The Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research
Published: 2022-01-03
Total Pages: 15
Get eBook
The ECSSR’s 10th Annual Education Conference, titled ‘Education and Jobs of the Future: Developing Qualified Human Capital to Secure the UAE’s Progress,’ underscored the paramount importance of education as the cornerstone of progress for any society. Held from November 12 to 13, 2019, the conference brought together leading experts to explore some of the most pertinent issues facing contemporary education, with a particular focus on the role of technology. The future of employment, and the skills required in the decades to come, is one of the most significant issues poised to impact our societies and economies. As education and employment are intrinsically linked, the nature of educational provision and how we tailor it to coming developments, will have a profound effect on workforces. At the heart of the issue is the pressing need for dynamic educational systems where students can hone a variety of skills. The value of critical thinking, to complement core technological competencies, cannot be overstated as we strive to support adaptable life-long learners who are able to play a productive role in the workplace of tomorrow. Focused on these vital issues, this book presents the most significant papers presented at the conference by experts from a variety of educational and vocational disciplines, locally and internationally. The first chapter considers the impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution on higher education, where new technologies precipitate a realignment of STEM disciplines. Chapter Two focuses on the connection between outcomes-based education and the fulfillment of UAE national objectives. In Chapter Three, the role of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is highlighted, with a specific look at its development and promotion in the UAE, while opportunities for people of determination as partners in development in the UAE are discussed in Chapter Four. Chapter Five broadens the scope with a look at international experiences in education, exploring an Innovation and Design program at the National University of Singapore, and in Chapter Six, an institutions-based, strategic approach highlights the opportunities in international collaboration in education. The development of Singapore’s national education system is the focus in Chapter Seven, illustrating the challenges and opportunities in one of the world’s most successful educational experiences. Continuing with the focus on higher education, Chapter Eight considers the Canadian context, and the factors in the establishment of its university system, which boasts some of the most prestigious institutions in the world. Finally, in Chapter Nine, the analysis turns to comprehensive education, and early childhood education in particular, to show how Finland has created a world-class educational model, while exploring some important lessons learned during its development. This book serves not only as a way to collate the knowledge shared during the ECSSR’s 10th Annual Education Conference, but aims to underscore the importance of education as the UAE embarks on a new phase in its strategic planning for the next fifty years of the nation’s journey.