re-engineering education in Arab countries to help achieve a bright future for our youths."

• UAE