IOSH (the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health) and the UAE Ministry of Education have confirmed a joint working agreement to run a programme of activities for students and staff in educational establishments.
 With the ministry now an official training provider, it hopes to establish a close working relationship with IOSH in order to improve health and safety awareness among staff and students in the UAE education sector campuses.
The first phase of the programme will see health and safety officers assigned to all education establishments and trained in IOSH-approved courses, while the second phase will reach out to students and staff.
The ultimate aim of this collaboration, according to the ministry undersecretary for audit and support services Abdul Rahman Al Hammadi, is to improve the safety and health culture among the educational society, both now and for generations to come. He said:
“We are trying to educate young people. We are trying to change the culture itself and push health and safety thinking into families through students,”
He further added:
“For us at the ministry of education, it is a good opportunity to work with IOSH. It is an organisation that is recognised across the world for its high standards and excellence. Their huge experience in this field will help us to create courses which are simple to deliver.”
Alastair Park, Head of Astutis Middle East, based in Dubai commented:
"IOSH have had a strong presence in the UAE for many years. It is reassuring to see the collaboration between the UAE Ministry of Education and IOSH to improve standards within the education sector. I hope that this collaboration will pave the way for other such partnerships between industry sectors and influential HSE bodies."
IOSH courses represent a solid platform on which to base studies for future qualifications that will allow professionals to progress their careers in the field of occupational health and safety.
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