‘Professional and Practical Training Programme’ for Emirati students

The ‘Professional and Practical Training Programme’ is designed for Emirati students, from the ninth grade to their final year of higher education. It aims to facilitate their integration into the private sector, bridging the gap between the education system and the labour market.

The pilot phase of the programme will run for one year, bringing together 3,500 students from various stages of their education. Following this phase, it will expand over 5 years to include all students in these grades.

Objectives

The programme aims to:

• encourage students to enter the private sector, reshaping their perceptions of it from an early age
• build their expertise to enable them to find suitable career opportunities and expand their career prospects
• familiarise students with the fundamentals of work
• highlight the important role the private sector plays, and the opportunities it offers
• assist students in exploring their capabilities and potential
• guiding students towards the right career path that enhances their role in the UAE’s development
• helping students develop the skills and experience required to qualify for the best opportunities.

The programme pursues the following three approaches:

1. Certified Internship model: It offers non-obligatory practical experience for secondary school students, lasting from 2 to 4 weeks. It targets students in the 9th, 10th and 11th grades in public secondary schools.
2. Exchange model: This track provides mandatory practical experience for students in higher education, pursuing a bachelor's degree.
3. Dual Learning model: In this track, students from schools, institutes, and vocational higher technical colleges are required to complete 8 weeks of practical experience.

Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) launched this programme in collaboration with Ministry of Education.

Ministerial Resolution No. 620 of 2023 Regarding the Pilot Phase of the Professional Training Programme for Emirati Students. (PDF, 213KB) provides more information about the programme, including:

• process and participants in the pilot phase
• partners in the pilot phase
• responsibilities of MoHRE and its partners
• selection of participating establishments
• roles and responsibilities of participants
• responsibilities of educators, institutes and colleges
• implementation of the regulatory framework of the pilot programme.

Read news coverage on the website of MoHRE.