Dubai--Jan. 12, 2011-- Eighteen students from the Dubai Women's College (DWC) advanced life support paramedic program were assessed by evaluators from the US as part of the international accreditation and benchmarking of the program. 

A team of four evaluators from the Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC) and the Emergency Health Services Federation (EHSF) visited DWC from 9-12 January to administer the state of Pennsylvania Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)-Basic examination as well as two advanced-level  EMT-Paramedic assessments on patient assessment and treatment, cardiac rhythm interpretation with electrical therapy, and advanced pharmacological treatment. 

Students who were successful in the international examinations, which take place every 6 months, were eligible for EMT-B, EMT-advanced (intermediate) and EMT-Paramedic certification from the US.

The program, the first of its kind in the GCC with multiple international partnerships, allows Emirati students to be enrolled in a US Emergency Medical Services (EMS) program while completing their studies in Dubai.  Additionally, the BAS degree, which requires a 1 month trip to the US, allows for advanced training not found regionally in specialized areas such as aeromedical (helicopter)EMS, special operations (SWAT) EMS, Advanced level EMS instructor, and Disaster and Rescue EMS training. 

The program is part of the government initiative to Emiratize and improve the existing Emergency Medical Services.  "The region is moving towards international-level advanced emergency medical care," said Ron Blough, Paramedic program faculty.  "Training Emirati's as advanced level paramedics helps improve the medical services in the region as well as providing an exciting career for the young men and women in the UAE."

The DWC program started in 2003 in partnership with Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services (DCAS) and has graduated 45 Emirati paramedics who are employed by the Dubai Police and Dubai Corporation of Ambulance Services.

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About Dubai Women's College
Dubai Women's College (DWC), with more than 2,200 students, is part of the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT). The HCT is one of the leading higher education institutions in the United Arab Emirates with 16 campuses located throughout the country delivering a wide range of quality programs to over 16,500 students.  DWC was established in 1989 and offers Bachelor and Diploma degrees in Business, Information Technology, Education, Health Sciences, and Applied Communications.  Today, DWC is the quality provider of top-quality National women graduates in Dubai.  DWC's mission is to provide a learning environment for young women to "Practice the Future" by developing confidence, professional excellence and an ethical commitment to leadership roles in a rapidly developing local economy.

For more information, please contact
Dubai Women's College/Higher Colleges of Technology
Tel: 04-208-9269
Email: abrar.mikkawi@hct.ac.ae

© Press Release 2011