The 10 Best International Schools in Dubai 2018

An emphasis on developing leadership skills and opportunities in students within and beyond the school
gates should be significant. From primary age, a range of leadership groups can work closely with staff,
parents and their peers to positively impact practices, policy and provision. Groups such as our Wellbeing
Warriors, Heritage Heroes and Tech Gurus are an integral part of many school approaches to leadership
development with Student Counselors, Performing Arts Leaders, Journalists and Paparazzi groups work
diligently to impact both within and beyond the school gates.
A focus on communication, collaboration and connectivity, cultivated from early years with peer led
learning opportunities and a formalized buddy learning system in place can further develop the skills
required for students to be ready and able to maximize their learning opportunities. The Wakeham
Review of STEM (Science, Technology, and Engineering & Mathematics) degree provision and
employability (2016) stressed the importance of building transferable skills and providing work
experience. It commented on the need for ‘softer skills such team-work and project management’ to be
embedded in the curriculum and for more employers to offer work experience.
Many Schools offer a program of structured vocational support and work experiences including access to
a range of specialist speakers, mentors and facilitators who help to inspire students and make the world of
work tangible and highly accessible.
Internships for example, afford students great scope to develop their experiential learning. The IBCP
(International Baccalaureate Career-related Program) includes a work placement component, an area
highly valued by employers,59% of employers rating it as one of their most important factors when
recruiting graduates (CBI/Pearson, 2017). 65% of employers in the Employers Perspectives Survey
(2016) rated relevant work experience as critical or significant when recruiting too, rating it more highly
than academic or vocational qualifications (Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) awards, 2017). In addition, higher
education students who undertook any type of work experience are more likely to attain a graduate job
(BIS, 2013).
It's proven that school systems which systematically develop work placement opportunities engender the
success of students over the long-term.
Brandon Busteed, executive director of Gallup's higher education division, claims that setting up students
in a professional environment, interning, for example, is key in preparing them for a successful transition
to working lifestyle, expectations and the environment of the workplace. The traditional model of
preparing students for tertiary education needs review. Students must be nurtured, through all programs,
to develop and refine the skills, attitudes and knowledge for life beyond formal education.
The additional value brought by ensuring meaningful work placement with honest feedback and systems
in place to support improvement will contribute to personal growth and to deeper learning. T R
01
December | 2018