Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) is gearing up for another edition of its award-winning apprenticeship programme during the annual summer fiesta which runs from June 19 to August 22.

The apprenticeship programme is an internship for business administration and marketing students from colleges in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan, Qatar, Lebanon, Egypt and the United Kingdom.

The DSS apprenticeship programme was one of the major factors cited by the jury that awarded the DSF Office the Travel & Tourism Award at the 2008 IPRA Golden World Awards in London.

The DSS apprenticeship aims at promoting local talent and enhancing the education of participating students within the field of marketing and business administration.

The programme brings together the best and brightest students from across the region to participate in the highly successful annual summer fiesta in Dubai and provides students excellent opportunities for training and exposure in marketing and events management through an internship at the DSS, one of the biggest tourism success stories of the region.

From four universities in two countries in 2006, the programme now targets more than 30 higher education institutions in nine markets in the Middle East & North Africa. And for the first time this year, the programme marks a major milestone as it takes the first step towards globalizing the programme with the first non-Arab student coming from the United Kingdom.

As in past editions, college students selected for the apprenticeship programme undertake an intensive hands-on training in planning and executing the DSS.

"In its 3rd year, we’re spreading our wings and giving students from the UK a chance to become part of a team of professionals that work tirelessly to make DSS a fun and memorable event for the entire family," said Laila Suhail, CEO, Dubai Shopping Festival Office. 

"This development attests to the growing prominence of DSS not only as a regional spectacle, but a global event that embraces shoppers and families from different nations with Dubai’s unique and warm hospitality, and the unique experience that awaits them during DSS."

The leading South African hotel operator Southern Sun is hosting this year’s students for the second consecutive year, at the Qamardeen Hotel, where students will stay for the entire two-week internship.

“The programme is a commendable initiative as it prepares students to acquire real-world skills that will help them expand their horizons and enrich their learning," said Richard Weilers, managing director, Southern Sun Middle East.

"We’re happy to be able to give the selected students the comfort and care they need while momentarily being away from their families. Staying in touch with their families back home will also be a touch away since all rooms and suites offer complimentary high speed Internet access,” he added.

Students from participating universities are currently busy going through the selection process, which includes an essay writing component that usually asks students for bold and bright ideas as to how to make the summer event bigger and better for the 2009 edition.

A special jury comprising key DSS staff and other marketing professionals will evaluate the applications and select one winner from each country to represent his/her country in the programme.

Winners are chosen based on the quality of their essays and completion of documents as well as their character, ambition, energy, and potential to make valuable contributions to the betterment of DSS.-TradeArabia News Service