Career advice for Emirati schoolgirls

Grade 12 students given a helping hand to make crucial career choices after school.

DUBAI // Young Emirati women at Asma bint al Numan School have received guidance on how to make crucial career choices after graduating from high school.

A careers workshop, called "You Decide", was hosted by the Centre for Career Guidance and Planning (CCGP) for 156 Grade 12 students yesterday.

"We focus on this critical stage because this is the time when students develop their interests," said Noora al Bedur, the director of CCGP. "We give them indicators as to what is available in the job market so they can ultimately make the right choice. We also teach them teamwork, communication skills, a love of work and commitment."

Ms al Bedur explained that CCGP aimed at giving Emirati students timely career counselling to increase their opportunities in the workplace.

"I am personally delighted by the response from the participating students ... Tanmia [National Human Resource Development and Employment Authority] continues to be a relevant catalyst between the aspirations of our students and the necessary guidance and skills needed to achieve them," she said.

Students also received tips on how to secure scholarships, choose the right college courses and set goals to achieve their potential at university.

"We assess their personality type and, based on their strengths, we give them a few choices that they may want to consider studying," said Ms al Bedur.

"The students were very excited because many of the exercises tapped into their interests."

The workshop also introduced pupils to various business sectors and eased their concerns about careers.

"We believe in giving young people role models, so some of our other initiatives include inviting a professional to come and speak about their chosen career or taking the students to a particular workplace so they can see for themselves what it is like," she said.

"They [the students] have shown remarkable commitment, understanding of subjects and important issues addressed during the workshop."