'Learning by Doing' training

Thirty UAE national women will be undergoing a 16-week training programme under the title 'Work Readiness' at the Dubai Aviation College.

The programme targets national school leavers eager and motivated to join the public and private sector.

The partnership agreement was signed yesterday at Dubai Aviation College between Yousef A Abdulghani, Director General of Tanmia and Mohammed Yousef Albudoor, Principal of Dubai Aviation College.

A feature of this programme is the intense module on career awareness and preparation for actual employment. The emphasis will be on 'Learning by Doing'. Other innovative features include guest lectures presenters on career areas and a four week-long supervised practice in the real work-place.

The focus will be on developing trainee skills in business communication, work readiness attitudes, knowledge of business practice, computing and maths.

Providing more insight to the training programmes, Albudoor said: "Trainees should acquire the skills necessary to ease into a workplace environment including time management, working in teams, prioritising and dealing with people from different cultural backgrounds.

"This partnership with Tanmia will be an on-going one and we will do our best to place the young UAE women who will undertake the intensive training programme to be part of the country's main labour force.

"There will be high expectations in the market from these 30 national women who have undertaken the training with us. This is because of the insight that our college holds in the aviation and travel section."

He said Dubai Aviation College believes in the vision of President His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan in investing in people.

"We hope to fulfil Tanmia's wish to get the 30 national women training with us ready into work environment as soon as possible. We cannot guarantee a job but we will use our connections and partnership with Emirates Airlines and the Civil Aviation. We look forward to a continued commitment with Tanmia."

Appreciating the support extended by Dubai Aviation College to Tanmia, Abdulghani said the development of people never ends and the training has a meaningful aim.

"In year 2002 our training programme will focus and target certain sectors like finance, IT, travel and tourism with a greater focus on career guidance. So far, we have exposed more than a thousand nationals to work opportunities."

The programme by Tanmia started in 2001 as a pilot project and is based on three key factors: availability of suitable job opportunities, adequate financial sources; and training institutions that are capable of meeting the requirements of these programmes.

"Tanmia is currently working in collaboration with relevant federal institutions and with the participation of local authorities and the private sector, to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy that targets increased participation of the UAE nationals in the labour market and to ensure continued improvement of productivity."

One of Tanmia's primary goals is to forge an informal partnership among government agencies, education and industry to shape a modern, committed national work force. Three mechanisms have been identified to enable such alliances: a Guest Speaker Programme, Work-Based Learning and Invitation to Employers.