Silatech workshop informs GCC youth employment policy

Held at the University of Cambridge during the third annual Gulf Research Meeting (GRM), "A Growing Gulf: Public and Private Sector Initiatives and the Realities of Youth Employment Outcomes" covered a wide range of topics related to GCC youth employment policy, including labor market reform, employability promotion, education, vocational training, career exploration, gender and leadership, and workforce nationalization initiatives, among others.

The workshop was organized and sponsored by Silatech, a Doha-based initiative that engages private, public and civil society sectors to promote large-scale job creation, entrepreneurship and access to skills development services for young people across the Arab world.

According to Silatech CEO Dr. Tarik Yousef, "Informed policy debate and action-oriented research are critical to boosting youth employment in the Arab world. By bringing policy makers and experts together, this workshop provides an intellectual context for important policy decisions, while at the same time giving academics and policy makers practical feedback and insights from public sector officials."

Held in Cambridge, UK, from July 11-14, the Gulf Research Meeting is an annual gathering designed to provide an academic environment to foster study of the GCC countries, and to promote scholarly and academic exchange among scholars.

Workshop directors were Silatech's CEO Dr. Tarik Yousef and Director of Research and Policy Dr. Nader Kabbani. Participants and attendees included representatives from the UAE Federal Demographic Council, the International Labour Organization, the UAE Ministry of Presidential Affairs, the Bahrain Economic Development Board, Gulf Research Center, Qatar University, and a host of other academic and research institutions.

Silatech is a Qatar-based social initiative that works to create jobs and expand economic opportunities for young people throughout the Arab world. The organization promotes large-scale job creation, entrepreneurship, access to capital and markets, and the participation and engagement of young people in economic and social development. Founded in 2008 by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Silatech finds innovative solutions to challenging problems, working with a wide spectrum of development organizations, governments and the private sector to foster sustainable, positive change for Arab youth.