The event was attended by His Excellency Dr. Hamid Mjul Al Nuaimi, Chancellor of the University of Sharjah; His Excellency Ghannam Al Mazrouei, Secretary General of the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council; Ms. Fatima Al Houti, Director of Training and Skills Development at the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation; vice chancellors; deans of medical and health sciences colleges; faculty members; and a large number of participants in the “National Healthcare Program.”
Dr. Al Nuaimi highlighted the significance of the collaboration between the university and the “Nafis” program in preparing and equipping Emirati talent to enter the workforce in various medical and health sciences fields. He emphasized the university’s efforts in training and qualifying its graduates through the “National Scientists” initiative, which focuses on a select group of students in academic and scientific fields. This initiative includes offering specialized master’s and doctoral programs to prepare them for academic roles within the university.
His Excellency Ghannam Al Mazrouei, Secretary General of the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council, underscored the opportunities provided by the “Nafis” program to enhance students’ skills and develop their professional capabilities. These opportunities aim to prepare them for success in the private sector workforce. He highlighted the importance of the “National Healthcare Program,” which aims to train 10,000 Emiratis over five years and is one of the key initiatives of the “Nafis” program, drawing significant interest from students.
He added, “Our presence today at this esteemed academic institution, with which we are proud to collaborate, reflects our continuous commitment to building direct communication channels with students, addressing their inquiries and concerns. This effort is part of a broader strategy to advance Emirati human capital development by preparing a productive and sustainable generation of national talent for the private sector.”
His Excellency also thanked the University of Sharjah for its collaboration and constructive efforts in supporting the success of this vital program, emphasizing that this strategic partnership reaffirms a shared commitment to achieving the UAE Vision 2031 by supplying the workforce with qualified and trained Emirati talent to serve the nation.
Ms. Fatima Al Houti, Director of Training and Skills Development at the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, highlighted the significance of the “National Healthcare Program” in integrating Emiratis into private healthcare sector jobs, thus enhancing the sector with national expertise. She referred to the “Emirati Trainee Work Contract,” introduced by the ministry to support the employment of Emirati talent enrolled in programs endorsed and funded by the “Nafis” Council, including the “National Healthcare Program.” This initiative also aids private sector companies in meeting their Emiratisation targets by counting the employed Emirati trainees under their required Emiratisation quotas.
It is noteworthy that the University of Sharjah is one of the key academic partners of the “National Healthcare Program,” an initiative by the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council (Nafis). The program aims to increase Emirati participation in vital economic sectors. It offers numerous benefits to students, including covering tuition fees throughout their studies, providing stipends based on cumulative GPA, offering job opportunities in the private sector upon graduation, and facilitating training opportunities during their studies.