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6/20/25, 9:46 AM Future Skills Academy records wide interaction and creates tangible knowledge impact in its first phase - Middle East News 247

Future Skills Academy records wide interaction and creates tangible

knowledge impact in its first phase

By PR News Desk 19/06/2025

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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