This paper provides an overview of the first part of my doctoral studies whose main objective is the introduction of reflective practices and collaborative learning in vocational education institution (ADVETI) to increase the employability of the graduates. In the emerging UAE vocational education system, these approaches are not only new, they are also timely, building on the ubiquity of smart technologies and mobile devices. // The methodology uses a mix of qualitative and quantitative approaches based on design-based experiments to study the impact of the introduction of reflective practices and collaborative learning. By using several technology-enhanced pedagogical scenarios to clarify the skills required by the industry urging ADVETI to introduce new models for a smoother transition between studies and work to build on the employability of the graduates. // The paper includes a primary literature review about reflective practices and collaborative learning in this context, and previous research on new pedagogical scenarios supported by smart technologies, known as computer supported collaborative learning (CSCL). // The paper shows that our research is one of the first of this kind in the UAE, it recommends to use the power of the new tools available today with mobile technologies to introduce reflective practices and collaborative learning applied to hands-on training. // Paper ID 75