American University of Sharjah (AUS) students displayed their technical skills by winning gold and bronze medals at the EmiratesSkills National Competition 2017 held recently in Abu Dhabi at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Centre (ADNEC). EmirateSkills, a part of WorldSkills, is an organization founded to impart vocational skills to UAE nationals.

The National Competition celebrates outstanding Emirati talent in technical and vocational skills and attracts UAE nationals to compete in the field of craftsmanship and technology and be evaluated by a technical committee and internationally-accredited experts based on the standards and judging criteria of the WorldSkills organization.

AUS students Rasha Saffarini from the College of Architecture, Art and Design (CAAD) and Aisha Al Ali from the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) competed in the Joinery and Cabinetmaking skills competition respectively. Saffarini won the gold medal in joinery and Al Ali won the bronze medal for cabinetmaking, impressing judges with their focus and problem solving skills. In addition to cash prizes, EmiratesSkills provides the highest achievers with an extensive applied training in UAE and abroad through a network of experts, local public and private entities and industry partners.

Daniel Chavez, Assistant Professor of Architecture at CAAD and advisor for EmirateSkills, said, "Our students have a firm understanding of building processes through the hands-on approach to teaching architecture and interior design at CAAD. Craft and skill are necessary in design but more importantly we teach our students how to problem solve, this ability was noticed by the judges for both Rasha and Aisha."

EmiratesSkills initiatives focus on preparing the national workforce to serve the industrial and technological growth of the UAE and to encourage UAE youth to embrace industrial and technological career pathways.

Winners of the Emirates Skills competition have the option to compete in World Skills 2017 held October 14-19 in Abu Dhabi, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

This is the first WorldSkills Competition to be held in the Middle East.