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One in eight female UAE nationals opt for engineering majors
Dubai – Karen Saliba, a Mechanical Engineer at DC Pro Engineering UAE - a leading global authority in the field of District Energy and renowned regional sustainability leader in the field of Green Building MEP Designs - has challenged regional business leaders to invest in the rising number of talented female engineering graduates entering the employment market.
Citing statistics released by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MOHESR), which reveal one in six UAE nationals opt to major in engineering at university, Saliba believes that previous discrimination in the industry no longer exists.
“I believe traditional employment barriers for women in today’s world are being torn down,” said Saliba. “If we are provided with equal opportunities, women will become leaders in the engineering world and improve existing best practice models. I’ve had to compete with experts, all male, throughout my career at DC PRO – it’s a challenge but I know my male colleagues also find each other challenging. That is how it should be, talent-based. Gender should not come into the equation”
Further proof of Saliba’s rising status is evidenced by her selection in a recent ASHRAE Regional LeaDRS Program contest - above hundreds of candidates from 20 countries - which aims to encourage the development of future leaders. As the single engineer selected, Saliba will shadow the ASHRAE Chapter (UAE Falcon Chapter) Director & Regional Chair at the association’s Winter Conference in Las Vegas from January 30 – February 1.
“It’s a great opportunity for me personally, but it also shows women can succeed in the regional engineering sphere,” added Saliba. “One of my objectives when pursuing a mechanical engineering career was to achieve my personal goals, but also help other women understand what it’s like to be an engineer. Hopefully this experience will give me more experience to achieve that.”
With approximately one in four UAE male nationals choosing engineering courses for tertiary education studies, Saliba hopes her own success will see more women follow her into the industry. One in eight female UAE nationals currently major in engineering at domestic universities.
“I began my career at DC PRO with a clear objective to become a leading figure in the industry; I was always inspired by great engineering achievements that helped build efficient and sustainable communities and was passionate to achieve my own,” she added.
“At DC PRO, I am surrounded by exceptional management and people who have paved the way for me to achieve further success. The company’s recruitment philosophy starts and ends with a desire to employ the best candidate, which is exactly how it should be. Even then, my success has not come by chance. Hard work and enthusiasm are the pillars of my work ethic, my managers witnessed that and assigned me to interesting projects. My heart has led me to many successes, but I’ve learned to be flexible and opportunistic along the way too.”
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About DC Pro Engineering:
DC PRO Engineering is a recognized world leader in the fields of District Energy, Co-generation and Tri-generation. The firm is also a renowned sustainability leader in Green Building MEP Designs.
DC PRO’s services include engineering design, consulting, and project management in District Cooling, Combined Heat & Power (CHP) Co-generation and Tri-generation, Green Building MEP Design and Renewable Energy . Other services include engineering reviews, feasibility studies, efficiency monitoring and recommendations for energy performance improvement.
In recognition to its innovative and superior quality designs, DC PRO was selected as Best District Cooling Consultancy Company for 2012 ,2013 and 2014, 2015, and 2016 by Climate Control Magazine/ CPI Industry.
The company have several international projects in its portfolio starting from Sydney Barangaroo South, Singapore Marina Bay Sands, Several Hilton Hotels in Kampala, Chad, Abuja, Seychelles, Iraq, Lebanon and the GCC.
For media requests and enquiries:
Mohammad Akkawi
Action UAE
email: mohammad.a@actionprgroup.com
Mobile: +971 55 3941044
© Press Release 2016
