Relaunched Student Body to Organise Week of Welcome Carnival to Raise Curtains on Social, Cultural and Career-Advancement Agenda

Dubai-UAE: 03 September, 2008 - Dubai International Academic City (DIAC), a member of TECOM Investments, today announced an action-packed calendar of events and initiatives for the 2008 - 2009 academic year.

The activities will begin on 12 October with a Week of Welcome carnival. Organised by the relaunched student body DIAC Student Hub, the week-long extravaganza will temporarily change the landscape of the cluster, featuring games and food stalls, as well as music and other attractions for new and returning students.

Kicking off with a formal orientation ceremony, the Week of Welcome will offer key presentations, including health tips and awareness sessions on the UAE culture. It will also include a gala dinner, desert safari and movie nights.

Dr Ayoub Kazim, Executive Director of DIAC and Dubai Knowledge Village, said: ""Welcoming new students and making them feel comfortable in their new environment is one of DIAC's key objectives. These orientation activities, along with a packed annual calendar, aim to enhance the overall campus experience and create a vibrant student community."

Comprising four units - visas, events, careers and community projects, the DIAC Student Hub is primarily mandated to organize social, cultural and career-related events with the support of academic institutions functioning out of the knowledge cluster. Sporting events including tournaments in football, cricket and volleyball will be also be conducted throughout the year. DIAC is home to over 11,000 students, representing 102 nationalities.

Lisa Franklin-Browne, Head of DIAC Student Hub, said: "Aiming to facilitate cultural and social development and help students integrate into the wider UAE community, we endeavour to bring talent, culture and heritage to the forefront of university life. Our aim is promote academic, social and cultural adjustments among students, encourage greater unification on campus and build a synergy within the DIAC community."

Field trips to heritage sites and museums will also feature on the calendar of activities to provide a comprehensive understanding of the UAE culture.

The annual Career Fair takes top slot in the DIAC Student Hub's annual calendar, providing undergraduates and recruiters with a common platform to meet and network. The forum offers an ideal opportunity for students to target several recruiters under one roof.

The DIAC Student Hub's Careers Unit is also responsible for the identifying internship programmes and entry-level positions through continuous contact with HR personnel from various industries.

On the agenda for the up-coming year are various industry visits to DIAC to conduct on site campus placements, the CEO Hot Seat event that will see keynote speakers from diverse industries sharing their experience and knowledge, as well as networking events for enabling students to meet and mingle with professionals from different industries.

-Ends-

About Dubai International Academic City:
Dubai International Academic City (DIAC) located in the Dubai Academic City is the world's only Free Zone dedicated to higher education. A regional base for premier international higher education institutions, DIAC is the world's first dedicated tertiary cluster development. Spread across an area of 25 million square foot, the DIAC campus provides an environment of vitality and inspiration for students and faculty. DIAC partners also enjoy special privileges like 100% foreign ownership, 100% freedom from taxes, 100% repatriation of profits and effortless visa issuance procedures for students, faculty and staff. There are currently over 20 international universities of higher learning in Dubai Knowledge Village and Dubai International Academic City from diverse regions including the U.S, Australia, India, Pakistan, Iran, Russia, Belgium, U.K and operating out of DIAC, catering to over 10,000 students.  These institutions offer programmes that range in duration from one year to four years. Major academic programmes on offer include; engineering, computer science, finance, media, fashion and design, biotechnology, environmental studies, quality management and business management programmes.

For further information, please call:
Zeba Ahmad
JiWiN
The Exclusive Middle East Affiliate of Burson-Marsteller
Tel: +9714 361 3590 (direct)
+9714 361 3333 (switchboard)
+97150 494 2989
Fax:  +9714 388 8001
e-mail: Zeba.Ahmad@jiwin.ae  

Cynthia Luna-Harb
JiWiN
Tel:  +9714 375 5878 (direct)
+9714 361 3333 (switchboard)
+97150 2285363 (mobile)
Fax:  +9714 388 8001
email: Cynthia.Luna@jiwin.ae  

© Press Release 2008