College: Al Ain Women's College

Raba’a Mohamed Saleh Baniyas graduated from The Higher Colleges of Technology, Al Ain Women’s College with a bachelor degree in Applied Science, Business & Management in 2007, and went on to gain a master’s degree in Strategic Human Resource Management, from University of Wollongong in Dubai in 2009.  I am currently employed as the Head of Methodology & Quality Assurance in Statistics Centre – Abu Dhabi. Here is Raba’a’s story.

I truly believe that the principle benefit of attending this college was discovering what I wanted to get out of life.  When I started, I didn’t know what I wanted to do for a career and HCT gave me the chance to try out new things, find my strengths and weaknesses and what I liked and did not like. Al Ain Women’s College gave me the confidence to do the things that I wanted to do. Business & Management Studies were great programs for me because they covered a wide range of skills and disciplines. Management was a little more specialized and I see this with the job that I am currently doing, it is a natural extension of my degree.

During my studies in the college, I got involved in clubs and this gave me the chance to try out lots of new things. I had some of my best experiences when I got involved in things that I had never done before, such as serving in my community through volunteer work, and getting involved in different projects. Another benefit of this college for me was when I worked as a teacher in training because I made a large number of friends who came from all walks of life.
In terms of my current position, as Head of Methodology & Quality Assurance in Statistics Centre, the college equipped me with valuable research skills, as well as knowledge of management, leadership, and work ethics that empower me in my day-to-day activities. One of the things I like about the work that I do is that I do not have a typical day.  At any given time I could be working on any number of projects.  There is a large degree of team work and collaboration so communication skills and logical thinking are always involved.

During my time at the Higher Colleges of Technology, I benefitted from being taught by brilliant lecturers who encouraged analytical thinking which I now use on a daily basis. I also developed my ability to analyze situations and to regard problems in a logical manner. This ability is desirable to employers as it can be adapted to a variety of situations that may arise in many special jobs. I also learned how to describe difficult concepts to others and how to present my work in a clear and easily understood manner. Another important skill I learned through my degree is that of effectively prioritizing my work. I learned how to manage my time in order for the work to be done effectively, timely and to the best of my ability. Whatever degree you have, you will find that you have learned important skills and developed attributes that will help you in all aspects of life.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the people who surrounded me with positive encouragement during my studies: my father for supportive leadership and encouragement; my husband Professor Mohamed Yousif Hasan Baniyas, Provost & Chief Academic Officer, UAEU; Maria Maguire, Al Ain Colleges Dean; and it is an honor to thank H.E. Butti Ahmed Butti Al Qubaisi, Director General of Statistics Center – Abu Dhabi for his creative leadership and continual support in my current position.