Overseas Internship Programme seeks to enhance understanding between US and Arab Region

DUBAI: 16 April 2006 - Dubai Knowledge Village (KV) today announced that it is partnering with AIESEC, the world's premier international work exchange organization, to offer the Salaam Program, an overseas work placement programme to university students in the UAE. AIESEC is the world's largest student run organization which is spread in over 90 countries around the world.

The Salaam Program is a joint initiative between AIESEC in the United States and AIESEC in the Arab region including Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, in cooperation with the US State Department's Bureau of Cultural and Educational Affairs. It offers students in these Arab countries the opportunity to apply and undertake internships in leading companies in the United States.

"The program was named Salaam not only because it focuses on facilitating traineeship exchanges between the Arab world and the United States, but also because it attempts to bridge the gap and promote peace between the two regions through increased cultural understanding and awareness," said Deepak Nair, President of AIESEC in the UAE.

"We are delighted to partner with AIESEC to offer the Salaam Program in the UAE," said Dr. Abdulla Al Karam, CEO of Dubai Knowledge Village (KV). "This programme will help realise one of education's greatest mission - the promotion of cultural awareness and understanding. The programme gives a wonderful chance for KV students to be exposed to global work environments as well as learn more about other cultures and ways of life. Programmes like these will go a long way in promoting peace and tolerance," he added.

The Salaam program gives students the opportunity to develop their professional skills as well as improve their understanding of American and Arab cultures. Arab national students, who have already completed their bachelors, or are in their last year, will have the opportunity to spend three months to a year and a half in the United States on paid internships in various organizations. Some of AIESEC's partners include PriceWaterHouseCoopers, Alcatel, DHL, Cadbury Schweppes, Hewlett Packard, ABN AMRO and Microsoft. Students will have the opportunity to work with these organizations as well as many other AIESEC partners.

In addition to the internship experience, students can participate in community service and interact with local student volunteers in the United States through organized social and cultural activities. Internships are available in the fields of business, education and information technologies. AIESEC will facilitate a comprehensive learning process focused on exposing Arab and US students to each other's cultures.

Students can apply directly to the program at Dubai Knowledge Village's Student Services and Programs Department (KV-DSSP). The deadline for submitting the completed application is 3 pm on Saturday, 22 April 2006. Following the pre-screening of applications, selected candidates will be invited for group discussions and simulations, which will be held on Monday 24th April, followed by the final interviews on Wednesday 26th and Thursday 27th of April.

The Salaam Program is the latest internship opportunity facilitated by Dubai Knowledge Village in association with AIESEC. KV already offers a comprehensive internship programme locally. These internships, which vary for a period between two months and a year, are offered both full-time in the summer and part-time during term time.

As the programmes offered by KV-based universities grow in diversity, KV plans to expand its internship programme to offer internships in new fields. Currently KV-based institutions offer advanced graduate and post-graduate programs in fields such as Computing, Technology, Business Management, Life Sciences, Fashion, Media and more.

In partnership with AIESEC, KV will continue to offer its students unique programs such as Salaam in the future.

-Ends-

For further information, please call:
Rami Adwan
JiWiN
The Public Relations Arm of Dubai Press Club
Tel:+9714 361 3 333
Fax:+9714 388 8 001
e-mail: rami.adwan@jiwin.ae 

© Press Release 2006