ME Newswire

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates - Sunday, May 11th 2014

Following the directives of Lt. General H.H Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of

Interior, the Abu Dhabi Police launched a unique M.A program that is specialized in social work. Zayed University was

responsible for designing the program in cooperation with the Education and Social Support Centers Departments.

Colonel Mohammed Al Hosani, Deputy Director of the Social Support Centers Department asserted that the new

program, which is the first of its kind in the Middle East, aims to providing more qualified professionals who possess the

ability to practice all social work types according to the best international accredited standards. The two and half-years

program also aims to enable its graduates to have intensive theoretical study and practical training in order to practice

their profession in any country across the world.

Colonel Al Hosani also noted that the police leadership is committed to providing best international practices and

adopting them to better serve local communities and provide this academic sector with the best internationally

professional practitioners. This commitment fosters public social safety, deploys ongoing learning strategy for police

members, and opens new prospects for creation and innovation that serve the country and the people.

According to the agreement that was signed between the Ministry of Interior and Zayed University, the latter will start

receiving the applications of those who are interested in the new program. The program comprises 60 academic hours

after which the participants will graduate as professional and qualified social experts. Those graduates will be the

cornerstone of social work in the UAE and the Arab world. They will work on reducing the intensity of critical social

issues in order to foster human welfare in general. The new graduates will be responsible for enforcing social justice and

applying most modern findings and practices of psychological, philosophical, and social sciences in general.

For his part, Salah bin Abdul Rahman, Head of Admission and Registration Section at Zayed University explained that

the University will provide the M.A program in Social Work in collaboration with the University of Texas at Austin. The

University of Texas at Austin provides an internationally accredited and respected M.A programs. It is expected that the

first batch starts in February 2015. The opportunity is open for any student from out of the MoI staff to join this new

program.

During an introductory workshop for partners, concerned entities and prospective students that was held at the Shangri

La Hotel, Abu Dhabi, the program’s supervisors informed that the main goals of the M.A program in Social Work is to

enable graduates to practice professional social work. The graduates will benefit from the in-depth knowledge and

advanced skills as the program focuses on social work services in the contexts of law enforcement, and center

concerned with domestic violence, child abuse and other cases that require social support.

The program also aims to developing the graduates’ abilities in following the principles of critical investigation, and

knowledge acquisition, development and application. The program aims to graduate competent experts who are able to

discuss their knowledge of the driving forces of citizens that are subject to social dancers. They should also be able to

execute social justice strategies in order to realize equality for individuals, families and society.

The Program Structure

The program includes 60 academic hours. The foundational curriculum (the first year) tackles the historical and

philosophical content of the values and morals of social work. It also examines the theoretical concepts regarding

human behavior and social environment. On the other hand, the second year program provides practical application of

the acquired knowledge and practices. The faculty will equally include members from Zayed University and University

of Texas.

Admission Requirements

In order to start the program, applicants must hold a four-year bachelor degree with aggregate average of 2.50 or more

from an accredited university. Applicants must provide a recommendation letter and go through the admission interview,

in addition to providing the bachelor degree mark sheets. As for English, applicants should score 5.5 on IELTS. In case

applicants could not pass the IELTS, they can register for the preparatory program at Zayed University prior to the

program start in February 2015.

For more information about:

The Ministry of Interior, please click HERE

Abu Dhabi Police, please click HERE

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The Arabic-language text of this announcement is the official, authoritative version. Translations are provided as an

accommodation only, and should be cross-referenced with the Arabic-language text, which is the only version of the text

intended to have legal effect.

Contacts

The UAE Minister of Interior's General Secretariat, Tactical Affairs and Security Media Department

Abu Dhabi Police GHQ - Security Media

Chris Cron +971-(0)-50-987-1317

E-mail: cron.media@hotmail.com

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