Today's Edition
BATOOL GHAITH (ABU DHABI)
The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research’s (MoHESR) newly released Guide for Governance of Work Experience for Students in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) is a critical step in bridging the gap between theoretical learning and real-world application, educational experts said.
According to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), the guide aims to establish a unified national framework that governs student training and internships, ensuring consistency, quality, and alignment with labour market expectations.
It introduces structured mechanisms such as logbooks, defined learning outcomes, and formal agreements between educational institutions, students, and training providers.
Dr. Maya Alhawary, Chairwoman of Dubai Carmel School’s Board of Directors, welcomed the initiative, emphasising the urgent need to align academic content with life skills and work force realities.
“Theoretical learning is important, but applying what students have learned in the real world through profession-based experiences is essential to gaining a complete understanding of job market needs,” Alhawary told Aletihad.
She stressed that today’s graduates face difficulty if they lack practical skills, noting that “while education is important, there must be an element of real-life experience to develop life skills and emotional intelligence when dealing with others.”
Dr. Alhawary also highlighted the importance of clear communication between universities and the labour market to identify missing skills and knowledge gaps in various sectors.
“Even internships often fall short due to their short duration and lack of depth in providing hands-on experience. Stronger partnership between universities and the job market would help develop curricula that match actual needs,” she explained.
By offering structured training, students will gain confidence and skills before graduation, giving them a head start in finding job opportunities, even before they graduate, Alhawary noted.
“These trainings contribute to improving and reshaping both the job market and educational curricula, especially in fast-evolving fields like artificial intelligence, which now touches every profession and specialisation,” she added.
Shady Elkassas, a Research and Development Manager and recipient of the Khalifa Award for Education Excellence, said the guidelines formalise a national structure that directly connects academic learning with workplace application.
“By requiring higher education institutions to develop structured logbooks, learning objectives, and supervision mechanisms, the guide ensures that students’ placements are not symbolic but strategically aligned with labour market needs,” Elkassas told Aletihad.
He explained that the shared responsibility model, where universities and employers jointly plan and evaluate training, would enhance the relevance and quality of internships.
“When such partnerships are clearly defined with mutual accountability and open feedback loops, students receive more coherent and meaningful training,” Elkassas said.
He highlighted how the policy empowers students to become active participants in their development.
“This hands-on exposure helps students build professional confidence and adaptability, better preparing them for uncertain and dynamic career paths,” Elkassas explained.
He described the move as “a strategic investment in human capital”.
“Over time, it will produce graduates who are not only academically qualified but also workplace-ready and innovation-oriented,” he said.
With industries in the UAE diversifying into areas such as AI, renewable energy, and biotechnology, Elkassas believes this approach ensures a steady supply of skilled professionals.
He pointed out that the decision supports national ambitions such as Vision 2031 and Centennial 2071.
“This reflects a shift from traditional credentialism to competency-based education, where learning is valued for its impact on performance, creativity, and entrepreneurship. This framework is not just an educational reform, it is a national development strategy,” Elkassas added.
