“At Siemens, we believe a company that does not add value to society has no right to exist. With this in mind, we pride ourselves on ingenuity and on looking beyond mere profitmaking to positively contribute to society through the transfer of knowledge via educational and training initiatives,” said Dietmar Siersdorfer, CEO of Siemens Middle East and UAE. “We are delighted to be part of this exciting program once again, and to support the UAE’s ambitions to develop its youth and prepare them for the challenges of the future.”
Last year, Siemens provided 13 internships in Germany and the UAE for students participating in the program. In 2015, students visited several Siemens locations in Germany, including a gas turbine factory in Berlin and the company’s R&D Centre in Munich. Siemens plans to offer internships to interested students from the program again this summer. Goethe-Institut is organizing the UAE Youth Ambassadors Program for Germany.
The UAE Youth Ambassadors Program started in 2012 under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. The program seeks to develop and prepare Emirati youth to lead partnerships with countries of strategic importance to the UAE and assume prominent positions in the country’s key sectors. Siemens’ involvement with the program started in 2014. Siemens representatives from the UAE met with the students before their departure to Germany where they visited company facilities in Berlin and Munich.
Nada Al Hashmi, one of the students who partook in the program, said she felt at home during her Siemens internship. “Siemens was my first real life working experience and I really liked it because they welcomed me and made me feel part of the Siemens family. It’s great to think you’re part of one of the most successful companies in the world.”
During fiscal 2015, Siemens invested more than 500 million euros in training and development activities worldwide. This amount was divided into 242 million for youth training and education and 265 million for continuing the education of its employees.
The continued cooperation between Siemens and the UAE Youth Ambassadors Program aspires to further the students’ participation with the company in various ways, including training, site visits, and potential internship and employment opportunities. In addition to Dietmar Siersdorfer and other company executives, today’s announcement was attended by His Excellency Dr. Eckhard Lübkemeier, German Ambassador to the UAE; His Excellency Ali Al Ahmed, Designated UAE Ambassador to Germany; representatives from Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince’s Court; and Dr. Gabriele Landwehr, General Director of Goethe-Institut Gulf Region.
Siemens provided 90 internships and on-the-job training assignments in the UAE during fiscal 2015. During the same period, the number of Emirati interns and trainees more than tripled since 2014.