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New reforms will make UAE a global education hotspot

Grade school students can now also apply for a work permit and take on part-time jobs.

The UAE is positioning itself to be a popular education destination for international and local students through its recent visa reforms and labour law changes to help promote youth employment.
Earlier this month, a new visa scheme made grade 12 students who are dependent on their parents and university graduates eligible for a one-year visa extension, which can be renewed for another year. Grade school students can now also apply for a work permit and take on part-time jobs.
Michael Worth, the business links lead at the Greenfield Community School (GCS), told Khaleej Times that the education sector in the UAE is "maturing rapidly, with an increasing number of students staying here in their senior years and into higher education".
"This has certainly been the case at my school where an increasing number of students are choosing to stay in the UAE," Worth said. "The International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme that was pioneered at the GCS has been proven to be an invaluable pathway for practical-minded students both as an alternative route to university and career opportunities locally. The number of excellent universities and range of courses has certainly added to this trend, and I think parents staying and working in the UAE longer have also been a significant factor. While many companies have tended to bring in highly skilled expat employees from overseas, there is an increasing trend where companies are hiring locally schooled and trained personnel."
Opens doors for the youth
Worth added that the new visa reforms would enhance local students' opportunities and give them a chance to find a career that they are passionate about. 
He said these factors would make the UAE an "increasingly attractive" place of learning for homegrown students, as well as international students. 
"The new visa reforms will also give newly graduated high school students time to find a vocation they are passionate about, weigh up their options, and experience different career opportunities while enjoying parental support. The key factor for success has to be the transition from school and higher education into the job market, so a good career advice is critical, not only in the latter years of education. Universities are developing specific programmes suited to the local employment market, such as sandwich degrees with a year spent in a local company and also internships during or after the completion of school studies," Worth added. 
Christophe Savard, vice-president for career and future employment architect at Gems Education, said the visa reform could encourage students to look at the UAE as a potential location to continue their post-secondary studies or gain work experience. 
He said: "For our students already studying here, the visa reform opens the door to many more opportunities and options post-graduation, without the need to rush into making major decisions. In addition, this reform will help drive a greater sense of security for families who are considering to move to the UAE, showing a long-term path of opportunity for children.
"This change, coupled with the recent changes in the UAE labour law concerning youth employment, will allow students to begin their careers much earlier, which will result not only in greater choices of work aligned to their passions but also give them the competitive advantage of having a UAE-based experience. Our Gems Student Employment programme is already working with industry leaders to equip students with portable and transferable skills for their future through work placements, and we completely back initiatives like these, which will help us retain our top talent in the UAE."
sarwat@khaleejtimes.com

Changes to help youth 'chase their dreams'
UAE students are feeling more at ease as the new visa reforms are bound to help them stay legally in the country for a longer period, giving them the chance to chase after their desired career choice.
Grade school students are also relieved that they can now work part-time and avail of the visa extension once they graduate from the 12th grade, allowing them to take on jobs they are actually passionate about.
Justin Paolo M Arevalo, a university student in Dubai who is in his final year, told Khaleej Times that he can now make an informed decision when it comes to choosing an employer.
He said: "As a graduating student finishing my last year of university, the new visa reform would be a helpful platform for me to begin my journey towards the career-oriented world I'm going to be part of. Truthfully, this new visa scheme will ease some amount of pressure that many university students like me face today.
It gives us the necessary amount of time to prepare physically and mentally, carefully consider our choices, and brace ourselves for the long journey of creating our future careers without the added pressure of going back immediately to our respective countries. I believe it's a truly brilliant plan for students here in the UAE."
Reet Rachwani, a Year 11 student in Dubai, said grade school students could also consider taking a gap year to decide on a suitable career choice.
"If there is a visa reform where graduates will be eligible for visa extensions, it can be beneficial in many ways. Firstly, they will have a higher chance of finding a job that will help them earn an employment experience, which is a requirement in some places. Additionally, if a student wants to take a gap year after high school, they can stay in Dubai and get an internship to experience what they want to do.
Furthermore, if a student has gotten used to their environment in Dubai and wishes to spend his or her future here, this will make it more likely for them to do so," Rachwani said.
sarwat@khaleejtimes.com