3rd Middle East Career Development Conference (MECDC3) will bring together career guidance professionals on April 30
Dubai - In arecent ground-breaking research study titled the MENA Labour Market Confidence Index, conductedby The Talent Enterprise, fostering employability skills of young talent and nationalisation were voted amongst the top 3 priorities by more than 1,250 organisational HR leaders.
The research further reveals that only about 60% of students across the region feel prepared for the workplace, and over half would not choose the same subject to study again, if given a choice.
This will among the many critical issued that will be discussed when more than 100 career guidance professionals, counsellors, HR leaders and coaches will gather in Dubai for the 3rd Middle East Career Development Conference (MECDC3) at Canadian University Dubai on April 30, 2015.
The forum is being organised by The Talent Enterprise, the region's pioneering human capital 'think' and 'do' tank, with the support of INSEAD, Canadian University Dubai and Dubai Knowledge Village.Registration for the conference is free and further information can be found on the conference's website - www.mecdc3.com.
Commenting on the forum, David Jones, Managing Director and labour market economist at The Talent Enterprise said: "We are extremely excited about hosting this significant event as no such regional forum exists for career guidance professionals. This year, we are encouraging a positive dialogue between educators and employers, and companies, such as Etihad Airways, Tanfeeth, Du and Boyden are also lending their voice to the forum. We also have esteemed speakers from The Higher Education Council in Bahrain, INSEAD, KFUPM in Saudi Arabia as well as Dubai Knowledge Villageand the Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research."
Stella Mandehou, Head of Employer Engagement & Career Development for the INSEAD Abu Dhabi campusadded,"INSEAD is proud to continue supporting initiatives that foster education and professional development for career advising and coaching professionals within MENA. Running for the 3rdyear, MECDC is becoming an established industry event that nurtures a culture of collaboration and learning among career development professionals."
"With 42% of U.A.E.'s youth in the 15 -34 years age group, career counselling is of vital importance. The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Community development is working on a youth empowerment strategy for the country. The 3rd Middle East Career Development Conference would serve as a platform for exchange of ideas and sharing of best practices in the interest of the community," said Rema Menon, Founder and Director of Counselling Point Training and Development.
Michael Todd, Career Services Manager at CUD, said: "MECDC is an important forum for debate and CUD is privileged to host such a diverse gathering of career professionals from the region. Nationalisation and student employability skills are areas that we must all, in both education and industry, focus on and work together to improve. CUD welcomes the initiatives set out in MECDC3."
Dr Ayoub Kazim, Managing Director, Dubai Knowledge Village commented: "Ensuring that our workforce has the relevant skills to drive our country's GDP growth is vital. By bringing together key stakeholders to discuss how we can further develop innovative learning environments allows us to build a culture of collaboration that creates a multiplier effect on wider growth. We need to work together to ensure that we are on the right path to developing these skills so that once qualified, our job seekers find suitable employment that benefit their own careers and add to the UAE's economy."
"There is a pressing need to build capacity amongst career guidance professionals in our schools and universities, and provide resources into the latest labour market trends and employment opportunities. In our preliminary research, we have also found thatassessment tools and aids to evaluate behaviour, potential aptitude, career suitability and self-awareness amongst students are also significantly lacking," added RadhikaPunshi, Director of Innovation and positive psychologist at The Talent Enterprise.
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For further information, please contact:
NaheedMaalik, Senior Manager, Marketing & Communication, Canadian University Dubai.
P.O.Box 117781, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Phone: +971 4 7096801, +971 50 2277301
Email: Naheed@cud.ac.ae
Website: www.cud.ac.ae
© Press Release 2015
