The age of disruptive technology and the onset of the fourth industrial revolution have brought forward a new set of challenges for graduates aiming to bridge the gap between higher education and the world of work. The proliferation of digital technology means that information can be accessed by almost anyone, anywhere, at any time. This means that a comprehensive bank of knowledge is no longer enough to transform a fresh graduate into an effective employee; it is the application of this knowledge, through carefully honed work-related skills, that makes graduates stand out from other citizens of the information age.

To respond to these skill demands requires degree programs focussed on employability skills. At Canadian University Dubai (CUD) the entire curriculum is built upon equipping students with the ability to apply their knowledge in a practical way, ensuring that they are job-ready immediately upon graduation. The skills that are sought after by employers are embedded into each program as graduate outcomes, meaning that students have already demonstrated these competencies as part of their degree. This is achieved through a wide range of immersive and practical learning experiences, which have their foundations in industry interaction.

The pace of transformation means that, above all, employees must be adaptive and agile; able to respond to an ever-changing operating environment. Skills such as interpersonal communication, analysis and decision-making, commercial awareness, and self-discipline have become, and will remain, critical in an effective and cohesive workforce. Meanwhile, the World Economic Forum predicts that by 2022, employers will be placing increasing value on ‘human’ skills such as creativity, originality and initiative, critical thinking, persuasion and negotiation, as well as emotional intelligence, leadership and social influence.

Across all CUD programs, tuition is action rather than instruction-based. Speakers from industry deliver workshops on a monthly basis to share their professional insights and strategies, and to demonstrate best practice projects that inspire academic excellence and creativity. Students are engaged in simulations of real-world business scenarios, both to advance their commercial understanding of the relevant discipline, and to develop essential employability skills around communication, teamwork, critical thinking and professional judgement.

With strong industry links across all academic disciplines, CUD’s internship scheme plays a pivotal role in helping to transform students into practiced, work-ready professionals. All undergraduates complete a minimum of 150 hours internship work during their third or fourth year of study, where they put into practice the skills and concepts learnt within their program under the direction of a senior professional. This is where students experience the workplace interactions that perfect their ‘human’ skills and develop their sense of self.

To thrive in an increasingly complex and dynamic business environment requires creativity, flexibility and innovation, and at CUD students are introduced to these critical skills at an early stage in their academic career through a General Education course in the Fundamentals of Innovation and Entrepreneurship. This hands-on course helps to foster the spirit of innovation and unlocks the creative and entrepreneurial instincts of students so that they can continue to explore them throughout their academic program. With the recent establishment of a pilot Incubator across faculties, students can also now test their business ideas through a structured program of coaching and support on campus.

The University’s reputation as an institution producing work-ready graduates has been recognized by some of the leading global industry organizations. CUD is one of just 43 education institutions across the globe to be awarded the prestigious certificate of accreditation from the International Advertising Association. With this, future graduates of the Bachelor of Arts in Communication advertising specialization will receive the IAA Certificate in Marketing Communications, setting them apart as industry-ready professionals in the global commercial communications sector. Meanwhile, graduates of certain Bachelor of Business Administration majors can fast-track their certification with the world’s largest management accounting body, the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), based on the learning outcomes they achieve as part of their program.

It is these industry interactions, structured internships, action-based learning practices and professional body recognitions that help students to identify, develop and perfect the competencies that employers demand, giving them the right combination of graduate skills to succeed in the age of disruption.