The Abu Dhabi Tawteen Council (ADTC) has partnered with the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) in Abu Dhabi to launch the first phase of a new online manpower system which will assist Emirati graduates match their skill-sets to jobs in the emirate’s labour market.

The new Mustaqbali (My Future) interface has been designed to provide HCT students with access to up-to-date information and data relating to in-demand professions and disciplines in the Abu Dhabi labour market, said a statement.

As a result of using Mustaqbali, the students will gain valuable knowledge of the most prominent employers and requirements of the various disciplines in Abu Dhabi’s workforce which match their skills and their specialisations, it said.

This will ultimately enable new Emirati graduates to access job opportunities and boost the local economy.

Dr Abdullatif Al Shamsi, vice chancellor of HCT, said that the importance of the cooperation between the Abu Dhabi Tawteen Council and HCT lies in providing graduates that are matched with the local labour market.

“The Mustaqbali system reduces the gap between higher education outputs and the future needs of the labour market and higher education inputs. Students get the opportunity of knowing the required specializations in the coming years on which they can make informed choices,” he said.

The HCT is the first higher education institution to launch the first phase of this new system, whose features allow HCT to provide graduates qualified for employment in required specialisations, in order to contribute to the sustainable economic growth of the UAE, he added.

Dr Al Shamsi further emphasized the importance of upgrading academic programmes in line with the needs of the labour market.

He pointed out that HCT constantly raises its educational standards and ensures quality by embracing the Learning by Doing methodology.

Abdulla Abdulaali Al Humaidan, ADTC executive director, said launching the Mustaqbali system for manpower development is in keeping with the electronic transformation of services in the Abu Dhabi Government.

“This system depends first and foremost on the extent of responsiveness of employers and higher education institutions to joining the system of manpower development,” he said.

“The data becomes more accurate through the cooperation of employers, whether government or semi-government or private, in stating their current and future needs and vacancies, which gives students a clear picture of the required specializations and gives decision makers a clear idea about the future Emirati workforce,” he added.

More than 7,000 students in Abu Dhabi will benefit from the programme in its first phase in specialisations including business, education, engineering technology and science, health sciences, computer information science, and applied communications.

The first phase of the Mustaqbali system will be linked to the HCT, Zayed University and the Al Ain University for Sciences and Technology.

The ADTC is currently completing the second phase of this system which will provide work placement and internships opportunities to students while studying in college, thus equipping them with the necessary skills and preparing them for employment following graduation. - TradeArabia News Service