DUBAI, 24th July, 2017 (WAM) -- Graduates of Expo 2020 Dubais Apprenticeship Programme today celebrated the successful completion of their nine-month learning and on-the-job training.

Working alongside industry experts in a number of departments including Commercial, Communications, Procurement and Real Estate and Delivery, the graduates learned a wide range of skills to help them build promising, successful and long-lasting careers.

Open to UAE-based university graduates under the age of 28, the programme received more than 2,700 applications. The apprentices, representing 14 nationalities, were chosen after several rounds of workshops, shortlisting and interviews.

With the completion of the programme, the Expo 2020 Dubai has said that it is proud to be assisting with placing such competent and highly-skilled graduates into the UAEs workforce, and is delighted to announce that 80 percent of the graduates will continue in roles at Expo.

Manal AlBayat, Senior Vice President, Business Development and Integration at Expo 2020 Dubai, said, "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."Launched in April 2016, the Expo 2020 Dubai Apprenticeship Programme was designed in line with global best practice to equip the apprentices with the necessary confidence and skillset to bridge the skills gap between university graduates and experienced professionals.

Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2017.