Abu Dhabi Celebrates 98 Graduates from Fourth Cohort of Social Care Capacity Building Programme
The Department of Community Development and United Arab Emirates University have marked a significant milestone in professional development, honouring 98 graduates who have completed rigorous training in social work practice and school counselling.
The Department of Community Development – Abu Dhabi and United Arab Emirates University have celebrated the successful graduation of 98 professionals from the fourth cohort of the Capacity Building Programme for Social Care Professionals. The distinguished ceremony, hosted at The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, brought together senior leadership and representatives from government and private sector organisations across the emirate.
The graduating cohort comprised 75 professionals who completed the Professional Diploma in Social Work Practice Skills and 23 who graduated from the Professional Diploma in School Counselling. These specialists drawn from diverse organisations across Abu Dhabi represent the programme’s significant breadth and its commitment to strengthening capabilities throughout the social sector.
Strategic Partnership Underpinning Excellence
Prof. Mohamed Bin Huwaidin, Dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at UAEU, underscored the programme’s importance as a meaningful investment in national talent. He emphasised that sustainable national development requires nurturing homegrown expertise, particularly in human-centred professions such as social work and counselling that respond to evolving community needs.
The Dean highlighted the critical partnership between UAEU and the Department of Community Development, noting its success in bridging academic knowledge with professional practice. He commended the university’s Continuing Education Centre for its exemplary management and delivery of the programme.
Building Professional Capability
Mubarak Al Ameri, Executive Director of the Social Licensing and Control Sector at DCD, articulated the department’s fundamental principle: that the quality of the social sector depends upon the competence of its professionals. He emphasised that qualified practitioners transcend mere service delivery, demonstrating profound understanding of individual and family needs whilst responding professionally to evolving social challenges.
Al Ameri noted that investing in professional capability represents an investment in Abu Dhabi’s social ecosystem, strengthening its capacity to serve the community today whilst preparing for future needs. This approach directly translates social policies and priorities into impactful services that enhance stability and quality of life across the emirate.
Sustained Commitment to Development
Since the programme’s launch in 2022, a total of 381 social care professionals have graduated across four consecutive cohorts. This impressive record reflects the Department of Community Development’s unwavering commitment to developing qualified national professionals equipped to elevate the standard of social services throughout Abu Dhabi.
The graduation ceremony concluded with formal recognition of the cohort’s achievements, with certificates presented to honour their successful completion and commitment to serving the Abu Dhabi community as they advance their professional careers.
Source: WAM