WAM Abu Dhabi, Jun 13th, 2012 (WAM)--xxxx. Abroad. ADEC will recommend a general policy for academic delegations, study leave, regulations and resolutions, identifying designated countries and higher education academic institutions and required specializations, terms and conditions required for applicants, funding and compensation, reviewing academic reports for selected students, and other matters related to regulating work in this regard.

The Executive Council also approved an additional budget of Dhs197million over the next four years to increase the number of students who could potentially benefit from scholarships. The scholarship policy adopted by the Abu Dhabi Government seeks to promote UAE national capacities through the provision of international standard higher education, and developing local capabilities in alignment with current and anticipated labor market demands.

The Executive Council approved the establishment of a number of vocational secondary schools for males and females throughout the country, in keeping with the Government's plans to consolidate the labour market with national technical skills. These schools aim to promote a high standard of vocational training and to leverage national capabilities in alignment with the academic specialisations.

The technical secondary schools typically include a number of specialisations which are aligned with the current and anticipated labour market needs, and they provide opportunities for students to subsequently pursue careers in disciplines such as mechanical engineering, electronic engineering, aircraft overhaul, supply chain management, logistics, finance and accounting.

There are currently four technical secondary schools across the UAE, one each in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Ras Al Khaimah and Al Fujairah. Five more will be built during the current year in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Al Marfaa and Ajman. The total number of students enrolled will increase to 2000.

The Abu Dhabi Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training is responsible for the development of the technical education sector in Abu Dhabi by laying out the policies and standards that regulate education within occupational and technical institutions. ADEC works together with the Centre in developing a strategy that will mutually benefit other participants in the sector such as public educational agencies, organizations and training institutions.

The Executive Council reviewed the Al Mirfa power production and water desalination plant development project, as part of the Government's plans to ensure that the growing demands for power and water are met.

The plant's development process complies fully with international environmental standards and cost of production targets, while increasing power production capacity to 1500 MW of electricity, and desalination capacity to 53 million gallons of water.

The Executive Council, representing Abu Dhabi as the major shareholder of the Etihad Rail Company, approved authorisation for the company to secure funding for the first stage of the railway project in Abu Dhabi.

The first stage of the Etihad Rail project involves the establishment of a 270 kilometer long freight line connecting the Shah, Habshan and Al Ruwais areas that will be constructed in two phases due to be completed by 2013 and 2014 respectively.

The second stage of the railway project will connect Abu Dhabi and Dubai up to the boundaries of Saudi Arabia and the Sultanate of Oman respectively, and the third stage will connect Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Qaiwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Al Fujairah.

The total cost of the 1200 km Etihad Rail project is estimated to be Dhs40 billion, and is expected to be completed by the end of 2018 at the same time as the GCC Rail project. The new railway is expected to make a major positive contribution to trade, the economy, urban development and population growth, by means of providing a safe, operationally efficient and sustainable transport network that both reduces the cost of shipping goods, and increases efficiency versus other traditional transportation modes.

The project will have multiple additional benefits that include contributing to the development of small communities by connecting them with the main cities, increasing passenger traffic by land transport, promoting trade within the GCC, limiting the environmental impact produced by transport vehicles by reducing carbon emission by up to 80 per cent, reducing traffic congestion, road maintenance costs and road traffic accidents.

The Executive Council reviewed the "Public Parking Management" project in Abu Dhabi, submitted by the Department of Transport. The purpose of the project is to organise parking, ensure full utilisation of available facilities, and further increase their overall efficiency.

The project provides a number of services, including the management and operation of surface and multi-story public parking, the establishment of electronic parking management systems, and the provision of customer services through a Call Centre and Customer Service centres.

WAM/MN