Zayed University, British Business Group Abu Dhabi launch pilot 'workshadowing' programme for ZU students

The initial pilot programme involves 12 female undergraduate students, each of whom will spend a working day with a senior manager at one of the 12 participating organisations.

The programme was developed under the patronage of H.E. Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and President of Zayed University.

The pilot programme is designed to give undergraduates a taste of working life in the private sector with some of the leading companies in their respective industries, from banking to energy and hospitality. Following the successful completion of the workshadow pilot programme, which started in May and runs into June 2009, the plan is to develop a fully fledged mentoring programme for ZU students, to start in the autumn of 2009 and managed by the BBG Abu Dhabi.

Zayed University identified the initial group of 12 students from the first year foundation programme to participate in the pilot programme. The BBG Abu Dhabi then arranged a placement for each student with a BBG member organisation operating in Abu Dhabi. Each placement lasts for one day with each student 'shadowing' a senior manager in the company, accompanying him/her through a daily routine of office based work, internal/external meetings, and site visits (where appropriate).

"This scheme will give Zayed University students the opportunity to gain first-hand experience of the world of work in the private sector. That it should involve British firms is testament to the strong ties between the UAE and the UK," commented Dr Rex Taylor, Associate Provost for Community Engagement, Zayed University.

"The BBG aims to develop business relations between Abu Dhabi and the UK, in very practical ways. This initial workshadow pilot will be foretaste of a broader and longer term student placement programme that we hope to introduce at the start of the 2009-10 academic year, in cooperation with Zayed University. The mutual benefits for the participating students and the host managers and companies will be considerable. The programme will help prepare young Emiratis for the private sector workplace and, for the participating BBG Abu Dhabi member organisations, there is the opportunity to learn more about the high potential of these talente students. We believe this is a very tangible commitment to helping develop the future business leaders of the UAE,"

added Peter Michelmore, Chairman of the British Business Group Abu Dhabi.