The majority of the young UAE residents and citizens who took part in a nine-month apprenticeship programme with Expo 2020 have been retained in various departments that will oversee the world fair.
About 80 per cent of the 25 graduates from UAE-based universities will continue in roles within the expo while others are readying for jobs across the UAE with assistance in placements from the Expo 2020 team, according to a statement from Expo 2020.
Yusuf Al Ali who worked with real estate and delivery team, said visiting the site helped him understand the technical aspects once he saw the construction taking place.
“When I began the work placement I was reading the expo site master plan and I was struggling to absorb and understand all the information,” he said.
“When I saw all the activity and everything I’d been reading about actually taking place, it gave me a much stronger understanding of the construction practices and scale of the project.”
The graduates worked in several departments from commercial and procurement to real estate, and were supported by mentors.
They received training in communication, efficiency, project management and innovation, and creativity in the workplace.
“My favourite part were the job placements. Having the opportunity to learn from such experienced individuals about the planning of an event of this scale, and seeing all the work that goes into it, was definitely the highlight for me,” said Neha Ahmed, who worked with the event operations department.
Open to UAE-based university graduates under the age of 28, the Expo 2020 Dubai Apprenticeship Programme received more than 2,700 applications.
Apprentices from 14 nationalities were selected based on leadership, teamwork skills and their ability to identify and solve problems under pressure.
“With young people at the heart of Expo 2020 Dubai, the programme represents our vision, ambition and pursuit of excellence, embodying our subtheme of ‘opportunity’ in ensuring that new horizons are opened to individuals to help them meet their current needs, and their future aspirations,” said Manal AlBayat, senior vice president, business development and integration at Expo 2020 Dubai.
The programme that launched last year aimed to equip the young graduates with skill sets to bridge the gap between graduates and professionals.
The apprenticeship project will in future be integrated with the free zone Jafza’s Tumoohi programme to create a new scheme that aims to have an impact on unemployed Emirati youth.