October 18, 2016 - The Emirates College for Management & Information Technology (ECMIT), a leading private higher educational institution, has announced the inaugural of its dedicated Happiness and Positivity Department in Dubai. The move forms part of the College’s strategic expansion agenda and reflects its concrete commitment to the happiness initiative of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. 

ECMIT is one of the UAE’s first and few academic institutions with such an important department. Its main mandate involves ensuring the happiness, quality of life, and well-being of faculty, employees and students, as well as infusing positivity into all members of the college community. The Happiness and Positivity Department will work towards building an exceptional learning and work environment, in addition to initiating meaningful activities to foster cooperation, trust, and friendship within the campus.

Under the new division, the College will put in place an efficient system to regularly get the feedback of the school community and use the collated data to improve academic and administrative performance, encourage creativity, and overcome challenges. Additionally, the more focused department will ensure that collaborative and cooperative efforts will be the usual norm in the campus. Having a friendly and positive learning environment will help inspire students to dream big and take the necessary paths towards success, the College underscored. 

Prof. Abdul Sattar A. Al-Alusi, President and CEO, ECMIT, said: “This is a major stride in our efforts to implement best practices in the academe as well as deploy the highest standards of educational excellence. Our all-encompassing efforts are based on globally recognized criteria, outstanding examples from real life experiences, and ongoing government efforts to bring happiness and satisfaction to all UAE citizens and residents. By establishing the new department, we are in effect strengthening our presence in the local education industry, widening our scope to effectively meet the needs of our school community, and efficiently reaching out to key government representatives. We are confident that these will result in solid and professional relations among all our stakeholders.” 

ECMIT believes that happiness and positivity play an important role in improving the performance of the UAE’s local education sector and in paving the way for more socially relevant research works. The new Happiness and Positivity Department will evoke strong confidence from government departments and students and their parents, as well as help develop a set of graduates who will positively contribute to the country’s economic strength. It is a major boost to the national happiness initiative, whose positive outcomes include the country landing in the 28th place in the recently released World Happiness Report. 

Over the years, ECMIT has followed the ideal of practical independent thinking by teaching students the skills and knowledge they need to be successful in life. Though they come from diverse backgrounds, students share a commitment to achieving their individual career aspirations. The College has nurtured this commitment in an academic environment responsive to the changing needs of the workplace and by providing strong career planning support and attention to the needs of each student. The constant emphasis at ECMIT has been to build a community network through its connections with potential employers, and delivering a supportive environment where students can achieve their goals.