The Adult Education Programs for Fall 2019 conducted by the NYU Abu Dhabi Office of Social Responsibility started on Sept. 15. The program piloted its first English course through the Office of Compliance and Risk Management and the Office of Global Education in 2012, and now offers twelve certificate programs for contracted staff, domestic workers and other community members on campus.

The programs range from classes in Arabic and English language and computer and financial literacy to cultural awareness and public speaking courses.

“Initially we realized that there was a keen interest among our contracted colleagues in learning English so we launched the pilot course with 13 of our contracted colleagues,” stated Liria Gjidija, the associate director of The Office of Social Responsibility. “The program was very well received and with time we realized that our contracted colleagues had more needs and requests for courses. So, with the support from [Vice Provost and Associate Vice Chancellor for Global Education and Outreach] Carol Brandt, who had helped design the pilot course, we were able to create a proper curriculum for the Adult Education Program.”

Since its inception in 2012, the program has grown in scale of operation and has opened to a broader community on campus including faculty, family members, researchers and postdoctoral students. Along with skill-based classes, the Adult Education Program has preventative health workshops for both male and female members of the community to raise awareness about various health issues.

“These programs break down the invisible barriers on not just a regional but also a global level. It strengthens the social fabric of the institution with everyone on an equal playing ground, learning together,” continued Gjidija. “So their time spent at NYUAD is not only our colleagues’ opportunity to support their families back home but it is also a time for them to build their own capacities.”

The main aim of the program is to provide community members with the courses and skills that they require for their future endeavours. A series of classes that prepare participants to take the IELTS, a test that qualifies non-native English speakers to work and study in English, have been introduced this semester as a result of a survey sent out over the summer.

“I have been with NYUAD since 2014 as a contracted cleaner and this is the fifth [OSR] class I am taking. This IELTS class has come at the right time because I wanted to take the class [in the city] for my personal purposes anyway,” said Emeka Roman Nawakike. “This class is a great opportunity for me as NYUAD provides it free of charge and even pays partly for our tests.”

“I love speaking [in class] as I am able to practice my vocabulary and fluency in an actual classroom setting and it also helps build my confidence,” stated Lilia Francisco, who has taken multiple English and Arabic classes through the program.

The English in the Workplace-program – believed to be the pillar of the initiative – has taught 1,242 NYUAD community members since its start in 2012. In the 2018-2019 academic year, the Adult Education Program had 895 contracted staff participants from 36 different countries.

“Many of our colleagues have started off at a very elementary level of English and have built their way up to native fluency, many of them have moved up their ranks and been promoted and even been able to pass on these skills to their families back home,” said Gjidija. “It is very endearing and humbling to see our colleagues take on this journey with so much dedication.”