Abu Dhabi. 22 February 2021. GAL, a leading regional provider of integrated aircraft sustainment solutions for military and civilian customers, announced that it is partnering with the Abu Dhabi Vocational Education and Training Institute (ADVETI) to train and encourage talented and interested UAE national students to join the company’s MRO staff cadres in Abu Dhabi.
Mohammed Al Khemairi, CEO of GAL signed the agreement with Dr Abdulrahman Jassim Al Hammadi, Managing Director, of ADVETI on the sidelines of the International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX 2021), underway at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) .
Under the terms of the agreements, GAL is to train students of Engineering and Logistics from ADVETI in the latest MRO operations and processes at its dedicated facilities in Abu Dhabi, with a view to hiring them to join its workforce as permanent employees upon completion of their educational programmes. In addition, GAL’s team of experts will also collaborate with the faculty at ADVETI in structuring the course curricula of the Engineering and Logistics programme to ensure their continued relevance in the workplaces of tomorrow.
Students chosen from the bachelor’s, higher diploma and diploma programmes in aircraft engineering, aircraft maintenance, air traffic management, electromechanical engineering, and information security engineering, will work with GAL as part of its efforts to increase the number of qualified nationals in its workforce.
Speaking on its partnerships with academia, Mohamed Al Khemairi, CEO of GAL, said: “As a leading MRO services provider, GAL is conscious of its crucial role in building the capacities of young UAE nationals from engineering and aviation focused disciplines to join our team of subject matter experts and technicians. In line with our commitment to the sustainability of the UAE’s MRO sector, these partnerships will empower Emirati students to take up promising careers in the field of MRO and aircraft sustainment.
“The students will join GAL’s teams in providing an integrated range of allied services to enhance operational efficiencies for our customers. Such well-intentioned synergies between academia and industry go a long way in bridging the skills gap in the UAE labour market while also adding value for our clients in terms of fresh talent and ideas.”
For his part, Dr Abdulrahman Jassim Al Hammadi, from ADVETI, said: “ADVETI is thrilled to enter this agreement with GAL in order to enhance UAE national capabilities and opening new opportunities for young Emiratis to find their niche and follow their passions. Our strategy aims to boost the role of technical and vocational training in building a new generation of Emiratis qualified to perform highly specialized jobs, provide innovative services, and turn out world-class products proudly made in the UAE. Such initiatives are as important as ADVETI’s indigenous programs that align with the UAE’s development plans and offer various specializations. This agreement reflects our commitment to developing human resources and increasing the competitiveness of UAE nationals in the labor market in line with the National Agenda of the UAE Vision 2021 and the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030.
GAL currently employs a 5,000 strong workforce from 71 different nationalities, with Emiratis accounting for 27 per cent. The company has gained a reputation for its varied expertise and talented technical and engineering teams – employed locally and internationally – to work on a diverse rotary and fixed-wing platform, making them subject matter experts in the field. The company provides logistics and supply chain services as a value-added stand-alone offering or as part of an integrated lifecycle solution.
GAL is part of the Mission Support Cluster at EDGE, an advanced technology group that ranks among the top 25 military suppliers in the world.
