In a special ceremony held at Abu Dhabi International Airport’s “Al Dar” lounge, the Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) honoured participants of the “Summer Student Ambassador” programme - a three month customer service-led course where students performed a variety of tasks including welcoming, greeting and assisting both destination and transit passengers over the busy summer months.

Nearly 100 volunteer students from colleges and universities across Abu Dhabi took part in the programme, which is now in its third consecutive year and which included for the first time a number of new learning elements aimed at broadening the students experience on-site.

These included a project where students performed a situational analysis of services at the airport and presented a range of innovative ideas for the future, as well as investigating customer-service practices at other airports within the region and internationally.

The students also liaised directly with passengers to gain important information for the monthly Airports Council International’s (ACI) airport service quality survey, which helps airport operators to identify best practice and benchmark themselves against other facilities around the world. Earlier this year, ADAC was rated in the top two in the region by the ACI, a testament to ADAC’s ongoing commitment and focus on customer service and passenger satisfaction.

Harib Ghannam Al Hameli, Acting Vice Present, Operations, ADAC, said:
“The Summer Student Ambassador Programme is going from strength to strength and we are delighted to be once again part of the students educational development, through the invaluable work experience offered at Abu Dhabi Airport.”

“Customer Service is a priority for ADAC at all of its airports and this programme offers a wonderful opportunity for participants to learn first-hand a variety of invaluable skills such as interacting with travellers, meeting the customer’s needs and working with numerous stakeholders including airlines and security services.”

Saif Al Maskari, one of the Summer Student Ambassadors, said:
“My experience with the Summer Student Ambassador programme has been fantastic. Not only have I had the opportunity to develop my interpersonal and communication skills by interacting with passengers from all over the world, but through the designated projects have been able to contribute my thoughts and ideas for the future. This learning experience will undoubtedly help me in my future career.”

Growing in popularity, the three month programme ran from 15 June to 15 August 2009 and attracted nearly 25 more students than the previous year. The ambassadors worked to provide support seven days a week in two shifts in terminals one, two and three at the airport. They performed a variety of roles including guiding travellers through the airport, providing general information about the city of Abu Dhabi and surrounding areas, assisting in the call-centre and conducting research for management.

At the ceremony, all of the Summer Student Ambassadors were presented with a certificate of participation, with special awards presented to high achievers who displayed extra levels of dedication and commitment and who excelled over the three month period.

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