HCT, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City develop new cadre of health care professionals

Dr. Tayeb Kamali, VC HCT and Mr. Fred De Grandis,
CEO SKMC sign the agreement.

Dr. Tayeb Kamali, Vice Chancellor of the Higher Colleges of Technology and Mr. Fred De Grandis, Chief Executive Officer of SKMC sign the agreement.

Abu Dhabu, UAE: May 12, 2013 – The Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT), the UAE’s largest higher education institution, will collaborate with the Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC) to develop and nurture local careers in the vital healthcare industry, as a result of an agreement recently signed by the parties.

HCT and SKMC entered into the agreement to formalize their willingness to collaborate as effective contributors to the professional development of the healthcare sector in Abu Dhabi, and the UAE as a whole. The parties envisage this aim being facilitated by providing professional learning, development and research, which will support the growth of SKMC employees, as well as create career opportunities for HCT students.

The agreement was signed by Dr. Tayeb Kamali, Vice Chancellor of the Higher Colleges of Technology and Mr. Fred De Grandis, Chief Executive Officer of SKMC.

Under the terms of the agreement, HCT and SKMC have agreed that SKMC will be given access to HCT students for the purposes of utilizing those students as volunteers in SKMC-organized events, as well as any potential volunteering opportunities within the SKMC premises. Students will be involved with patients through con- patient activities, community awareness, hospital events and projects (either with patients or with hospital) and perform administrative tasks in the hospitals.

Mr. De Grandis, Chief Executive Officer of SKMC, expressed his optimism about this partnership, and said he is “looking forward to a successful alliance with HCT, that will support HCT students as well as our employees in order to help advance the healthcare sector of Abu Dhabi.”

HCT will be given priority to any available volunteering activities at SKMC in order to allow its students to gain valuable work experience.

Furthermore, the HCT students will dedicate a minimum of 100 hours per academic year once they are committed to volunteering services at SKMC.

SKMC will further agree to match the HCT students’ skills with its appropriate departments and offer in-house training to the student volunteers as required.

Dr. Tayeb Kamali, Vice Chancellor of the Higher Colleges of Technology, welcomed the agreement as part of an exciting partnership with the Sheikh Khalifa Medical City. “We are very pleased to be collaborating with an industry leader such as Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, which will result in our students gaining career-oriented experience to meet the specific needs of the local economy,” Dr. Kamali said.

“This collaboration will help to develop HCT students with the knowledge, skills and confidence to contribute effectively to the nation and to reach their full potential, by giving HCT healthcare students the opportunity to actively participate and learn in the workplace, as well as help others in the community, which are all fundamental aspects of the learning by doing philosophy used throughout all of HCT’s 17 colleges,” Dr Kamali added.

About the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT)
Founded in 1988 with four colleges, the Higher Colleges of Technology have grown to be the largest of the higher educational institutions in the UAE, gaining a well-respected reputation for innovative learning. More than 18,000 students attend 17 modern men’s and women’s campuses in the cities of Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah, Fujairah and the western region cities of Madinat Zayed and Ruwais.

HCT offers a wide range of English-taught programs in Applied Communications, Business, Education, Engineering Technology, Computer & Information Science, General Education and Health Sciences. These programs are all relevant to the UAE’s fast growing and evolving economic sectors. All programs are designed in consultation with business and industry leaders to ensure that the skills students learn are job-relevant and to high standards. They are constantly monitored to ensure they are at the cutting edge of industry standards and technological change. Visit www.hct.ac.ae. Follow us on Facebook hctuae and Twitter @hctuae

About the Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC)
The Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC), managed by Cleveland Clinic, serves as the flagship institution for SEHA’s healthcare system, aims to be recognized as a preeminent medical center that strives to provide outstanding patient experience, superior clinical outcomes, and an improved quality of life for the people it serves.