Page 73 - MBRF English PR Report - September 2024

9/30/24, 10:52 AM Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation launches ‘Future Skills Academy’ as part of the Knowledge Project – …

“The Future Skills Academy is a strategic investment in the Arab region’s future, further strengthening Dubai’s
status as a globally prominent hub of knowledge. The aim is to nurture a generation of talented youth equipped
to address sustainable development challenges and empowered with the skills to propose effective solutions,” he
added.

Abdallah Al Dardari, Assistant Secretary-General, Assistant Administrator and Director of the Regional Bureau
for Arab States of the UNDP, said: “In addition to signifying a crucial advancement in our strategic partnership
with the MBRF, this academy represents a pivotal step towards creating a comprehensive and sustainable future.
Its primary mission is to bridge the digital divide in the Arab region by enhancing digital capabilities and
equipping local communities with the requisite skills to thrive in today’s ever-changing world. By providing
essential and cutting-edge resources, the academy will empower organisations and partnerships to leverage the
opportunities offered by the global digital economy.”

On a broader scale, the academy is designed to bridge the digital divide, promoting innovation, resilience, and
inclusion by providing individuals, governments, and SMEs with essential digital skills to drive digital
transformation and foster community innovation. It also seeks to enhance social innovation through partnerships
with universities and the private sector, enriching learning experiences and improving practical educational
outcomes. Additionally, the academy addresses labour market inequalities, including gender disparities, and
offers educational and vocational programmes tailored to support underrepresented groups.

The Future Skills Academy is set to offer a diverse range of certified and specialised programmes, available both
online and in-person, in its initial phase. It is designed to equip students, professionals, entrepreneurs, educators,
and government officials with essential future skills and will act as a knowledge-driven catalyst, supporting
various global digitalisation and transformation initiatives, including the Digitalisation for Sustainable
Development (DT4SD) programme. This collaboration underscores the synergy between UNDP initiatives and
the Foundation’s commitment to bringing about positive social change through educational initiatives.

The academy will play a pivotal role in enhancing the skills of younger generations across sectors such as health,
education, environment, governance, and policy-making. This is particularly significant given that youth
constitute nearly half of the region’s population, with nearly a quarter of this segment facing unemployment and
a still bigger proportion preparing to enter the workforce. Recent statistics highlight the growing gap between
individual skills and labour market demands in the Arab region. Despite 70 percent of the population having
internet access since 2022, only 1.7 percent are recognised as ‘digital talents.’

The Knowledge Summit is the leading annual knowledge event in the Arab world, providing a dynamic platform
to highlight insights that drive modern technological trends and the evolving knowledge ecosystem. It brings

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