Bridging the Regional Skills Gap will be addressed on 20 November at the Higher Education MENA Conference, at the Le Méridien Dubai Hotel & Conference Centre. Expert panelist from higher education and industry will present their views on how to align higher education with the labour market needs in the Middle East Region.
The young higher education sector has an opportunity to develop tailored curricula to meet the issue of youth unemployment and underemployment and better align with the current labour market. Education institutions and the private sector needs to improve communication and collaboration to stimulate educational output in the region. How can market needs be communicated better into the higher education institutions? What steps can be taken to improve the alignment of post-secondary education output to national economic needs? What are the challenges that institutions are facing in meeting industry needs while operating in a highly regulated sector?
Moderated by Dr. Senthil Nathan, Managing Director of Edu Alliance Ltd. in Abu Dhabi, the panel will feature Professor Tod Laursen President Khalifa University, Professor Mohamed Salem President of the University of Wollongong in Dubai, Professor Ehab Abdel-Rahma, Provost American University of Cairo and Mohammed Al Raqbani General Manager Dubai Investment Industries LLC.
Dr. Senthil commented: “I was approached by the conference organizers to examine a critical regional issue in higher education. Edu Alliance strongly believes that the region’s higher education institutions and the industry have much more room to collaborate to address this Skills Gap challenge. That’s the primary motivation behind designing this panel discussion as well as to help this forum make the academia-industry collaboration as the main theme.”
Dr. Nathan was asked why he asked this eminent panel of experts to represent the different sides of the solution to this challenge.
Ehab Abdel-Rahman: Egypt has the region’s largest number of educated but unemployed youth. Provost Ehab Abdel-Rahman who represents the top-ranked university in Egypt that has almost a century of history in educational excellence is well placed to address this challenge.
Mohamed Salem: To fast-track progress in higher education, UAE hosts the world’s highest number of branch campuses of international universities. President Mohamed Salem represents the oldest and the largest of these branch campuses and will present the unique perspectives of international universities in addressing the skills gap in this region.
Mohammed Al Raqbani: Regional industry represents the other side of the dialogue. Mr. Mohammed Al Raqbani – who heads a strong company that hosts or invests in a wide array of industries in Dubai – will offer a industry perspective on skills gap both from the region’s employers and also from the two universities that his company has invested in.
Stephen Wilhite: The American University of Ras Al Khaimah and its Provost Stephen Wilhite works closely with local government and industry to meet the skills gap in Ras Al Khaimah. They offer a wide ranging number of degrees that promotes advanced critical thinking skills, fosters creativity, and instills a commitment to lifelong learning.
“I hope that the interaction between the panelists and the conference participants will spark an ongoing discussion to design a way forward that will bridge the regional skills gap by aligning graduate outcomes with employer needs.”
Background on Bridging the Regional Skills Gap
Youth unemployment rate in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is more than double the global average of 13%. There are many factors contributing to this major problem. As with many parts of the world, the skills gap is certainly a major factor behind unemployment– as evidenced by millions of expat staff recruited to the same region. A 2016 research report compiled by YouGov and Bayt.com on the skills gap in the MENA region, finds “a profound disconnect between the perceptions held by employers and the perceptions held by job seekers.” Of the top three recommendations made in this survey, two of them involve educational institutions and companies working together:
- Companies, educational institutions, and governments should work together to predict future skills needs.
- Companies and educational institutions should work together to provide students with the skills they need to enter the job market.
Another one in the top 5 recommendations in the top five is:
- Educational institutions should teach students the skills they need to enter the job market.
About Edu Alliance: Edu Alliance is a higher education consulting services firm based in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Its sister company, Edu Alliance Group, has offices in Indianapolis, Indiana USA. The company provides the experience and expertise colleges and universities need to expand and optimize their engagement with students and institutions around the world. We help universities think strategically and creatively about their international programs. Edu Alliance provides a diverse group of distinguished higher education professionals to research, plan, and execute international education programs.
For additional information or to arrange an interview contact: Dean Hoke, Co-Founder Edu Alliance Ltd. dean.hoke@edu-alliance.net : (USA) +001 502-257-1063: Twitter: @EduAllianceUAE: Website http://www.edu-alliance.net/
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