Hands-on banking training for students

The third year Business Banking and Finance students of Dubai Women's College will be getting first hand experience in banking.

They will be looking into the operations of MeBank, a 24-hour distribution channel of Emirates Bank International (EBI), which was opened yesterday at the college.

The opening ceremony was attended by Dr Howard Reed, the college's Director, Abdel Qadder El Khaja, General Manager of the Global Training Centre, Faisal Aqil, General Manager of MeBank, Louis Scotto, General Manager of Retail Banking of Emirates Bank International, and Graeme Steele, Manager of Group Operations.

Dr Reed said: "We are honoured to have MeBank operating at the college. We are proud of our students working for the bank. We look forward to future cooperation."

Aqil said: "The idea was initiated when members of the faculty saw the MeBank concept at an information technology exhibition in Dubai. The mutual feeling is that the venture will benefit both."

Students will be operating me-accounts, me-loans, me-drive and me-cards and leaning how to open bank accounts, offer personal and car loans and issue visa and master cards.

Philip Brear, of the Financial Services and Banking Faculty, told Gulf News: "This project is state-of-the-art in banking systems. We want our students to be able to benefit from MeBank. They will be able to show the college staff and students how to operate the technology, because that's what they've been trained to do."

Pointing out that MeBank allows the students to put their studies and experience to practice, Graeme Steele said: "Performing banking operations at the college through MeBank, allows students to put their studies and experience in a practical sense and not only theoretically.

"We've shown the students what the real banking is all about and now they will have to put it into practice, along with marketing the products of MeBank."

Steele added: "I have sensed an extremely positive feedback from the students, and I guess there will be a good long term relationship and partnership between the bank and the college."

Fahmida Habib, from the Business Marketing Faculty, said: "The project will be a great opportunity for students to get some experience, and a practical way to market the financial and banking programme of MeBank."

Four college students told Gulf News it would provide them with the appropriate training in banking.

Marwa Al Neaimi, a second-year student, said: "The programme gives us an exact idea of how serious real business life is, and is also good for us to gain experience."

Mariam Al Yousef, a second-year student, stressed: "I feel myself totally involved in the MeBank programme because it helps me practice everything I studied."

Mona Al Hai, a third-year student, noted: "We needed such a programme because it offers a lot of facilities and helps students especially now that operations are carried out through the Internet."

Asma Al Redwan, a third-year student, said: "I know from my work in EBI in the customer services section, that such a programme helps students perform all the marketing strategies they've learned at college."

MeBank is a full range of online banking products and services.