Life & Style | Education
A fair chance
High school students were out looking for university programmes while graduates sought jobs at the 11th National Career Exhibition held in Sharjah. Rania Moussly reports.
- By Rania Moussly
- Published: 23:05 February 28, 2009
- Image Credit: Atiq-Ur-Rehman/Gulf News
- Asma Ahli submits her CV as Yousuf Al Baloushi of du Emirates IntegratedTelecommunication looks on during the UAE national career expo last week.
The 11th National Career Exhibition was held last week at the Expo Centre Sharjah. The event, organised in association with the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, was held under the patronage of His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah.
This year's exhibition saw the launch of Edu'09, a higher education pavilion. More than 100 exhibitors participated, filling the centre with booths representing national and international universities and colleges, UAE government departments, Free Zone companies as well as local and international banks and insurance companies.
Tanmia is the UAE's National Human Resource Development and Employment Authority. Notes spoke to Noora Al Bedur, Director of the Employment and Skills Development Centre, who spoke about the centre's work.
"Tanmia trains and develops the skills of Emiratis in order to find graduates placements in suitable jobs," she said. "We also educate them about the workings of each industry."
Candidates are assessed on their style of thinking, vocational abilities and personality traits. Tanmia has signed Memorandums of Understanding with universities such as Abu Dhabi University, the American University of Sharjah and English language institutes to design training programmes for them.
"The English language can sometimes be an obstacle for [UAE] nationals," Al Bedur said. "We want to raise their [graduates] confidence."
Tanmia works alongside governmental, national and international organisations in the UAE, but is now mainly "focused on placements in the private sector," she added. With the UAE thriving as part of the global market, Tanmia is seeking to "equip society with the skills in order to be able to deal with various nationalities and international companies," Al Bedur said.
Notes spoke to Ali Salim Al Midfa, Director of the Sharjah Airport Authority. He said the aviation sector has received a good response in terms of applicants, with there being fewer job opportunities in other sectors. He said the authority's main objective is to assist government departments along with the private sector to achieve Emiratisation.
Al Midfa said Emiratis could apply for various administrative and technical vacancies at Sharjah International Airport. These "have arisen due to [staff] retirement or resignations," he added. "We are not creating new jobs but are catering as per recruitment demands."
He said university graduates are preferred, because they are more focused on their career targets in comparison to school leavers. Successful applicants go through an induction and four set training courses to learn all aspects of the airport's activities.
Although priority is accorded to Emiratis, the authority is open to the "recruitment of expatriates who are competent and can be an asset to us," Al Midfa said.
Michigan State University, among the top 100 universities in the world, opened its campus at Dubai International Academic City last autumn. At the exhibition it was highlighting its bachelor and master degree programmes.
In the current global economic situation "you tend to find people seeking education to prepare, educate and improve themselves by the time the economy turns around& as education is always important in the workplace," said Patricia Croom, associate director of international admissions.
High schools from across the nation brought their students to the exhibition to seek out higher education opportunities and gain insights into the current job market. Souad Hassan, 17, is a grade 12 student and wants to continue her education in business as "there are lots of business opportunities in Dubai".
Sauran Dauylov, 17, from Rashid Private School, was at the fair looking for universities offering hospitality management programmes.
"I wanted to go to the Swiss Hotel Management School in Switzerland, but I think I will go to university here now," he said.
Mohammad Ahmad, 20, is a Ras Al Khaimah High School graduate who had come to the expo centre in search of a job. Ahmad told Notes he had submitted his CV and registered at some government organisations such as Sharjah Municipality because he would rather work than continue his higher education.
Fatima, 26, graduated from Sharjah Women's College in 2004. She has three years of work experience in human resources from the University of Sharjah. She was at the exhibition in search of her dream job but was not very optimistic.
"Honestly, every year I come here and apply for work and never get responses," she said. "My CV shows part-time, training and volunteer work. Maybe employers think I'm only suited for those types of jobs." Seeking fresh, quality graduates The National Career Exhibition was held in association with the Human Resources Development Committee in the Banking Sector and the Emirates Institute for Banking and Financial Studies. Notes spoke to banking organisations at the fair, present to "head-hunt fresh, quality graduates," said Rahma Al Afeefi, assistant manager of recruitment and human resources department at First Gulf Bank. The bank started a graduate training programme in 2008 which has been successful, allowing them to meet their quota of four per cent Emiratisation. First Gulf Bank currently has a 31 per cent Emirati workforce.
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