Press Releases

27 April 2009

MOHE URGES EXPLORATION OF WAYS TO INCREASE THE SHARE OF EMPLOYMENT FOR NATIONALS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

First Emiratisation forum addresses wide range of issues aimed at creating more job opportunities.

His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research opened today, 27 April, 2009 at the Beach Rotana Hotel in Abu Dhabi, the UAE’s first conference to address Emiratisation.

The two day forum entitled ‘Advancing and Retaining UAE Nationals in the Workplace’ which is being run by Abu Dhabi University (ADU), in conjunction with Aim Events, discussed a wide range of topics including developing employee calibre, improving retention rates, maintaining a motivated workforce and managing quotas.
In his opening address HE Sheikh Nahayan praised the vision and leadership of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahayan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and said the University had proven worthy of the name Abu Dhabi and can look forward to a promising future as an important component of higher education in the UAE and towards the enhancement of Emiratisation.

“Emiratisation is a necessary, but sometimes elusive, goal,” he said. “At first glance, it appears that full employment of citizens of the UAE should be a fairly simple matter. The number of people seeking employment, after all, is relatively small when compared to the large number of jobs required to drive our nation.
However, there are many complications connected with social, economic and technological considerations that affect the placement of nationals seeking employment. For Emiratisation to succeed,” he continued, “we must explore ways to increase the share of employment for nationals in the private sector. We seek a situation where every private sector employer develops and implements a plan to aggressively recruit and employ nationals. We need a proactive role from all corners of the private economy: First to help articulate their employment needs; Second to create and seek to fill appropriate employment opportunities for nationals in their companies; and Third, to provide on-the-job training programs to enable nationals to develop the skills and experience to advance in their companies.

“We must develop strategies with private sector employers to help persuade nationals that employment in the private sector is highly desirable. We must work to overcome flawed stereotyping of nationals as employees; and we must provide data and information about different careers and job openings to students and others seeking work across the country,” he said.

H.E. Ali Saeed Bin Harmal Al Dhaheri, Chairman of ADU, said he was delighted by the interaction of the delegates. “ADU is committed to supporting the development of the nation, and this forum has been specifically developed by Emiratis, for Emiratis based on extensive industry research, which shows that there is a major desire for more information and discussion on issues specific to Emiratisation, rather than nationalisation.

 

The first day’s programme also included a presentation on the current issues of Emiratisation by Dr Ingo Forstenlechner, Assistant Professor of Human Resource Management at UAE University, and a series of case studies from leading UAE companies including the Department of Civil Service, Aldar, Sorouh and Al Futtaim. Day Two’s programme comprises a series of interactive workshops, where leading industry experts will share critical strategies, enabling delegates to develop practical solutions to implement in their respective organisations. These workshops will be led by; Rory Hendrikz, Director of the Institute of for Executive Development, Abu Dhabi University Knowledge Group, (ADUKG), - Culture, Leadership and Innovation Dr Gene Crozier, Advisor ADUKG and Chris Jolliffe, Senior Manager, Summit Careers – Indentifying Emirati Talent and Roisin O’Kane, Leadership Development Specialist at Innovative Human Resource Solutions, who will head a session on coaching strategies.

 

Back to Media Center