The main challenge that also lies ahead of
academic institutions is preparing students for future jobs that don't yet
exist, said Dr. Ahmad bin Abdullah Humaid Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of State
for Higher Education on the sidelines of the 29th edition of the Gulf Education
and Training Exhibition (GETEX).
"We witnessed this year a larger number of
students who were sent abroad with scholarships for higher education, which
increases connection to workplace and the employability for expats and
Emiratis," said Belhoul. "The challenge now is finding stronger
link between the outcomes of higher education and the workforce," he said.
To address this gap, Modul University Dubai has
announced a one-month paid internship for students enrolling for any of its undergraduate
and Master's programmes. The university will send students for internships with
its corporate partners including banks, insurance companies and industrial
manufacturers to prepare them for the workplace.
"Instead of granting them gifts or scholarships
for joining, we are investing in their future and we have seen a strong demand
doing so," said Zaid Maleh, the university's managing director. He added
that the internship will not only enhance students' employability, but also
offer operational insights at Dubai's institutions. Over 140 students are
currently pursuing various courses at the university - the only institution
specialised in the tourism and hospitality sector.
Maleh added that the university is also
introducing new sustainability in management and development programmes,
besides ones in renewable energy and sustainable tourism to prepare students
for future jobs. New bachelor fields in entrepreneurship and digital marketing
are also seeing a strong demand.
Abu Dhabi University, which is opening a new
branch in Dubai Knowledge Park with 14 new postgraduate programmes in business,
engineering and international relations among other fields, is also focusing on
equipping students for recruitment in an ever-changing workplace.
Among the new programmes that will be offered
in its Dubai branch starting Spetember is the Master of Strategic Leadership,
Engineering Management, and Master of Science in Sustainable Architecture, and
Master of Information Technology. Charles Diab, director, university advancement,
said programmes equipped with technological advancements increased graduates'
placement rates in workplace or post grad schools by 90 per cent.
He noted that these academic programmes are
designed to cater to skills needed in the workplace. The university, which currently has about 7,000
students from 70 nationalities studying in its Abu Dhabi and Al Ain campuses,
also offered a digital marketing programme in addition to teaching students to
implement technology in business and robotics and mobile apps in engineering.
"Technology, innovation, entrepreneurship are the buzz words of the
future. We have to equip our students on free and independent thinking,"
said Diab.
Anselm Godinho, the managing director of International
Conferences and Exhibitions, GETEX's organiser, said one of the main aims of
the event is to introduce segments that involve students with activity-based
education outside classrooms. "We want to help students get more involved
in the type of education that would get them jobs," said Godinho.
He added that as the job market becomes
competitive, more opportunities open in postgraduate education to help
graduates climb the ladder.
While the UAE has witnessed an increase of
future-specific nuclear and space programme - about 20 new programmes - have
been introduced during GETEX - Godinho said there must be a link between the
industry and universities.
"Industries will have to make sure their
employees are feeding into the market growth, and this won't happen if both
sides didn't work together," he said.
"While that link isn't happening now due
to the disconnection between public and private, it will happen overtime. It is
inevitable," he said.
