Aldar Properties, the leading integrated property development company, will sponsor the chair “Dean of Business Studies” at the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT). 

Under an agreement signed yesterday (May 20), Aldar will also sponsor five UAE nationals in HCT’s real estate management programme. 

Signalling a new partnership between HCT and Aldar, the agreement was signed by Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and chancellor of HCT Shaikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan and chairman, Aldar Properties, Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh.

Pursuant to the agreement, HCT will establish the chair “Aldar Dean of Business Studies”.

Specialised seminars and training programmes relevant to the real estate industry will also be offered to HCT students. Other aspects of the agreement include internship programmes with Aldar to help HCT students build on-the-job skills, and tours to Aldar  projects to expose them to opportunities within the real estate industry.

Shaikh Nahayan praised Aldar’s initiative as a demonstration of its commitment to the development of national human resources, as envisioned by president Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and General Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

“This agreement is in line with HCT’s strategy of providing quality education to the widest possible base of UAE nationals. In pursuing that objective, HCT have carved out innovative programmes catering to a wide spectrum of the UAE population and forged strong partnerships with leading institutions. We hope our partnership with Aldar will contribute significantly to those noble objectives,” said Shaikh Nahayan.

“As a leading property developer, Aldar is naturally keen to see that young nationals take up business studies, including ones specifically focused on real estate management. Through our partnership with HCT, we hope to build a broad base of highly skilled nationals who can contribute proactively to the development of their country,” said Al Sayegh    

This agreement will be a valuable addition to a host of initiatives launched by ALDAR in association with world-renowned academic and professional institutions. These initiatives included the Leadership Excellence Applied Diploma (Lead) Programme, launched in partnership with Cambridge University and Knowledge Horizon, and the RICS qualification programme, in conjunction with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

The Lead programme aims to inspire a new generation for the UAE of tomorrow, while the RICS seeks to underpin professional standards in Aldar's business using the RICS standards within working practices and also to increase and promote membership within the eligible workforce.

The programme saw scores of Aldar employees, including the first UAE national, qualify for the RICS membership. – TradeArabia News Service