Does your university as a body have written policies and procedures to identify local stakeholders external to the university and engage with them?
Career Service
Careers advice is available to assist students in developing their professional goals and objectives, and regular career workshops are held to provide support in finding employment and preparing for life in the workplace. The aim is to make students career conscious and start building their life skills early on. All students are welcome to attend to start improving their life skills and employability, especially final year students.
In career workshops, students can learn how to create a professional CV, design a cover letter, develop their interview skills, use networking and negotiate an offer.
Our mission
The mission of the Career Services is to make a student’s transition from university to professional life a success story. This is meant to be a shared success; therefore, the Career Center invites you to collaborate and work together with your professors, internship mentors, and use the services and resources of the Career Services throughout your studies. Participate in events, start thinking about your career plans and set SMART career goals from your first year on. The Career Center will work to motivate you to take action and discover your possibilities, using your resources strategically. Throughout all events and one-on-one sessions, we will work on improving your life skills and employability, preparing you to enter the 21st century job market.
How can I benefit from Career Services?
Regardless of year of studies, major or interest, every student can benefit from the following services:
- Advice on career related matters – job and internship search strategies, setting career goals, objectives and a step-by-step plan
- Improving career correspondence (CV, thank you notes)
- Improving profiles and visibility on career platforms
- Assistance in finding internships, part-time or volunteer opportunities
- Workshops to develop interview skills, online and offline networking and personal branding
- Our annual Career Fair to be introduced to companies and organizations
Watch how Career Services can help you get ahead in life
INTERNSHIPS
Choosing a career path can be challenging, and an industry-based internship can help you to explore and evaluate your career options while still at University.
Canadian University Dubai works with a wide range of partner companies to provide students with the opportunity to put into practice the skills and concepts learned in the classroom. The internship is an important experiential and academic component of each program and is compulsory for all undergraduate majors.
During an internship, students work for 150-180hrs (dependent upon the program) either on a part-time or full-time basis. Full-time internships involve 30-35hrs per week and part-time internships involve 15-20hrs per week. The host company/organization provides professional staff members to take the student forward in their learning experience.
Internships at CUD are managed by the Career Services, and all open positions will be communicated to you internally on CUD career portal.
If you are about to graduate or are a fresh student, prepare your CV and send it to careerservices@cud.ac.ae for review indicating “CV Review” in the subject.
| Where can you find us? | Office timings |
| Career Services office: CUD HUB – Office 06 – 1st Floor Email: careerservices@cud.ac.ae Phone: +971 4 7096 198 |
Appointments between 10.00 am – 5.00 pm, Mondays – Thursdays, and 9 am to 11:00 am on Fridays can be booked via e-mail.To book an appointment, send an e-mail to careerservices@cud.ac.ae, indicating ‘Career Centre Appointment’ in the subject. List all dates and timings when you are available and the issue(s) you would like to discuss.Use your CUD e-mail ID when writing to careerservices@cud.ac.ae. Personal e-mails (Gmail, Yahoo, etc.) might land in the junk mailbox which could lead to delayed response.Within 72 hours you shall receive a calendar invite. Accept the invitation and arrive on time. Prepare for the appointment by bringing any necessary documentation or prepared questions. |
Canadian University Dubai becomes the first private university in UAE to partner with Coursera to prepare students for in-demand jobs
CUD students can earn industry-recognized certifications at no additional cost during their final year of study
UAE, Dubai – 10 August 2022: Coursera, Inc. (NYSE: COUR), one of the world’s largest online learning platforms, has announced its partnership with Canadian University Dubai (CUD), the number one higher education institution in Dubai. The collaboration will equip the university’s students with the necessary skills for in-demand jobs through Career Academy from Coursera, a new career training academy that provides skills training and entry-level Professional Certificates from the world’s leading companies including Google, IBM, and Meta.
Becoming the first private university in the UAE to adopt Career Academy from Coursera, CUD further fortifies its standing in the industry as an institution committed to equipping students with work-related skills to help graduates secure good jobs.
Designed to empower students with a competitive advantage in the fast-evolving digital work environment, the collaboration will provide students with the opportunity to learn cutting-edge skills, including entrepreneurial, digital, and technology competencies, earn professional Certificates from the world’s leading companies, access hands-on learning with Guided Projects to master skills and stand out with employers, and explore the right career path.
Prof. Karim Chelli, President and Vice-Chancellor of CUD, remarked, “We are delighted to embark on this partnership with Coursera to provide new opportunities for our graduates to stand out in the job market. Students will now have the chance to gain industry-recognized professional certifications at no additional cost during their final year of study. Combining these practical qualifications with a world-class degree will give CUD graduates a head start when exploring employment and career development opportunities.”
