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GEMS Education has joined forces with L’Oréal Middle East to give secondary school students the opportunity to experience the world of work first-hand, explore different professions and discover career possibilities beyond the classroom.
The initiative aligns with L’Oréal’s global commitment to youth employability, ‘L’Oréal for Youth’ (L4Y), dedicated to supporting the next generation in navigating the future of work. Through the collaboration, students will gain exposure to the people, skills and expertise behind a global business whose work spans beauty, science, technology, innovation, marketing and commercial operations. The aim is to help young people discover interests and strengths they may not yet recognise in themselves, while building a clearer understanding of the wide spectrum of careers available to them.
Students will have opportunities to participate in internships and work experience placements during the academic year and school holidays, as well as job shadowing with L’Oréal Middle East professionals to see how different teams work and collaborate. L’Oréal will also host career talks and industry sessions at GEMS schools, giving students the chance to hear directly from professionals about their roles, career journeys and the skills they use every day.
Dino Varkey, Group CEO, GEMS Education, said: “When students can step inside a business, meet the people behind different roles and see how their learning connects to real challenges, they begin to discover possibilities they may never have considered. At GEMS, we continue to build strong relationships with key industry players to provide the young generation with early exposure to diverse sectors, jobs, organisational culture, industry trends, and workplace skills that will define the future of employment. We are delighted to partner with L’Oréal Middle East, one of the leading global beauty and consumer goods companies, to transform career readiness from aspiration to action.”
Laurent Duffier, Managing Director at L’Oréal Middle East, said: “Empowering the next generation is fundamental to our purpose at L’Oréal. Through ‘L’Oréal for Youth,’ our ambition is to give students early, meaningful exposure to the modern corporate landscape. By partnering with GEMS Education, we are bridging the gap between the classroom and the workplace – inviting students to step inside our offices, connect with our diverse teams, and experience first-hand how marketing, e-commerce, and digital strategy come to life, powered by tools like AI and data. We are excited to welcome GEMS talent into our ecosystem, nurturing their curiosity and turning their career aspirations into real-world confidence.”
The partnership forms part of GEMS Futures, which connects students with opportunities to explore future careers and gain practical experience beyond the classroom. By working with organisations such as L’Oréal, GEMS aims to make career discovery a more meaningful part of students’ education, helping them connect what they learn at school with the possibilities ahead.