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Edexcel sets base in Knowledge Village

DUBAI - Edexcel, UK's leading examining and awarding body, yesterday opened its new regional office in Dubai's Knowledge Village. The opening was attended by Director of Edexcel International, Rick Firth, and the Director of Knowledge Village, Dr Abdulla Al Karam.

Speaking to Khaleej Times after the opening, Mr Firth, jointly with Mark Andrews, Regional Director Africa and Middle East, said: "The fast economic and technological development of the Middle East and growth of the global economy in the last few years has increased the need for internationally recognised qualifications at all levels."

"We are opening this new regional office to ensure our continuous investment in supporting our local partners in the delivery of high quality education programmes. Edexecl qualifications are recognised by universities and industries the world over and offer a vast choice of progression into higher education or local and international employment."

Mr Firth said that Edexcel brings to the Middle East a diverse portfolio of globally recognised qualifications that span the academic and vocational sectors.

Edexcel International, explained Mr Firth, is part of Edexcel, the first of the three unitary awarding bodies to be established in the UK to offer both academic and vocational qualifications. Edexcel's qualifications are around the world and are taken in over 1,627 centres across 110 countries outside of the UK.

"Edexcel has 300 partner schools offering its qualifications to some 70,000 students in the Middle East. In the UAE alone, there are 46 partner schools offering a range of academic and vocational qualifications, disclosed Mark Andrews, Regional Director in Dubai.

"Although, UK qualifications are in big demand in the region, establishment of the regional office is expected to register a 40 per cent growth in UK qualifications in the Middle East."

Mr Andrews attributed the high number of partner schools in the region to increasing demand for British qualifications both at school and university levels. Primarily, at the school level, there is loyalty to the UK qualifications such as the IGCSE, 'O', 'A' and 'AS' levels.

In comparison to other British qualifications such as the University of Cambridge and AQA, Mr Firth pointed out that although, Edexcel offers similar qualifications, there is a wide choice of courses available both in English and Arabic languages, in addition to believing in technology, and encouraging support to teachers and students better than other examining bodies.

On the vocational courses, he said, Edexcel, which is now present in the Middle East for the last 20 years, offers qualifications in both Arabic and English, tailor-made to suit the needs of learners and organisations. In the UAE, Edexcel International has been involved in a number of projects in support of Emiratisation, working with the Dubai Government, Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and the Sharjah Institute of Technology, to develop qualifications that up-skill the local work force to meet the country's growing needs.