• The academy aims to reach over one million people in the Arab States region, helping to address unemployment challenges and driving towards sustainable economic growth 
• The initiative aligns with the UAE’s ambitious vision to create a knowledge-driven economy rooted in innovation, leadership, and creativity 
• A global coalition for skills development was launched with an inaugural meeting planned during the ninth edition of the Knowledge Summit in Dubai in November 2024 

Dubai: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation (MBRF) launched the ‘Future Skills Academy’ as part of the ‘Knowledge Project’ to support the empowerment of citizens in the Arab States region.  

The announcement was made during the ‘Digital for Sustainable Development’ (D4SD), high-level side-event hosted by the UNDP on the sidelines of the 79^th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA79), in New York. Notable participants included H.E. Osama Abdel Khalek, Permanent Representative of the Arab Republic of Egypt to the United Nations; Haoliang Xu, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Associate Administrator of UNDP; H.E. Mohammed Al Mannai, Minister of Communications and Information Technology of Qatar; H.E. Amr Talaat, Minister of Communications and Information Technology of Egypt (through a recorded contribution); H.E. Omran Sharaf, Assistant Foreign Minister for Advanced Science and Technology of the United Arab Emirates, H.E. Jamal bin Huwaireb, CEO of the MBRF and Dr. Abdallah Al Dardari, Assistant Secretary-General, Assistant Administrator and Director of the Regional Bureau for Arab States at UNDP. 

The new academy represents a significant milestone within the FutureSkills4All initiative, launched as part of the ‘Knowledge Project’ last year. The academy aims to empower people in the Arab States with various educational programmes that help them to acquire future skills, remarkably enhancing their professional development and enabling them to contribute to the achievement of economic growth as well as the Sustainable Development Goals in the region.  

Clear objectives 

The ‘Future Skills Academy’ is envisaged to expand its reach to make its programmes accessible to more than one million people across the Arab States region. It further aims to meet the surge in demand for specialised training programmes that are specifically designed to bridge educational gaps through meaningful partnerships with relevant governments. The academy also seeks to address unemployment challenges by tightening the gap between existing job opportunities and skillsets of the workforce, including fresh graduates. 

In the event, the MBRF announced the formation of a global coalition for skills development, to be jointly established with UNDP, inviting stakeholders to participate in its inaugural meeting that will take place at the ninth edition of the ‘Knowledge Summit,’ in Dubai, in November 2024. “This initiative aligns with MBRF’s commitment to spreading knowledge globally to support community development,” said H.E. Jamal bin Huwaireb, CEO of the MBRF. “The academy embodies our continuous dedication to bridging gaps, advancing the knowledge economy, and promoting human development across the Arab region by equipping individuals with essential skills and directly linking education to employment opportunities,” he added. 

“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 States region by enhancing digital capabilities and equipping local communities with the requisite skills to thrive in today’s ever-changing world,” said Dr. Abdallah Al Dardari, Assistant Secretary-General, Assistant Administrator and Director of the Regional Bureau for Arab States at UNDP. “By providing essential and cutting-edge resources, the academy will empower organizations and partnerships to leverage the opportunities offered by the global digital economy,” he added. 

Partnership model 

The academy is designed to help bridge the digital divide, promoting innovation, resilience, and inclusion by providing individuals, governments, and SMEs with 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. It is designed to equip students, professionals, entrepreneurs, educators, and government officials with essential future skills catalyse knowledge, and support various global digitalization and transformation initiatives. This collaboration underscores the synergy between UNDP initiatives and MBRF’s commitment to bringing about positive social change through education initiatives. 

Crucial support 

Recent statistics highlight a growing gap between individual skills and labour market demands in the Arab region. Despite 70% of the population having internet access since 2022, only 1.7% are recognised as ‘digital talents.’ With youth constituting nearly half of the region’s population, almost a quarter of them facing unemployment, and a bigger proportion preparing to enter the workforce, the academy will play a pivotal role in enhancing the skills of younger generations across sectors such as health, education, environment, governance, and policymaking.