European Foundation for Quality Management Presents Model Changes

Dubai-UAE: 01 July, 2013 - Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO), the integrated free zone technology park, hosted an Excellence Forum at its headquarters in collaboration with the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM). 

Featuring sessions on EFQM model changes, best practices and the delivery of value-added services, the one day forum drew the attendance of 32 companies based in the UAE. The sessions were headlined by senior representatives from Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority (DSOA), EFQM and the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA). The forum concluded with a tour of the high tech park for the benefit of the attending officials. 

Achieving Dubai Quality Appreciation Award in 2012, as well as the successful outcomes of its internal measures and the excellence award campaign that was rolled out three years ago articulate the free zone's priority towards quality practices. The forum was hosted as part of this commitment.

Ghanim Al Falasi, Senior VP Corporate Services at Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority, said: "The EFQM's excellence model was our first step towards achieving quality objectives. Bringing this platform to the senior management of our business partners is an extension of our services. We also believe that such proactive initiatives will help us achieve our goal of positioning DSO as a world-class free zone technology park."

Maxim Henri, Program Manager of training delivery at EFQM said: "The forum was well attended and we are optimistic about the participants' enthusiasm to integrate best practices within their corporate culture. DSO's initiative is commendable and opens a big opportunity for companies based in Dubai to take advantage of our training for professionals in the area of business excellence."

As part of its participation, KHDA offered insight into operational excellence from a local perspective. A regulatory authority for education and a part of the government of Dubai, KHDA has initiated significant improvement in schools, universities and other human resource sectors in the emirate.

The EFQM, headquartered in Brussels, has over 30,000 member organizations from Europe. The EFQM model is a comprehensive management framework that has been accepted and used globally to achieve excellence. All members receive training, assessment tools and recognition for high performing standards from the organization as part of the programme. The model considers nine criteria as focal to achieving success including leadership, strategy, people, customer and business results.

The EFQM was set up nearly 30 years ago by prominent multi-nationals such as AB Electrolux, British Telecommunications PLC, Ciba-Geigy AG, C. Olivetti & C. SpA, Dassault Aviation, Fiat Auto SpA, KLM, Nestlé, Philips, Renault, Robert Bosch, Sulzer AG, and Volkswagen.

Wholly-owned by the government of Dubai, DSO operates as a free zone for companies producing semiconductors, microelectronics, and other high-tech products. The park has also emerged as a destination of choice for industry players seeking to establish their regional headquarters and centres of research and development in the Middle East and Africa.

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About Dubai Silicon Oasis:
Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority (DSOA), a 100% owned entity by the Government of Dubai is a free zone, strategically placed on Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed road. DSOA's urban master-planned community spans 7.2 square kilometers of state of the art office towers, R&D and industrial zones, educational institutions, luxury apartments, villas, hotels, healthcare and a full range of lifestyle facilities which translate into a dynamic commercial and social environment. Businesses can flourish under the unrivalled package of incentives, including 100% ownership, and high end IT infrastructure that allows companies to begin operating immediately. For more information, please visit: www.dso.ae |Follow DSO on Twitter: @dsoftz.

For further information, please contact:
Mazen El Dirany
Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority
Senior Associate Manager - Corporate Communications
T +971 4 5015102 | F +971 4 5015350 | M +971 50 2266956
Email: meldirany@dso.ae | www.dsoa.ae/

APCO Worldwide
Mathilda Saad
Tel:         +9714 361 3879 (Direct)
M:            +97155 699 9890
Fax:        +9714 388 8001
Email:    msaad@apcoworldwide.com

Razi Hassan
(T)           +971 4 3613598
(M)          +971 553786543
(F)           +971 4 3688001
Email:    rhassan@apcoworldwide.com

© Press Release 2013