Partnership program to build employability skills and enhance career prospects

Dubai / UAE – Kuehne+Nagel in Dubai completed the second round of mentorship programs for year-one Emirati students at Zayed University in Abu Dhabi. 

Kuehne+Nagel, one of the world's leading logistics companies, actively supports education and career development programs in the local communities. 

In the UAE, Kuehne+Nagel partnered with several universities, including Zayed University in Abu Dhabi, a government-sponsored higher education institution founded in 1998 that offers a wide selection of undergraduate and graduate programs. 

The partnership with Zayed University included a Partner Challenge Program, Spring 2023, a mentorship program for students looking to gain experience with companies based in the UAE and to expand their career opportunities. Around 40 students were divided into groups and tasked with presenting tangible solutions to the challenges such as reducing landfill waste in a logistics company. 

Over the course of two months, the project groups worked on identifying the source of waste and diversion options, such as recycling or reusing, and proposed several solutions. They also learned how Kuehne+Nagel fulfills its pledge to reach the target for reducing CO2 emissions, aligned with the Science Based Targets (SBTi) initiative, a program that provides a clearly defined path to reduce emissions in line with the Paris Agreement goals. 

Following the student's presentations and the conclusion of the program, the representatives from Zayed University visited Kuehne+Nagel facilities in Dubai South and had a chance to observe the solutions the company implemented to reduce waste and minimize water and electricity consumption. 

"I am very impressed with Zayed University students who participated in the mentorship program. Their readiness to learn outside the classroom and challenge the standards is exemplary. If they show such a commitment to the development and their personal goals during the first year of their studies, we can only imagine what they can achieve once they graduate!" says André Unland, National Human Resources Manager at Kuehne+Nagel UAE. 

"Thanks to our partnership with Kuehne+Nagel, our students have the opportunity to work on real-life business scenarios and gain insight into the business operation of a large, international company," adds Jane Tatterton, Acting Assistant Provost For Student Affairs at Zayed University. "Students get a unique opportunity to meet a potential employer, build new employability skills and enhance their career prospects within the logistics and supply chain industry," she concludes.

About Kuehne+Nagel

With over 80,000 employees at almost 1,300 sites in close to 100 countries, the Kuehne+Nagel Group is one of the world's leading logistics providers. Headquartered in Switzerland, Kuehne+Nagel is listed in the Swiss blue-chip stock market index, the SMI. The Group is the global number one in air and sea logistics and has strong market positions in road and contract logistics.

Kuehne+Nagel is the logistics partner of choice for 400,000 customers worldwide. Using its global network, logistics expertise and data-based insights, the Group provides end-to-end supply chain solutions for global companies and industries. As a member of the Science Based Target Initiative (SBTi), Kuehne+Nagel is committed to sustainable logistics by reducing its own environmental footprint and by supporting its customers with low-carbon logistics solutions.

About Zayed Universit

Zayed University, the UAE’s flagship higher education institution, was established in 1998 and proudly bears the name of the Founder of the Nation – the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. In the spirit of Sheikh Zayed, the University is a pioneer and innovator in the field of education and research. The University currently caters to many Emirati and international students across its full range of undergraduate and postgraduate offerings.

Led by Her Excellency HE Shamma Bint Sohail Al Mazrui, Minister of Community Development, Zayed University Board of Trustees Chairperson, the University proudly serves the needs of the Nation and contributes to the UAE’s economic, social and cultural progress, in its state-of-the-art campuses in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. It embraces innovation and its learning programs adopt best-in-class technology. 

Through research, scholarship, creative activities and outreach, Zayed University provides educational leadership, expands opportunity, and enriches the knowledge of local, regional, and global communities. 

The University is proud of its role in encouraging academic excellence, promoting leadership skills and advancing knowledge. The University also strives to encourage the potential and inspire the promise of all its students, whilst also accelerating change in the UAE and contributing towards the Nation’s ambitious plan for the next 50 years.