Overview of the HCT - Higher Colleges of Technology

H I G H E R C O L L E G E S O F T E C H N O L O G Y19The Centre of Excellence for AppliedResearch and TrainingThe Centre of Excellence for Applied Research & Training(CERT) is the commercial, research and trainingarm of the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT), whichis the largest higher education institution in the UnitedArab Emirates.Since its creation in 1996, CERT has grown to be one ofthe largest private education providers in the MiddleEast and has become synonymous with quality in education,training, research, and socioeconomic progress.CERT is also the largest MENA (Middle East North Africa)investor in the discovery and commercializationof technology.The CERT Group of Companies leverages unique relationshipswith global leaders in education and businessto provide a wide range of educational, applied research,training and consulting services to government,private sector institutions and businesses in the UAEand the region at large.The Centre is involved in strategic alliances with anumber of multinational organizations to collaborate indeveloping a diverse range of business and technologysolutions. As a result, over the years CERT has helpedthousands of professionals and companies meet theirgoals and achieve the next level in their development.Its strong ties with business and industry have resultedin large numbers of HCT graduates finding rewardingemployment.CERT also leads human capital development by offeringtotal education solutions to both corporate and individualcustomers. It holds the MENA training rightsfor many ‘best in class’ programs such as the AmericanManagement Association qualification. CERT is the exclusivehealth and environment educator for the GeneralHealth Authority in Abu Dhabi. The CERT ThalesInstitute, a joint venture with Thales Institute of France,offers specialized, advanced technology training forthe region.It is the regional facilitator of the INCONET-GCC program(International Cooperation Network for Gulf CooperationCountries) which sees 18 government andprivate research organizations, from Europe, the GCCand Yemen form the European Commission-fundedproject, where representatives will develop ways inwhich to promote bi-regional science and technologyresearch partnerships and enhance interaction betweenthe regions.CERT has also forged a strong collaborative relationshipwith one of America’s foremost business schools- the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School ofBusiness. CERT’s Abu Dhabi Technology Park will actas a base for the Wharton School faculty to study theconcepts of entrepreneurship, innovation and familybusiness at HCT campuses. The two institutions havealso collaborated on the development of an Arabicversion of Wharton’s award-winning online journal,Knowledge@Wharton.CERT provides the only on-demand super-computingcenter in the South Asia, Middle East, and the NorthAfrica regions. The CERT Blue Gene supercomputer offers5.7 teraflops calculating speed to corporate clientsfor use in biotechnology, nanotechnology, and geneticsresearch as well as oil and gas simulation. The CERTTechnology Park is home to international companiessuch as Intel, Honeywell and Lucent Technologies.The CERT Institute for Languages offers instruction inseveral languages, and is also the sole provider oflinguistic training to the UAE military. Post-graduateprograms offered include the University of StrathclydeMBA, the Deakin University Master of Education and anExecutive MBA in Innovation & Entrepreneurship whichfeatures the best professors from leading institutionsaround the world.Continuing EducationThrough Continuing Education Programs, the HigherColleges of Technology promotes investment inpeople, provides access to lifelong learning, trainingand educational resources via flexible, high-quality,market-responsive opportunities that satisfy corporate,personal and professional development needs.The Continuing Education and Contract Traininginitiative of the HCT started in Spring, 2000. The HCTstaff use their skills and industry expertise to respondto the training needs of individuals, as well as to theneeds of larger groups from government and industry.Continuing Education and Contract Training areimportant elements in developing a workforce of bothnational citizens and expatriates.HCT Catalogue 2010/2011 Overview of the HCT19HCT Catalogue | 2010/2011