30 June 2010 (Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates): Following the successful pilot in 2009, Zayed University (ZU) and the British Business Group (BBG) Abu Dhabi announce the launch of their ‘workshadow’ programme for ZU students.
Described as a ‘great experience’ by one participant, 20 students each attended a day at a leading UK company in Abu Dhabi last month, where they ‘shadowed’ a CEO or senior executive going about their daily work.
Feedback from BBG participants was unanimously positive, praising the motivation and willingness to engage on the part of the students, and reiterating the Group’s commitment to the future of the programme.
The programme was developed under the patronage of H.E. Sheikh Nahayan Mubarak Al Nahayan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and President of Zayed University, and is designed to give ZU undergraduates a taste of working life at executive level in the private sector. The students were given the opportunity to express a preference for the type of company and sector they attended, which in this latest phase included energy, banking, law, education, real estate, PR and hospitality.
Zayed University identified the group of 20 students from the first year foundation programme to participate in the programme. The BBG Abu Dhabi then arranged a placement for each student with a BBG member organisation operating in Abu Dhabi. Each placement lasts for one day with each student ‘shadowing’ a senior manager in the company, accompanying him/her through a daily routine of office based work, internal/external meetings, and site visits (where appropriate).
Peter Michelmore, Chairman of the British Business Group Abu Dhabi, commented: “A key BBG priority is to support Abu Dhabi in its mission to ensure that local talent is properly nurtured and that young Emiratis are able to play a full role in the international workforce. British companies are therefore delighted to have this opportunity to repay, in some way, the generous hospitality accorded to us over so many years by Abu Dhabi, which is not only a key trading partner for Britain but also an historic ally on the world stage. This programme will help prepare young Emiratis for the private sector workplace while for our member companies there is the opportunity to learn more about the high potential of these talented students and of their expectations for the future. We look forward to seeing these young people in due course take their rightful place as the business leaders of tomorrow, and we wish them well.”
A further round of shadowing opportunities is planned following the summer break.