Our programmes will benefit not just young Emirati professionals, but also fresh university graduates, remarks Reem BinKaram.

Sharjah’s efforts to ensure holistic development of Emirati youth continues to receive a boost through the professional development programmes designed by Sharjah for Capability Development (SCD), a subsidiary of the Rubu’ Qarn Foundation for Creating Leaders and Innovators. One of them is the Maharat programme, the second edition of which was launched by SCD in Sharjah. This follows the success of its first edition last year, along with two other professional development programmes, namely, Certified Coaching and Qudraati.

Reem BinKaram, Member of the Board of Trustees of Rubu' Qarn Foundation, stressed that the programme supported the emirate’s shared vision of building a competitive society based on qualified human resources equipped with skills to respond to market challenges and job changes. She noted that the objectives of the programmes have been set to further the strategy and vision of Sharjah in nurturing a creative and inspiring generation of influencers, who will further national sustainable development goals.

BinKaram further said: “The world has never agreed more that development, sustainability, stability and progress depend on each individual's non-traditional skills. New skills that promote work and culture and stimulate innovation. That’s why during the programme's design we made sure to add a lot of these individual skills, such as, the strength and accuracy of expressing opinions and ideas, ease of interpersonal communication, how well you convey your point of view to the world, and mastery over dialogue, negotiation and influencing skills.

“Following the accomplishment of the Maharat, Qudraati and the Certified Coaching programmes in generating a group of skilled graduates, it was obvious for SCD to run a second edition. We aim to take our capability development efforts to the next level by upskilling Emirati youth to be on top of rapidly transforming job requirements. Our programmes will benefit not just young Emirati professionals, but also fresh university graduates who aspire to begin their careers with practical professional training backing their academic accomplishments," she concluded.

15 professionals

Fifteen young professionals are participating in the second edition of the Maharat programme, that began at the Centro Hotel, Sharjah. The course duration is nine days, with events being held for three days every month. It will conclude on Nov.27. The programme aims at enabling participants to effectively communicate their vision to the world.

Programme facilitator Anna Roberts said: “We have taken a holistic approach to communications in designing this course. It is a mistake to link all communication skills to public speaking. What we are attempting with this course is to first get the participants to understand themselves better, get to know their values and build up their confidence to communicate with people.

“Over the course of the next few months, they will be taught to identify their values, skillsets and professional viewpoints and how to position their professional work across digital platforms as well as in person. We will focus on 21st century skills, including personal branding, public speaking and media training," she added.

SCD will be launching the second edition of its other two professional programmes – Certified Coaching and Qudraati – also in September. These programmes also aim to train young Emirati professionals on confidence-building and interpersonal communication skills. The programmes also focus on developing their key career capabilities, navigate through pressing challenges and ultimately realise their full human potential.

Established in 2005 by an Emiri decree issued by His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, Sharjah Tatweer Forum (Sharjah for Capability Development since 2018), is a subsidiary of the Rubu' Qarn Foundation for Creating Leaders and Innovators, established by Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Muhammad Al Qasimi, wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah. The foundation has more than 800 members who contribute to achieving its goals through their ideas, visions, suggestions, recommendations, activities, initiatives and voluntary work. With over 400 Emirati graduates to date, aged between 25-35 years, SCD is keen to provide students with all opportunities for professional development to prepare them to be the future leaders of the country.