Abu Dhabi Feb. 1, 2011 --Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) and AMD (NYSE: AMD) have launched a program to help university students gain the experience necessary to kick start a career in advanced technology. The agreement demonstrates AMD and ADEC's commitment to the educational development of Emirati students in higher education, thus promoting the growth and global prosperity of the semiconductor industry planned for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

 "This agreement with AMD further demonstrates our goal of transforming Abu Dhabi into a diversified, innovation-based, knowledge-producing society in line with our 2030 Economic Vision for Abu Dhabi" said Dr. Mugheer Khamis Al-Khaili, the Director General of ADEC. "AMD is recognised as a world leader in the semiconductor industry and the experience our students will gain from this programme is priceless and necessary to achieve the goals we set for ourselves when embarked on this initiative a few years ago."

"The Emirate of Abu Dhabi is rapidly becoming an important region in the semiconductor industry and the goal of this programme is to equip students with the vital skills to pursue a technology career," said Thomas Seifert, CFO and Interim CEO at AMD. "We look forward to sharing our experience and knowledge with the technology leaders of the future and to working closely with ADEC in developing Emirati talent and equipping them with the necessary knowledge and expertise."

The programme will include an AMD Internship Program, a Student Mentor Program, fact finding visits to AMD R&D centers, Semiconductor Seminar support and University curriculum support.

AMD will offer paid internships to qualified Emirati students who are undergraduate engineering students in their third or fourth year of study. Each internship will coincide with a semester of education during one of the Fall, Spring or Summer semester terms. The internships will occur at AMD sites located in Canada, China, Germany, India, Singapore, Taiwan and USA.

AMD will also host fact-finding trips to its research and development facilities around the world for Abu Dhabi employees involved with this program and/or Emirati undergraduate students in their first or second year of university study. The aim of this program is to introduce these students and employees to the semiconductor industry and/or research and development ecosystems. On an annual basis, ADEC and AMD anticipate up to 3 fact-finding trips to AMD sites around the world.

The Student Mentor program will provide incremental professional guidance and support to highly-accomplished Emirati university students, and assist them in their pursuit of careers or research interest to advance the Abu-Dhabi advanced technology industry.

Lastly, AMD will provide University curriculum support and participate in advanced technology related events in UAE.

A signing ceremony was held on February 1st at 12.00 pm at Abu Dhabi Education Council premises attended by: H.E Dr. Mugheer Khamis Al Khaili ADEC's Director General Mr. Thomas Seifert, AMD CFO  and Interim CEO Mr. Allen Sockwell, AMD Senior VP  of Human Resources and Chief Talent Officer Mrs. Katy Wells, AMD Corporate VP, Office of the CEO  Operations and Alliances.

-Ends-

About Abu Dhabi Education Council:
Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) was established in accordance with law No. 24 of 2005, issued by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, the UAE President, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces and the Ruler of Abu Dhabi. The Chairman of ADEC is H.H. Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces and the Vice-Chairman is H.H. Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs. The Council seeks to develop education and educational institutions in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, implement innovative educational policies, plans and programs that aim to improve education, and support educational institutions and staff to achieve the objectives of national development in accordance with the highest international standards.

For more information about ADEC please call its headquarters at +971 (2) 6150 000 or visit our website:

http://www.adec.ac.ae

ADEC Media Contact:
Mourad Tlili
Mob: +971 50 6167 652
E-mail: Mourad.Tlili@adec.ac.ae

© Press Release 2011