Investigation – Jamila Ismail and Mervat Abdelhamid
The job market is undergoing continuous changes due to rapid developments in the business landscape, which prioritize individuals’ professional and specialized experiences. As a result, career guidance programs in the UAE have emerged as a strategic tool to enhance national competencies and direct them toward sustainable career paths.
Academics, experts, and students have emphasized that the UAE is consistently striving to empower Emirati youth by equipping them with the necessary skills to meet the demands of the modern economy through various governmental and private initiatives. They noted that these career guidance programs serve as a catalyst for developing national talents and ensuring sustainable localization.
Naima Al-Sharhan, a member of the Federal National Council, stressed the importance of revitalizing career guidance programs, moving away from traditional and routine approaches. These programs should aim to develop institutional competencies and refine skills through comprehensive professional methods that blend rich discussions, interactive sessions, and hands-on experiences, thereby providing participants with an immersive and complete learning experience. Additionally, they should focus on building meaningful professional relationships based on trust, mentorship, and mutual growth.
She urged the organizing bodies of these programs not to overlook the importance of instilling a culture of continuous learning that reflects and ensures the enthusiasm, dedication, and collaboration of the workforce.
Professional Aspirations
Hilal Al-Kaabi, another member of the Federal National Council, stated, “Career development programs play a vital role in identifying the needs of target groups within organizations while highlighting and adopting their professional aspirations, as well as understanding the requirements of the projects and programs they work on.”
He added that these initiatives help enhance graduates’ skills and deepen their understanding of the organizational environment, ultimately adding value on both individual and institutional levels to accelerate professional growth.
Skill Development
Dr. Mohammed Ahmed Abdul Rahman, the Director of Al-Wasul University in Dubai, noted that the “Career Guidance” program, part of the Emirati Workforce Competitiveness Council known as “Nafis,” serves as a pioneering model in this field and is offered in collaboration with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation.
He emphasized the importance of career guidance programs for job seekers, aiming to equip them with the tools necessary to secure positions that match their skills and professional competencies.
He also highlighted the need for such programs to concentrate on developing personal and professional skills, charting career paths for students and graduates, and facilitating job stability, skills enhancement, integration, adaptability to the work environment, as well as time and stress management.
Supportive Environment
Dr. Abdullah Ismail Al-Zarouni, a professor in the Electrical Engineering Department at Rochester Institute of Technology in Dubai, praised the government’s focus on career guidance programs, reflecting its commitment to developing national human capital and providing a supportive environment that enables citizens to achieve their professional aspirations and contribute to a sustainable and diverse economy.
Dr. Mervat Amin, an academic at the UAE University, stressed the role of institutions in building a professional community for their employees, fostering an inspiring environment for guidance, support, and mutual skill enhancement.
In this context, student Manal Al-Kazem remarked that career guidance should not be limited to those already in the workforce or on the verge of entering it; rather, it should be restructured and programmed to begin during the foundational years, specifically in elementary school and beyond.
This process aims to empower students to identify their inclinations, desires, and capacities, enabling them to choose the profession that best aligns with their personalities.
Her peer, Hind Tawkul, agreed, emphasizing the need for career guidance programs to be properly tailored to individuals’ age stages, aligned with their needs and available resources.
This approach could help mitigate various societal issues, such as school dropout rates, academic failures, weak performance among graduates in social adaptation, as well as mental health challenges, decreased productivity, and declining work performance.
Graduate Sultan Al-Badawi underscored the necessity of activating the role of career guidance in enhancing and deploying youth involvement in shaping their communities while positively developing their capabilities and potential.
He added that the significance of career guidance lies in empowering youth and graduates to transition across fields within a structured framework that accommodates these professional adjustments, protecting them from potential adverse effects stemming from frustrations, failures, or setbacks.
Self-Understanding
Abdullah Ahmed, a graduate, pointed out that individuals often struggle to recognize their capabilities and inclinations, necessitating a need to understand themselves and the suitable professions for these abilities. He proposed the inclusion of self-assessment plans as part of curricula to facilitate individuals studying themselves and their career objectives, suggesting that personal and professional aptitude tests be conducted.
Graduate Fatima Al-Mulla highlighted that the incorrect selection of appropriate majors by students can lead to many future failures. She emphasized that the primary goal of career advice is to collaborate with students to realize their potential according to their circumstances, whether they are average, outstanding, or facing academic difficulties, thus facilitating their journey towards achieving success and reducing failure rates.
Inspiring Dialogues
Wasaef Al-Taniji, a student at UAE University, expressed her hope that career development programs would include tailored development pathways, inspiring dialogues with leaders in various fields, insights into interactive educational experiences, and community activities aimed at enriching the learning journey while gaining additional professional experience.
She confirmed that this would create new horizons for national talents and solidify institutions as preferred workplaces for attracting the best local talents.
Ali Al-Balushi, a graduate of UAE University, clarified that career guidance programs significantly enhance leadership skills by engaging with young talents from various departments, reflecting organizations’ commitment to delivering the highest standards of guidance and professional development.
He acknowledged their essential role in assisting graduates in navigating potential challenges they might face in their career paths, proposing that career readiness programs should include technical skill development to ensure participants are prepared for future demands.
He emphasized the need to provide top-notch career guidance programs, particularly those aimed at enhancing graduates’ readiness as they embark on their initial professional journeys.