Beginning next fall, Emirates Aluminium (EMAL) will offer full tuition scholarships to Emirati nationals majoring in three engineering programmes at accredited Colleges and Universities in the UAE.
Science high school graduates and students who have completed their first or second year of study in mechanical, chemical or electrical engineering are eligible for the award. Along with the scholastic aid offered through the scholarship, the selected students will benefit from a series of summer training opportunities within the EMAL smelter.
"Emiratisation is a cornerstone of our HR practice here at EMAL, but we cannot expect to continue benefitting from the interest of qualified Emirati nationals if we don't fully commit ourselves to nurturing local talents," said Ibrahim Nassir, Vice President of Human Resources and Organisational Effictiveness at EMAL. "This scholarship is about ensuring qualified, talented students are given the means to flourish within the most respected engineering programmes in the UAE."
The scholarship application process is open until July 30, 2010, and the selected students will receive full tuition to their university programmes beginning this fall. To qualify, students must have a GPA of 2.5 or higher and study within an accredited programme.
"Scholarships like this provide the opportunity for students to continue their education, they encourage the best and the brightest to enter the engineering field, and – ultimately – they contribute to the human capital of the Emirates," said Ebrahim Al Hosani, General Manager of Emiratisation at EMAL. "Of course we'd love to see the selected students join us at EMAL upon graduation, but our motive for offering this award is not about reciprocity; it's about our desire to foster talent for the benefit of the Emirates."
Since its inception, EMAL has demonstrated a will to be the first choice of employment for Emirati nationals from a variety of disciplines. Currently, 23 percent of supervisory positions within the plant and 10 percent of non-supervisory roles are held by Emirati nationals.
"We believe that to live up to our role within the 2030 vision for Abu Dhabi, we must do more than just diversify the economy and industry of the Emirate, we must also diversify the kind of employment opportunities that are open to UAE nationals," said Al Hosani. "That is something we have adhered to throughout the construction of this facility, and now that we've reached the production stage we are able to offer Emiratis a career they can truly be proud of, because every single day here in Taweelah, we're contibuting to the 2030 Vision."
