Dubai: Global employers met De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) representatives at Expo 2020 Dubai to talk about how universities can help get students ready for work in a post-pandemic world.
Senior staff from consultancy firms, drinks giants, recruitment and legal experts from across the UAE came together with DMU academics and students to rethink the definition of employability, considering the key role played by soft skills and how they play a crucial role in getting students ready for work.
The ability to demonstrate a good work ethic, compassion, understanding diversity, emotional intelligence, as well as being able to value and appreciate differences were some examples of soft skills that employers listed they were actively seeking in potential hires.
They emphasised the importance of adopting a growth mindset and resilience in a post-pandemic world with the desire to continuously learn and adapt being the priority.
Future challenges
Noor Salman, associate director, Environment and Sustainability at management consultancy firm WSP Global, advised students on how to future-proof their degree. She spoke about how learning about the current pressing issues and future challenges in one’s industry was key to staying relevant, along with being proactive to stay well-connected through networking, meeting industry experts and applying for internships.
DMU highlighted its employability strategy and Internship Preparation Programme, where sustainability and the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals are not just taught in curriculums, but also tackled collectively by students from different courses to understand them from different perspectives.
Dr Manjeet Ridon, Provost at DMU Dubai, said engagement with sustainability is now one of the key factors that employers look for in their students. She said: “Equipping students with the knowledge and understanding, skills and attributes needed to work and live in a way that safeguards environmental, social and economic wellbeing, both in the present and for future generations, is the need of the hour.
‘The Great Resignation’
“Sustainability needs to be embedded into every degree and is no longer limited to environmentally-focused ones only, said Manjeet Ridon, DMU Dubai provost.
The conference also highlighted ‘The Great Resignation’ — a series of mass resignations across United States firms in 2021 — and its impact on student employability and how this has led to companies being more open about diversity, equity and inclusion and offering flexible and remote opportunities.
DMU is a founding partner of the United Kingdom Pavilion, which is run by the Department for International Trade.
