Emirati students provide insights into private sector employment

This was one of the key outcomes of research completed by student participating in Tawteen's 2009 Al Tahaddi.

At a showcase event in Abu Dhabi today, the Al Tahaddi participants - 22 students and six team leaders - presented the findings of their research and solutions to the four key pillars of UAE society - Government, academia, the private sector, and civil society. The participants with the support of their team leaders have come up with the idea of a play that revolves around the character of the Emirati Ahmed Bin Majed - a famous sailor who was given the name 'Lion of the Seas' - and the challenges he faces in employing nationals on his ship.

Tahaddi Club is a key element of the Tawteen Leadership Academy a programme developed with partners BP and ALDAR. Tawteen is a UAE-wide initiative established by the Emirates Foundation for Philanthropy to empower Emiratis and build career pathways towards private sector employment.

Khuloud Al Nuwais, Emirates Foundation Projects Director speaking on behalf of the Tawteen Programme, said:

"Initiatives like Al Tahaddi play a vital role in providing young nationals, the nation's richest resource, with the skills and attributes they require to pursue meaningful careers in the private sector. In addition, the high-level interaction they had with senior executives in leading companies has helped expose the private sector to the breadth and depth of the talent pool that is emerging in the UAE. This powerful combination is playing a supportive role in the UAE achieving its Emiratisation goals."

The Al Tahaddi students and team leaders were able to reveal the key challenges facing employment of Emiratis in the private sector, following interviews with 21 companies across the UAE:

- 48% of all companies interviewed emphasised the importance of recognizing the essential differences in each other's cultures to improve the working environment

- Graduates in Abu Dhabi and Dubai earned significantly more than their counterparts in the Northern Emirates

- Several companies recognised that Emiratisation makes business sense and is not just a legal requirement

The findings helped them formulate the following recommendations to help advance the goal of integrating more young nationals into the UAE's private sector:

- Awareness Campaigns were needed to improve visibility of private sector opportunities

- Internships and Apprenticeships should form a integral pathway to private sector employment

- Leadership Academy focused on developing skills and for private sector employment

Saud Karmastaji, one of the seven team leaders who helped mentor and coach the participants, said:

"AL Tahaddi has played an extremely important role in the lives of both the students and the team leaders. During the five-week course we enhanced skills we had learned at the Tawteen Leadership Academy in the areas of problem-solving, presentation skills and critical thinking. Furthermore, we were able to translate this theory into tangible benefits, with Emiratis coming up with solutions to employing young nationals in the private sector."

Following the presentation of the findings and recommendations to the four pillars of UAE society, the Tawteen Programme promised to review the findings and recommendations to evaluate the potential to incorporate into future initiatives with the support of the Tahaddi Club participants.