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Higher Colleges of Technology - Education Hero of the Year

Gold Stevie Award Winner 2019, Click to Enter The 2022 Middle East and North Africa Stevie® Awards

Company: Higher colleges of Technolgy, Abu Dhabi
Company Description: The Higher Colleges of Technology was established by governemet of UAE in 1988 and is the largest applied, higher education institution in the United Arab Emirates. During the 2019–2020 academic year, there were 14,246 female and 6,744 male students enrolled at 16 campuses and six academic divisions throughout the country. The HCT provides post-secondary education through over 70 academic programs
Nomination Category: COVID-19 Response Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Education Hero of the Year

Nomination Title: Sahar Al Zarei, Champion of Covid Proof SANAD program at The Higher Colleges of Technology

Government regulations during covid meant the end of one of a main programs in Higher colleges of Technology for graduate UAE nationals –SANAD-. SANAD (Support and Advance Nationals to Achieve and Distinguish).our hero thought outside the box and took actions and created solutions. Her response action plan was as follows:


Obstacles

Responses

Program members and trainees could not attend their On the Job

    1. SANAD team with the support of HR created a work from home manual guide.
    2. All team members including the trainees were able to attend their on the job training virtually using various technologies as no delays to time frames.
    3. Safety of the participants had been insured through the process.

Results: 0% drop rate .

Training sessions and class room development sessions had been cancelled

All Face to face sessions had been replaced by online training utilizing the eLearning library at HCT.
Participants managed to keep up to date with their set training plan with no deviations.
Result: 0% deviations form training plan

Budgets for Partial employment ( Salaries) had been frozen

SANAD and HR team managed to create savings in the budget through cutting the cost of the some events as well as cost of material, also supported by the CEO, the planned cohort took place with 50% capacity rather than full cancelation.
Result: 50% of a cancelled cohort saved.

Trainees had been demotivated and worried about the continuity of the initiative.

Knowing that all material resources in the world will not deliver results without the commitment and well by the participants, our hero who is a social media influencer utilized all her resources to deliver motivational sessions and discussion groups to left the moral of the participants.
Also the coaching sessions had been intensified to offer theright support.
Results: More than 200 hours of motivational sessions delivered by the Hero. ( Free)

Our Hero refused to take the easy way. She innovated, gathered support and worked hard to insure the continuity of such key programme without risking the heath of the program members or staff.