James A. Mandel and Samuel P. Clemence Dubai Contracting Company: Syracuse University Internship Program
Year: 2025
Type: conference-paper
Abstract: Dubai Contracting Company (DCC), in collaboration with the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CIE) at Syracuse University, offers a unique real-world experience for up to six (6) CIE students preferably in their Junior or Senior year of study to participate in a multi-week summer internship program in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).The James A. Mandel and Samuel P. Clemence DCC SU Internship Program (DSIP) brings together six students, competitively chosen from Syracuse University and six students from Lebanese American University, to work collaboratively for one of the leading construction firms in the UAE.Created by Mr. Abdallah Yabroudi, CEO of DCC and mentor to the summer interns, the program consists of classroom lectures, construction site visits and cultural experiences.The inoffice lectures cover a variety of topics including but not limited to: reading and understanding construction drawings, planning and scheduling, cost estimation and pricing, and bidding and tendering processes.Each lecture is presented by an experienced DCC staff member covering the topic of their respective field.Numerous site visits to current and completed DCC construction projects provide hands-on field experience by allowing students to meet with project and construction managers on each site to better understand project details, quality control measures and construction techniques.Students selected for this program will also have the opportunity to learn about business practices, history and culture of the Middle East, creating an environment for professional and personal development.In addition to midterm and final examinations, students are required to produce a comprehensive technical report detailing each construction site visit and construction associates visits, reflecting their individual knowledge.The DSIP program provides a rare and unique opportunity for students to learn about global construction contracting through invaluable site visits, professional lectures and cultural experiences.
Authors: Erin Zeqja, Rachael Ashton
Institution: Syracuse University
Language: English
Subfield: Education
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
Funder: Syracuse University
OpenAlex ID: W4409039575