Face-to-face: University challenge

Ammar Kaka, Heriot Watt University deputy head of campus.
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Will the lack of available construction jobs hinder new graduates’ career opportunities?

Ammar Kaka, Heriot Watt University deputy head of campus, answers I do not think so. The tendency for the construction sector right now is to employ local candidates who have had the experience of working or living in the UAE, rather than seeking to import man-power from abroad. I think within this context, construction graduates would stand a reasonable chance of getting jobs to fill current shortages and at a feasible cost.

Bassam Abu Hijleh, The British University of Dubai head of sustainable design and built environment programme, answers It will be slow for a while in the short-term, but should not affect the students in the medium- and long-term. The construction industry, like many other industries, goes through cycles. As a consequence of the rapid increase in the human population, there will always be a need to build.

How have the requirements of employers changed since the downturn?

Ammar Kaka answers Our construction related courses are accredited by UK-based professional institutions and the international dimension is very important to us and our students. Having said that, higher priority is given to candidates with local work experience and we engage with the local construction industry and expose students to contextualised assignments and project work.

Bassam Abu Hijleh answers More employers are focusing on quality rather than quantity. The push for greener or sustainable designs and practices has placed a premium on employees that posses such knowledge and skills.

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What are the most important skills that graduates need to enter the construction sector with?

Ammar Kaka answers There are certain transferable skills that are significantly important and cut across all of these professions e.g. problem solving, presentation, communication, etc. Students and graduates must also have a wide knowledge of a range of construction professions that they will be able to communicate and work with effectively.

Bassam Abu Hijleh answers They should take away knowledge they have learned about recent developments, best practice techniques and tools that enable them to test and validate proposed designs. They will have a changed mind set as to how to approach the design process, which they should also take with them.

What are you offering in terms of training in sustainable development?

Ammar Kaka answers Sustainable development is embedded into the various courses we run in Dubai. We have dedicated modules that directly deal with this such as Sustainable Practices in Facilities Management but, in addition, many other modules cover sustainable development.

Bassam Abu Hijleh answers We offer public lectures, Leed training workshops and consulting services. We are also open to cooperating with the industry on research projects that further the relevant knowledge within the UAE. The SDBE programme was ahead of its time when it first started. It was later revised in 2007 to accommodate a wider range of backgrounds and address different needs within the industry.