GEMS students pick up valuable industry and life skills with Cambridge Judge Business School
- Exclusive course conducted as part of the GEMS For Live University program
- Students presented commercial projects dealing with the United Nations SDGs
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates: GEMS For Life’s University Partnerships program offered students from 11 GEMS Education schools the opportunity to get a head start in development in an exclusive five-day personal development program run by Cambridge Judge Business School Essential Life and Business Skills (CJBS) over the winter break.
The students were challenged to come up with concepts for new products that are commercially successful while helping to achieve at least one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030.
They were split into four project groups to pitch their plans to former CJBS Director, Professor Christoph Loch, and GEMS Education Vice-President of Communications, Jonathan Bramley, at the GEMS New Millennium School. The two then offered the students their experience and expertise with feedback and tips.
Led by Danny Kerrigan, Director of CJBS Youth Programs, the Personal Development Program is designed for 14-18 year old students who wish to build on their academic education with entrepreneurial and innovation management skills that can develop in their adult lives, regardless of chosen career path at their age.
Student projects, presented to an audience that included their parents, included a carbon-free energy generation program using specialized fitness equipment; environmentally friendly cases for mobile phones; and separate initiatives to address global water shortages through smart shower faucets and timers, and a green waste disposal scheme that swaps clean water for plastic bottles for disadvantaged people in India.
Danny Kerrigan said, “Professor Loch wanted to create a program that would highlight the key transferable skills developed during CJBS’ prestigious MBA program and encourage younger students to recognize that these qualities are essential to success in all aspects of their are essential to life. This is by no means limited to commercial careers; For example, a doctor must have good technical skills, but they are most effective when they are also able to work in a team and communicate effectively. The CJBS youth programs give students the opportunity to develop these vital skills at a younger age than would otherwise have been possible.”
Isidora Muñoz, 15, of GEMS International School, plans to attend a UK university before eventually pursuing a career in psychiatry. She said: “The course was more open than I expected – we were treated like adults. In the first few days we covered various aspects such as teamwork and then focused on the presentations. The presentation practice helped me build my confidence and I got really useful information in general.”
The GEMS For Life University Partnerships program is affiliated with more than 180 universities around the world and offers expert advice, support and the possibility of scholarships in cooperation with the advisors of the 41 GEMS schools in the United Arab Emirates.
GEMS For Life also has a thriving internship pillar for its students, offering opportunities in a variety of industries including leisure, finance and engineering, as well as an alumni program with more than 20,000 registered alumni.
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About GEMS Education
GEMS Education is one of the oldest and largest private K-12 education providers in the world. It is a highly regarded choice for quality private education in the Middle East and North Africa. Founded in 1959 in the United Arab Emirates, it has an unparalleled track record of delivering diverse curriculum and educational options for all socio-economic means. GEMS Education now owns and operates 63 schools and educates over 130,000 students in the MENA region; and through its growing network of schools and charitable contributions, fulfills the founder’s vision of providing every child with a quality education.
For more information about GEMS Education, visit www.gemseducation.com
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Mina Kiwan
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Memec Ogilvy
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