Abu Dhabi-based Emirates Steel, a top integrated steel plant, has announced that 20 young UAE nationals have already begun their eight-week Work Placement Program (WPP) at its facilities at ICAD in Musaffah.

The students from the Vocational Education Development Centre (VEDC), a leading provider of integrated curriculum for academic and vocational studies, will complete the programme on March 28, as part of the VEDC pre-requisite to graduate in 2012.

A plan has been developed between the VEDC and Emirates Steel to facilitate the academic requirements as well as the students’ target positions at Emirates Steel upon graduation.

Emirates Steel’s work experience provides a different perspective and context for academic learning, with the opportunity to put theory into practice. Throughout the programme, national students can get a better feel of a whole range of employment skills, from learning about time management and teamwork to adapting to workplace culture and environment.

Saeed Ghumran Al Romaithi, acting chief executive officer of Emirates Steel, said: “The objective of the internship program is to offer graduating students the opportunity to familiarize themselves with their future assigned departments and the work environment. This also gives their future superiors the chance to evaluate them and prepare their individual development program upon joining the company.”

Vice president of Administration Support Mahmood Al Hameli added: “We are very proud of our work placement programmes. We believe that getting hands-on experience in the workplace can really add value to their knowledge once they join us and give them an overall view of their future career at Emirates Steel.”

One of the students, Mohamed Yahya Ahmed Al Bakeel said: “I have learnt many exciting things about Emirates Steel like how to make DRI from raw material. I would like to know more about other processes and maintenance activities.” – TradeArabia News Service