Inclusive pathways to employment: Empowering student transition into the workplace
The transition of students of determination into the workplace can pose many challenges and is often not awarded the attention it deserves.
The Fourth Colloquium on Inclusivity aims to explore how students, universities and employers can come together to provide support to ensure the journey to employment for students of determination is seamless and rewarding.
This event is the fourth in our series of free inclusivity events, which have brought together schools, universities and employers since 2018. Our aim is to encourage open conversation, so that we can share our experiences and practical knowledge in a welcoming environment, with the aim of developing and maintaining outstanding inclusivity policies and practices at all levels of the UAE education sector.
The United Arab Emirates earlier this year laid out a plan to create an integrated system that empowers students of determination within society over the next 50 years, including in the field of education and the world of work. We hope this event contributes to this ongoing ambition.
This event is taking place in collaboration with Siemens Energy and The Butterfly.
Our Focus
This year, the Centre for Academic Success at Middlesex University Dubai is collaborating with Siemens Energy and The Butterfly to explore:
- The challenges faced by students of determination as they consider their career pathways
- How various departments within the university environment can facilitate employment transition
- How the Chair of Siemen Energy’s Inclusion and Diversity Council for the Middle East implements and evaluates their inclusive employment strategies
- How The Butterfly, an advocacy agency that supports the transition of students of determination into employability, is helping students of determination to find work placements
When and where is the Colloquium?
Date
Tuesday 6th December 2022
Time
3PM-5PM
Venue
Room G-08, Block 17, Middlesex University Dubai
Who can attend?
The Colloquium is an opportunity for a diverse group of students, employers, school counsellors, careers advisors and university support departments to collaborate and share good practices that support student transition into meaningful employment. All are invited to register to attend.
Keynote Speakers
Dr Florian Koemm
Dr. Florian Koemm is the Chair of Siemens Energy’s Inclusion and Diversity Council for the Middle East. He is General Counsel Middle East of the company, having graduated in Law from the Universities of Passau and Bonn (Germany). After his post-graduate studies, Dr. Koemm started his career advising Siemens’ Financial Services business in Munich in 2009. He then moved on following different opportunities with the Mobility business in Erlangen and New York. Since 2017, Dr. Koemm is based out of Dubai and supporting Siemens Energy’s business in all legal matters across the Middle East. He has been leading Siemens Energy’s efforts for the cause of people of determination since 2021 and recently became the Chair for Siemens Energy’s Inclusion & Diversity Council in the Middle East. In addition to German, Dr. Koemm is fluent in English, Portuguese and Spanish.
Marilena Di Coste
Marilena di Coste has a background in law and she has over 20 years of experience in the disability field. She is the founder of The Butterfly, the first advocacy agency incubator of Ma’an, the Authority of Social Contribution, Abu Dhabi, to enhance the lives of people of determination.
The Butterfly informs, supports, enables, and empowers people of determination in making informed choices, accessing services, and participating effectively in the decision-making process on all issues that affect their lives. They foster relations between community organisations and the public and private sector. Last June, The Butterfly launched the Inclusive Employment Ecosystem, an unprecedented platform of UAE companies to enhance the employment of people of determination.
Marilena was awarded by Synerogs, The Rockefeller Foundation, as a social innovator in the Arab world, and has been endorsed by the United Nations for her advocacy programs. The Butterfly is one of the first 27 companies awarded as a Social Enterprise in the UAE.
Zainab Rehman
Zainab is a Middlesex University Dubai Class of 2019 graduate, having studied BSc Honours Psychology with Human Resource Management. She currently works as HR Manager at MUN Impact Alumni Network, an international not-for-profit education venture. Zainab previously worked as a HR Specialist at Alfardan Group in Qatar.
Dr Lynda Hyland
Dr Hyland is Senior Lecturer Psychology and Head of the Careers and Employability Department at Middlesex University Dubai. A chartered member of the British Psychological Society and a member of the American Psychological Association, Dr. Lynda Hyland holds an M.Sc. in Health Psychology from University College London, and a Ph.D. in Science (Psychology) from the National University of Ireland (Maynooth). She also holds a Professional Certificate in Postgraduate Teaching and Learning from the National University of Ireland, and a PGCertHE in Teaching and Supporting Learning from Middlesex University Dubai.