20 July, 2006

BRITISH PREMIER LAUNCHES DAE-SPONSORED INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY AT FARNBOROUGH AIRSHOW

Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) received a ringing endorsement from the British Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Tony Blair, today (Thursday), when he launched the first ever International Youth Day at the Farnborough International Airshow.

At a celebratory launch event for the youth initiative, being sponsored by DAE University, the British premier was introduced to DAE’s Project Director, Rashid Al Malik and Dr George H Ebbs, newly appointed CEO of DAE University, together with other selected senior dignitaries attending the show. Mr. Al Malik said Prime Minister Tony Blair was not only grateful for DAE’s financial support of the event but also keen to hear more about DAE and the DAE University project that will open its doors this autumn.

“The Prime Minister thanked DAE for its sponsorship of International Youth Day. He was very interested to learn more about our innovative and ambitious plans to develop DAE moving forward, and commented that this was an opportune time for DAE to enter the global marketplace,” he said. “DAE is absolutely delighted to be associated with the very first International Youth Day, at Farnborough. It is a great investment in those who will help to shape and support our aerospace industry of tomorrow and is therefore a perfect showcase for DAE University, which will open its doors to its first students this October.”

The International Youth Day, being staged tomorrow (Friday) on the last trade day of the multi-billion dollar air show – the largest of its kind anywhere in the world – incorporates a programme of events for a specially selected audience of up to 1,250 young people. All of the youngsters, aged from 15– 23, are studying aerospace or engineering-related courses.

It is part of a drive to open the minds of young people who are about to enter the workforce to the superb opportunities available in the worlds of aerospace, science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

DAE’s inaugural sponsorship of the International Youth Day supports its newly-announced DAE University – a specialist aerospace institute and one of the six divisions of DAE. Currently being established in Dubai and opening this October, DAE University will leverage strategic partnerships with world-renowned international aerospace educational establishments, including the UK’s highly respected Cranfield University.

Offering a wide range of academic degrees and apprenticeship programmes, the University will be fully developed by 2015, when 8,000 students a year will pass through its doors.

DAE will be participating in a number of events at International Youth Day including its ‘Fresher’s Fair’ where aspiring postgraduate students can learn about the range of courses on offer at DAE University.

A select group of students will also be hosted by DAE for lunch at its chalet at the airshow, where they will hear from senior executives about both DAE University and the company’s graduate recruitment programme, which is due to commence later this year.