Abu Dhabi: A total of 37 educators have been trained by the education regulator Abu Dhabi Education Council (Adec), to serve as career counsellors for their respective high schools and universities, it was announced on Wednesday.
The training, which lasted about two months, aims to ensure that the new career advisers help high school pupils and university students make the right career choices in the face of changing economic trends. While 27 of the trainees work at various universities, 10 are employed by public and private schools, Dr Mohammad Baniyas, executive director for higher education at the Adec, told Gulf News.
“In [today’s] world, new professions are appearing and a lot of professions are disappearing. We [therefore] have a responsibility to the future generations to help guide them towards jobs that are sustainable and ensure their employability,” he said.
Dr Baniyas added that all universities and higher education institutions in the emirate therefore have internationally certified career counsellors now who are capable of advising students on their career development paths. Schools are also encouraged to provide career advice that will allow pupils to choose the most suitable major for themselves when joining university.
A poll conducted by the Adec in the past had found that the majority of its 5,000 respondents, who included teachers, high school pupils, university students and counsellors, felt that there was an urgent need for a comprehensive career guidance system in Abu Dhabi.
In addition, Adec statistics released last year indicate that the retention rate at higher education institutes in Abu Dhabi is 73 per cent because many students leave university or change majors during their first year.
Accordingly, the career counselling programme, which culminated in a certificate from the International Association of Career Advisers, included sessions that taught participants how to help pupils pick the best jobs, write resumes, and analyse their own strengths and interests. There was also intensive fact-to-face training, online and offline projects to develop career centres and a final exam.
Maya Cheaib, a psychologist at an Abu Dhabi school, said that the programme had been very beneficial to both her and the pupils she encounters, especially as it helped her conduct better personality assessments.
“I work mainly with Emirati girls, so the guidance of their parents influences their decisiosn a lot. My job is to provide further counselling without enforcing my opinion. And for this, it is important to get an idea of their personalities,” Cheaib said.
Dr Baniyas said that there are now plans to have the newly certified career advisers train other educators, and also to establish a comprehensive career guidance system.
-With additional inputs from Aseel Lulu, trainee at Gulf News