Kais Zribi, General Manager for the Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey at Coursera said: “We are honored to join hands with one of the UAE’s leading universities that share our goal to support the country in its ambition of building a digital economy led by an equipped and skilled workforce. Canadian University Dubai has set a benchmark in the league of world-class institutions with its progressive approach to delivering high-quality education, and together we will unlock learning opportunities that would enable the next generation of the country’s talent to thrive in the competitive global work realm.”
Learners enrolled in Career Academy from Coursera will be able to earn entry-level Professional Certificates from industry leaders including Google, IBM, and Meta, to prepare for 18 in-demand careers such as Data Analyst, UX Designer, Application Developer, and Social Media Marketer, among others. Participants have the flexibility to learn at their own pace, fully online across the web and mobile, and can also explore different career paths with an overview of common job titles, skill requirements, and salary insights.
Additionally, Career Academy from Coursera will allow students to gain real-world experience with Guided Projects to develop key skills in under 2 hours. For example, an aspiring Data Analyst can practice SQL, Python, and Tableau, while UX Designers can build projects using Figma and Adobe Creative Cloud. With hands-on learning and interactive assessments, students will be able to apply essential skills by working with real-world industry tools to help them stand out to employers during interviews and on the job.
The Coursera-Canadian University Dubai partnership is the latest milestone in Coursera’s rapid growth across the Middle East and North Africa. As of June 2022, Coursera supports the skills development of 681K learners in the UAE, and more than 6.2 million learners across the Middle East and North Africa. This total includes over 320K new registered Coursera learners across the region in Q2 of 2022.
About Coursera
Coursera was launched in 2012 by two Stanford Computer Science professors, Andrew Ng and Daphne Koller, with a mission to provide universal access to world-class learning. It is now one of the largest online learning platforms in the world, with more than 100 million registered learners. Coursera partners with 275+ leading university and industry partners to offer a broad catalog of content and credentials, including courses, Specializations, Professional Certificates, Guided Projects, and bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Institutions around the world use Coursera to upskill and reskill their employees, citizens, and students in fields such as data science, technology, and business. Coursera became a B Corp in February 2021.
FOM hosts guest speaker on human resource management: the career of the future
The Faculty of Management (FOM) at Canadian University Dubai (CUD) hosted guest speaker, Jihan El Saghir, who introduced students to the field of Human Resource Management (HRM) through the lens of an HR practitioner.
During Jihan’s talk, students learned about the career options available to them within the field, as well as the evolving role of HRM through real-life examples from Bayer – Middle East. She said: “Through their numerous intelligent questions, CUD students showed forward thinking and enthusiasm for HR as a career. They were able to recognize the strategic impact of the HR function on the competitiveness of the organization!”
Jihan is a CIPD-certified passionate HR professional with over 11 years of continuous HRM experience. Having a generalist profile, Jihan worked across multiple areas within the HR function, in different industries ranging from distribution and retail, to manufacturing, high end jewelry, information technology, and pharmaceuticals.
She recently joined Bayer Pharmaceuticals as the HR Business Partner for Saudi Arabia transferring from Hewlett Packard Computing and Printing Middle East where she was the HR Lead for Middle East and Saudi Arabia.
In addition to partnering with the business to set and implement people-related strategies, Jihan enjoys the talent development activities of HRM where she launched her most recent program: the “Accelerated Career Development Program” at HP which targeted employees identified as key talents and successors to prepare them for their next career move, retain them, and help them succeed.
The Human Resource Management program at CUD develops student skills in strategic staffing, compensation and benefits, industrial relations, performance management, as well as training and development to help graduates shine in one of the fastest developing disciplines of the twenty-first century.
CUD Career Services Prepare Students for Professional Success
Students at Canadian University Dubai (CUD) have been taking advantage of a comprehensive package of guidance and support services from leading names in the career development arena, as they prepare to pursue their professional development goals for 2017.
Facilitated by Orsi Urban, Work Placement and Careers Coordinator at CUD, students have benefitted from a series of skills development and profile-building workshops, delivered by representatives from the University’s strategic careers partner, Bayt.com; the UAE’s biggest internship jobs site, InternsME; and the World’s largest professional network, LinkedIn.
Taking an innovative and interactive approach to engaging students in career networking, John Fawls of LinkedIn UAE hosted a profile picture photo shoot, to help students create a professional image that they could use when setting up their own LinkedIn account. He also encouraged students to take full advantage of LinkedIn while still at university, to build professional networks that could be helpful in their future careers.
Meanwhile, InternsME representative, Noor Irfan, conducted an informal workshop to introduce students to different ways of engaging with prospective employers, demonstrating how a video CV could help candidates to stand out from the crowd, and providing tips on how to achieve a high-ranking professional profile.
