Drumroll, please…
We’re really pleased to announce the opening of our first-ever office in Dubai, right in the heart of the Dubai Knowledge Park!
Why Dubai?
The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is currently experiencing a huge demand for professional qualifications, particularly in human resources and learning and development, as people look to develop their skills, find fulfilling new roles, and climb the career ladder.
With our sales in the region having grown by 56% since 2019, opening a dedicated office in Dubai that provides a point of contact for students in the area is a logical next step for us. It enables us to provide better advice and service to UAE professionals looking to develop their careers with a professional qualification.
Learning in a COVID-19 World: Distance Learning to the Rescue
It’s clear that the effects of COVID-19 lockdowns have had a lasting impact on the way we think about professional development, making the need for additional support for professionals in the region all the more essential.
“The pandemic has fueled regional interest in distance learning,” says Dafina Krasteva, General Manager of the new Dubai office. “Companies throughout the region [are] looking to upskill talent to maintain a competitive edge for the post-Covid challenges ahead and individuals [are] looking to improve their employability.”
Opening our Dubai office will allow us to really support those professionals and companies looking to improve their skill sets.
The news of the opening of our brand-new Dubai office comes on the back of an incredible few years for the company. Student activity has doubled over the course of the pandemic and September 2021 was the busiest month ever for ICS Learn, which Dafina puts down to the inherent flexibility of distance learning.
“Professionals in the region appreciate the flexibility of being able to create their own study schedule, have 24/7 access to the Virtual Learning Environment, live online webinars with supplementary recordings, and monthly interest-free payments,” she says, “All this enables them to pursue more qualifications while holding down full-time employment.”
Prioritising HR and Leadership Qualifications in the UAE and Saudi Arabia
With over 200 professionals based in Saudi Arabia, 47% of whom are studying an Associate Level Diploma in People Management from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), and over 100 professionals in the UAE who are studying the CIPD Associate Level Diploma in People Management, there’s no denying the ongoing popularity of online HR qualifications amongst professionals in the region.
“CIPD qualifications are proving the most popular of all the courses that we deliver,” Dafina says. “However, with the CMI, ILM, CIPS and CIM awarding bodies all having a very strong presence in the Middle East, we will definitely explore growth opportunities with these qualifications this year.
“Our new home in Dubai Knowledge Village perfectly positions us at the heart of the UAE’s knowledge-sharing economy and gives us new opportunities to further serve the wider region’s education needs – both in-person and online,” added Krasteva.
If you’d like to pop by to say hello and discuss how we can help develop your career or organisation, get in touch with Dafina at Dafina.Krasteva@icslearn.ae.
Our new address is:
ICS Learn Group
Dubai Knowledge Park
Block 2B
Office 136
Dubai, UAE
We look forward to meeting you!