UAEU And Department Of Community Development Celebrate Graduation Of Third Social Care Professionals Cohort

The United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) and the Department of Community Development – Abu Dhabi recently celebrated the graduation of the third cohort from their Social Care Professionals Capacity-Building Programme. The event took place at Hilton Yas Island Hotel, with representatives from partner organisations and faculty members in attendance.

This initiative is spearheaded by UAEU's College of Humanities and Social Sciences alongside the Continuing Education Centre. It aims to enhance specialised national talent and elevate social service quality in Abu Dhabi. This year, 130 professionals from various public and private social sector institutions completed one of three professional diplomas: Social Work Practice Skills, Non-Clinical Psychology, and School Counselling.

Mohamed Bin Huwaiden, Dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at UAEU, highlighted the programme as a crucial investment in Emirati human capital. He stated, "At UAEU, we believe national development starts with nurturing the individual. Our professional programmes equip the community with field-ready specialists in line with the leadership’s vision, where the individual is the nation's greatest asset."

He further emphasised that fields like social work and psychology are vital disciplines. He praised the collaboration with the Department of Community Development for empowering professionals to serve their communities effectively.

Mubarak Al Ameri, Executive Director of the Social Licensing and Regulatory Sector at the Department, remarked that this programme is part of broader efforts to elevate social care standards in Abu Dhabi. It trains professionals to meet globally recognised benchmarks.

Participants came from diverse institutions such as public schools, Family Development Foundation, Family Care Authority, Abu Dhabi Police, Zayed Higher Organisation for People of Determination, Abu Dhabi Vocational Education and Training Institute, and private sector social care providers.

Programme Impact Since Inception

Since its launch in 2022, this programme has graduated over 283 professionals across three cohorts: 111 in the first batch, 42 in the second, and 130 in this recent group. Graduates received their certificates during a ceremony that concluded with a group photo.

The attendees praised UAEU and the Department's joint efforts in providing high-quality training programmes aligned with UAE’s human development goals. This collaboration continues to strengthen social services through well-trained professionals dedicated to community service.

With inputs from WAM