Dubai shopping festival office gears up for 4th edition of the award-winning DSS apprenticeship programme 2009
The Dubai Shopping Festival Office, organizers of Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) is gearing up for the 4th edition of its award-winning Apprenticeship Programme. This year, the highly successful Business Administration & Marketing internship includes universities from the UAE for the first time as well as universities in KSA, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan, Qatar, Lebanon and Egypt.
The DSS Apprenticeship Programme was one of the major factors cited by the jury that awarded The Dubai Shopping Festival Office the Travel & Tourism Award at the 2008 IPRA Golden World Awards in London last year.
UAE Universities that have confirmed participation in the programme include: Zayed University, University of Sharjah College of Business Administration and the Higher Colleges of Technology, while fellow participating universities across the MENA region include: Dar Al-Hekma Private College and Effat University from KSA; American University in Cairo, The British University in Egypt and October 6 University from Egypt; Lebanese American University from Lebanon; Al Zaytoonah University from Jordan; Muscat College and Sultan Qaboos University from Oman; Qatar University from Qatar; American University in Kuwait and finally, University of Bahrain and Al Ahlia University from Bahrain.
The DSS Apprenticeship aims at promoting local talent and enhancing the education of participating students within the fields of Marketing, Business administration and Events Management. The programme brings together the best and brightest students from across the region providing them with excellent opportunities for training and exposure in these disciplines through an internship at the Dubai Summer Surprises, one of the biggest tourism success stories of the region, now celebrating its 12th year, which takes place from June 11th to August 14th, 2009.
From four universities in two countries in 2006, the DSS Apprenticeship Programme now targets more than 40 higher education institutions in nine markets across the Middle East & North Africa. As in past editions, the selected college students experience intensive hands-on training on the planning and execution of Dubai Summer Surprises, the region’s biggest summer tourism spectacle.
“In the 4th year of the DSS Apprenticeship Programme, we are extremely happy to be providing students from across the Middle East and North Africa with the opportunity to experience valuable mentorship from the team of experienced industry professionals, who continually strive to make DSS the most anticipated summer event in the region for the whole family. This initiative also demonstrates our enduring commitment to investing in the local and regional community and is an extension of Dubai’s warm, cosmopolitan hospitality”, said Laila Suhail, CEO of the Dubai Shopping Festival Office.
Named the World Travel Awards’ Leading Hotel Brand in Africa, Southern Sun will welcome students from across the region to its deluxe Qamardeen Hotel, situated in Downtown Burj Dubai, where students will stay for the entire two-week internship for the third consecutive year.
Students from participating universities are currently undergoing the selection process with the most important component being an essay writing exercise. This year’s essay topic has current relevance as students will be required to provide insight on how they would market this major summer event in light of the current economic situation. A special jury comprised of key DSS staff and other marketing professionals will evaluate the applications and select one winner from each country to represent his/her country in the programme.
Winners are chosen based on the quality of their essays and completion of documents as well as their character, ambition, energy, and potential to make valuable contributions to the continual enhancement of DSS.
