DUBAI // Heriot-Watt University Dubai Campus has become the first in Academic City to offer the world’s most widely used English proficiency test.
The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) measures the language ability of people who want to study or work where English is used as the language of communication.
Heriot-Watt University in the emirate is now a registered testing centre for the qualification.
The university will also provide open group pre-sessional English courses for students wanting to improve their English skills before their exam.
“As a globally minded university, Heriot-Watt University Dubai Campus entered into this partnership with the British Council with the goal of supporting not only our students to the best of our ability but also the community as a whole,” said professor Ammar Kaka, provost and vice-principal.
“Our hope is that this decision serves to open many doors for students moving forward.”
Gavin Anderson, UAE country director for the British Council, said IELTS will provide students with an internationally recognised qualification.
“This partnership represents our continued commitment of supporting the leading higher education institutions in the UAE, by providing qualifications that recognise their ability to communicate in English, which is becoming a valuable 21st century skill sought after by more and more international employers,” said Mr Anderson.
IELTS is the world’s most popular English language proficiency test for higher education and global migration, with 2.9 million tests taken in the past year alone.
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COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Supy
Started: 2021
Founders: Dani El-Zein, Yazeed bin Busayyis, Ibrahim Bou Ncoula
Based: Dubai
Industry: Food and beverage, tech, hospitality software, Saas
Funding size: Bootstrapped for six months; pre-seed round of $1.5 million; seed round of $8 million
Investors: Beco Capital, Cotu Ventures, Valia Ventures and Global Ventures
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COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Revibe
Started: 2022
Founders: Hamza Iraqui and Abdessamad Ben Zakour
Based: UAE
Industry: Refurbished electronics
Funds raised so far: $10m
Investors: Flat6Labs, Resonance and various others
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Are non-fungible tokens a currency, asset, or a licensing instrument? Arnab Das, global market strategist EMEA at Invesco, says they are mix of all of three.
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What is a Ponzi scheme?
A fraudulent investment operation where the scammer provides fake reports and generates returns for old investors through money paid by new investors, rather than through ligitimate business activities.
Profile of MoneyFellows
Founder: Ahmed Wadi
Launched: 2016
Employees: 76
Financing stage: Series A ($4 million)
Investors: Partech, Sawari Ventures, 500 Startups, Dubai Angel Investors, Phoenician Fund
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A Round of Applause
Director: Berkun Oya
Starring: Aslihan Gürbüz, Fatih Artman, Cihat Suvarioglu
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Favourite book: ‘The Art of Learning’ by Josh Waitzkin
Favourite film: Marvel movies
Favourite parkour spot in Dubai: Residence towers in Jumeirah Beach Residence
COMPANY PROFILE
Company: Eco Way
Started: December 2023
Founder: Ivan Kroshnyi
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Electric vehicles
Investors: Bootstrapped with undisclosed funding. Looking to raise funds from outside
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The specs
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