The job markets in the UAE and Saudi Arabia are highly competitive, and graduates need to demonstrate career-ready skills to employers. Natalie Burkard, Customer Impact Associate at Ellucian, explains how the launch of Ellucian’s student community, EnlightenED, can build students’ confidence for the workplace in both countries 

Dubai, Oct 6, 2026: With competition for graduate roles in the UAE soaring, and Vision 2030 placing greater emphasis on career-ready skills in Saudi Arabia, employers are increasingly seeking new recruits who can contribute right from the start.  

According to recruitment specialists Leira Consulting, employers in the region value project experience, communication skills and leadership qualities more than academic qualifications alone. The challenge is this experience can be difficult to acquire while studying.  

That’s one of the reasons why Ellucian has launched EnlightenED, a global digital community for higher education students in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. 

What is EnlightenED and why was it created? 

EnlightenED is Ellucian’s student ambassador programme, bringing together students from around the world through an online community designed to amplify the student voice and help shape the future of higher education. 

Through feedback, advisory activities, content creation and other opportunities, students contribute valuable insights while developing skills that support their future careers. 

What skills are employers in the UAE and Saudi Arabia seeking from graduates? 

The UAE has evolved into one of the most dynamic employment markets, particularly in areas such as AI and digital infrastructure, healthcare and finance. Employers increasingly expect students to have communication skills, networking ability and public speaking experience, and they want to see evidence of this in interviews and resumés. 

Saudi Arabia is an equally dynamic job market, where employers are looking for graduates with practical skills, digital capabilities and the ambition to keep learning as the world of work evolves. 

How does EnlightenED help students in this region build career-ready skills? 

EnlightenED helps students develop the exact skills they need to get a headstart in a career. 

Through the platform, students can develop career-ready skills and gain practical experience alongside their studies. By partaking in activities such as student advisory panels, public speaking opportunities, product feedback and research projects, ambassadors build confidence, strengthen communication and leadership skills, and contribute ideas that help shape the future of higher education. 

Students can also publish blogs, earn credentials, access career support such as resumé reviews and interview preparation, and build a professional profile that helps them stand out to future employers. 

As they participate, students in this region can unlock rewards, including LinkedIn badges, mentorship opportunities and other recognition for their contributions. 

How does EnlightenED benefit institutions? 

One of the key roles of the online community is to give students a platform where they can share their views about higher education. For Ellucian customer institutions, it provides the opportunity to ask their students for specific feedback on any aspect of student life.    

EnlightenED can help institutions see themselves through the eyes of their students.  

It’s an effective way to test assumptions and gain a deeper understanding of how to put the student at the heart of everything they do. This is particularly important when institutions are preparing students to thrive in the fast-paced workplace, and students are taking their first steps towards a fulfilling career.

Discover how students across the UAE and Saudi Arabia can build career-ready skills through the EnlightenED community.