1. Building National Competencies نبني المهارات الوطنية Building National Competencies نبني المهارات الوطنية 1 Role of Employer Engagement in Skills Development Dr. Naji Al Mahdi Executive Director National Institute for Vocational Education Dubai, UAE

2. Building National Competencies نبني المهارات الوطنية 2 National Institute for Vocational Education (NIVE) Established in conformity with the directions of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai to develop a skilled flexible, employable, entrepreneurial workforce in accordance with the current and future needs of the labour market the aspirations of the people of the UAE An initiative of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) of Dubai.

3. Building National Competencies نبني المهارات الوطنية 3 A partnership of mutual benefit to two or more parties involved Two way process where education provider and the employer work together to develop skilled workforce Employer Engagement

4. Building National Competencies نبني المهارات الوطنية 4 Benefit of Employer Engagement Benefits to Employers Access to work-ready graduates Provides opportunities to promote work-relevant curriculum content Raise organization profile Meet nationalization targets Benefit to Educational providers Improve teaching and learning Provide opportunities for sponsorship work placement work-based learning activities Improves student recruitment

5. Building National Competencies نبني المهارات الوطنية 5 Types of Employer Engagement Engagement with one employer – Specific Needs - Bespoke Programme Engagement with multiple employers – Generic Needs - Generic Programme

6. Building National Competencies نبني المهارات الوطنية 6 Engagement with one employer – Bespoke Programme Employer Education Provider Specific Need Specific Programme Who to engage with? HR Department Specific Department Head

7. Building National Competencies نبني المهارات الوطنية 7 Engagement with one employer – Bespoke Programme - Example Mohamad Bin Rashid Housing Est. NIVE Specific Skill Need Diploma in Draughtsmanship, Building Inspection & Surveying

8. Building National Competencies نبني المهارات الوطنية 8 Engagement with Multiple employer – Generic Programme Challenging Model of Partnership Employer Education Provider Generic Needs Common Programme Employer Conflicting Needs Who to engage with? HR Department? Specific Department Head? Require a common platform

9. Building National Competencies نبني المهارات الوطنية 9 Engagement with Multiple employer – Common Programme - Example HSBC NIVE Generic Needs Common programme DEWA RTA Al Nabooda Edexcel Conflicting Needs

10. Building National Competencies نبني المهارات الوطنية Most of the Enables are not present in the UAE 10 Enablers for Employer Engagement Skills Council (SC) Advisory Forum (AF) Professional Associations (PA) Trade Associations (TA) Professional and Trade Licensing (PTL) Qualification Framework (QF) Occupational Standards (OS)

11. Building National Competencies نبني المهارات الوطنية 11 Level of Employer Engagement Provide information to All employers Obtain input from all employers on programmes and skills development issues. Involve targeted employers with specific interest, expertise and views on skill needs and implementation issues. Collaborate with targeted employers on strategic directions and implementation opportunities for skill development. Collaboration Involvement Consultation Information Passive Involvement Active Involvement

12. Building National Competencies نبني المهارات الوطنية Building National Competencies نبني المهارات الوطنية Example: International Work Passport Research Consultation with Employers Consultation with Educators International Passport to work 12

13. Building National Competencies نبني المهارات الوطنية Research to Determine Market Needs Pearson primary research on Effective Education for Employment – research in 25 countries inc. educators, employers and government. 2008/10 IWP primary research - 6 countries (across GCC + Egypt & turkey) including employers, educators and government 2012/13 Education for Employment: Realizing Arab youth potential (an initiative headed by IFC, a member of the World Bank Group UNESCO World Data on Education, 2010/11 UAE McKinsey Quarterly – Re- appraising the Gulf States. Getting Labour Policy to Work in the Gulf Report of Booz and Company in collaboration with the World Economic Forum and Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) Work Passport Development April 2013 13

