International standards

Dr. Khalil Ghaleb Ali Al Jabal, Chairman of Al Jabal Group, which is currently running NCC Education's Sanaa branch, said that the establishment of the NCC branch in Yemen was due to two main reasons: "The first was due to the urgent and great need in the Yemeni community to enhance skills of Yemeni cadres to deal with the IT, which has now become an inseparable element of modem establishments in any modem state. Unfortunately however, well-qualified cadres in Yemen are still quite rare. The second reason is because NCC is the best institution of its kind to represent and achieve IT education because of its wide expertise and capabilities in raising qualified and successful cadres that are able to contribute to their communities. This is possible with NCC’s high-standard education scheme certified by worldwide universities and thousands of graduates now working in key positions around the world. Not every person or establishment claiming to provide appropriate education actually has the required standards. However, we at NCC, are committed to international standards and quality performance through skilled trainers, who are able to convey knowledge in the best way possible.

Our NCC headquarters office in the United Kingdom also sends us up-to-date curricula enhancements to meet the global developments in the IT sector. The NCC Education Yemen branch requires a lot of efforts to implement on the ground. We do not receive any official or non-official support, while we are somewhat surprised that some institutes offer courses in MS-Office, etc. with a fee as low as YR 1,500. It is common sense that mastering those applications properly would require at least six months, while those institutes offer them in just one month. This contradicts with quality education that aims at excellence first and foremost. When we present our bids in governmental tenders on IT education, some express surprise at our prices. What we say is that offering quality education through experienced and skilled trainers costs more, resulting in a higher price as course fees. It also requires modem equipment meeting international standards. All of those requirements add more expenses to NCC, resulting in higher fees. We receive no support whatsoever from any source, making it difficult to lower our fees. We hope governmental authorities would respond to the President’s request to support institutions that enhance IT knowledge and expertise in Yemen’s cadres, and qualify governmental employees to meet the requirements of today's IT revolution.”

At the end of her visit Mrs. Guy said, “I have found students happy about the course they enrolled in. Their level seems to be very good. This was actually expected from the start as NCC has good reputation. I am confident that a certificate approved by NCC, which is well-known internationally and recognized by British universities and establishments... However, I am not sure whether the other British institutions that have opened offices in Yemen have any links with British universities."

As for her views on endorsing the NCC to represent British standards in curriculum, means of instruction, and certificate offered by NCC, the ambassador said, “According to my knowledge, NCC Education is offering British instruction in over than 45 countries throughout the world. It started offering its lessons last year in Yemen. The NCC headquarters in Britain is probably closely observing the standards of their office in Yemen. As a representative of the British government, I am sure the center is carrying out its duties in the required standards. I hope that the Yemeni people would benefit from those courses in developing human resources."

As for the importance of the NCC curriculum, Mrs. Guy notes, “Education provided by NCC is in the form of specialized high quality lessons in various IT fields...In a globalizing world, skills in IT are needed for the development and prosperity of Yemen... It is true that acquiring experience and knowledge in IT fields will help Yemenis get excellent jobs, but Yemen as a whole will also benefit in the economic and human resource sectors." Cooperation between the NCC Education and the British embassy will probably be promoted, indicated the British ambassador. “Cooperation between NCC and the British Council is ongoing and is not in Yemen only, but in all countries where NCC is operating. As long as you maintain good relations with British universities recognizing your certificates, and also as long as you enjoy strong relations with NCC establishment, it is only natural that your relation with the British Council will be good, and hence the council will always provide you with support."

Her Excellency seemed impressed by NCC’s performance in Yemen when she asked students during one of the lessons about their impressions about NCC. Student Ammar Al-Wa'eel then responded in an outspoken manner expressing his satisfaction with the curriculum and quality and means of instruction carried out by the institute.

