(MENAFN Press) April 12, 2012: A Dubai base for one of the UK's most prestigious schools, Millfield School, will be investigated by the Center of Excellence for Applied Research & Training (CERT), after an agreement was signed with the Somerset based school in Abu Dhabi.
The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by H.E. Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Minister for Higher Education and Scientific Research and Chairman of the Board of the CERT Group of Companies and David Williamson, the Chair of the International Campus Committee of Millfield Schools.
Under the terms of the agreement CERT and Millfield, will jointly evaluate the feasibility of bringing the Millfield model of education to the Middle East and Asia in the form of a school in Dubai, representing in all aspects the Millfield ethos and experience.
Millfield School, founded in 1935 and located in Street and Glastonbury, Somerset, England has about 1700 male and female pupils, and over 600 employees, and aims to help every individual child to achieve their full potential.
CERT is the commercial, training and entrepreneurial arm of the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) and has a mandate to develop the human resources of the UAE; to help develop a strong national workforce; and to introduce innovative technologies to the UAE and the GCC region that enhance organizational efficiency and performance.
Under the terms of the agreement, as part of the feasibility study, CERT will work closely with Millfield to identify and secure an appropriate Dubai site to locate the school, taking into consideration the required minimum area to ensure a truly Millfield presence and experience. It will also assist in raising funds to help establish Millfield-Dubai and seek endowment funding to enable Emirati children to attend the school whose families have insufficient financial means to pay the fees.
Dr. Tayeb Kamali, Group Chief Executive of the CERT Group of Companies said the agreement was an important step for the UAE's burgeoning education sector.
"CERT is very pleased to be working with Millfield School to bring its highly regarded education model to Dubai and the UAE, as part of its mission is to develop a well-trained and highly educated workforce, ready and able to contribute to this nation in the 21st Century," Dr Kamali said.
"Through its partnership with Millfield School, CERT will be able to effectively undertake and deliver these components of its mandate," Dr. Kamali added.
