Formal education and workplace application gaps

Do student grades determine their true potential?

It does not, it looks like that there is huge gap between employer expectations and what the universities produce. This inconsistency between educational output, industry requirements and priorities pose a serious problem.

Skills Invest Forum organized at the Dubai Knowledge Village assembled a team of experts to address this issue. A 2009 report titled “the Arab Human Capital Challenge – the voice of the CEO’s has lessons for all of us.

The two factors cited as causes are worth further studying – the first is the need for the universities to partner with industry to identify needs and priorities, the second is for a review of the teaching methods.

A joint study by the Wolfensohn Center for Development at Brookings Institution and the Dubai School of Government states that a continued dependence on rote teaching methods stifles creativity and independent thinking.

In July, we had the opportunity of partnering with a government linked corporation to train 500 new graduates. The emphasis was getting them to find their inner voice and aligning their action to values. The goal was to get them to think and become work ready. It was indeed a very productive and valuable experience.

To get more details of the graduates workplace programmes and accredited training programme, please email subra@smrhrgroup.com

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