Number of students admitted to VEDC, Abu Dhabi since the current academic year has reached 377, of whom 177 students joined the centre last September while 200 more students joined the centre for the 2nd semester in Feb 2009. Now the total number of trainees has reached 661 students all of them are male locals.

Dr Abdullatif al Shamsi, Managing Director IAT (to which VEDC belongs) said that the centre (which is located in Al Shahama, Abu Dhabi ) has been experiencing high demand by those targeted students who for any reason dropped out of school in preparatory and secondary school years.

Dr Al Shamsi mentioned the centre academic system (started in Sept 2006) that constitutes two programmes. Vocational Education Programme for 5 years after which the graduate get Higher School Technical diploma equivalent to Grade 12 certificate that allows it bearer to join university and higher institute for further education

Second programme is the vocation training programme (36 – 48 months) qualifying the trainee to directly join workplace (industry) where the focus is on the trade where the graduates are awarded Applied Education Certificate (employment) and accredited curriculum.

Certified VEDC Curriculum focus substantially on the practical, applied aspects which reveal the trainees potentials, creative skills, preferences and hobbies? Personal development as well is focused on where psychological aspects are taken into consideration.

The Managing Director IAT pointed out that the certificate of applied learning is an accredited award in the Australian Education System. Experts from Australians supervisors the programmes and tests that lead to receiving this locally and internationally accredited certificate after being accredited by the ministry of education in UAE.

The centre role is not limited to graduating its students, but it continues its support after their gradation through a 2 year training cooperation programme where the centre undertakes training its graduates practically after having been employed in the workplace (industry). In this programme the graduate spends 18 continuous weeks at the workplace after which he rejoins VEDC for 9 weeks to get his further training.

Modern Training
 
Al Shamsi emphasized that VEDC applies up to date training methods based on applied manual skills in areas including mechanics, automotive, electro-technology, welding, business administration and IT. The centre is equipped with modern classroom, workshop, laboratories and technological methods that help achieving the targeted objectives.
 
Extensive partnerships have been established between VEDC and quite a few leading companies ( such as Total Abk, ADNOC, UmmAlNar Power Plant other power plants at Taweela and Al Shuwaihat, DUCAB, DUBAL, CARACAL, besides Abu Dhabi Police and armed forces. Where VEDC graduates are admitted, trained, qualified and nominated (the outstanding ones) for courses abroad. This is the case with 2 of VEDC graduates who are currently having training courses in Austria.

Regarding how to find out those students who meet VEDC admission requirements, Dr Al Shamsi said “There is sort of coordination and cooperation with MOE which provides the centre with (drop-out) students details in order to attract them to join the centre where they encounter an alternative education system that helps them accomplish their ambition being the only institute of its kind in the country.

Managing Director IAT expects increasing number of students will join VEDC given the outstanding benefits whether academic, catering, recreational or otherwise.

Social Workers

Dedicated resident social workers and supervisors living on the campus with the students as one family are addressing various social, psychological or personal issues, where the students gradually and progressively acquire very good habits such as punctuality, bearing responsibility, self confidence etc. The start is sometimes difficult, but later on very good result is attained.

Field surveys conducted on a sample of VEDC graduated joining workplace have showed that they have received quality specific training at the centre and that they are relatively competent and that their employers are satisfied with their performance and behaviour.

A VEDC graduate got “The employee of the month award” in last December this means a lot to VEDC.

VEDC Benefits

Admission Conditions

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