GEMS Education, the largest and longest-running private K-12 education provider in the UAE, has successfully met all its Emiratisation targets, reflecting the group’s award-winning commitment to fostering local talent and marking a significant milestone in its firm support of the UAE’s vision for sustainable development and economic diversification.
GEMS has successfully integrated a total of 794 Emiratis into various roles across its organisation, with around a third of these holding a bachelor’s degree.
Positions filled include teachers and assistant teachers, as well as roles in finance, government relations, information technology, inclusion, visual arts, curriculum design, counselling, human resources, nursing, school libraries, administration, and front of house.
GEMS Education Emiratisation goals
Dino Varkey, Group Chief Executive Officer, GEMS Education, said: “All 42 of our schools in the UAE have made tremendous efforts in meeting our Emiratisation goals by promoting the array of employment opportunities available and implementing professional development initiatives.
“We look forward to welcoming yet more talented Emirati staff as we help advance the UAE’s vision of enhancing national human capital, developing a robust knowledge economy, and promoting economic growth.”
Fatima Alshamsi, Head of Emiratisation, GEMS Education, said: “Our goal is to attract highly skilled Emiratis, train them, place them in suitable roles, and ensure their continuous growth as part of our professional development programme.
“We also seek to empower fresh graduates to build a career in the education sector. We follow a holistic learning and professional development approach, which is fundamental to attracting, retaining, and ensuring career advancement for top Emirati talents.”
Collaborations with the ministries
GEMS maintains ongoing collaborations with the MOHRE, the Ministry of Education, Dubai’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), Dubai Government Human Resources Department (DGHR), and the Emirati Human Resources Competitiveness Council (NAFIS).
GEMS has collaborated with Zayed University, Wasl University, and Sharjah Education Academy. It has also signed a memorandum of understanding with Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) to establish a strategic partnership covering its schools across all emirates.
In addition, GEMS has participated in 34 career fairs and held five Emiratisation open days for direct recruitment and hires, while also providing training, internships, and workshops for Emirati candidates.
Trainees
Trainees have benefited from personalised coaching and mentoring sessions around key teaching and learning practices and strategies, including the Ministry of Education curriculum standards and regulatory requirements, UAE schools’ inspection framework, school assessment policy, and evidence-based teaching.
Trainees have also had the opportunity to observe experienced teachers within their subject areas, practise diverse teaching and co-teaching methods in the classrooms, and engage in action planning for professional growth.
Last month, GEMS Modern Academy was presented with the prestigious NAFIS Award for Education in acknowledgment of its outstanding support of the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council.
In October 2023, the GEMS group launched an Emiratisation drive designed to promote the national workforce across its network of schools and ancillary services in the UAE. The programme supports the UAE Government’s efforts to drive and promote Emiratisation within skilled jobs in the private sector, as well as the Emirati Human Resources Competitiveness Council’s NAFIS programmes and incentives to support Emiratisation.
tanvir@dubainewsweek.com