14. Building National Competencies نبني المهارات الوطنية Research Findings 1 GCC - the highest youth unemployment rates in the world (40%) Mismatch between the skills provided and skills required Shortage of appropriate skills, only 1/3 graduates are ready for the workplace Inadequately- educated work force as 4 th problematic factor in the Arab World Next decade, Arab World will need to create 40% more jobs 14

15. Building National Competencies نبني المهارات الوطنية Research Findings 2 Arab states face a major challenge in the creation of job opportunities for youth Traditionally, young people leave the education system lacking the fundamentals to integrate into the work environment Typically, learning is not sufficiently related to the workplace, making transition to work difficult Traditional learning focuses on knowledge rather than skills attitudes and behaviours Governments are spending significant amounts trying to address these issues Work Passport Concept Development 201215

16. Building National Competencies نبني المهارات الوطنية Research Findings 3 Absence of partnership between government, relevant industry and education providers Quality assurance mechanisms are absent; of limited capacity or lacking in credibility Limited alignment between national and international accreditation, global industry standards not reflected in curriculum Information transparency and matchmaking between employers and students is poor Stigma attached to vocational jobs, and lack of awareness of the high returns of vocational training Work Passport Concept Development 201216

17. Building National Competencies نبني المهارات الوطنية Building National Competencies نبني المهارات الوطنية Research Findings 4 Employers want Employees that are able to: Understand how to take a proactive approach to career progression. Display the main features of leadership. Solve problems common to the workplace and effectively share solutions. Understand the importance of a positive attitude in the workplace and what constitutes appropriate behaviour at work. Contribute effectively in a teamwork environment. Communicate (read, write and speak) effectively in a work situation. Solve basic work related numeracy problems. Confidently use major office related IT software. Use the internet effectively in the workplace. Use English language confidently in the workplace. Make a constructive contribution in the workplace and become valuable to their employer. 17

18. Building National Competencies نبني المهارات الوطنية Building National Competencies نبني المهارات الوطنية Characteristics of a successful progression to employment programme Employability is having the skills, knowledge and personal attributes needed by employers to ensure sustainable success in the future. Employability Attitudes Behaviour Self confidence Self management Maths / ICT English Employability Diagnostics / placement Industry knowledge Achievement measured against known standards Job application process: securing the job 18

19. Building National Competencies نبني المهارات الوطنية International Work Passport (IWP) 1 An employability standard designed to provide the skills benchmark for entry into the world of work. 2 A combination of all the learning a job-seeker needs to succeed in the world of work in one, easy to access package 3 a range of units of varying size and assessment styles, completed in approximately 280 glh 4 Syllabus content agreed as needed by educators, employers & governments to bridge the gaps between traditional education and employment 5 a comprehensive solution for educators preparing learners for work including everything needed from diagnostic tools to delivery resources 6 a reliable standard for employability learning to help employers in recruitment and selection 19

20. Building National Competencies نبني المهارات الوطنية Building National Competencies نبني المهارات الوطنية IWP Content English Language 120 hours Functional ICT and Maths 85 hours Work skills and behaviours 100 hours 280 hour programme English Language Placement test + qualification + teaching & learning resources + assessment ICT and Maths for the Workplace Placement test + qualification + teaching & learning resources + assessment Work Skills / Behaviours Covers 7 skill areas + teaching & learning resources + assessment 20 80 Hours 160 Hours 40 Hours 20

21. Building National Competencies نبني المهارات الوطنية IWP Units Skills for Interviews (10 hrs) Working in a Team (30 hrs) Self Management Skills (20 hrs) Effectiveness at Work (10 hrs) Career Progression (20 hrs) Developing Personal Skills for Leadership (20 hrs) Communicating Solutions to Others (20 hrs) Solving Work Related Problems (20 hrs) 21 ICT, Numeracy & Literacy for the Workplace (50 hrs) English for Business (80 hrs) 21

22. Building National Competencies نبني المهارات الوطنية Building National Competencies نبني المهارات الوطنية Thank You 22