Page 175 - MBRF ENGLISH PR REPORT - November 2024

11/21/24, 11:25 AM Latest News
MBRF and UNDP announced the opening of registration for the “Future Skills Academy” after the
“FutureSkills4All” initiative was able to reach more than 9,000 learners, achieving a 165% utilization rate, with

the number of courses offered through the Coursera portal reaching 6,000 courses and the number of
beneficiaries reached 9,002, surpassing initial expectations and indicates the heavy turnout and large

participation that exceeded the initial allocated number.
During the meeting, His Excellency Jamal bin Huwaireb, CEO of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

Knowledge Foundation, pointed out the great importance of the GSC, stressing MBRF’s keenness to support
this ambitious initiative by enhancing the “Future Skills Academy” project, which aims to provide innovative

and comprehensive training opportunities that contribute to helping the largest possible segment of youth and
professionals in the Arab region acquire the basic skills that qualify them to adapt to the rapid changes in the
labor market and meet the needs of the knowledge-based economy. He noted that the GSC reflects MBRF’s

belief that enabling individuals to access skills is not just an option but a strategic necessity to achieve
sustainable development.

“Today, we reach the end of the first phase of FutureSkills4All, the pioneering initiative that provided
thousands of educational and training opportunities for Arab youth and equipped them with the best and
latest digital and personal skills and expertise. We announce the opening of registration for the second phase

of the initiative, represented by the Future Skills Academy, through which we aspire to reach 10 million
beneficiaries by 2030 so that we can continue with our partners in this project, UNDP and Coursera, to carry

the message of spreading knowledge and education and contributing to preparing future generations to face
the challenges of the future in the best possible way,” His Excellency said.

For his part, His Excellency Dr. Abdallah Al Dardari, Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the UNDP
Regional Bureau for Arab States, spoke during the meeting about the importance of focusing on enhancing

productivity and building a sustainable knowledge economy in the Arab region, pointing out that the region
suffers from low productivity, a problem that is not limited to poor countries but extends to rich ones, where
productivity levels are equal on both sides, reflecting the urgent need for a deeper understanding of the idea

of productivity as a real addition to knowledge and the economy.
His Excellency explained that building a strong knowledge economy requires clear and effective economic

policies, in addition to a solid infrastructure that supports this approach, stressing the need to empower youth
and provide them with the necessary skills to be major contributors to building this economy. He emphasized

that the partnership with MBRF represents a pivotal step in achieving this goal, as it contributes to opening
horizons for millions of young people who can contribute to the knowledge economy.

For his part, Dr. Andrew Ng, Chairman and Co-Founder of Coursera, stressed that the platform is proud to be
part of this important coalition, which seeks to enhance human capabilities and enable individuals to acquire
skills that meet the requirements of the future. He expressed his appreciation for the joint efforts made by the

partners to identify the most in-demand skills in different regions, ensuring the provision of effective training
courses that are in line with the needs of local and global markets.

Dr. Andrew explained that one of the most prominent challenges facing accelerated growth is the large

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