Yemen’s branch

As for the establishment of NCC’s branch in Yemen, Mr. Shakeeb Othman, Yemen’s NCC branch manager said, The center in Yemen is an extension of an international company established 36 years ago. Hence, Yemen’s branch gets its distinctiveness from its direct connection to the original establishment in the United Kingdom. Our center is among the most modem IT institutions in Yemen either in modem facilities or in coping with modem technology. The center is composed of 4 class rooms serving a total of 156 students; 20 students in every room. Each of the classes contains a data show projector with an advanced operation system working in morning and evening hours. The center also includes a library with room for 25 students. The library contains the most modem books on computers, administration and other related fields. There are also two
experiment labs that could take in 16 students and two more computer labs with the most modem Dell computers, all liked to a local LAN network. The labs also include multimedia projects, an Internet-connected network of speed up to 256Kpb using satellite downlinks. There is also another library where students can read and borrow books. We have a department for academic consultancy before and after training. Through the available facilities and equipment, the center can offer the following: A 6-month computer class to obtain an ICCS certificate, A one-year international diploma in IDCS, Second year, students can enroll in the advanced courses (IADCS), Third year, students can obtain a bachelor degree in computers and IT (BCIS), Fourth year, students can obtain a Masters degree in computer science (MSC)"

Conditions and standards

As for the conditions and standards followed by the center, Mr. Adnan Al-Harazi, the Academic Manager of the center says, “We at NCC, preserve everything originally available and have not brought any new things to the global NCC curriculum. We follow the standards set carefully and meet
all conditions accordingly. Firstly, we apply conditions when we select teachers. We ensure that we get an academically qualified training staff capable of carrying out their duties properly. Most of our staffers have obtained their masters degree in computer studies from
the world’s most prominent universities in the USA, Canada, and Britain. They also have extensive training experience.


Secondly, teaching hours in the center are arranges in morning and evening shifts so as diploma students receive 1,200 hours of education a year in theoretical lessons and 600 hours a year in practice. Among the conditions that apply is that no class should have more than 20 students to enable every student to use his/her own computer and interact with ease with the teacher. We also provide free courses in English in cooperation with the British Council for a number of our students.

Thirdly, when selecting students, we give them a placement exam to identify their abilities in basic computer skills and English language. We can only accept students who get 75% in the computer lesson, and if the student is not good in English, he/she must study a 6-month English course along with a computer course.

Fourthly, unlike that of many other computer centers in Yemen, the unique curriculum that we have is based on complete systems and not on mere applications. We make our students aware of the different applications and the surrounding environment and teach them how to talk and communicate with others using email and chatting programs. We also aim at having them adapt to the different working environments including those that may be tough, medium, or easy.

Fifthly, NCC works on establishing principles of communication between teachers and students based on friendship and openness. We enable students to talk freely to their teachers and have them interact with each other with ease and transparency. Apart from that, the center remains open to students throughout the day, and not necessarily during working hours. This is done to ensure that students benefit to the maximum from the services and facilities offered to students.

Achievement and cooperation

NCC Education in Yemen was able to build a bridge between the institute and official sectors including the vocational training fund so as to achieve a more qualified national cadre and to enhance Yemenis’ skills to cope with the requirements of the local market. This was done through activities such as: A qualification training course on designing websites for various governmental establishments with the cooperation of the British Embassy and the British Council. Implementing a training and qualifying plan for government employees in cooperation with the vocational fund. Implementing a project to qualify teachers of seven public schools in the Capital Secretariat in cooperation with the Social Development Fund. Academic teaching for Bachelor degrees

The Horizons

Due to the encouraging results achieved by Yemen’s NCC branch, which is 78% success among its students -10% higher than last year’s 68%, - the institute is working hard to soon open its Aden branch with a capacity to train more than 250 students. Along that, the Sanaa branch will also be expanded to reach a capacity of 396 students. NCC Education has proved to be one of the most professional computer education centers in Yemen, and its horizons show that it will progress and develop further.

Source: Yemen Times Vol 13 Issue 648, 7 July 2003, Page 13