The University of Sharjah recently celebrated the graduation of 33 participants from its professional health diploma programs in a ceremony organized by its Center for Continuing Education and Professional Development. The programs are part of the Nafis initiative to develop the healthcare workforce, in cooperation with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization and the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council.

The second graduating cohort included 15 trainees from the Professional Diploma in Healthcare Assistant and 18 from the Professional Diploma in Laboratory Technician, both accredited by the National Qualifications Center for the 2024/25 and 2025/26 academic years. The initiative is intended to support and qualify national talent in the health sector and strengthen its competitiveness in the labor market, in line with Nafis’s goal of opening quality job opportunities for citizens across vital sectors.

Commenting on this significant achievement, H.E. Prof. Esameldin Agamy, Chancellor of the University of Sharjah, stressed that preparing qualified health professionals is a national responsibility with a direct impact on protecting people and improving quality of life. He said the graduation of the second cohort of participants under Nafis’s health-sector workforce development program reflects the success of the University’s strategic partnership with the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council and demonstrates a shared commitment to building national capabilities that can meet labor market needs efficiently and sustainably.

He added that the achievement also reflects the vision of H.H. Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, and President of the University of Sharjah, to enhance the University’s role as an active partner in serving society and developing its vital sectors, especially healthcare. He congratulated the graduates and said their qualification is a starting point for careers that will require continued learning and development, as well as a strong sense of responsibility in a field being transformed at speed.

Dr. Asmaa Nusairi, director of the Center for Continuing Education and Professional Development, commented that the graduation of the second cohort brings the program’s total number of graduates to 84 and reflects the success of its specialized training pathways, which combine classroom instruction, hands-on practice and clinical training. She added that this milestone represents an important step in enabling national talent to join the health sector and shows the value of a national partnership built on the belief that investment in people is the foundation of sustainable development.

The Professional Diploma in Health Care Assistant aims to prepare Emirati talent to work in the healthcare system by giving them the knowledge and skills needed through theoretical, practical and clinical training, equipping them to deliver safe, high-quality care in line with best professional practices. The Professional Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technician prepares national talent to work in medical laboratories by training them to collect and process patient samples and carry out basic laboratory tests, while strengthening their practical skills and commitment to quality, safety and teamwork within health care settings.

The graduation ceremony was also attended by Prof. Nouar Tabet, the University’s Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and several officials from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization and the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council, Nafis. The ministry delegation was led by Khalfan Al Suwaidi, director of Emirati Talent Development, while the Nafis delegation was headed by Fatma Al Najar, executive director of the Programs and Communications Sector. Faculty members, administrators, and the graduates’ families also attended.