Abu Dhabi: Having studied for a number of years to attain a degree in the desired field, many graduates are disappointed upon leaving university at the lack of jobs available to them, despite feeling that they had received a good level of education in the institutions they had attended.
According to a research report conducted between July 25 and August 15 by Bayt.com, a recruitment agency in the country, 95 per cent of UAE respondents asserted that they were satisfied with the quality of higher education they received.
Surveying students and graduates over 18, the study had included a total of 5,996 respondents from the UAE and other countries, including Egypt, Algeria and Bahrain.
"The figures are interesting because they show that against the current backdrop of challenging economic conditions, respondents are still very satisfied with the education they are receiving," Rabea Ataya, Chief Executive Officer at Bayt.com, said.
"This can be an indication of many things, including higher quality education systems, increased alignment of the region's higher education institutions with the needs of the local workplace and a sharper focus by students on studies that directly correlate with the local workplace," he added.
Challenges of the market
Tarek Monzer, 24, who majored in mass communication, indicated that his educational background provided him with necessary knowledge for the workplace.
"I feel that what I had learned in university was a good starting point of providing background knowledge and preparing me on what to expect," Monzer, who is of Syrian background, said.
Many explain, however, that companies require a certain level of experience, which is difficult to have attained as a fresh graduate.
"The problem is that most companies require you to have at least one year experience. It's easier to find internships and training programmes, but it's quite difficult to find good paying jobs in the field that you want," Monzer said.
Commuting between different cities was one of the options, as jobs were scarce in the areas they were residing in. Despite the inconvenience of long hours on the road, lack of opportunities pushed some to consider that choice.
"Although I reside in Abu Dhabi, my first job was also in Dubai. Many people I know had the same situation. It was the trend at the time I graduated for people to commute to work from different cities," R.H., who works in communications, explained.
Farah Arke, who is currently majoring in International Studies, feels that there are not many opportunities in her field of work. She also plans to travel abroad to obtain an internship or to join a prominent humanitarian organisation.
