Class of 2006 at the American University in Dubai graduates. Reema Saffarini reports.

The ninth batch of students from the American University in Dubai (AUD) graduated last week at a special ceremony at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, presented degrees to 320 students.

Cheri Booth Blair, British attorney and human rights advocate, Dr Hanif Hassan, Minister of Education, and a number of dignitaries attended the ceremony.

Cheri Booth Blair, the event's keynote speaker, addressed Class 2006 saying: "Today we celebrate the importance of education in our modern world. You are a fortunate generation to take the lead to change the attitudes of society."

An engineering graduate from the Jabalia refugee camp in Palestine who received a full scholarship from Shaikh Mohammad gave the valedictory speech.

FRESH OUT OF COLLEGE AND NOWHERE TO GO?

AUD student Heba Ameen examines the reasons why fresh graduates find it difficult to get jobs.

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." We cannot turn a blind eye to the fact that this single step in any student's life journey is graduating from university. As this step is accomplished successfully, each student seeks to embark on a career and aims at achieving success in it.

However, finding your dream job may not be that easy, especially in the UAE. On questioning students about their opinions many agreed and cited various reasons.

Profit oriented

According to Suha Al Sherbiny, an information technology graduate at the American University in Dubai (AUD), the main aim of private sector companies is to maximise profits. Consequently, these companies prefer employing candidates with experience in order not to waste time and money training fresh graduates.

Suzan Zarzour, an AUD business administration student, agreed, saying private sector companies set up operations with a huge capital and so prefer employees with more experience to guarantee a higher profit margin.

Business is in demand

Samar Shaker, an AUD interior design student, relates the problem to a greater demand for business administration graduates compared to other fields.

Suha Al Sherbiny, for instance, feels that as an information technology student, it is more difficult to find jobs compared to business students.

Mariam M., an AUD visual communication freshman says it is difficult to find employment in visual communications.

Lack of coordination

According to Mohammad A., an AUD civil engineering graduate, the problem relates to the lack of coordination between career service centres at universities and industry.

Hiring from abroad

Most of the students also believe that there is not enough recruitment of students who graduate locally as opposed to hiring people from abroad.

Samar Shaker said: "Some entrepreneurs feel that students from abroad are better qualified and well trained which is not always true."

Farah Al Kebbe, a business administration freshman at AUD, thinks some managers believe universities abroad set higher educational standards.

A different viewpoint

Maan Musleh, a computer engineering graduate at AUD, believes that graduates are to blame for a lack of job opportunities, because they focus on jobs with very high salaries. "Students should be more accepting of the fact that they should climb the ladder from the bottom," he said.

- The writer is a business administration student at the American University in Dubai.

CHANGE THE WORLD SAY GRADUATES

"I am so excited. I am going for an internship in the summer and hopefully later on get a job. I am going to miss spending time with my friends. If you are going to college, though, have fun as much as you can."
- Talal Al Ashqar, graphic design

 "I am extremely excited. I have been waiting for four years to graduate. I am definitely going to miss my friends and life in college. I had the best days of my life."
- Sharif Basyouni, business administration

 "I am ecstatic. There are lots of people who are trying to look cool about it but I am over the moon. I still have one course left and an internship to finish. I had a great time. My advice to those joining college is - go to classes."
- Lubna Habib, advertising

 "Honestly I am relieved! I am waiting for a job now, but I am going to miss my friends."
- Gayatri Talwalkar, advertising and marketing

 "I feel just great! I am going to work in Saudi Arabia. I think what I'll miss most is sitting outside building B to smoke."
- Mustapha Al Khansa, marketing

 "I am happy and nervous at the same time. I am going to go on vacation first, then look for a job. I am going to miss my friends. However, if you are going to college the best thing you can do is to keep an open mind."
- Emad Musalamani, electrical engineering

Students provide solutions to unemployment

- Suha Al Sherbiny, AUD, said: "Universities should offer more internship programmes with the private sector. Universities should also follow up with the companies enrolling their students in internships to make sure they assign tasks related to the students' specialisation."

- Samar Shaker, AUD, said: "Human resource managers should give equal attention to all applicants' CVs. Furthermore, job vacancies should be properly advertised especially in university campuses and recruitment offices."

- Mohammad A., AUD, said: "Each company should set a quota of the graduates to be employed."

- Mariam M., AUD, said: "Universities in the UAE should aim to adopt more techniques to supplement a student's experiences. Companies should lower their expectations on the number of years of experience for the jobs they offer, taking into account fresh graduates. In addition, more exhibitions and career fair programmes should be organised."

- Farah Al Kebbe, AUD, said: "There should be training programmes that universities offer as compulsory courses for students to add on to their experience."