When a group of Arab intellectuals produced the first of a series of human development reports at the United Nations on the region in 2002, the findings were jolting. It was a watershed moment that cast a dim light on shortcomings of the region and the socio-economic challenges ahead.
Those challenges included: the need for job creation to curb rising unemployment, battling gender inequality, addressing a knowledge deficit and the decline in the quality of education , all of which are a consequence of a lack of innovation and knowledge production systems that instil essential values and institutional frameworks that support a knowledge society, which the UN scholars called for.
These salient issues were the impetus for the youth uprisings that brought many to the streets of Arab capitals and changed the course of the region nearly six years ago. A shortage of opportunities, poor governance, poverty and ignorance incubated the cancer of radicalism that we see today. The digital age and growing radicalisation in and outside the Arab world further augment the need to address these imperatives by all governments.
Actions that produce tangible, meaningful results which provide a counternarrative to extremist ideologies, help alleviate poverty, curtail ignorance and create opportunities for future generations of the region , require that we invest in human development in tandem with our economic aspirations.
In 2013, the UN found the Arab world had the lowest employment-to-population ratio of 52.6 per cent compared to the world average of 65.8 per cent. Over the next two decades, the World Bank projects our region needs to create 100 million jobs for young people. This essentially requires a strategic, multipronged shift in policies, to create an enabling environment at the political and educational level that engages citizens, cultivates talent and nurtures ambitions.
The UAE’s leadership has always had the foresight to plan ahead. Since its founding, the country has looked to education, economic empowerment, and a framework of political inclusion as pillars that underpin the fabric of our nation. The culture of consultation from the traditional majlis setting that has since evolved into the formalised Federal National Council, the newly created role of Minister of State for Happiness, the Youth Circle initiative, all illustrate a commitment to pluralism.
In parallel, the UAE continues to invest in improving and transforming the education landscape. Allocating about 20 per cent of next year’s budget or Dh10.2 billion to education is a clear illustration of our commitment to advancing learning and planning for the post-oil era.
The Ministry of Education continuously looks to enhancing curriculums that equip and prepare students for the job market while helping them operate in a diverse and complex world. Our approach is holistic and addresses the learning process from a cognitive age in the classroom to graduate levels at universities.
Closing the knowledge gap, andbattling the vicious cycle of radicalism in our region and beyond require promoting critical thinking, analytical skills, media literacy, an inclusive civic mind that embraces tolerance, dialogue, respect, cultural diversity and the spirit of collaboration which allow for the sharing of ideas and enable innovation.
One way of building a resilient generation is by reviewing and adapting curricula as needed. Another is by immersing students in different cultures and sending our brightest abroad. The UAE presently supports 4,000 students in the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Singapore, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, France, Sweden, China, Finland, South Korea and Japan.
Elevating the standards of our institutions, such as Khalifa University, Masdar Institute, UAE University and American University of Sharjah, as well as attracting foreign academic institutions like the Paris Sorbonne, INSEAD and New York University, to set up here is also crucial to our human development and diversifying our future economy. In conjunction with these efforts, the Ministry of Education is continuously engaging the private sector, encouraging investment in research and development while also exploring opportunities for our youth to learn from global pioneers.
Last month, the German company Siemens, which has been a trusted partner of the UAE for more than 40 years, pioneering innovation, technology and successful infrastructure projects, entered into an agreement with the UAE to help equip university graduates with the skills and professional experience to help drive the UAE’s sustainable economic growth. In October, the UAE and General Electric forged a strategic partnership that will pioneer a new career-orientated innovation and talent development programme for Emirati youth. The agreement leverages GE’s proven strengths in leadership training, advanced technologies and innovation. By expanding research and development opportunities and improving our universities, we are cultivating talent and fostering entrepreneurship.
In September, China’s Huawei launched an education challenge that will help plant the seeds of innovative thinking, equip students with the creative skills, and foster a culture of entrepreneurship that is integral to the UAE’s transformation to a knowledge-based society.
These initiatives are in line with the UAE National Youth Agenda, the UAE Economic Vision 2021 and the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030. Through internships and training activities, the parties will seek to enhance the future employability of youth and contribute to developing a highly-skilled UAE workforce.
There is no panacea to battling radicalism and there are no shortcuts to determining one’s future.
Education, however, is the key to shielding future generations against extremism while empowering and preparing them for the challenges of the job market in an increasingly competitive global economy. Invariably our undertaking is a noble one that is shaping the future of our nation.
Dr Ahmad Belhoul is the UAE’s Minister of State for Higher Education
