DUBAL adds value to tertiary study through work placement programme

An internship-type initiative, the annual programme provides opportunities for students to complete the practical training component of their course curricula.

To this end, DUBAL works closely with American University of Sharjah, UAE University, Higher Colleges of Technology, and other institutions of similar calibre, to identify students who can benefit from working within a world-class, multi-cultural company such as DUBAL.

Once selected, individualised development programmes are created for Work Placement students to ensure the optimal use of the time they spend at DUBAL.

The programme attracted ten students in the first quarter of 2008, drawn from various engineering disciplines as well as the finance and business faculties.

The young adults were deployed in diverse functional departments across DUBAL, including Power & Desalination, Maintenance, Finance and Marketing.

Without exception, the Work Placement trainees found the experience valuable. Here's what some of them had to say:
- Mohammed Obaid Al Tayer (Higher Diploma in Finance from Dubai Men's College) - 'I gained class A work experience through a rotation done in DUBAL's Finance Department, during which I also faced up to day-to-day decision-making regarding the tasks assigned to me.'
- Salama Mohammed Al Muhairy (Accounting major, College of Business Sciences at Zayed University) - 'My time in DUBAL taught me interpersonal skills through interaction with different people. I also learnt how to persuade others, bargain and discuss matters with a view to reaching satisfactory agreement; and helped in making decisions. I also benefited from exposure to the Balanced Scorecard system, which helps organizations translate strategy into operational objectives; and from learning how to use the SAP program.'
- Naela Nasser (Accounting major, College of Business Sciences at Zayed University) - 'The work environment helped me to develop the skills to interact with people and be independent in my thinking, in the most amazing way. Discovering the Balanced Scorecard was another revelation, which has inspired me to develop a similar tool for myself.'
- Fatma Seghayer Al Shamsi (Higher Diploma in Financial Services and Banking, Dubai Women's College) - 'By working in DUBAL's Finance Department, in Accounts Payable, Treasury and Cash Management, I have learnt excellent practical skills.'
- Hammad Afzal (Association of Chartered Certified Accountant) - 'I obtained excellent exposure to the real work environment in the Finance Department, specifically in hedging, administration of accounts and account analysis. I also learnt a lot through my involvement in preparing monthly financial statements, and about operating the SAP system.'

In 2007, the DUBAL Work Placement programme facilitated practical training opportunities for 59 students, of whom six were recruited as full-time employees in 2008.

The success of the programme is such that several Work Placement programme students who have subsequently joined DUBAL's ranks have risen to senior level.

Raid Malalla is a case in point. Raid holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the American University of Sharjah, and a Master of International Business from the University of Wollongong in Dubai.

He joined DUBAL in April 2004 as a graduate trainee and has risen rapidly through the company to his current position.

'The Work Placement programme is just one of many initiatives that DUBAL uses to support the higher education of UAE Nationals, thereby increasing their employability,' says Ibrahim Nasser (GM: HR & OE). 'We also offer scholarships, a graduate trainee programme, pre-employment training courses and a summer training programme which work together to groom students to take their rightful place in Dubai's economy, through DUBAL'.