Nicola Jane Ablett
11.11.2024
Let us start with what we understand by vocational so that we are all clear as to what it means and then we will consider TVET as that is where we are and the direction that we are travelling as part of the 4th industrial revolution.
VOCATIONAL – RELATED TO A CAREER
Vocational means “related to a career.” A vocation is a job or career, so something vocational is related to a specific kind of work. There are vocational schools that train people for jobs, which might be what you think of when you read the word vocational, though it could describe anything related to working.

NUMBERS GAME
The UAE needs to produce 10 Emiratis with vocational skills for every university graduate produced to achieve a sustainable and diversified knowledge-based economy. Ponder this for a few moments with a cup of galwa or chai.
Therefore, it focuses on building a national system to ensure quality technical and vocational education and training (TVET) system. The government prioritises building relevant skills to coincide with new and emerging technologies, materials and systems, ensuring equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education materials and systems.
It aims further to substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship. [https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/education/technical-and-vocational-education]
ADVETI is an initiative of the Abu Dhabi Government and is under the umbrella of the Abu Dhabi Centre for Technical & Vocational Education and Training (ACTVET). Abu Dhabi Vocational Education and Training Institute (ADVETI) was established in 2007 and has five (5) entities: Al Jazirah Institute of Science and Technology in Abu Dhabi, Al Jaheli Institute of Science and Technology in Al Ain, Baynounah Institute of Science and Technology in Al Dhafra, Al Jazirah Institute of Science and Technology in Al Shahama, and Vocational Education Development Centre (VEDC).

WHAT IS TVET IN UAE?
Qualifications and Awards in Dubai (QAD) is the arm of KHDA responsible for regulating the technical and vocational education and training (TVET) sector, and to assure the quality for TVET qualifications in Dubai.
In the past 30 years the tendency has been for UAE Nationals to take the academic route if they do not enter civil defense where trade‘s ie mechanics, welders, NDT, technicians or vocations can be part of the service. In the past government sector professional certifications were not recognized for promotions although they are vital for project management, quantity surveyors, facilities or asset management require continuing education on an annual basis. Health professionals of all types; doctors nurses, pharmacists, therapists, ophthalmologists have had annual continuing medical education for ever, and rightly so. All professionals need to be safe to practice and an electrician is as dangerous as an incompetent physician, this is all part of skills management both maintaining and retaining current competencies.
SOME VOCATIONAL ROUTES:
- High school career and technical education (CTE) programs
- Tech prep education
- Postsecondary vocational school
- Apprenticeship programs
- On-the-job training
- Continuous development
- Military training
- Distance learning programs
A FEW EXAMPLES OF VOCATIONS:
- Automotive repair
- Plumbing
- Culinary arts
- Graphic design
- Fashion design
- Welding
THE ROLE OF BUSINESS’S
Now it is the businesses themselves that need a change in gear to review their entire talent process from entry point to exit and everywhere in between and this is the current challenge across UAE in all the EMIRATES.
FAMILIES
Families and peer groups, the biggest shift is here in understanding what their children have a passion for and utilises their preferred and least preferred or avoided behaviours. Expectations of their children, not living vicariously through then and most importantly appreciating that academia is not the only route to success and leadership.
In short the UAE needs vocational employees, entrepreneurs and we support them now while they are still young enthusiastic and dreamers.
The following quote sums it up beautifully but we must remember costs and time.
“Whatever you choose as a career path, remember the struggles along the way
are only meant to shape you for your purpose.”
Chadwick Boseman