Emiratisation is a necessary, but sometimes elusive, goal”, according to H.E. Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research. His comments are something to which we all should pay heed.

Tucked away in a corner of Abu Dhabi, at the Centre for Training Support, this elusiveness is being overcome. Led by Derek Boyter of Ultra Dascam, a dedicated training team is turning its attentive, hard-working Emirati colleagues into Certified Training Consultants (CTC), accredited by the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM).

These are no ordinary Emiratis. All are retired UAE Armed Forces officers, part of the Ultra Dascam team under contract to the Armed Forces to develop a training management system using the Systems Approach to Training methodology. So they’re mature, experienced officers, doing a day job and working towards a specialist qualification at the same time. They are the future of the Armed Forces training organisation. Once this is established, and there are sufficient numbers of local consultants qualified, Ultra Dascam will hand over the reins. A genuine Emiratisation programme will have been achieved.

Retired Staff Brigadier Musabah Al Mansoori, Ultra Dascam’s Deputy Project Manager , explains: “The CTC qualification is a three year programme split into three blocks that take the consultant from the ethics of consultancy, through the tools and techniques to employ, to the very personal matters of client relationships. Everything he needs to know to be an effective and successful consultant. He is supported by his Ultra Dascam colleagues through a series of modules for each block that allow for development, coaching, mentoring and the all important on-the-job training”.

The first group of 13 candidates has graduated, being awarded their certificates by Sheikh Nahyan at the Emirates Palace Hotel on 21st May.

The Armed Forces will not be the only beneficiary from this initiative. With their new skills in high demand, it is inevitable that some consultants will migrate to other employment, especially with other UAE government departments, taking with them their training and experience. Organisations in all walks of life will benefit and undoubtedly skills will be passed on to the next generation of consultants. Out of a small start, the many will be better off.

To prove the point, retired Air Force Colonel Ahmed Al Midfa, a member of the first group, is already a member of Ultra Dascam’s Senior Management Team. As Ahmed says, “Not only is the subject matter of great interest, it makes the connection between training, consultancy and business, and prepares us for further personal development.”

Ahmed is clearly ‘living the dream”.

To find out more about Ultra Dascam and the consultancy services they provide, contact David Parry, Sales and Marketing Director, on david.parry@ultra-dascam.com