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6/20/25, 9:46 AM Latest News

Future Skills Academy records wide interaction and creates tangible

knowledge impact in its first phase

20/06/2025
As part of its commitment to empowering 10 million Arab learners with job market skills by 2030

Dubai, UAE, 19 June 2025 - The Future Skills Academy, one of the pioneering initiatives of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation
(MBRF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with Coursera, has recorded significant engagement and promising
results in its first phase. This marks a strong start towards its mission to empower Arab learners with future-ready job market skills.
The wide interaction received by the academy in its first phase underscores the growing demand for individuals to develop digital and vocational skills in the
Arab world. As part of its ambitious goal, the academy aims to enable 10 million learners in the Arab region to acquire the most in-demand job market skills
by 2030, targeting 25,000 learners in 2025. It offers curated courses in high-demand fields such as data analysis, artificial intelligence, digital marketing, and
entrepreneurship, in addition to developing transferable skills.
Within one month of its launch, the academy witnessed a surge of interest from thousands of learners across various Arab countries. Learners completed
4,721 courses, viewed more than 191,419 educational videos, read more than 126,136 educational materials, and completed over 108,568 assessments,
totaling 45,385 hours of effective learning.
Dr. Abdullah Al Dardari, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the UNDP Regional Bureau for Arab States (UNDP), said: “According to the World
Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025, nearly 59% of the global workforce, including Arab graduates, young people, women, and marginalized
groups, will require training and skills development within the next five years. With 39% of basic job market skills projected to change by 2030, the necessity
to strengthen educational and vocational reskilling programs to prepare future generations for the changing requirements within the labor market is critical.”
He continued: “The Future Skills Academy is a strategic response to these shifting dynamics in the Arab region. By empowering 10 million Arab learners,
including young graduates, with future skills by 2030, our academy contributes to economic recovery, enhances prosperity, and supports sustainable
development through inclusive, future-focused education. With a focus on continuous learning, we seek to bridge basic skills gaps and unlock the potential of
Arab talent to lead innovation.”

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