Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA) | HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum opens DEWA Campus for Occupational and Academic Development and witnesses graduation of 2nd and 3rd batches of DEWA Academy

HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Minister of Finance and President of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), has today inaugurated the DEWA Campus for Occupational and Academic Development in Al Hudaiba in Dubai. His Highness was welcomed by HE Matar Humaid Al Tayer, Chairman of DEWA; HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of DEWA; HE Saeed Al Kindi, as well as Majed Hamad Al Shamsi, Abdullah Mohammed Al Hashemi, and Hilal Khalfan Bin Dhaher, Board Members of DEWA. The opening ceremony was also attended by HE Ahmed Buti Al Mehairbi, Secretary General of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, and HE Saif Al Falasi, CEO of Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC).

HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum also witnessed the graduation of the 2nd and 3rd batches of DEWA Academy. A large number of officials, public figures, media personnel, students and parents were present.

HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum toured the campus, which includes 4 new four-storey buildings, houses a smart training and education centre for developing human resources, and DEWA Academy, which qualifies Emirati youth in technical, engineering, and occupational specialities as well as other technical fields. DEWA has established its campus for students to join all areas related to energy including electrical and mechanical engineering, maintenance, equipment operation, and renewable energy and sustainable energy. The new buildings include offices for staff, engineers, and trainers, training and lecture halls, workshops equipped with state-of-the-art technological and educational facilities, computer labs, an auditorium for educational activities, a multipurpose hall, an outdoor playground, and a library. It also includes a multi-storey car park. These facilities contribute to achieving the most benefits from the educational process and continuous practical training. This ensures quality education and graduating Emiratis who are capable of dealing with all challenges in the occupational and technical fields.

HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Minister of Finance and President of DEWA, emphasised his commitment to enhancing the future of vocational and technical education in the UAE. "The DEWA Campus for Occupational and Academic Development is a milestone in vocational education in Dubai and the UAE. By establishing this advanced educational landmark, we aim to prepare young Emiratis academically and practically to occupy the technical and engineering jobs. This supports our efforts for the Emiratisation of these specialities and depend on Emiratis to meet the growing needs and ambitious expansion plans in the various strategic sectors. The campus is in line with the national efforts to support education and invest in Emirati talent to achieve the goals of the UAE Centennial 2071," said HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer thanked HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum for inaugurating the DEWA Campus for Occupational and Academic Development, noting that this reflects the vision of the wise leadership, represented by HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to strengthen the role of education in preparing the leaders of the future. Al Tayer emphasised that youth who excel in science and technology are the basis for creativity, innovation, ambition and development of civilisation and humanity.

“This academic landmark, which Your Highness inaugurated today, aims to enhance our efforts which are based on a clear strategy to empower young Emiratis and build their capabilities according to the best international standards in the technical, engineering, and vocational specialties which are needed in DEWA for the Emiratisation of these sectors, while meeting the needs of our ambitious expansion plans, to continue our leading role in meeting the needs of the Emirate in electricity and water services. The campus includes a training and smart education centre and DEWA Academy on a total area of ​​350,000 square feet. The campus can take up to 400 students and 600 trainees. These will be distributed in 13 training halls equipped with the latest tools and smart applications. The academy includes 12 classrooms, 3 laboratories and 12 technical and practical workshops. We work through our ambitious initiatives and development projects to raise the UAE’s position as the best country in the world, and always rank first. DEWA has received over 170 prestigious local and international awards in the last three years. One of DEWA’s most prominent awards was Leading Government Entity, at the 20th Dubai Government Excellence Program (DGEP) Awards 2017, according to the fourth-generation government excellence system.  DEWA has received over a third of the Distinguished Government Entity Awards, since launching DGEP,” said Al Tayer.

“We continued our achievements when DEWA won the highest award in the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) Excellence Model, in the same year, with an excellent score between 750-800. DEWA is the first organisation outside Europe to receive this international award as a first applicant, and now ranks in the Platinum category. It is the only energy utility in this category. DEWA also won the Dubai Human Development Award and the Dubai Quality Award in the Gold category, in competition with the private sector. In addition, we were rated ‘A’ in Human Resources within the fourth-generation criteria of DGEP, and the gold category for Investors in People. We have adopted innovation in our vision and developed the pillar of the future, as well as the 10x initiative in our strategy to develop our work, in line with the requirements of the next phase. We also introduced the latest innovative technologies by adopting the Fourth Industrial Revolution and disruptive technologies including Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics, the Internet of Things (IoT), and Blockchain. We were the first government utility in the world to join as a partner for the Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution of the World Economic Forum. DEWA launched its digital arm, Digital DEWA, which will implement a pioneering new model for utilities that uses innovation in renewable energy, energy storage, AI and digital services. This supports the 10x initiative, which aims to propel Dubai towards the future, making it 10 years ahead of other global cities through government innovation,” added Al Tayer.

“DEWA works to consolidate the economic, social and environmental aspects of sustainability within an institutional framework and an integrated system to ensure sustainable results. DEWA joined the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), the world’s greatest corporate sustainability initiative. DEWA supports the UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030, and works on achieving 6 of them. DEWA is the first utility in the Middle East and North Africa to use the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), to develop sustainability reports focused on the electricity sector. DEWA achieved a world record in the Sustainability Culture Indicator achieving 88.8% in 2017, which exceeds the global average of 62% achieved by the international participating entities during the same year. Your Highness, we promise to continue to work hard to achieve the highest positions for the UAE, and make it always rank first,” concluded Al Tayer.

"As part of DEWA’s commitment to consolidating its leading role as a national government organisation that contributes effectively to the building and development of the UAE and its citizens, DEWA Academy at the DEWA Campus for Occupational and Academic Development, provides opportunities for Emirati young people to acquire the technical skills required to enter the professional job market. It also equips students with other skills such as time management, planning, innovation and teamwork. Students who graduate from the Academy receive a high school diploma that is equivalent to the vocational diploma accredited by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) in Dubai. It is also accredited by the UK's Business and Technology Education Council (BTEC), according to the highest international standards. Over 30 million students in over 70 countries, including the UAE, register for the programme every year," said Dr. Yousef Al Akraf, Executive Vice President of Business Support and Human Resources at DEWA.

The duration of study at the DEWA Academy is three years. Students receive a monthly incentive. After graduation, they are guaranteed technical jobs at DEWA. From 2013 to 2018, DEWA Academy graduated 82 students. DEWA aims to graduate over 200 students from 2019 to 2021. DEWA Academy accepts students from 10th grade who have successfully completed 9th grade in high school, provided that the student's age is not less than 15 years and not more than 18 at the time of joining the Academy. Classroom density ranges from 20 to 24 students per classroom. During the workshops and lab classes, each class is divided into two groups.