New academic year begins for 66 Pre-Employment Course trainees at Dubal

A total of 66 candidates enrolled for the September 2008 intake for five of Dubal's Pre-Employment Course (PEC) programmes, and commenced their studies on 7 September this year.

Of the group, 55 are new recruits to Dubal for the following two skills development programmes:

• PEC Smelter (25 students) - Course graduates of this six-month training programme will be offered employment as full-time Utility Operators and will be allocated to a specific smelter area.
• PEC Craft (30 students) - This four-year accredited apprenticeship training programme caters for trainees in the fields of electrical, mechanical or instrumentation. Successful course graduates will be offered employment as full-time Junior Maintenance Craftsmen in their respective disciplines.

Dubal's Marwan Mohammad (Acting, Head of Recruitment) ascribes the large number of enrolees to a multi-phased campaign, which began when the aluminium giant hosted 137 students from the Institute of Applied Technology (IAT) in groups over a three consecutive days at the beginning of April 2008. The visit entailed the students and their educators viewing the Dubal corporate film, going on a plant tour, and a presentation on the PEC Craft Programme.

A delegation from Dubal then visited three secondary schools in the UAE, where a presentation was made to male students in their final high school year. The presentation highlighted the job opportunities available to high school leavers, after graduation; and provided an overall view of the training programmes available in Dubal. Specific interest was teased in the PEC Craft Programme.

The other eleven candidates, drawn from Dubal's existing employee base, enrolled for the following courses:

• PEC Power and PEC Desalination (4 students each) - Course graduates of this one-year training programme will be offered employment as full-time Assistant Power or Desalination Operators.
• PEC Technical (3 students) - Course graduates of this one-year training programme will be offered employment in one of Dubal's technical departments (e.g. analytical laboratory, and process control).

All of Dubal's PEC programmes are integral to and support the company's UAE National Development ambitions. Not only do they provide much-needed training and skills development - thereby improving the employability of UAE Nationals, but they also help fulfil Dubal's objective of increasing the proportional number of UAE National employees within the company's workforce. Other National Development initiatives instituted by Dubal include a graduate training programme; Senior Technician Programme, Administration programme a work placement programme; and an accelerated development programme.

At present, 22% of Dubal employees are UAE Nationals, with the proportion at senior management level being above 70%.