On Monday, Al Khail Gems International School (GIS) in Dubai became the first school in the UAE to enter into a partnership with US-based Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU). ERAU is one of the most distinguished aviation universities in the world.
This partnership brings good news for the students, as they will now be able to select ERAU Dual Enrolment Programme as their Career-related Study (CRS). Thanks to this, students can now get the equivalent of a year’s worth of US university credits upon successful completion of the CP and ERAU programme. This will allow them to directly enter year two of their university course.
Simon Herbert, head of school and CEO of GIS, expressed his delight to be partnering with ERAU. “The partnership will play a crucial role in providing yet another superb pathway for our students that personalize the education we provide. This has made our school a vanguard in terms of seeking out opportunities for our students and graduates, while also providing parents with a huge discount on university fees.”
Matthew Flaherty, Vice Chancellor and Head of Asia, ERAU– Asia, is confident this partnership will allow students from ERAU’s reputation as one of the world’s leading higher education institutions in aviation and aerospace education. “It gives us great pleasure to recognise [GIS] as one of our partners under the ERAU Dual Enrolment Programme,” he said.
He also observed that this partnership will give the students a headstart in aviation and aerospace education while still in high school. It will prepare them for a fulfilling career not only limited to aviation and aerospace, but also in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
GIS initiated its first unit of CP students in September 2021, with a total of 23 students specializing in either Business or Creative Media. As a result of the ERAU partnership, these CP students are now eligible to specialize in Aeronautics and Aviation, or Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). On the other hand, they can specialize in Business combined with either of the two new pathways.
The way it works is relatively simple. Students can choose from a wide range of university level courses from ERAU that connect with Aeronautics, Aviation or STEM pathways. It is mandatory to enroll onto 4 courses in the first year of CP, and four courses in the second year. These courses will not run simultaneously; instead it will be run in a sequential manner. Each course will last nine weeks. Students can complete these online at school while at the same time attend the rest of the CP curriculum face-to-face.