Knowledge Village plans new facility

Knowledge Village, part of the Technology, Electronic Commerce and Media Free Zone, will set up a business centre for freelancers to share and rent, said a top official.

About 40 companies have already registered with the Knowledge Village so far.

Construction of the facility, which will house high-tech e-education, e-training and e-learning organisations, will create one million square feet of office space for these companies, said the official.

"We will set up a business centre at Knowledge Village for freelance trainers and researchers who will be able to rent or share our facilities at the business centre," said Dr Abdullah Al Karam, director of Knowledge Village.

"We are looking into creating spaces for about 100 freelancers who will be able to share the facilities by renting out the premises."

Dubai Media City first executed this idea by setting up the Media Business Centre for freelance journalists and graphic designers by offering a single-desk, telephone and work station, along with a licence for Dh19,000 per annum. The fee structure of the business centre has not yet been fixed.

Freelancers will be able to use these facilities to research, carry out studies, offer training, presentations, and conduct classes for their clients, he said.

"We are still working out the details. The entire Knowledge Village will offer one million square feet of office space and a section of this will be dedicated to the business centres.

"About 40 companies have already registered with the Knowledge Village so far and some of them have begun moving in this month," he said.

"Most of these companies will begin their operation from the Knowledge Village by May or June and we expect to officially inaugurate the facility in September this year."

Dr Al Karam said e-learning is gaining momentum in the UAE as a good number of companies are pursuing professional training and learning through the Internet.

Knowledge Village, along with the Global Training Centre, is organising the first e-Learning Conference to be held in Dubai on April 30, which is to become an annual event.

"We want to create opportunities for people and business organisations in the e-learning and e-training sectors. Knowledge Village will do everything possible to facilitate opportunities," he said.

A good number of foreign educational institutes, including some universities, have committed to the Knowledge Village.

Knowledge Village aims to provide an environment and infrastructure for a variety or organisations to share, develop and apply knowledge. It aims to create a rich ecosystem for the development of scholarship, education, training, creativity, innovation and entrepreneurial expertise.