Representing CUD’s strategic careers partner, Bayt.com, Hatem Hannoun provided students with an insight into the art of CV writing. Through interactive case studies he demonstrated to students how best to represent themselves in the context of the UAE jobs market.
Hatem said, “At Bayt.com, we encourage students to begin creating their CVs during their university years, because a CV acts as an individual’s timeline. Rather than face the daunting task of having to look back upon graduation and think of the courses, projects, and internships they did during their time as a student, they can start building a CV on an easy-to-use career site like Bayt.com, adding their experiences while the information is still fresh in their head.
“Moreover, a CV can act as a career guide, helping to make the next decision while maintaining an overview perspective of one’s career development, and to assess whether their next course, project or potential internship experience aligns with their career goals.”
Speaking about the workshop, student Elvira Aggoune said, “It provided very useful information and tips on how people look for the right candidate and how you can be that candidate, by building a customized CV that highlights relevant skills and shows an understanding of the job description. The workshop was very beneficial to us as undergraduate students as we don’t yet have much experience of reaching out to employers, so it helped us to focus on what companies are looking for and how best to present ourselves.”
Alumni Panel Inspires Young Students with Careers Advice
Students gathered to listen to CUD’s Alumni providing invaluable advice on how to prepare themselves for their chosen career. Each panel was moderated by a lecturer, and attended by representatives from our alumni.
Ms. Chloe Bennet, Head of Interior Design, served as moderator for the Architecture & Interior Design panel, where Alan George, Architect at Alliance Architectural Consultants, Devanshi Jakhiya, Interior Designer at Brand Creative, and Noha Sameh, Architect at Brewer Smith Brewer, spoke at great length about their journey from graduation to practicing their craft in the work situation.
Dr. Rommel Sergio served as moderator for the Business panel, where Issam Kassabieh, Financial Analysis at Menacorp, Mubin Abu Al Zahab, Consultant at KPMG, Osaid Azeem, Senior Digital Marketing & Communications at CUD, as well as Rima Elhalik, Talent Development & Acquisition Manager at TECOM Group discussed their contributions to their fields since their graduation.
Dr. Ghada Abaido was moderator of the Communications panel, where Hazem Beshr, Account Executive at Grayling and Mayasa Aziz, Student Recruitment Specialist gave great advice in terms of how best to employ the communications skills they acquired at CUD.
Dr. Nekrouf Ziani and Dr. Sherif Moussa were moderators for the Engineering panel, where Abdelrahman Al Nimer, Head of Customer Service at CUD shared his personal experience in terms of working in Telecommunications.
Dr. Yassen Alfoteih moderated the Health panel, where Dino Skikic, Senior Business Development Associate at ERGOMED PLC spoke about the importance of this discipline in the modern world, as well as the variety of work options available within it.
All panels were successful in achieving their objectives. The students benefited greatly from the knowledge and experience of the Alumni, forging a strengthening bond between the two generations.
Over 30 Businesses Participate in CUD’s Annual Career Fair to Inspire Students’ Career Exploration
Dubai, March 16th, 2023: Canadian University Dubai (CUD) organized and hosted the annual ‘Industry Career Fair & Networking Event’, which welcomed over 30 national and international organizations. The event’s primary objective was to facilitate meaningful interactions and exchanges between CUD’s students, graduates and potential employers. The fair showcased various employment, part-time work, and internship opportunities available to both current students and graduates.
Leading up to the ‘Industry Career Fair and Networking Event’, students received guidance on how to interact and engage with prospective employers. These mini precursor sessions included topics: How to present well by dressing professionally and making a positive first impression, conducting thorough research about the targeted company, devising a distinctive and professional approach to stand out to the employers, and how to expand professional networks through LinkedIn.
This year’s attendance to the ‘Industry Career Fair & Networking Event’ was a clear indication of the UAE’s thriving employment market, particularly for graduate-level positions. Over 300 students took the opportunity to market their skills to high profile organizations from both public and private sectors. The fair attracted businesses from a dynamic range of fields, including retail, healthcare, aviation, banking, recruitment, real estate, architecture, engineering, and technology – due to CUD’s diverse degree programs from four undergraduate schools.
Among this year’s recruiters was former CUD student Naira Abdelhafez, who attended the Fair to represent her existing employer, Nextcare Allianz Partners, in the role as Talent Acquisition Lead. As a graduate of CUD’s Bachelor of Business Administration in Human Resource Management, Ms. Abdelhafez knows what it takes to find the perfect job. Ms. Abdelhafez said: “My love for Human Resources stems from my passion for connecting and interacting with people. Understanding individuals is key to implementing best practices within a company, finding the right fit for the organization, and ensuring employee satisfaction.”
