Experts examine current trends in Dubai's higher education landscape at Dubai School of Government event

Titled 'Taking Higher Education to Work', the event was held on 25 April and gathered leading academic professionals as well as thought leaders from the private and public sectors. The session aimed to identify gaps and formulate strategies to strengthen the educational sector and enhance the skills of students, preparing them for responsible roles in a demanding and competitive work environment.

With Emiratisation initiatives in full swing throughout the UAE, the dialogue focused on empowering UAE nationals with adequate industry-specific competencies. Public and private sector leaders also reviewed the skills that they look for in fresh graduates. This was followed by a discussion toward designing integrated higher educational programmes that would eventually help achieve the outlined objectives.

Moderated by Paul Dyer, Director of the Middle East Youth Initiative (MEYI) at the Dubai School of Government, speakers at the forum included Ammar Shams, Regional Head of Corporate Sustainability, HSBC Group; Hanan Al Fardan, Higher Education Department, KHDA; Essa Al Zaabi, Deputy General Manager of Emirates Institute for Banking and Financial Studies, and Raed Awamleh, Professor in Strategic Management, Director of Middlesex University Dubai.

Paul Dyer of DSG said: "Over the years, Dubai has become a business hub for organisations from around the globe. This has also helped make the emirate home to a diverse nationality base. It becomes increasingly important, therefore, to offer the Emirati youth the extra edge and exposure to broad-based education that hones them with relevant skills and allows them to compete in the global marketplace."

The event came as part of DSG's 'Education Policy Forum Series', which seeks to brings together key players in the education sector and address current trends that have emerged as major concerns for the society and the academic community.

Established in 2005 in cooperation with the Harvard Kennedy School, Dubai School of Government (DSG) aims to promote good governance through enhancing the region's capacity for effective public policy. The institution remains committed to the creation of knowledge, dissemination of best practice and training of policy makers in the Arab world.