Etihad forges local links with Zayed University

The airline has pledged to offer internships, sponsorship opportunities and summer work for graduates and undergraduates of the university.

A memorandum of understanding was signed yesterday by James Hogan, Etihad Airways' chief executive and Dr Sulaiman Al Jassim, vice president of Zayed University, at a special ceremony held on the university's Abu Dhabi campus.

Mr Hogan said:

"Providing Emiratis with scholarships and work opportunities is part of the airline's growing social responsibility program and collaborating with Zayed University will bring great benefits to both Etihad Airways and high calibre students."

He added: "It is a great honour for all of us at the airline to provide Emirati graduates and undergraduates with practical experience in the workplace to complement their academic studies." As part of the new agreement Etihad will train graduates for a period of six months in a range of different departments, including operations, network planning, sales, finance and marketing. The airline will also accept fourth year interns for work placement, provide summer work in various sections and sponsor a selection of third and fourth year students.

On his part Dr Sulaiman Al Jassim, said:

"This is a wonderful commitment from the UAE's national airline to develop Emiratis to work in the dynamic ever changing world of tourism and learn at first hand the fast paced and constantly evolving aviation sector. Zayed University is always keen to create partnerships with community institutions and different sectors in the UAE and to provide an appropriate working environment for its students, and in this regard, cooperation with Etihad Airways enhances the students' opportunities to join the aviation sector and allows them to apply their skills and work according to the latest scientific methods and applications used by this sector."

The new development with Zayed University is set to bolster Etihad's training initiatives in Abu Dhabi for Emirati nationals. The airline currently runs schemes for cadet pilots, graduate managers and technical engineers.

The cadet pilot scheme began in June 2007 and has already taken its fourth intake of cadets. The programme includes the first-ever Emirati female cadet pilots.

Salma Mohammed Al-Baloushi, from Al Ain, and Aisha Hassan Al-Mansouri, from Khorfakkan, who joined the program with another 10 male cadets in October 2007.

The graduate management development program aims to produce UAE national managers who will play key roles in the future development of Etihad.

It delivers an internationally accredited qualification, which is underpinned by the National Vocational Qualifications.

On completion of the program, graduates therefore receive an internationally recognized post graduate diploma.

Etihad welcomed its first class of Emirati trainees in 2007 to its new technical engineering programme.

Trainees follow a two-year development program in the UAE and in Australia, at the prestigious Aviation Australia maintenance training centre in Brisbane, Queensland.

Once qualified, the engineer trainees will join Etihad's technical division, based at the airline's new dedicated aircraft line maintenance facility at Abu Dhabi airport.