London, 23 July 2006: Four students from the United Arab Emirates' (UAE) Technical Training Project (TTP) have been granted special awards for excellence in Edexcel's BTEC National and Higher National   Diploma range of programmes in Engineering. 

The awards ceremony recognised the achievements of a total of 14 outstanding students of the UAE-TTP and was attended by several leading dignitaries from the UK and UAE military.

The TTP, funded by the UAE Military, sends over 1000 students annually to the UK to study BTEC National Diplomas and Higher Nationals in a wide range of Engineering and other subjects. After studying, the students are able to apply their engineering training directly as qualified technicians in their relevant discipline.

The four students chosen to receive special recognition awards were:

  • Sultan Ahmed Rashed Hassani - BTEC Higher National Diploma, Aerospace Engineering

  • Mohamed Obaid Saeed Alnaqbi - BTEC National Diploma, Marine Plant Engineering

  • Khaled Ali Abdulla Almansoori - BTEC National Diploma, Aerospace Engineering

  • Mohamed Rashed Seraidy - BTEC National Diploma, Applied Science

Ten other students were also recognised at the event, which marked the UAE-TTP's 10th graduation ceremony.

Edexcel, UK's largest awarding body offering academic and vocational qualifications, offers a wide range of Engineering qualifications from a double award GCSE, through to a BTEC Foundation Degree in disciplines such as electronic and mechanical engineering. 

Trevor Luker, Edexcel's Director of UK and International Education, who spoke at the event, said: "These special awards were created for the UAE-TTP to recognise achievement for students involved in Edexcel's BTEC National and Higher National Diploma range of programmes in Engineering.  The UAE-TTP's endorsement of these qualifications demonstrates how highly regarded and valuable BTECs are to learners and employers worldwide."

Attending the ceremony were: Mrs Phyllida Stewart-Roberts OBE (The Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex); His Excellency Staff Major General Saeed Mohamed Khalef Al Romaithi (Head of Administration & Manpower, UAE Armed Forces GHQ Abu Dhabi);  and Colonel Hareb Al Dhaheri ( Project Manager of the United Arab Emirates-Technical Training Project/UK).

-Ends-

Notes to Editors:
Edexcel, a Pearson company, is the UK's largest awarding body offering academic and vocational qualifications and testing to more than 25,000 schools, colleges, employers and other places of learning here and in over 100 countries worldwide. We deliver 9.4 million exam scripts each year, with 3 million marked onscreen in 2005.  Our qualifications include GCSE, AS and A Level, GNVQ, NVQ and the BTEC suite of vocational qualifications from entry level to BTEC Higher National Diplomas and Foundation Degrees

The 10th UAE-TTP Graduation Ceremony held at Bexhill-on-sea, East Sussex 11th July 2006.

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Amy MacLaren,
Senior Press Officer,
Edexcel on
+ 44 20 7190 5191
email amy.maclaren@edexcel.org.uk

Camilla d'Abo,
PR Director, d'Events
+971 4 3311104
email Camilla@deventsme.com

© Press Release 2006