Graduation day

Josh Kuriakose already has an undergraduate degree that is in great demand in the UAE and a good job in marketing. So why pursue a one-year diploma in marketing management at the Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts of India (ICFAI) Notes asked him just before their graduation ceremony?

Career boosting

"This postgraduate degree is a supplement to my current degree and it adds up in terms of promotions, your resume, everywhere," said Kuriakose.

The 24-year-old was attracted to the postgraduate diploma in marketing management because of its reputation in India as well as the fact that flexible weekend classes were offered.

For Deepak Bisht, the decision to embark on a retail management diploma was aimed at taking him to a higher level in the retail industry he works in.

"I have an undergraduate degree in commerce from India and I plan to continue in this field. This degree is good for getting an in-depth knowledge of the retail industry," he said.

Bisht is currently employed as a store manager and said the skills he gained from the course included how to manage a company's manpower, people skills, inspiring people in the workplace and taking responsibility for maximising profit in a business.

Ranjeet Roy Philip, 25, is a recent graduate and plans to do an MBA. "But before doing that I thought I'd do this diploma because it would prepare me for the MBA," he said.

Now that Philip has completed his supply chain management diploma he is able to "get the bigger picture" of the logistics industry and especially its use in the airline industry where he works.

Global expansion

According K.V. Iyer, head of ICFAI's international division, the institute has plans for expansion in the UAE and the GCC region.

"ICFAI's expansion plan fits in well with the challenge posed by Dubai's Strategy Plan and its move towards Higher Skill Employment by adding 882,000 additional workers by 2015, thereby taking the total employment to 1.73 million," Iyer said.

Iyer added that ICFAI is committed to bringing world-class management programmes to the region and raise the skill levels of the people at a time when a knowledge economy is assuming greater significance.

"Globalisation and liberalisation of economies have opened up new vistas in every field including higher education. Quality education is the need of the hour," he said.

Elaborating on "global recognition" of Indian higher education, Iyer said they are able to attract learners from home and abroad. "Now, with the advent of more Indian universities along with affiliated business schools and global recognition of Indian higher education, the floodgates for Indian brands of education ... have been opened up on a large scale."

The ceremony

Joining proud graduates, their family and friends was Ebrahim Mousa Jamel, director of Dubai Knowledge Village, who was the guest of honour.

He presented postgraduate diploma certificates to students who are mostly working professionals in various industries in Dubai.

Suresh Kumar, chairman of the ICFAI Dubai governing council and group director and senior advisor of Emirates NBD, also addressed graduates and congratulated them on their achievement.

The ICFAI campus at Dubai Knowledge Village has been in operation since 2006 and offers 12 postgraduate diploma programmes. The courses are offered through distance learning, which officials say suit the growing needs of the UAE markets and its multinational audience.