Ben Sulayem: More than 1 million sport officials will benefit from the platform
Today, His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, the Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development and Chairman of the General Authority for Youth and Sports Welfare, launched the world’s first motorsports e-Learning platform, which has been developed by the Automobile & Touring Club of the UAE (ATCUAE) for the benefit of the estimated one million volunteer officials involved in motorsport around the world. “I am proud to see the UAE lead in the field of sports education and to be the first adopter of the exciting new technologies available via e-Learning “, said the Minister, “I commend the initiative of the ATCUAE e-Academy and encourage other UAE and international sports federations to follow this lead”. The project was the initiative of FIA Vice-President and ATCUAE President Mohammed Bin Sulayem., Since 2012, under his direction and its incapacity as an FIA Institute appointed international training provider, the ATCUAE has delivered 29 comprehensive training programs for over 2500 volunteer officials trainees in 20 different countries across the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe and South America, delivered in 7 different languages. In addition 1000 UAE officials are trained every year for the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix and other UAE events. “Motorsport officials need constant training to be able to ensure we maintain highest safety standards in our sport, a goal the FIA is relentlessly striving for. I welcome ATCUAE’s online learning platform, which allows volunteers to develop their knowledge at a time and place that best suits them. It is in line with the willingness of the FIA to offer a comprehensive framework for its member National Sporting Authorities to provide high-grade training to their personnel on the ground under Annex V of the International Sporting Code. I am looking forward to see initiatives such as ATCUAE’s to be replicated in the region and beyond.” FIA President, Jean Todt said. Ben Sulayem explained that the move to e-learning is in line with international trends in education where 30% of teaching is now delivered online. He added that the ATCUAE’s senior trainers will both adapt existing content, and develop new material, for both car and motorcycle events, and so service the members of both the FIA and FIM. FIA President Jean Todt has already endorsed this project of the ATCUAE. The initial three courses to be released concern subjects that have been in increasing demand from the motorsport community in recent years; the first is termed Psychological First Aid and is designed to support the psychological needs of officials, the second is titled Media Crisis Communication and the third Managing Medical Teams . The curriculum includes a large number of courses on events and officials safety and new courses will be gradually introduced throughout the year. The courses include video lectures, quizzes, case studies and examinations, the successful completion of which entitles the student to receive the certificate of completion. In general, any sporting organization may benefit from the online portal’s training content, which is available at www.motorsportknowledgeinstitute.org.