Dubai Women's College, a Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) flagship institution, announced the names of companies and corporations, which have recently offered financial aid for transportation and laptops needed by limited-income students.
Since the beginning of this academic year, the financial aid received by DWC totaled Dhs1 million. The Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB) Foundation offered Dhs500,000 in aid for the transport expenses of students living on limited incomes while the college offered Dhs521,120, thus the overall cost of student transportation for the academic year has been covered.
Meanwhile, Al Maktoum Foundation has bought 61 laptops at an overall cost of Dhs300,000 as the Noor Islamic Bank supported DWC students with Dhs200,000 to buy 41 laptops.
For his part, Abdul Razak Al Abdalla, CEO of DIB Foundation, said: "Motivated by humanitarian and community duties, the foundation swiftly moved to solve the problem of students unable to pay transport fees, as they are from families of limited incomes and transport fees are a burden on them." He added: "Based on the foundation goals of highlighting the role of the Dubai Islamic Bank in serving the Emirati society and its keenness to provide a suitable atmosphere for students to focus on their future and continue their academic education, the foundation has donated Dhs500,000 for the transport fees, which were an obstacle to DWC students to continue their studies."
He said that DIB management had expressed readiness to contribute to paying transport fees of DWC students, who could not afford them as their families receive support from the Ministry of Social Affairs.
The initiatives of the DIB Foundation, Noor Islamic Bank in Dubai and Al Maktoum Foundation emphasis the importance of investing in education in order to ensure sustainable development in the country. They, moreover, reflect their philosophy, which attaches great importance to individuals' ability-building, in line with the vision of the UAE Vice- President, the Prime Minister and Dubai Ruler, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum.
DWC has commended DIB Foundation for its initiative of paying half of the transport fees for limited-income students. It has also praised Al Maktoum Foundation for buying 61 laptops and the Noor Islamic Bank for donating 41 laptops for the limited-income students.
Dr. Howard Reed, Director of Dubai Women's College, has expressed high appreciation and thanks to the generous donation offered by DIB Foundation, Al Maktoum Foundation and Noor Islamic Bank. He said that educating young professionals for roles into a complex and rapidly changing world is a large and expensive challenge. "We are fortunate to have partners like DIB Foundation, Al Maktoum Foundation and Noor Islamic Bank who realize that the future depends on the quality of our young people. We need more companies to come forward to help build a society where women are given equal opportunities for developing their knowledge and skill. This is in line with Dubai's vision to shape the UAE into a sound knowledge-based society."
Dr. Reed pointed to the prominent role played by DWC in developing students' capabilities and skills as well utilizing them for the community service so that they would set an example amid quick-paced economic changes. "We are confident that by doing this, it has set an example to follow in supporting higher education through cooperation with Dubai Women's College, which provides UAE women with distinguished education combining theoretical studies and practical experience based on the latest technology," he concluded.
