June 24, 2007: The University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD) and Lloyd's Register Quality Assurance (LRQA) have entered into an agreement under which postgraduate students studying the Master of Quality Management (MQM) degree at the University will receive training in ISO9001:2000 quality standards.

The training will enable students to achieve certification as Lead Auditors of the ISO9001:2000 standards.

Dr. Cedwyn Fernandes, Chair of the College of Graduate Studies at UOWD, said, "This is a significant milestone for UOWD and will contribute to enhancing our students' practical skills, enabling them to apply the theoretical knowledge in the MQM program. At present, there are over 300 students in the MQM program and this certification will empower them to drive quality improvements in their organizations."  

Commenting of the importance of Quality Management Systems, Mr. Basem Obaid, Regional Director of Lloyd's Register Quality Assurance (LRQA), said that the visionary leadership of the UAE promotes innovation and excellence as drivers in economic development.

"Initiatives like the Shaikh Khalifa Awards and the Dubai Quality Awards demonstrate the nation's commitment to becoming a centre of business excellence in the region. This has made the study of Quality Management principles a rewarding field for professionals in both public and private sectors. We are proud of this cooperation with the UOWD and it will synergise the strengths of both organizations in boosting the ability of the MQM graduates to lead quality initiatives in various industry sectors," said Mr. Obaid.

Dr. Alaa Garad, Assistant Professor in Quality Management, commented, "The MOU with Lloyd's Register will allow students to receive hands-on training from Lloyd's quality experts in how to assess organizational processes and evaluate quality standards as Lead Auditors."

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About University of Wollongong Dubai
Established in 1993, UOWD was the first Australian university in Dubai to be licensed by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research. Located at Knowledge Village, it boasts 2500 students from 80 different nationalities. It is part of one of Australia's best performing research institutions, University of Wollongong Australia (UOW) which is recognised as one of the top Australian universities for excellence in teaching performance.

PR Contacts:

Anthony D'Silva
(anthony@communicategulf.com.)
Tel. +971 50 4571624,

Mohammad Meraj,
Marketing Manager
UAE,
University of Wollongong in Dubai,
(mohammadmeraj@uowdubai.ac.ae)
Tel: +9714 3672425

© Press Release 2007