IC Events

Vision

Education: a top priority for the Arab world
With the increasing shift towards a knowledge economy and 60% of the population under the age of 30, education will be a key determinant of the economic growth, political stability and prosperity of the Arab world.

There has been a growing awareness of the essential role of education for the future of the region. Many Arab countries have launched a series of reforms to tackle illiteracy and improve the poor quality of their educational systems.

The initiatives launched by the Mohamed Ibn Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation and the Qatar Foundation demonstrate how education and research are being put at the top of the regional agenda. As the 2008 World Bank report ‘The Road Not Traveled: Education Reform in the Middle East and Africa’ reveals, the human and financial investments in the field of education have not translated into the desired social and economic development and new strategies will have to be developed and implemented.

Rethinking educational reform by exploring the key industries of the future
The economy is contingent on its human capital. Prosperity in the Arab world will depend on preparing the next generation to lead and service the industries of the future.

As part of this process, we are launching an interactive forum aimed at discussing the actions and methods required to build a creative and sustainable human capital able to respond to the economy and key industries of tomorrow. The forum will examine the needs of the leading industry sectors and discuss ways to establish stronger links between the educational curricula, the labour market and the economy.

An interactive forum engaging the youth, academic experts and business leaders
For this educational re-awakening to have a lasting impact on the economy, it is crucial to re-energise the debate by bringing together all the parties concerned.

There needs to be a better synergy between students, young professionals, professors and business leaders as they often remain unaware of each others’ concerns and needs. Different working sessions will make it possible to explore in depth the particular needs of each industry sector and outline accordingly the required educational reforms.

Objective
The objective of the forum is to create a dialogue between business, students, and the various strata of the educational system so that educational programmes are adjusted to the economic needs of the Arab world.

Through this forum, we aim to establish clear and tangible networks between educational institutions and businesses and help empower the next generation to excel in sectors that will impact growth and development in the region.

Key goals:

Create a platform which allows all the key players in education and business to engage in a constructive dialogue
Explore the characteristics and needs of tomorrow’s key industry sectors and their human requirements
Discuss new strategies to ensure that the skills developed through the educational system meet the needs of the future economy
Ensure the youth’s active participation in the debate and their contribution to shaping the transformational process
Engage industry leaders from the private sector to establish closer links and stronger partnerships with educational institutions

Organised by:

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