Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation Launches Future Skills Academy to Empower Arab World

The Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation (MBRF) has taken a significant step towards empowering the Arab world by launching the 'Future Skills Academy' as part of its 'Knowledge Project.' This initiative, developed in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), was unveiled during the 'Digitalization for Sustainable Development' (D4SD) event on the sidelines of the 79th UN General Assembly in New York.

The Future Skills Academy represents a major advancement in the UAE's vision of building a knowledge-based economy driven by innovation and creativity. It aims to reach over a million people across the Arab world, offering educational programs designed to equip individuals with crucial skills for professional development and future employment opportunities. This initiative is particularly significant given the region's demographic profile, where youth constitute nearly half of the population, with a quarter facing unemployment and many more preparing to enter the workforce.

The academy's launch comes at a critical time when the Arab region faces a growing gap between individual skills and labor market demands. Despite 70% of the population having internet access since 2022, only 1.7% are recognized as 'digital talents.' The Future Skills Academy seeks to address this disparity by offering a range of certified and specialized programs, both online and in-person, targeting students, professionals, entrepreneurs, educators, and government officials.

Jamal bin Huwaireb, CEO of the MBRF, emphasized the academy's role in empowering future generations with skills to develop sustainable solutions. He stated that the initiative aligns with MBRF's commitment to spreading knowledge globally and supporting community development. The academy aims to bridge gaps, advance the knowledge economy, and promote human development across the Arab region by directly linking education to employment opportunities.

The Future Skills Academy is designed to be more than just an educational platform. It aims to bridge the digital divide, promote innovation, resilience, and inclusion by providing essential digital skills to drive digital transformation and foster community innovation. The academy also seeks to enhance social innovation through partnerships with universities and the private sector, enriching learning experiences and improving practical educational outcomes.

Furthermore, the academy addresses labor market inequalities, including gender disparities, by offering tailored educational and vocational programs to support underrepresented groups. This comprehensive approach underscores the academy's potential to create lasting impact across various sectors of society.

The launch of the Future Skills Academy also marks the formation of a global coalition for skills development. The MBRF has invited stakeholders to participate in the coalition's inaugural meeting at the ninth edition of the 'Knowledge Summit,' scheduled for November 2024 in Dubai. This coalition highlights MBRF's pivotal role in fostering innovation and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals through initiatives designed to enhance community skills and empower individuals.

As part of the broader 'Knowledge Project,' a collaboration between UNDP and MBRF, the Future Skills Academy aligns with the mission to ensure accessibility to knowledge-based societies and promote sustainable development. It aims to facilitate meaningful dialogue and enhance awareness around the significance of knowledge and knowledge-driven policies, with a special emphasis on the 'Global Knowledge Index' (GKI) as a catalyst for transformation.

The launch of the Future Skills Academy represents a strategic investment in the Arab region's future, strengthening Dubai's status as a global knowledge hub. By nurturing a generation of talented youth equipped to address sustainable development challenges, the academy is poised to play a crucial role in shaping the future of the Arab world, driving digital transformation, and fostering innovation across various sectors.