Exhibiting at CUD’s Industry Career Fair & Networking Event as an employee of Kalvad, Mr. Ahmad Nofal, also a former CUD graduate from the Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering in Telecommunication degree, said: “During my journey at CUD as a student several years ago, I acquired the fundamental abilities and expertise necessary to thrive in my career. The Career Fair hosted by CUD some years ago also introduced me to my current employer, Kalvad, for which I am grateful. I am honoured to be a part of the Kalvad team.”
Mr. Nofal further said: “Now, participating as a recruiter at CUD’s Industry Career Fair & Networking Event, it is truly inspiring to see the next generation of CUD students who are brimming with energy and fresh, innovative ideas. The passion and drive displayed by these students during our interactions underscore the quality of education that CUD provides. For current CUD students, I encourage you to grasp every opportunity that arises, whether it’s a project or internship, as these experiences can help you develop your skills and grow your professional network, which is essential in today’s competitive job market.”
A wide range of employment and internship opportunities were on offer to students and graduates, with several companies conducting interviews for immediate and forthcoming vacancies during the career fair itself. Fouzia Lkbiech earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication, Digital Media and Journalism degree from Canadian University Dubai (CUD) several years ago and now as an entrepreneur was participating at CUD’s Industry Career Fair and Networking Event. Moreover, Fouzia harbours a strong enthusiasm for contributing back to her community and eagerly invited students from CUD to undertake internships in her digital marketing business.
Speaking after the event, Ms. May El Khoury, Career Services and Internship Coordinator, said “this had been the most successful career event to date, and we thank participating employers and enthusiastic students. I am very proud of our students as I received a lot of positive feedback from the employers who are now faced with the challenge of how to narrow down their candidate lists. Feedback from the exhibitors was very positive and they had expressed their confidence that many of the interviews would lead to positive outcomes for the students.”
Since the previous ‘Industry Career Fair & Networking Event’, the CUD Job Portal remains open for students to register. This online platform is an inhouse-created-platform. It serves as a one-stop-shop for CUD students and fresh graduates to accelerate career growth and discover exciting part-time work, graduate positions, and internship opportunities. By registering on the Job Portal, students gain access to a range of career advancement tools that help make a smooth transition into the workforce.
For more information about CUD’s career portal offering various employment, for part-time work, and internship opportunities to both current students and graduates, connect with Ms. May El Khoury, Career Services and Internship Coordinator.
Career Fair Preparation Workshop supports students to explore career aspirations
In preparation for the Canadian University Dubai annual Career Fair on April 10th, the Career Services Department held a preparation day aimed at helping students get the most out of their interaction with employers. The event was organized by Ms. Naoise Lane, Career Services and Internship Coordinator, on behalf of the Department of Student Affairs.
The first part of the event was devoted to a review of student CVs and Ms. Naoise commended the students on their professional approach to their tasks.
The facilitator of the event was Yomna Selim, Success Executive at Oliv Recruitment and Account Management. Formerly InternsME, Oliv’s mission is to reduce MENA youth unemployment by facilitating career support; the organization has grown from an intern recruitment portal to supporting early careers – from internships, to volunteering, part-time jobs and graduate jobs.
Oliv has also used tech projects to enable UAE youth to match their skills with company needs and built internship programs for businesses to help them maximize their talent base.
Ms. Naoise and Ms.Yomna provided the students with advice on how to approach prospective employers, with recommendations including dressing to impress and creating a good impression; carrying out extensive research on target employers; developing a unique approach to the employer e.g. a video CV; and making sure to add the employer to their LinkedIn account to grow their networks.
As a result of the event, the students are now much better prepared to approach prospective employers with greater confidence.
Big Businesses Seek Top Talent at CUD Career Fair
More than 20 international corporations and UAE-based companies have been seeking out the next generation of young professionals ready to make their mark in the regional workforce at the Canadian University Dubai (CUD) annual career fair hosted on campus today.
Global brands including Hilton Worldwide and Audi Volkswagen sat alongside leading local enterprises such as Union Coop and Ducab to engage with CUD students and graduates looking to find opportunities in their chosen professional fields; from business, media and design, to engineering, technology and healthcare.
A wide range of employment and internship opportunities were on offer to students and graduates, with several companies conducting interviews for immediate and forthcoming vacancies during the career fair itself.
Representatives from VFS Tasheel came to CUD in search of talented interns for roles in finance and communications. Priyanka Padiyar, Corporate Communication Manager, said, “We’re looking to hire young self-starters with a fresh perspective to support our communications strategies. It is these young people that have the new ideas and insights we need, along with a good knowledge of social media, which is why we are here today.”
This year saw a strong representation from companies looking to engage with students from CUD’s unique set of programs in the School of Public Health & Health Sciences, with Dubai Health Authority, Emirates Environmental Group and Médecins Sans Frontières all in attendance. Students from CUD’s renowned design programs were also in demand with several architecture, engineering and home interior companies also on campus.
