First Print Media Academy Winter University takes place in Dubai

Heidelberg, a leading printing technologies solutions provider had chosen Dubai to play host to the first Print Media Academy to be held outside Germany.

The 8-day event starts Saturday 21 February 2004, and will last until Sunday February 28th 2004 at the Knowledge Village in Dubai.

Two leading universities in the printing sector, the University of Wuppertal and the Stuttgart School of Media, will also be cooperating in the event and will have experts on site. They will give insight to print media professionals on the latest management and technology trends affecting everyday practice and provide practical guidelines to the best practices for facing new challenges in their field of expertise.

"The Winter University is taking Heidelberg's international management programs from strength to strength. The focus of the Summer University, which has already been held twice in Heidelberg to great success and acclaim, covers general management topics, whereas the Winter University will focus more on technological aspects and would offer more practical training," Dr. Joachim Englisch, Heidelberg's General Manager Middle East said.

This unique international management program for the printing industry, he said, is geared to cater to senior members from the print media industry with at least three years of professional experience seeking to widen their professional knowledge on the latest trends in technology and management in this field of business.

He confirmed that the benefits and challenges brought about by new technology in the printing and media industry are at the core of the event, "Some of the most vital topics for print media professionals such as information management, productivity, optimal workflows, change and innovative management in addition to marketing and sales strategies all round off the seminar timetable," Englisch added.

He stressed that print media professional participating in the event will be presented with real-life tasks allowing them to analyze problems from a practical perspective and work on concrete plans of action.

Heidelberg's decision to organize this event in Dubai was taken after serious consideration. In the run up, Dubai was pitted against major international cities experiencing growth in print media industry and the general urban vitality, Sindbad Al-Mahaire, Marketing Manager Middle East of Heidelberg assured.

"The emirate of Dubai enjoys the whole spectrum of the relevant factors essential for the event. Dubai is now among the major media and educational centres in the international level with its media city and knowledge village in addition to its being an ideal centre for events and conventions. This is in addition to the fact that the print media industry in this region is witnessing tremendous growth and is rated high to keep pace with the fast changing trends and practices worldwide,".