Dubai: The e-TQM College has now been converted into a full-fledged university under the name of Hamdan Bin Mohammad e-University.
The first e-university in the country was launched yesterday under the patronage of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai.
"Second place is the first place of losers, so that is why we have to be number one," said Shaikh Hamdan.
Officials at the new university said they expect an increase of up to 50 per cent in students registering for the academic year 2009-10, which corresponds to the number of new programmes that will be offered in September.
"Six new programmes will be offered for the new academic year, including one bachelor's programme in Business and Quality Management," said Narimane Hadj-Hamou, Assistant Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs at Hamdan Bin Mohammad e-University.
The programmes consist of five master's degrees that include a Masters in Science in Organisational Excellence, Public Health, as well as in Innovation and Change Management.
In line with changing the college into a university, the institution has changed its focus in adding more emphasis on quality related aspects by adding three schools. The schools at the university comprises the School of Business and Quality Management, Environmental Studies and e-Education.
"A Continuing Education Centre (CEC) has also been set up, which caters to those on a more professional level. This centre offers professional certificates and corporate training to those who are looking to upgrade their skills," said Hadj-Hamou.
The transition from a college into a university was enabled through setting up a translation centre, launching six periodicals on the university's e-library, and creating partnerships with several universities, such as the University of Bradford in UK, University of Wisconsin and University of California, Berkeley in the US.
"Changing our status from a college into a university gives us more credentials, and this is the first step for us to continue growing in the right direction," added Hadj-Hamou.