Following a successful outcome from last year’s fair, the Gulf branch of established architectural practice, Brewer Smith and Brewer, were back in search of young design talent. Head of Design, Armin Buchbinder, said, “We took on a CUD intern last year who was able to get involved in various aspects of the business and develop a wide range of experience in a short space of time. This year, again, we are looking for young people with a good portfolio and the enthusiasm to get involved in every opportunity.”
The event was organized by CUD Work Placement and Career Coordinator, Ms Orsi Urban, who said, “We support our students with a wide array of career development workshops that aim to equip young talent with the right skills to successfully navigate the Career Fair. It is exciting to see our students make an outstanding impression on the participating employers and to further their career through this event.”
Global Entrepreneurship Week at Canadian University Dubai
Dubai, UAE, November 14th-21st, 2022: Entrepreneurship Week is an annual globally celebrated event which propels the navigation to build one global, entrepreneurial ecosystem – connecting students, entrepreneurs, investors and researchers. Budding entrepreneurs showcase innovative solutions to conceptualize and apply the strategic tools in business. The Canadian University Dubai (CUD) community celebrated Global Entrepreneurship week, followed by an impressive awards ceremony on November 21st, 2022.
According to https://www.genglobal.org/gew Global Entrepreneurship Week was launched in 2008 in the United States of America and has since gained momentum in approximately 200 countries, influencing more than 10 million people in the world of entrepreneurship.
“Entrepreneurship is everyone’s business at CUD. Our entrepreneurial spirit is inspired by our mission to develop the next generation of entrepreneurs, and this is inherent in our every action”. Prof. Naveed Yasin, Professor of Entrepreneurship and Head of Entrepreneurship and the Creative Industries
CUD is one of the very first universities in the United Arab Emirates to participate in Global Entrepreneurship Week. Students are mentored to apply learnt theory through practical application. The week is an event filled schedule of strategic activities in product development and service delivery to provide platforms for CUD’s students to connect directly into industries and to ultimately accelerate on the journey of entrepreneurship. The greater purpose is to develop the needs of the local community – strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
“There is a misconception from the industries that universities are impractical and only theory based. However, Global Entrepreneurship Week at CUD is one of many strategic links which is applied within a university setting to initiate and connect learnt classroom theory to real-life organizational contexts. Our students are pioneers in a revolutionized system”. Prof. Naveed Yasin, Professor of Entrepreneurship and Head of Entrepreneurship and the Creative Industries
The awards ceremony of Global Entrepreneurship Week honours and recognizes the pioneering initiatives presented by CUD’s students – which are themed around six categories, each of which are closely connected to a specific program at CUD. Two jury’s, one comprised of faculty members from CUD, and the second panel including external thriving experts from the industry, assessed and evaluated each of the student’s projects through real-time feedback. The internal panel included esteemed faculty members, Dr. Rachid Alami, Associate Dean, Graduate Studies, Faculty of Management; Dr. Tamer Mohamed, Assistant Professor of Computer Science, Faculty of Engineering, Applied Science and Technology; Dr. Ghada Abaido, Head of Communication Department, Faculty of Communication, Arts and Sciences. CUD welcomed distinguished guests to the City Walk Campus, to participate on the industry panel, including: Fly Dubai; Air Canada; I’m Inclusive; Morgan International; and Career Coach, Michelle Ross. The awards ceremony was also attended by CUD’s Senior Management: Prof. Karim Chelli, President and Vice-Chancellor, Dr. John Newark, Executive Vice-President, and Dr. Mohammed Djeddi, Vice President of Academic Affairs.
“Human potential is limitless.” Suhina Mayet, CUD Student
1st place was awarded to CUD’s pioneering students for their innovative app called The Ultimate Student App: Canadian University Dubai Uniology, presented by CUD’s students: Suhina mayet, Sanyah Mayet, Rahmath Sharfa, and Yasmeen Khadri.
“We did not expect our idea to be so well received and we did not imagine winning 1st place!” Suhina Mayet, CUD Student
The students presented a comprehensive and integrated community app for Canadian University Dubai. CUD Uniology is a mobile solution which simplifies campus life, providing quick access to multiple university services – a one-stop portal to endless opportunities. The app prototype intends to engage the whole CUD community conveniently and efficiently on one platform. The app is a conglomeration of all aspects of university life and communication – course information, announcements and events – and moreover incorporating the small details such as parking ticket validation, classroom location, course registration and class attendance.
The platform facilitates the connection between leaders in the world of business and CUD’s learning pioneers. Global Entrepreneurship Week has facilitated pathways for CUD’s students to showcase the innovative app to business experts, who are interested to collaborate further and bring the CUD Uniology app to life.
