UAE Media Apprenticeship Programme launched in Line with Year of Zayed

n line with the UAE President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan's declaration of 2018 as the Year of Zayed, the Education Affairs Office at the Crown Prince Court of Abu Dhabi today announced the launch of the UAE Media Apprenticeship Programme, UAEMAP, which aims to support young Emirati graduates with degrees in traditional and new media specialisations.

Complementing their educational qualifications and enhancing their capabilities, the programme will secure job training opportunities for candidates within some of the world’s leading media organisations operating in the UAE.

The initiative celebrates the legacy and values of the founding father of the UAE, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who highlighted the importance of boosting national talent and empowering the UAE’s youth with skills and expertise on par with global standards to enable them to become key contributors in shaping a happy and knowledgeable society.

The Education Affairs Office at the Crown Prince Court of Abu Dhabi is keen to continue its efforts in strengthening public-private partnerships through designing training programmes for the UAE youth, not only in media but other fields as well that require close and continuous cooperation with private sector institutions in the UAE.

UAEMAP is collaborating with leading national and international universities offering media-based specialisations, to hand-pick their best graduates, who will then join the programme. The candidates, selected by an Education Affairs Office committee, will be provided with internships and on-the-job training. The academic partners of the programme include Abu Dhabi University, Zayed University, UAE University, New York University Abu Dhabi, American University in Dubai, American University of Sharjah, American University in the Emirates, and Ajman University.

The programme is joining hands with more than 15 prominent media organisations in fields ranging from publishing to advertising, public relations, TV production and new media. Some of these include Newsweek ME, Al Arabiya, Hill+Knowlton Strategies, Publicis Group, BPG Group, Al Ahram newspaper, Bloomberg, Nomad, and Carma.

Commenting on the launch, Mohamed Khalifa Al Nuaimi, Director of the Education Affairs Office at the Crown Prince Court of Abu Dhabi, said that his office is delighted to start the programme which will articulate the late Sheikh Zayed’s vision to build an empowered and enlightened generation of Emiratis. "With global expertise and the will to acquire knowledge, they will occupy their rightful places in driving the economy and advancing scientific and technological know-how," he added.

The relationships established with media institutions in the private sector through the programme will enhance the role of the media in strengthening the status of the UAE regionally and globally, Al Nuaimi continued.

As a follow-up to UAEMAP, Al Nuaimi explained that the Education Affairs Office is also considering a further set of programmes and initiatives that meet the shared objectives of boosting public-private partnerships and providing Emirati youth with knowledge and skill sets to equip them for the dynamic workplaces of the future.

Al Nuaimi highlighted that UAEMAP also contributes to realising the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council, of enabling Emirati youth and developing a talented, skilled and knowledgeable generation that can achieve the objectives of the National Agenda and the UAE’s future strategy.

Outlining the application process of the UAEMAP, Al Nuaimi said candidates could apply on the programme website. Applicants must be no older than 26 years and must have a bachelor's degree or a master's degree from an accredited local or international university.

Following the review process, the expert committee from UAEMAP will select candidates who meet requirements and criteria set for the programme and distribute their profiles to the hiring partners based on available vacancies.

Al Nuaimi highlighted that memorandums of understanding are being signed with the partnering media organisations stipulating the number of candidates they intend to employ, the monthly stipend that the apprentices will receive, as well as the duration of their employment that can range from six months to a maximum of one year. After the contract expires, the organisation is free to employ the apprentices permanently.

Al Nuaimi concluded by saying that the Education Affairs Office will closely monitor the performance of each selected candidate. Employers will submit quarterly reports, including comprehensive information on the apprentices’ productivity and their level of success in overcoming initial challenges and acquiring particular expertise throughout their employment.

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