Career Catalyst

Campus to Corporate

Career Catalyst: Campus to Corporate is a youth-focused initiative designed to tackle the difficulties that students and recent graduates in Sharjah often face when transitioning from academic life into the professional world. Many young people leave university with strong theoretical knowledge but lack the practical skills, confidence, and industry connections needed to succeed in the workplace.

To address this, the project targets final-year students, recent graduates, and young professionals by providing research-driven training, mentorship, and opportunities to engage with employers. The program is structured in three phases: first, surveys and interviews are being conducted to analyze career readiness and identify areas where graduates feel unprepared; second, a minimum of three tailored training sessions with industry experts will be organized to address these gaps; and third, post-session surveys will capture participant feedback and measure improvement.

Activities include extensive outreach through social media and university channels, collaboration with local universities such as AUS, UOS, HCT, and Skyline, and partnership with Sheraa and SRTIP to provide venues and opportunities. In the short term, the initiative aims to highlight skill gaps, deliver impactful training, and boost student confidence in career readiness. In the long term, it aspires to build a sustainable pathway that enhances employability, strengthens ties between universities and industry, and helps create a more prepared and competitive young workforce in Sharjah. We are utilising various metrics to measure progress and success, such as survey participation, the number and quality of training sessions held, participant engagement and improvement, and eventually, tangible outcomes such as internships and job placements.

Are you a student looking for an internship, a recent graduate entering the corporate world, or a young professional looking to grow and upskill? If so, Career Catalyst is for you!

FILL THE SURVEY NOW AND HELP US CURATE THE BEST PROGRAM FOR YOU! https://form.typeform.com/to/d9PDTO27

Your insights matter! Help us shape a better future for career development in Sharjah!

What we have conducted so far:

The Sharjah Hub had the wonderful opportunity to conduct a Panel Discussion at Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival (SEF) 2025 - a hub for entrepreneurs and leading individuals in their respective industries. Titled "Youth Empowerment in the Corporate World", our panel brought together skilled founders and CEOs across industries: our own Shaper, Maryam Al Ansari, founder and CEO of Itifaaq and Host of Pathfinders Podcast, as well as Dr Safa Alnaqbi, founder of Atopia Bolivaris as well as a content creator and influencer, Dr Hanane Benkhallouk, founder of Tawazoun and Executive Director of Sustain Leadership Consultancy, and finally, Oussama Jamal - co-founder of Dayma and Creative Director of the Tea w Genz Podcast. Moderated by our outgoing curator, Khadijah Minhas, this panel shone light on the many challenges faced in an entrepreneurial journey, advice and motivation to young minds, as well as many tips and tricks to navigate the corporate world, straight from the experts!