Considering the ever-changing nature of employment around the world, the UAE’s youth should be able to explore career choices not after graduation — but right inside their classrooms while they are still students, a top official said at a forum on Thursday.
Both educators and policymakers need to help students in identifying career aspirations from an early stage, said Faisal Al Hammadi, advisor to the Minister of Education, who spoke during a conference held at GEMS Modern Academy in Dubai.
“Industry experience (among other things) should be integrated to the classroom learning — additionally, tweaking and adapting the curriculum to allow room for ‘work’. Policymakers should come up with programmes that allow students across the country to really understand what is available in the market. So, what are the career choices of today and what are the career choices of future?” he said.
Al Hammadi also stressed that by equipping students with the knowledge and mindset required for entrepreneurship, educators can empower them to create their own opportunities and navigate the ever-changing world of work.
From space to artificial intelligence (AI), more promising sectors and golden opportunities have been cropping up in recent years.
“We all know when Hazzaa AlMansoori went to the International Space Station in 2019, then space became a big thing. Space is a field that everyone is aware of now in the UAE. So, what are the other trends for the future? We talk about data a lot, for example. How can AI be used? I would say career guidance and (more) information should be available that’ll help students understand where things are going,” the official said.
© Khaleej Times
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