“There were so many positive experiences born during Global Entrepreneurship Week. Panellists on the spot were interested to collaborate and invest in our project.” Suhina Mayet, CUD Student
Multiple teams of students presented innovative projects during the awards ceremony. Guided through the leadership of Prof. Sayed Abdul Majid Gilani, Associate Professor, Faculty of Management, CUD – the students: Lara Ismail, Razan Khawatmi, Muhamad Fajiz Arafeh, Abdul Karim Shaikh, Mathilda Louwens presented ‘Healthy Vest: Be Smart, Eat Smart’ which is filled with purpose.
“Our society underestimates the significance that healthy living, through food, is the source to life.” Razan Khawatmi, CUD Student
The project is inspired by the United Nation’s Sustainability Development Goals. Healthy Vest tailors’ meal plans via a subscription to the Healthy Vest app. Calculated client assessments personalize the meals incorporating each subscriber’s preferences, allergies, habits, likes or dislikes.
“Participating in Global Entrepreneurship Week has contributed to my education, and the application of it – in fundamental ways.” Lara Ismail, CUD Student Interestingly so, post-awards ceremony, the comparison between both jury’s evaluations on the projects were on par – indicating that CUD’s academics and curriculum are in tune and closely aligned to the industry’s needs, strategies, and objectives.
“As a university, we are responsible to equip our students with a holistic skillset – purposeful theory which is practically applied to meet the demands of the future.” Prof. Naveed Yasin, Professor of Entrepreneurship and Head of Entrepreneurship and the Creative Industries
Of course, Global Entrepreneurship Week and similar initiatives tailored for the CUD community can only be as successful as the team leading it. Prof. Naveed Yasin, Professor of Entrepreneurship and Head of Entrepreneurship and the Creative Industries, is a pioneering ambassador of entrepreneurship at CUD. His achievements have been rewarded through several accolades.
“Anyone can become an entrepreneur.” Prof. Naveed Yasin, Professor of Entrepreneurship and Head of Entrepreneurship and the Creative Industries
Prof. Naveed’s most recent research is featured in a book on entrepreneurship education, called Entrepreneurship and Change, Understanding Entrepreneurialism as a Driver of Transformation (edited by Denis Hyams-Ssekasi & Frederick Agboma) – in the chapter ‘exploring the enterprise landscape for business incubators in the UAE’: “The United Arab Emirates is on course to have successfully developed an effective entrepreneurial ecosystem that promotes not only the quantity, but also the quality of business start-ups.”
Prof. Naveed is an elite global researcher. His study on immigrant entrepreneurship has been published in the Journal of Small Business Economics, regarded as the world’s number one journal in the field. Prof. Naveed conducted the study in collaboration with Prof. Khalid Hafeez of De Montfort University, United Kingdom (UK). The subject stems from Prof. Naveed’s Ph.D. research and explores the institutional contexts and their influences on migrant entrepreneurship in the UK, Denmark, and Norway. The full research paper can be accessed via the publisher, Springer at: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11187-022-00656-z This places the CUD professor among the world’s foremost academics for scholarly significance in entrepreneurship.
“Don’t underestimate any opportunity that comes your way. It might be the key to the next.” Suhina Mayet, CUD Student
Souq.com Signs Mou with the Canadian University of Dubai to Promote Entrepreneurship
Students will benefit from internships, lectures, keynotes from industry leaders and startup incubators
In a major initiative announced today jointly between the Canadian University Dubai and ecommerce leader in the region, Souq.com, students will have access to internships, lectures and mentoring from industry pioneers to nurture their entrepreneurial aspirations.
Saygin Yalcin, vice president, Souq.com stated: “If you have a look around the world, the hotbed for entrepreneurial activity is most often universities. It is in their university years that students think big and take risks. We want to nurture their ambitions by mentoring them through interactive lectures and internships.
He added: “The Canadian University Dubai is one of the most modern educational institutions in the region. As such, we are confident that through this partnership we will learn a lot from the young minds at the University.”
Buti Saeed Al Ghandi, Chancellor of the Canadian University Dubai stated: “The skills a student garners through internships and interactions from those in the industry are a necessity. We are glad that an industry pioneer like Souq.com, has set an example by devoting their resources to nurture and mentor the young minds in region with this unique partnership”.
This first of kind MoU also will result in collaboration on general program courses emphasizing entrepreneurship, research initiatives, and an annual industry conference on entrepreneurship.
Industry Career Fair & Networking Event, 2023’
Take a look at some of the employers that will be featured at the ‘Industry Career Fair & Networking Event, 2023’.
Save-the-date :
March 16th, 2023 | 10:00 am – 5:00 pm | CUD, City Walk 📍
*This event is open to CUD Alumni and Current Students.
