HH Sheikh Ahmed Bin Mohammed attends graduation of 150 graduates from Dubai Entrepreneurship Academy
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20-May-2015
Second batch of graduates successfully completed diploma and certificate programs
Dubai, 20 May 2015: His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation and the National Olympic Committee, attended the graduation of 150 entrepreneurs in the second batch of the Dubai Entrepreneurship Academy, a subsidiary of Dubai SME, the agency of the Department of Economic Development (DED) in Dubai mandated to develop the small and medium enterprise (SME) sector.
The second batch included entrepreneurs who completed the Entrepreneurship Diploma program and the Professional Certificate program in Hospitality & Restaurant Management as well as Retail Management. His Excellency Sami Al Qamzi, Director General of DED, Abdul Baset Al Janahi, CEO of Dubai SME and senior executives from DED and its affiliated agencies also attended the ceremony along with leading entrepreneurs in the UAE.
Expressing his gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Al Janahi said that the limitless support of the leadership has contributed to creating a generation of innovative entrepreneurs capable of competing in the local and global market.
"The Dubai Entrepreneurship Academy focuses on helping aspiring entrepreneurs acquire the skills required to evolve into successful businessmen and future leaders. We are guided by the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai to train and equip our youngsters and channel their energy towards cementing the UAE's regional and global leadership," said Al Janahi.
The Dubai SME CEO added that the 150 graduates in the second batch joined the Entrepreneurship Academy with the goal of stepping into business and effectively communicating with customers. "Enrollment in the second batch was 20% higher than the first batch and it motivates us to further support entrepreneurial growth, which is a major value addition to GDP in Dubai and the UAE."
Al Janahi said more than 30% of the graduates in the previous batch has already launched businesses in different sectors such as hospitality, food & beverage, training, education, fashion, trading and real estate, adding that it reflected the vital role of the Dubai Entrepreneurship Academy and its programs, which involves field visits and practical training, as well as the effectiveness of services provided by Dubai SME to support of young people and SMEs.
Al Janahi particularly mentioned the high level of innovation in the projects submitted by graduate trainees in the second batch in partnership with Young Arab Leaders. Ten training seminars were offered to the trainees covering various topics including innovative business model design, use of social networking as well as fashion designing.
Among the 150 new graduates 60 are females, and 76 including 30 females have completed the Entrepreneurship Diploma. The Professional Certificate program Hospitality & Restaurant Management offered in partnership with the Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management had 45 enrollments including 23 females while the Retail Management program conducted in partnership with the Apparel Group was completed by 29 entrepreneurs including 11 females.
The year 2015 has seen new programs being introduced in the Academy, including an Academic Excellence Program Leader for women entrepreneurs and Innovative Business Practice Leadership program in partnership with SEED Group, scheduled to end mid-June. A fashion design program in co-operation with the French Esmod University is also being planned in addition to a number of mobile software applications to mark GITEX 2015, and other programs of interest to entrepreneurs, notably in leadership, entrepreneurship and project management.
Dubai Entrepreneurship Academy introduces students to the concept of entrepreneurship and trains them in the essential aspects of starting and managing a business, including business plan, financial accounting and management accounting, marketing environment, digital marketing, market definition, market segmentation, buyer behavior regulatory principles, collective behavior and performance, and the impact of personal relationships and leadership in the project setting.