In an era where soft skills are increasingly crucial for professional success, Rabdan Academy has launched a comprehensive initiative to enhance graduate attributes within its unique educational environment. The Academy, known for its specialized focus on safety, defence, and security, has developed an innovative approach to ensure students graduate with both technical expertise and essential 21st-century skills.
Meeting Unique Challenges Head-On
“In our specialized environment, where student schedules are highly structured and time is at a premium, we needed to think differently about soft skills development,” explains Dr. Deena, Interim Program Chair – Foundation and General Education at Rabdan Academy. The Academy faces a distinct challenge: most students attend intensive classes Monday through Thursday, with limited opportunity for traditional extra-curricular activities.
To address this, Rabdan has implemented a two-pronged approach. First, the Academy introduced flexible online sessions on Fridays, focusing on crucial skills such as time management, stress management, and teamwork. This digital initiative ensures students can engage with personal development content at their own pace, despite their rigorous schedules.
Second, the Academy has transformed its classroom experience by embedding soft skills development directly into the curriculum. “We’re creating an environment where critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving are naturally woven into the fabric of every course,” Dr. Deena notes.
Partnership with Advance HE Drives Excellence
Building on these foundations, Rabdan Academy partnered with Advance HE to further enhance their approach to teaching excellence. Kristian Rumble, Advance HE’s Head of Membership (Global) worked with colleagues at Rabdan Academy and through a process of consultation, identified an opportunity for Advance HE to support and add value to the development of faculty’s pedagogical approaches to embedding attributes. As a result, Prof Mark O’Hara, Senior Consultant at Advance HE, led a transformative month-long programme focused on ‘Developing Graduate Attributes.’
The programme engaged academic staff in an appreciative process of reviewing and enhancing their teaching practices. “What makes this initiative particularly effective is its focus on practical implementation,” explains O’Hara. “Participants didn’t just discuss theory – they developed concrete action plans to enhance student learning experiences.”
Key areas addressed in the programme included:
- Social responsibility and professional integrity
- Critical and analytical thinking capabilities
- Innovation and problem-solving skills
- Team collaboration and leadership development
- Advanced communication and information literacy
- Professional identity and employability skills
Innovation in Implementation
The programme has already yielded impressive results, with faculty members introducing various innovative teaching methods. New initiatives include:
- Scenario-based assessments that simulate real-world challenges
- Structured debates on contemporary issues
- Industry-focused site visits and guest speaker programmes
- Gamification of learning experiences
- Integration of emerging technologies, including Generative AI
“What’s particularly exciting is how these initiatives align with our mission to prepare students for dynamic, unpredictable environments,” says Dr. Deena. “By working with Advance HE and implementing these changes, we’re ensuring our graduates are ready to tackle complex, multi-faceted challenges in their careers.”
Looking to the Future
As a member of Advance HE, Rabdan Academy continues to align its teaching excellence approaches with the Professional Standards Framework (PSF) and is looking to expand access to Fellowship programmes. This ongoing commitment to innovation in education ensures that despite the unique challenges of their specialized environment, Rabdan’s graduates emerge not only with technical expertise but with the full range of skills needed for successful careers in safety, security, and defence.
The Academy maintains an open dialogue with students and faculty, continuously gathering feedback to refine and enhance these initiatives. As the program evolves, Rabdan Academy stands as a model for how specialized institutions can successfully integrate soft skills development into intensive technical education programmes.
