Abu Dhabi, 23rd Dec 2008 (WAM) - A new career guidance counselling project (CGC), designed to prepare 10th grade Emirati students for the demands of private sector employment, has been launched this week by the Emiritisation initiative, Tawteen.

Launched in 2007, as an initiative of the Emirates foundation, Tawteen helps young Emiratis unlock their potential and to build career pathways to private sector employment. In developing the CGC project Tawteen worked closely with a number of partners such as Rolls-Royce, Mubadala, GEMS Education and the Abu Dhabi Educational Council.

Initially, the project will be piloted in three schools in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, Al Mawaheb, Al Dhama and Al Ruwaad and it is expected that once the pilot stage is completed the project will be rolled-out at a National level within all Grade 10 schools. The pilot phase will last 23 weeks and it is estimated that approximately 100 tenth grade students will successfully complete the project.

Talking on the importance of providing career guidance counselling to students, Khuloud Al Nuwais, Emirates Foundation Projects Director said:"When it comes to students making decisions on their future careers it is absolutely vital that they have been given the right skills and training to make informed decisions. Our new career guidance counselling project has been carefully designed to give students these skills through a wide range of interactive and practical exercises..

By giving access to this course we hope to encourage more young Emiratis to consider careers in the private sector," she concluded.

The project is highly interactive and practical; the overall curriculum includes three distinct areas: A) Wellbeing, B) Life Skills and C) World of Work. Students will be taught a number of essential first step job seeker skills such as CV development and job-interviews techniques. They will also be given the opportunity to explore their strengths and weaknesses through competency assessments and work towards to their own personal development.

As well as soft skills such as communication, teamwork and problem solving students will be encouraged to make real life decisions through an interactive resource known as The Real Game. Originating in Canada and successfully adapted across US, NZ, UK, Australia and Europe, The Real Game is a highly successful simulation game, which uses teaching strategies and interactive exercises to make career exploration relevant and fun.

This will be the first time that the Real Game has been introduced into the Arab world and it has been specially translated into Arabic and culturally adapted to meet the requirements of UAE students.

Students will also meet inspirational speakers and role-models who will be invited to visit classes to share their work-related experiences. At the end of the CGC pilot-project, all students will be given the opportunity to participate in a one weeks work-experience in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain.

Dr. Robert Thompson, Head of External Relations at the Abu Dhabi Educational Council said "By Grade 10, students need to start thinking about their future careers and the introduction of CGC project will help them do this. I am convinced that its success will offer long-term benefits to not only young Emirati students but also private sector employers."Tawteens partner organisations, which helped in the development of the CGC project, were equally enthusiastic at its introduction.

"As a catalyst that drives commercial opportunities to diversify Abu Dhabis economy, Mubadala is investing to build sustainable strong businesses and a qualified and motivated Emirati workforce is needed to underpin this," said Kate Triggs, Director of Communications at Mubadala Development Company. "The CGC project develops and prepares the next generation for the emerging opportunities. Mubadala is pleased to play a role in this initiative."Martin Brodie at Rolls Royce said: "At Rolls Royce we are fully committed to supporting this project. We firmly believe that the introduction of projects such as CGC is a significant step in encouraging more young Emiratis to consider fulfilling careers in the private sector."Dino Varkey, Senior Director - Business Development at GEMS Education, said: "CVs and interviews are often the first communications people have with potential employers. For this reason, the importance in developing these skills should not be under estimated. The CGC project will considerably help in the development of these essential first step skills."

Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2008.