“Higher Education”… 1,000 training opportunities offered through the national platform for practical training

The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research revealed that it is continuing to expand the scope of benefiting from the national platform for practical training for higher education students, as it has attracted 72 government and private companies and institutions, offering more than 1,000 training opportunities for citizen university students and higher education institutions, and is currently providing practical training to approximately 974 students, from 58 universities and educational institutions, which reflects the growing participation of students, higher education institutions and training entities in the platform.

The platform provides an integrated digital environment that connects students of higher education institutions with practical training opportunities available in the labor market, which enhances integration between the academic path and applied experience, and helps students acquire skills and experience related to market requirements. It also allows higher education institutions and training entities to organize and follow up on the training experience through a unified national channel.

In this context, Khalfan Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director of the Employment Support and Labor Market Partnerships Department at the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, said: “The recorded results reflect the growing benefit from the national platform for practical training, and the expanding participation of students, higher education institutions and training bodies in them, which supports the provision of practical experiences related to academic specializations and labor market needs.”

He stressed that the Ministry continues to work with the relevant authorities to develop follow-up mechanisms, expand the base of available opportunities, and raise the quality of the training experience, in a way that enables students to develop their applied skills and enhance their readiness to move from study to work environments. He called on companies and federal and local government institutions to join the platform and offer training opportunities that serve their orientations and meet the need of the market, thus forming a bridge between academic and practical life. He also urged higher education institutions to register in the “platform” and invest in it as a qualitative opportunity and a reliable reference for providing practical training to their students.

Companies, institutions, universities and even students can register in the national platform for practical training through the “Nafis” platform or by communicating directly with the Department of Employment Support and Labor Market Partnerships in the Ministry, via email ESLMP@mohesr.gov.ae.

The latest data revealed that 72 government and private companies and institutions have been attracted, and 58 educational institutions have joined the platform, while the number of students registered on the platform – proactively, in preparation for the upcoming practical training periods, according to specific time frames – has exceeded 2,670 students, and the number of students actually enrolled in practical training has reached 974 students.

Most prominent areas
The training opportunities offered through the platform vary to include administrative activities and support services, health activities and social work, education, professional, scientific and technical activities, construction and building, manufacturing industry, information and communications, mining and quarrying, in addition to other fields, and are distributed among entities from the private sector and the local and federal government sectors. This diversity contributes to providing broader options for students, which helps them apply their academic knowledge in different work environments and gain practical experiences that support their preparation for the professional stage.

The Department of Oversight and Quality of Higher Education at the Ministry follows up on students enrolled in practical training, in cooperation with the Inspection Department at the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, and a detailed report on the results of the visits will be prepared, in addition to continuing periodic follow-up of new students who join training opportunities through the platform. The opportunities and programs available through the platform are subject to the standards and requirements set by the ministerial decision regarding the governance of practical training and the associated guideline, which supports the provision of organized and effective training experiences, ensures follow-up of their implementation and the development of students’ practical skills.

The platform was launched in cooperation between the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, and the Emirates Competitiveness Council, within the “Nafis” program, to enable students to access practical training opportunities, and to provide the opportunity for government and private sector entities to present the opportunities available to them, in a way that enhances the participation of various parties in preparing students to engage in the labor market.