New CUD Collaboration to Prepare Employees for Vision 2021
Supporting the advancement of a competitive, knowledge-driven economy is top priority for The Brown Consulting Group and Canadian University Dubai (CUD) as the two organizations embark upon a partnership in the context of the UAE national strategic development plan, Vision 2021.
The new alliance will see CUD and Brown Consulting collaborate on the delivery of graduate and executive-level training in core business disciplines, to transfer key knowledge and skills to professionals and ultimately help them to make their organizations more efficient, productive and profitable.
The partnership has been developed to help support the Vision 2021 strategy, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. In particular, it aims to contribute to one of the plan’s key pillars – to build a competitive knowledge-driven economy, by developing the talents of the workforce.
Mohamad Saadeddine, CEO of Brown Consulting explained, “One of the most important aspects of developing a competitive economy is ensuring that all levels of the workforce have the relevant skills and understanding to perform effectively. At lot of the training on offer remains largely theoretical and it is sometimes difficult for learners to apply this to their own work context. However, the programs that we offer are based on real business scenarios, which instantly help trainees to understand the practices discussed and to translate them to their own organization and role.”
The partnership with CUD will allow students enrolled in the University’s MBA program to benefit from practical training workshops in areas such as finance and human resources. Courses will also be open to organizations, their employees and the wider public through CUD’s Corporate Training Services. Uniquely, the training is offered in both English and Arabic, supporting the Vision 2021 goal to develop the talent of both national and expat employees.
Formalizing the agreement between CUD and Brown Consulting, the two organization came together to sign a Memorandum of Understanding at a ceremony witnessed by members of the business community, as well as CUD faculty and students. Signing on behalf of CUD, President and Vice Chancellor, Prof. Karim Chelli, said, “The University is committed to supporting the advancement of UAE society and we are delighted to enter into this partnership to provide a range of practical training solutions that will help to empower individuals, grow organizations, and contribute to a productive, competitive and diversified economy.”
Tech Ceo Encourages Students to Explore Entrepreneurship
Mr. Rami Hajjar, serial entrepreneur and CEO of technology start-up, Hadzup, has been encouraging students to explore their entrepreneurial side during a recent seminar at Canadian University Dubai (CUD).
Speaking about his own experience of the business world, Rami revealed how taking risks and following a dream led him to establish three companies, with another four in the pipeline. He said that entrepreneurs would often find failure in their early endeavors, but with resilience and persistence they would learn valuable lessons that could drive them towards success.
Recounting his journey into entrepreneurship, Rami discussed his experience of the corporate world, where he found success early on, but was soon inspired to branch out on his own. He went on to set up Wext, a messaging service similar to Whatsapp, and by 2010 had established a second business, a real-time monitoring system known as Kashef.
Now the CEO of his latest venture, Hadzup, which provides an end-to-end solution for mobile app development, Rami revealed that successful businesses often begin with a simple idea that an entrepreneur will pursue until it becomes a reality.
He said, “Technology is the new global marketplace and most entrepreneurs these days are in this field, but often they start out with an idea that will solve an everyday problem, something they simply wish existed that doesn’t, or even something that exists in other markets, but is new to a country or region.”
Rami went on to encourage students to come up with ideas, seek out mentors and networks that might help them succeed, and to never be afraid of failure. He also introduced students to a range of internship opportunities with Hadzup.
Graduate School Professor Participates in UN World Investment Foru
Dr. Nnamdi Madichie, a professor of business at The Graduate School, Canadian University Dubai, has contributed to the international debate on the future of research into ‘investment for development’ at the United Nations World Investment Forum 2014.
Dr. Madichie was among a multidisciplinary team of academics – including professors from Oxford University, the National University of Singapore, University of Bern, The Graduate Institute (Geneva) and New York University – who were invited to take part in a round table discussion to help shape a policy-orientated research agenda on investment for sustainability, for the next 15 years and beyond.
Organized by the Unites Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the World Investment Forum is a platform for international leaders and stakeholders to debate and promote investment flows that contribute to sustainable and inclusive development across the globe. The biennial event brings together heads of state, global CEOs, academic experts, and leaders of international organizations and civil society groups from 150 countries.
As a member of the Academy of International Business and the Editor in Chief of the African Journal of Business & Economic Research, Dr. Madichie was invited to participate in the round table based on his expertise and research in higher education policies across emerging markets. Discussions focussed upon how policy plays a vital role in ensuring that corporate investment is beneficial to the territories, communities and individuals it is directed towards.
Dr. Madichie said, “The forum was an extremely valuable opportunity to come together, not only with academics, but with policy-makers and industry representatives to discuss how we can embrace a trilateral network in supporting sustainable development strategies.
“I have conducted extensive research in the area – from the business of higher education to the development of women’s entrepreneurship, especially in the context of emerging markets, including Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East – and it was pleasing to be able to draw upon this to contribute to the discussions.”
