Emirati Youth Employment Program Enhances Graduates' Employability

Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates; 22 June 2021 – In partnership with Citi Foundation, Education For Employment and Ras Al Khaimah Human Resources Department collaborated for the third year by delivering Work Readiness training to 25 fresh Emirati graduates as part of the Pathways to Progress program.

The program, which has been a remarkable initiative since 2018, has so far graduated over 100 Emirati youth by utilizing EFE’s signature Job Training and Placement Program. The program is meticulously developed to guide youth through a successful career path by focusing on a set of professional and technical skills that are in high demand by employers in the job market.

The 35-hour Work Readiness training held over Zoom from 24 May until 13 June 2021 aimed to build critical skills in several professional areas such as personal and professional development, communication, customer service, CV writing, and interview preparation.

After the successful and insightful training, the virtual graduation ceremony took place on 13 June, with the participation of Shamsa Al Falasi, Managing Director/Head of Global Subsidiaries Group - GCC & Iraq on behalf of Citi Foundation; Dima Najim, EFE-UAE Managing Director; and representatives from the Ras Al Khaimah Human Resources Department.

During the graduation ceremony, participants presented their final projects reflecting and implementing the set of skills they acquired during the training. Following the graduation, the youth will be offered technical training through Ras Al Khaimah Human Resources Department and its employer partners that best suit their academic backgrounds and available vacancies, so they are ready to begin their career paths equipped with soft and technical skills.

On this occasion, Shamsa Al Falasi, Managing Director/Head of Global Subsidiaries Group - GCC & Iraq at Citi Foundation, said: “We are delighted that our journey with EFE in the UAE, now in its fourth year, has both been productive and promising. We look forward to expanding our collaboration to empower more Emirati youth with employability skills and seek employment opportunities for them.”

For her part, Dima Najim, EFE-UAE Managing Director, said: “We are honored to have been able to work along with our partners Citi Foundation and Ras Al Khaimah Human Resources Department with such a group of talented youth. We believe that soft skills are important for youth to advance their careers, and with the practical training opportunities offered by Ras Al Khaimah Human Resources Department, the participants will be able to practice what they learned, and gain the experience on the job.”

Aamna Alshehhi, Head of Talent and Emiratization on behalf of Ras Al Khaimah Human Resources Department, declared that the department in Ras Al Khaimah Government is seeking, through its cooperation with strategic partners and supporters of the Emiratization process, Education For Employment, and Citi Foundation, who are deploying exceptional efforts in raising the competencies of job seekers and providing them with needed skills through trainings and development, to create an Emirati generation aware of the current and future labor market requirements. The department has also provided practical training for program graduates in governmental and private institutions during this year to ensure the enhancement of information acquired through real practical training in the work environment and help the graduates establish direct contact with employees in the institutions, with the aim of improving their expertise and ultimately supporting them on their career paths.