Experience is necessary
Knowledge is understanding that a tomato is a fruit. Commonsense is knowing not to put the tomato in a fruit salad! Practical experience should be an embedded part of all learning experiences. Would you pay a dentist, surgeon, mechanic or hair stylist who had great test scores, but not a day of practical experience in their field? What is the value of memorisation, high test scores and written or verbal analysis skills if you can’t perform the tasks in real life?
From Ms Summer Gales
UAE
Becoming independent
Internships at an organisation should be mandatory. When I did my hospitality management course, I had a year for four different internships, in three different languages, covering all subjects, from practical to accounts. I think it is a good way to slowly get integrated into the working life and to get experience. I started working when I was 14 years old. Now, I’m a hotel representative. Nobody can take away my experiences. To start working early isn’t that bad and it made me happy to get my salary. It makes you independent, stronger and gives you an insight into diversity.
From Ms Ellen de Boer
Dubai
Preparing for the future
I believe that work experience should be incorporated in the education system. Children in this day and age are so much smarter and capable than the past generations, so it’s only beneficial that they start earlier. Its putting to application what they have studied for so long. Working in real situations will help them learn so much more than what books teach. Though there should also be an effort made by the school or institute to provide volunteering or internship opportunities for them, too, to prepare them for interviews. It is easy to get distracted or discouraged at that age, so children need to be rewarded as well for increased motivation.
From Ms Ishita Mahesh
UAE
What about the scientists?
I disagree with Ms Ishita Mahesh. It’s the previous generation that created the education system. It’s the previous generation that made major discoveries, like the light bulb, transport and Penicillin! They even created the world’s best universities. Your statement insulted great scientists and noble laureates. What the new generation has is good education. What they need is basic capability such as time keeping, communication and teamwork.
From Mr Gursaran Sura
UK
Exposure to the world
It is a technical issue, which should be scrutinised. Imagine a situation where you have graduated and are looking for a job, and the employer tells you that he or she needs somebody with five years of work experience. Do they want you to get that experience through osmosis? The better option is to create more internships while pursuing your courses and more practical sessions and field trips for more exposure to the outside world.
From Ms Jared Ongeri
UAE
They aren’t prepared
I disagree, because that would be child labour. In my opinion, internships are a ripoff and abuses youngsters. Children are not ready to face the challenges a factory or office can potentially pose.
From Mr Rabeel Ch
UAE
Get going!
I think it is necessary to have work experience while in school. What the children are taught at school or universities is theory. Work experience gives a child practical knowledge. Additionally, most employers would be more acceptable towards them as they would work for lesser pay than full-time employees. It gives young people confidence to get going and plan their future.
From Ms Mala Anil
Dubai
Helps you decide
Being a student myself, I have worked with several multinational companies in the past few months and this is directly after high school. If I had this opportunity earlier, I’m sure I would’ve excelled with my skills and knowledge, during the school years, too. Gaining that experience in any field, whether I make it my career choice or not, isn’t relevant, but the fact that I now know what the sector contains helps me make my choices better.
From Ms Sakshi Rajani
UAE
The real world
I think it’s necessary to integrate it in the education system. It’s actually the application of the theory that they have learned in school and it will prepare them for the so-called real world. Not everything can be learned within the four walls of a classroom.
From Ms Monet Lanz Kyzer
Dubai
Work experience
I believe career-oriented courses should be made available for students aspiring to higher education. At the end of the course, the student should be able to get into the profession with some special training, which is ultimately taken into account of work experience.
From Mr S. M. Abdul Basit
UAE
Give them an idea
Children should be exposed to the real world whilst progressing with their mandatory higher education. Give them an idea of the work life and responsibilities. Maybe that child has an idea of what kind of work they would like to do without having experienced it and wasted their education pushing for that job. If they can be exposed to it early on, it will assist in their decision making. I believe that children should be taught about the real world, instead of studying courses on statistics when really they have no impact on one’s daily adult life. What does have an impact, but isn’t taught, are things like banking, mortgages or investments. These are important for a child’s future.
From Mr Andy Docherty
UAE
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