UAE Technical Training Project in UK grows in numbers and stature

An august ceremony was held here yesterday to mark the graduation of the seventh batch (366 graduates) of the UAE Technical Training Project in the UK and the tenth anniversary of the launch of the project at Sussex. The UAE donated £50,000 in support of the local community.

By WAM

Published: Sun 29 Jun 2003, 11:49 AM

Last updated: Wed 24 May 2023, 3:47 PM

The ceremony was attended by Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, Essa Saleh Al Gurg, UAE Ambassador to the UK, Brigadier Ali Mohammed Subeihi, UAE Armed Forces' Chief of Operations, Lt. Colonel Abdullah Al Falasi, director of the project, and Lord Fielda Steward, representative of Queen Elizabeth II of Britain.

In an address on the occasion, Col Falasi said the project was inspired by the guidance and vision of the President, His Highness Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. "Under the wise leadership of our President, revenues of oil exports are used for the greater good of all the people in fulfilment of his wise declaration: The greatest use that can be made of wealth is to invest it in creating generations of educated and trained people," Col Falasi said.

Founded in 1993, under the direct patronage of Lieutenant General Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chief of Staff of the UAE Armed Forces, the project set about looking for a suitable partner to help it implement the programme of study for the very first class of around 200 students attending classes at the Hastings College of Art and Technology.

"From those early days, the project has continued to grow in both numbers and stature where today my staff administers and caters for the needs of over 1,500 students at over 50 colleges and universities throughout the UK and Ireland," he said, adding that the project had strived to improve the scope and standard of support for the students.

Living with the local community, he noted, the students have an opportunity to maintain and build on the close and unique relations the UAE and UK peoples have enjoyed over a century.

"Studying at state and private sector colleges and universities brings our students into direct contact with their peers and provides an opportunity to increase understanding between our two countries and their respective cultures among the generation that one day will receive the mantle of responsibility, passed into them by their parents' generation. We are confident that this interaction makes a positive contribution to increase the understanding between our traditions and customs and look forward to it continuing long into the future. "Our President has bestowed on us the honour of continuing his generous personal charitable donations to be distributed among the worthy causes in the local community totalling £50,000," he announced.

Prince Andrew highlighted the great role being played by the Bexhill-based project under the close cooperation between the two countries. "The project has become one of the leading training projects in the UK, thanks to the prudent policy of Shaikh Zayed," he said, adding that he was proud that the UAE launched the project in his country.