Career Guidance Policy

1. Policy Aims

This policy aims to provide students with comprehensive career guidance to support their transitions at various educational stages. The program is designed to help students in making informed decisions regarding higher education, technical qualifications, apprenticeships, and professional goals, preparing them for life as responsible, informed adults.

2. Objectives

• To offer career counselling that addresses students' individual career and educational goals.
• To facilitate students' understanding of various post-secondary options, including international universities, local institutions, and vocational training opportunities.
• To equip students with skills and information for successful career planning, decision-making, and application processes.

3. Career Guidance Program

The Career Guidance Program at Al Diyafah High School, Dubai is informed by the eight Gatsby Benchmarks, a framework across schools in the UK.

A Stable Careers Programme

Every school should have an embedded programme of career education and guidance that is known and understood by students, parents/carers, teachers and employers.

Learning from Careers and Labour Market Information

Every student and their parents/carers should have access to good-quality information about future study options and labour market opportunities. They will need the support of an informed adviser to make best use of available information.

Addressing the Needs of Each Student

Students have different career guidance needs at different stages. Opportunities for advice and support need to be tailored to the needs of each student. A school's careers programme should embed equality and diversity considerations throughout.

Linking Curriculum Learning to Careers

All teachers should link curriculum learning with careers. For example, STEM subject teachers should highlight the relevance of STEM subjects for a wide range of future career paths.

Encounters with Employers and Employees

Every student should have multiple opportunities to learn from employers about work, employment, and the skills that are valued in the workplace. This can be through a range of enrichment activities including visiting speakers, mentoring and enterprise schemes.

Experiences of Workplaces

Every student should have first-hand experiences of the workplace through work visits, work shadowing and/or work experience to help their exploration of career opportunities, and expand their networks.

Encounters with Further and Higher Education

All students should understand the full range of learning opportunities that are available to them. This includes both academic and vocational routes and learning in schools, colleges, universities and in the workplace.

Personal Guidance

Every student should have opportunities for guidance interviews with a careers adviser, who could be internal (a member of school staff) or external, provided they are trained to an appropriate level. These should be available whenever significant study or career choices are being made. This should be expected for all students but should be timed to meet their individual needs.

4. Program Components

4.1 University & Career Fairs

Annual university & career fairs will introduce students to local and international universities, providing insights into academic courses, admissions processes, and entry requirements. Students, parents, and teachers will have the opportunity to interact with representatives from various institutions.

4.2 Individual Counselling

One-on-one sessions with Career Counsellors will be offered to assess students' interests and abilities, develop career awareness, and assist with higher education applications, including guidance on personal statements and application documents.

4.3 Career Workshops

Throughout the academic year, interactive workshops will be organized on topics such as university application processes, CV development, interview preparation, and employability skills. The workshops may also cover pathways and application portals such as UCAS and Common App.

4.4 University Presentations

Universities will be invited to present their programs, eligibility requirements, and admissions processes. These presentations provide a platform for students to gain detailed information on universities, entry-level examinations, and program costs.

4.5 Insight into Industry

Guest speakers from various industries will share career experiences and discuss professional pathways, giving students insights into the working world and helping them explore different career opportunities.

4.6 Community Service and Work Experience

Students are encouraged to participate in volunteer work, internships, and extracurricular activities that develop their interpersonal skills and give them firsthand experience in professional environments. Regular updates about upcoming opportunities are shared with parents and students.

4.7 Psychometric Assessment

Psychometric Assessments are offered to students of Year 9 & 11 to help them learn about their interests, personality, emotional quotient, and aptitude, which are crucial to explore as they embark on the next step of their educational journey.

4.8 External Partners

The school collaborates with external partners to provide students with comprehensive guidance on university applications and career exploration:

• IDP Education Pvt Ltd: In partnership with IDP Education Pvt Ltd, the school offers guidance for applications to universities in popular study destinations, including the UK, USA, Canada, and Australia. This partnership helps streamline the application process and offers students insights into international university requirements.
• BridgeU: Through the BridgeU platform, students gain access to a university research portal that assists them in finding and comparing universities based on their preferences, qualifications, and goals. BridgeU also supports students with tools and resources tailored to international university applications.
• Mindler: Mindler provides psychometric assessments and virtual job simulation programs to help students identify their strengths, explore career paths, and experience real-world job scenarios virtually. This tool assists students in aligning their academic and career goals effectively.

5. Program Structure

In addition to the one-to-one sessions, Career Counsellors will be conducting periodic group sessions starting from Years 7 to 13 as per the frequency mentioned below.

Monitoring and Review

The Career Guidance Program will be reviewed annually, with oversight by the school leadership team to ensure its continued relevance and effectiveness.