Motorsports first global e-learning platform for volunteer officials developed by ATCUAE was launched by the 14-times Middle East Rally Champion Mohammed Ben Sulayem in conjunction with the UAE’s Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development and Chairman of the General Authority for Youth and Sports Welfare, HE Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan on November 17th 2015.
The service is available via computer, tablet or smart phone on www.mki.test/e-academy and will allow motorsport officials and volunteers from around the world to upgrade their skills on a range of courses. No fees are charged to those using unique membership card numbers provided to each National Sporting Authority (ASN).
The first three modules deal with subjects that have been in demand from the motorsport community in recent years. The first is termed psychological first aid and is designed to support psychological needs of officials who have dealt with or witnessed a traumatising incident. The second is titled Media Crisis Communication and the third –Critical Incident Management for Chief Medical Officers.
The UAE have become increasingly active destination for international sporting events of every kind, ‘and we have concluded nothing is more important than safety’, said the Minister.
FIA President Jean Todt said “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.”
“ This is abou
t the motorsport volunteer and making knowledge and information available to them in an easy and convenient way so that they can develop skills to make our sport better and safer from the comfort of their own home‘’ said Ben Sulayem, President of ATCUAE which celebrates its 50th anniversary this month.
ATCUAE were awarded RTP status by the FIA Institute in 2011 and since then via its dedicated educated arm the Motorsport Knowledge Institute (MKI) have provided training to over 2500 students in 22 countries covering South America, Africa, Europe, Middle East and Asia. MKI have also undertaken a number of research projects on volunteerism at the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and train 1000 domestic volunteers on an annual basis.
A number of courses of new courses will be gradually introduced throughout the year and Ben Sualyem stressed that they welcome ideas from the motorsport family on future subjects. The courses include video lectures, quizzes, case studies and a final test, the successful completion of which entitles the student to receive the certificate of completion in the topic concerned.