Dr. Madichie’s session culminated in the launch of the Business Schools for Impact, a UNCTAD initiative that aims to support business schools to contribute to sustainable development in the poorest areas of the world, by teaching the skills required to invest and operate in low-income environments with positive social impact.
The four-day event, which is widely regarded as the most important gathering of stakeholders in the international investment community, also tackled the issue of investment in women’s empowerment and gender equality, another of Dr. Madichie’s research interests.
Dr. Madichie revealed, “With dignitaries such as Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi, Secretary General, UNCTAD; and Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director, UNWOMEN, this was a memorable session for me. I was pleased to have Ms Mlambo-Ngcuka respond to my question on the role of higher education in sustainable development and to acknowledge the importance of a policy agenda in that direction.”
Health Students Hear from Dha on Strategy for 2021
March 27th, 2017: Students from the School of Public Health & Health Sciences at Canadian University Dubai have heard from Dr. Mazin A. Gadir, Senior Specialist at Dubai Health Authority (DHA), about the organization’s five-year strategic development plan for the City.
Dr. Gadir, who represents DHA’s Executive Office for Organizational Transformation, outlined the strategy’s vision, ‘Towards a healthier and happier community’, and revealed the mission to transform Dubai into a leading healthcare destination by fostering innovative and integrated care models, and by enhancing community engagement.
Developed to align with the UAE national strategic development plan, Vision 2021, the strategy consists of three key goals: to driven and ensure compliance and accountability through an innovative health governance framework; to protect and improve population health; and to ensure patient happiness by providing world-class healthcare services.
Discussing the process for the development of the strategy, Dr. Gadir revealed that input was sought from a broad range of stakeholders from the public and private sectors, and collected through a variety of channels including one-to-one interviews, workshops, focus groups, virtual and online platforms, and brainstorming workshops.
Going on to discuss the values that characterize the strategy and the process of its implementation, Dr. Gadir spoke about the 15 programs and 96 initiatives that have been established under the four headline themes of population and healthy lifestyle, service delivery, smart health, and governance. The presentation concluded with a reflection on all the stakeholders that would be involved in making the strategy a success.
Published Research from Canadian University Dubai Faculty Proposes Health Professionals as Social Media Ambassadors for Hospital Brands
July 29th, 2019: A research paper authored by Canadian University Dubai Assistant Professor, Dr. Pablo Medina, has proposed a new model for hospitals to reinforce their market position by engaging healthcare professionals as social media brand ambassadors.
The paper, entitled ‘Hospital Brand Promotion Through Interpersonal Communication Maintained by Health Professionals on Social Media’, was published recently in the Scopus indexed journal, Trípodos, which features critical academic discourse on disciplines related to the world of communication.
Dr. Medina’s findings and recommendations are based on the study of communication strategies among healthcare institutions all around the world. The research presents notable insights into hospital marketing and branding as the UAE cements its position as an international hub for medical tourism.
The study reflects the implementation of social media as a corporate communication tool, the new demands of patients, and the greater competition between hospitals, all of which are causing organizations to rethink their communication strategies, with brand positioning becoming a strategic priority. Acknowledging that neither healthcare experts nor corporate communication specialists can effectively engage an organization’s stakeholders alone, the recommended solutions advocate closer cooperation across the two professions.
Dr. Medina said, “This paper proposes a model of brand building based on the interpersonal communication carried out by healthcare professionals on social media platforms. Hospitals that want to build a reputed brand must take economic and management measures, implement communication plans, and promote collaboration between health professionals and corporate communication experts.”
With a broad portfolio of research focussing on communications in the healthcare sector, Dr. Medina’s latest paper concludes with a series of key recommendations. He explained, “Hospitals should first engage in strategic thinking before using the platform to define how best to apply the company’s brand architecture to social media. They must also define the main and secondary targets, key messages and brand positioning.
“Secondly, health professionals should become brand ambassadors in social media, but to do that hospitals need to invest money and allow them the time and resources, including training, to become social media experts.
“Finally, hospitals should map all their stakeholders and key messages, and associate them with brand values, whether that be targeting the hospital’s employees to share information and promote organizational engagement, or communicating with patients about health education to promote professional and scientific credibility.”
The CUD Brand
The Marketing and Communications Department is responsible for creating, preserving, and promoting the Canadian University Dubai brand, and professional content development and design standards, in all areas of communication. We offer professional editorial and design services to the campus community, manage and monitor the use of visual identity elements within University materials, and create print or digital promotional materials destined for external audiences.
We’re here to help the CUD community champion the University’s brand identity by communicating with all stakeholders in a consistent and effective manner.
For content development, design and branding, please contact Arash Behforooz ( arash@cud.ac.ae)
For social media, please contact Osaid Azeem ( osaid@cud.ac.ae)