Students who did not do well in school but would still like to get vocational training can now do so through a new "career accelerator track" at a college in Dubai.
Introducing the Career Accelerator Track
Higher Colleges of Technology's (HCT) "Shaping the Future" concept includes this effort, which seeks to improve educational possibilities according to students' interests, skills, and the needs of the labor market.
The HCT has been very busy forming alliances that would help students get training and jobs through internships. The fact that 6,180 students from their Diploma and Bachelor programs have profited from the college's "Apprenticeship Program" shows how serious they are about providing students with real-world experience.
Expanding vocational offerings
Sumaya Abdulaziz Al Hosani marked the one-year milestone of this game-changing educational paradigm during a news conference held at the HCT-Dubai Academic City Campus. She made an announcement about a new career accelerator track that would be available to high school students in the next school year. This track is designed for students who did not do well on the EmSAT but would still like to get into the workforce quickly without spending too much time in college.
Students from other high schools who did not achieve the necessary standards or who did not place high enough in their classes will be placed in these programs. Because of this, they will be able to close the gap between their current skill set and the demands of the job market.
She also clarified that current students, based on their grades and academic performance, have the option to graduate with a certificate in vocational courses.
Obtaining a Professional Certificate and Its Relation to Career Advancement
After revamping its curriculum to incorporate twelve new vocational diploma programs, the HCT re-engineered its educational method and enrolled more than seven thousand male and female students for the 2023–24 school year. According to Dr. Faisal Alayyan, 75% of HCT graduates found jobs during that time due to the school's partnerships with both the private and public sectors.
To adapt to the changing needs of employers, HCT introduced a new educational model in 2023, according to Dr. Alayyan. We also shared the news that three different study paths will be available to students. Hundreds of students now have more options tailored to their interests and talents thanks to the addition of the vocational diploma program to the applied bachelor's program. The third track, "professional certificates" connected to career accelerators, will expand students' options in response to market demands, and HCT is getting ready to implement it now.
Dr. Alayyan stressed that the college's duty to its students does not end with graduation, and he named the placement of recent graduates into meaningful work as an important strategic objective. Students and recent graduates can take advantage of training and job possibilities thanks to the partnerships and collaborations we formed last year with public and private organizations. To entice students to major in health sciences and find employment in private health sector institutions, we also inked a strategic alliance with Nafis," he added.
To promote Emirati excellence and aspirations for leadership and globalization, Sumaya Abdulaziz Al Hosani emphasized HCT's plan to increase skills and capabilities. In light of the electronic connectivity between the campuses and both the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization and the Ministry of Education, our programs are grounded in a realistic examination of the labor market to comprehend present and future work requirements," she said. In order to provide students with a wide range of alternatives, it is crucial to both introduce new programs and evaluate and improve current ones.
Aiming to improve students' employment chances and contribute to the economic growth of the UAE, this career accelerator track and other vocational programs at HCT equip students with practical skills and information directly applicable to the work market.
