Promoting the IPP model to the Abu Dhabi Polytechnic in the UAE

Making a Contract to Exchange Excellent Engineering Students with French Students

 

From April 14 ^th to 19 ^th , Dr. Ki-young Kim, the president of KOREATECH, travelled on business to the UAE and France. The purposes of the business trip were promoting the Industry Professional Practice (IPP) to the Abu Dhabi Polytechnic (AD Poly) and making a contract with the Université de Technologie de Troyes (UTT) to exchange students and academic courses. Particularly, Sang-sun Lee, the director of the foreign ability department, and Ju-sung Jang, the director of the foreign cooperation department, accompanied the president on the trip.

 

President Kim visited AD Poly and had business negotiations with the members of AD Poly on April 15 ^th . The estimation of AD Poly concerning the dispatching of KOREATECH student exchange program and the business negotiation of developing the foreign IPP program were mainly discussed. Dr. Ahmad Alawar, the director of AD Poly, said, “KOREATECH students have excellent practical ability and a great knowledge about basic subjects.” Dr. Alawar added, “KOREATECH students contribute very much to AD Poly’s academic improvement.”

 

President Kim requested consideration of developing the IPP program, “Up until this time, KOREATECH students have worked as part of internship program in the UAE.” President Kim added, “It is considerable that the IPP program includes employment as a vocational training instructor.”
Dr. Alawar answered, “At AD Poly will need more professional manpower like KOREATECH students for extension of AD Poly in 2017.” Dr. Alawar added, “We positively expect that there will be more demand of KOREATECH students.”
The head of Advanced Energy Engineering of AD Poly, Anthony Edward Hechanova, Ph.D., said, “We think of KOREATECH students as not just temporary assistant staff members, but our valued faculty members.” Dr. Hechanova added, “If there are recruiting demands, we will very positively consider employment of KOREATECH.”

 

After the business negotiation, President Kim had a meeting with KOREATECH students who are working at AD Poly and listened to the students’ recommendations.
Byeong-chan Kim, a working student at AD Poly, said, “It is a good opportunity to develop one’s English skill.” Kim added, “I think that the school should promote this program to other students more.”
Seong-hwan Oh, a working student at AD Poly, said, “Before I came here, I had a prejudice against the Middle East countries, but if I get a chance to work in an open country, like the UAE, I will seek a job opportunity.”

Gun Shin, a KOREATECH graduate who is working at AD Poly, said, “I found employment at AD Poly after I had finished the internship program here.” Shin added, “The working condition is quite good and I wish more KOREATECH students would take interest and apply here.”

After finishing the schedules in the UAE, President Kim moved to Université de Technologie de Troyes (UTT) on April 17 ^th . President Kim and Pierre Koch, the vice chancellor of UTT, had an academic exchange contract. The main contents of the contract were: cooperation between two universities, exchange students, and joint research projects.

Below are detailed contents of the contact:
△ Students exchange for studying and researching, △ Professors exchange about interesting field, △ Joint research and publication, △ Joint thesis guidance, △ Technological information exchange, △ Joint funding for researching and educational project, △ Lab-based students exchange for researching, △ Credit exchange

Upon agreement of the contact, Vice Chancellor Koch esteemed KOREATECH highly by saying, “UTT and KOREATECH have similar major curriculums and KOREATECH students are good at practical activity.” Vice Chancellor Koch added, “We hope to exchange with KOREATECH students as lab-based researchers.
Michel Legault, the director of International relations at UTT, added, “UTT has various support for international students such as field trip programs, weekly meetings, and student council.”

Meanwhile, KOREATECH planned a following enterprise about this business trip. KOREATECH selected eight international IPP students, including graduate students, for dispatching them to AD Poly. After passing the selection process, the students will be sent to the UAE in August and the students will work in their positions until next February. KOREATECH will invite UTT students during the summer session for three weeks. Particularly, the invited students during the winter session will be attracted in 2016 as parts of the student exchange program. KOREATECH students are also planned to exchange with UTT in 2016.

KOREATECH has been continuously expanding exchanges with some 80 Universities and Institutions from 29 countries. KOREATECH will expand more exchanges with foreign universities in the future. The main purpose of creating relationships with these foreign universities is to provide exciting opportunities for KOREATECH students to develop a global mind and learn foreign language. Through exchanges of outstanding students from other reputable Universities, it is with great expectation that, upon returning from these opportunities, KOREATECH students will spread their newly acquired skills and knowledge and create a better educational environment.