With the recent launch of Dubai College of Tourism (DCT), Essa Bin Hadher, General Manager of DCT, talks about the core programmes of the college and why vocational training courses are important to students and to Dubai’s booming tourism industry.

The vocational courses are focused around five core faculties – Tourism, Events, Hospitality, Retail and Culinary Arts. Can you tell us why there is an emphasis on these courses?

The tourism industry is constantly evolving, as travelers seek new and diversified experiences when visiting a destination. The five core faculties that underpin the industry demand professionals with a multitude of skills to offer services that suit the needs of the tourist. It is therefore essential to decipher the different skill sets needed to fulfil these roles, and DCT places a strong emphasis on providing practical and flexible vocational courses that ensure students are both equipped and prepared to launch their career in their chosen field within the industry.

DCT offers its students courses focused around these five core faculties – Tourism, Events, Hospitality, Retail and Culinary Arts to encourage students to explore a particular niche. This, in turn, helps young people to learn various trade and soft skills from established professionals in the industry before they embark on their own career.

In your opinion, how important are vocational courses in Dubai?

A traditional academic university experience does not suit all student demographics. Vocational courses offer an alternative career path, with rewarding progression in today’s complex and fast-evolving industries. With Dubai’s tourism sector set to employ a workforce of more than half a million by 2020, dedicated vocational training for the industry has never been more important. Vocational education is therefore designed to deliver the right balance of knowledge, skills and competencies required in a particular field through a combination of theoretical teaching and practical experience. As such, we strongly believe that understanding how students learn and identifying their core strengths is essential when planning for their future careers.

Can you tell us more about Dubai College of Tourism’s teaching philosophy?

DCT offers a holistic and practical teaching philosophy committed to nurturing and educating human capital within the tourism, hospitality, retail, events and culinary arts industries. DCT’s courses are therefore perfect for high school leavers who do not want to continue with traditionally ‘academic’ study. This philosophy allows students to bridge the gap between in-house training and a full bachelor’s degree, ensuring a steady pipeline of highly trained tourism professionals are injected into the city as the future generation of tourism leaders.

Across our core areas, the College offers both, a One-Year Certificate Programme, which combines theory and practical education to ensure that graduates excel in the industry; and a Diploma programme, which is an additional four months after the certificate. All programmes also include internships in the industry, hands-on training and access to industry expertise to ensure that graduates are well equipped with all the tools required to master the various industry-led facets of their chosen courses.

Tourism is one of the pillars of Dubai’s economic growth. How does DCT align its goals to UAE’s Tourism Vision 2020?

Supporting and inspiring world-class tourism professionals for a truly comprehensive visitor experience lies at the heart of the Dubai Tourism’s social and economic development plans and is an essential aspect in helping us meet the ambitious goals outlined in our Tourism Vision 2020. Dubai’s rise on the global stage has been remarkable, and the emirate’s tourism proposition is only expected to continue to evolve and expand year after year. This means that Dubai’s tourism sector possesses limitless opportunities for all UAE nationals, residents, and expats to excel in. The ambition and appetite for growth that has allowed Dubai to reach its current position means there is no shortage of prospects for driven professionals.

As such, DCT has been established in line with Dubai Tourism’s strategy to help create world-class tourism professionals to meet the goal of welcoming 20 million visitors to the city by 2020. The college will therefore serve as the base to develop and roll out training and industry on-boarding programmes across Dubai’s tourism, hospitality, events, retail and culinary industries, encouraging young UAE Nationals and expat residents – what we term as ‘Dubaians’ – to be part of the city’s evolving tourism sector. In fact, all courses have been tailored to provide students with a sound knowledge of both office and field-based industry functions and open doors to the industry’s top employers.

What qualities set DCT apart from other universities in Dubai?

DCT provides students with more than a traditional academic institution; it offers an attractive future for students who are ambitious and motivated by real-world jobs. In addition to the support of the industry and Dubai Tourism, what sets DCT apart from other educational institutions is the comprehensive focus on the future careers of the students. Not only providing vocational education, DCT also concentrates on training students on the practical skills required by the industry and has tailored its education to ensure it is truly relevant to today’s market and its future employment requirements. Other elements such as internships in the industry – as a key feature of every course – help to empower the students with the confidence and experience needed to succeed in their chosen career.

To further fuel the ambitions of DCT students, the College is also pleased to offer a range of scholarship opportunities as part of the Dubai College of Tourism Scholarship Fund, in collaboration with leading industry partners. The first scholarship in this programme is ‘The City of Gold’ scholarship, in partnership with the Dubai Gold and Jewellery Group, and includes full scholarships to 20 students, both Emiratis and expatriates who meet the selection criteria, and also apply for DCT’s Certificate of Retail course starting from the 9th of September 2018. The students also must fulfil certain mandatory requirements. All candidates must submit a motivation letter along with their application detailing why they should be chosen as a recipient of the scholarship, and also apply online via the DCT website to secure a spot in DCT’s Certificate in Retail course. Applicants will also be required to complete an English language assessment and numeracy test, followed by an interview with DCT officials in the final stage of the application process.

What career aspirations can students expect post-graduation from DCT?

Students graduating from DCT will be equipped with exceptionally relevant skills and knowledge in a wide range of areas of the tourism sector and their chosen field of study and will be ready to easily transition into full time employment. During their studies, DCT students are encouraged and assisted with building focused resumes, showcasing their work experience while expanding their network of industry contacts for after they graduate. Through the support of the College’s industry partners, students are able to gain practical work experience while they are studying, while industry partners are well positioned to hire standout students once they have graduated. This helps provide students with the ‘real-world’ experiences that enable them to take full advantage of the myriad of exciting and rewarding career opportunities available in Dubai’s thriving tourism industry.