MISSISSAUGA, ON, Dec. 18, 2017 /CNW/ - EllisDon, a major contributor to the Middle East landscape for over 14 years, has implemented a new program that would provide international students from the UAE with work experience. Initiated by the company's Middle East Vice-Presidents, Daniel Murphy and Wissam Ayoub, EllisDon hosted its first student as part of the Emirati Internship Initiative.
"EllisDon has a much broader vision for this program than just employing the two students ourselves," said Daniel Murphy, Vice-President Middle East. "We plan to take a leadership role in getting other Canadian construction and engineering firms operating in the UAE to participate over the coming years. The trade and investment relationship between Canada and the UAE has never been stronger so we want to ensure this momentum continues."
Supported by the Canadian-UAE Business Council and the UAE Ministry of Education, the Emirati Internship Initiative provides Emirati students with meaningful work experience with Canadian companies such as EllisDon. For EllisDon, it is an opportunity to continue to enhance relationships with the UAE government and partners as the company continues to boast a strong presence in the region.
As part of the initiative, students are placed into roles that align with their interests and academic disciplines. EllisDon committed to hosting two students annually for a four month period. One of the first students to take part in the program was Jamal Alsabt, an international student from Dubai, enrolled in the Sustainable and Renewable Energy program at Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario.
"The Emirati Internship Program is a way for EllisDon to give back to the UAE and help develop the young Emirati Engineers aspiring to become the future leaders in their fields. It is also an opportunity for them to learn best practices through our operation in Canada with the potential to engage them in the UAE," Wissam Ayoub, Vice-President Middle East, EllisDon.
Jamal secured a position with the Sustainable Building Services (SBS) department headed by Global Director Andrew Bowerbank. Over the course of his four-month internship, Jamal was immersed in all facets of the company and took on numerous major projects including a recently published report that discusses innovations in technologies used in construction in relation to sustainable practices.
The internship is a significant stepping stone for UAE students to gain highly valued international work experience and build relationships with partners globally and locally.
"I would like to give a special thanks to Mr. Andrew Bowerbank for all the duties he assigned to me, which improved my skills in many different ways," said Jamal. "Also, I would like to thank Mr. Daniel Murphy and Mr. Wissam Ayoub for welcoming me in EllisDon's office in Dubai. Finally, if I would like to add that I really wish I knew about this internship initiative since my first year in Canada."
ABOUT ELLISDON
EllisDon is a world-leading construction services company with approximately 2,500 employees, that completes over $3.5 billion in projects annually. In addition to offering traditional construction and project management consulting services, EllisDon effectively takes on client risk with a range of capital; intelligent building; virtual design and construction; and furniture, fixture, and equipment procurement services. EllisDon delivers construction expertise to clients around the world and boasts several offices across North America, the Middle East, and South America. The driving force behind some of the most original, exciting projects in the world, EllisDon has distinguished itself through innovative people and practices. For more information, please visit www.ellisdon.com.
SOURCE EllisDon Corporation
For further information: Dustin Luchka, Phone: 905.896.8900
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