UAE: Youth Knowledge Forum discusses strengthening role of youth

A special meeting for the 2022 Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Prize winners kicked off the series. Salem Qubais, director general of the UAE Space Agency, and Dr Zhang Yongzhen, who helped determine the genetic makeup of COVID-SARS-19, were both in attendance.

Al Qubaisi emphasized the need to implement a comprehensive vision and plan in order to turn the ambitious goals into reality. He added that the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center’s Hope probe was made possible by the energy of youth and that the project involved more than 200 Emirati engineers with an average age of 27, meaning that the energy of youth will Pushed to Mars.

On the other hand, Dr. Zhang emphasized that the creation and dissemination of knowledge can help change people’s lives, and the ability to foresee diseases and epidemics can help reduce the risks and damages associated with them. He further noted that scientific understanding and technological advances have played a vital role in addressing the challenges and impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that we must use knowledge and the tools and strategies it provides to mitigate future problems.

The second session of the Youth Knowledge Forum invited Dr. Ashraf Subhi, Minister of Youth and Sports of Egypt. According to Dr. Subhi, the very closeness and similarity of the Arabic language and the Arab identity of the Arab countries is the strength and strength that unites young Arabs and highlights that all Arab countries are united by one intellectual identity.

He added that Arab youth are a valuable resource that must be used to build the future, emphasizing that managing the future starts now. He further stated that there are many differences between actions and reactions, and between those who look at the future and those who try to predict it.

Dr. Sudhi further explained that the Arab world was the first country to establish numerous branches of research in the field of science compared to Europe at the beginning of the Renaissance. However, he noted, this had the unintended consequence of making Arab countries more lenient in the use of knowledge. Still, he said, a new phase of the Arab renaissance had begun, which depended largely on the new generation.

Asma Al Balushi, member of the Dubai Youth Council, moderated a panel entitled “Youth Circles: In-person vs. Virtual Education,” which featured a number of youth speakers. Education in the Metaverse, the role of government in education, academic accreditation for virtual education, and technology or no-technology in education were a few of the topics covered in sessions focused on knowledge ecosystems.

Participants discussed the difference between virtual education and real education, and made it clear that virtual education is a continuation of real education, not a substitute. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated this new reality in the educational ecosystem, positively impacting the continuity of the educational process during unprecedented times when countries around the world are in complete lockdown.

Participants further stated that the government has made education a top priority as it is a tool for national development. Therefore, governments should effectively manage their education systems to keep pace with global changes, especially in light of the rapid technological developments prevalent in post-tech revolution education ecosystems.

They further explained that while technology improves the mechanics of learning for students, helping them overcome barriers such as time and distance, it also hinders them from interacting directly with classmates and teachers, a feature that is more accessible to real-world education. Participants also highlighted the need for virtual education to support and continue traditional education.

Another session, Envisioning the Future of Work, featured industry leaders such as Wing co-founder Willie Maritz. Studio and Founder and CEO, NoMoreCourses; Hanin Imran, Corporate Wellness Manager, MindTales; Lara Chaaya, Senior Consultant, Middle East and North Africa Government, Coursera; Azza El Hayek, Co-Founder and Director of Customer Success, SkillLab.

The session focused on digitization and general trends in work environments and ecosystems. It highlights the importance of digital skills and the shift to a skilled workforce, and further highlights the importance of implementing remote work and its impact on productivity, mental health and wellbeing.

Participants discussed the Fourth Industrial Revolution and artificial intelligence, their benefits for improving quality of life, and their drawbacks, which include job losses due to automation and the emergence of new positions that require high levels of education and training. train.

Furthermore, participants emphasized that while robots will undoubtedly replace many jobs in the future, they are still limited in terms of performance and task execution, and we still need to consider human judgment as it is more important than artificial intelligence (AI) when making decisions , especially when making critical decisions such as implementing laws.

Another panel, titled “Reshaping the World with Youth Leaders,” was moderated by Okan Dursun, Founding Member of Twin Science and SDG Youth Leader; Thuy Anh Ngo, Founder and CEO of HASU, ALIGO and Memory Love Book Khaled Zaatarah, entrepreneur, innovator and founder of 360VUZ; Erifili Gounari, founder and CEO of The Z Link.

Participants discussed a variety of topics, but among the most important were the reasons why young people are eager for change, the difficulties young leaders face in launching projects, and the results of their efforts. Participants also discussed the key attributes people need to possess to be successful in leadership roles. Persistence, enthusiasm and patience are the three main characteristics required for success and must be present for optimal results, they added.

Participants also emphasized the importance of flexibility and the ability to learn, adapt and change in the job market, because without it, it has become challenging for competing businesses to advance and succeed, especially given the technological changes in the world. Rapid progress is going through all levels.

In addition, participants highlighted that one of the main challenges faced by young leaders is the ability to select good teams and make effective decisions, as well as the availability of the competencies and skills needed for any project to move forward and achieve continuity and success.Challenges and Solutions

The forum also held discussions with Emirati youth who have received international awards to understand the challenges, overcome them and how these challenges affect youth and society, including Hamdan Al Amri, recipient of the Davis Foundation International Peace Prize in the United States; Fatima Al Balushi, Awarded by the Youth Association in 2019 as Regional Impact Coordinator (Arab Youth) for an international, voluntary, non-governmental and not-for-profit organization; Khalid Al Shamsi, a 2020 UK Young Leaders Program graduate. Participants in the workshop discussed their experiences and journeys in achieving their goals, the difficulties they encountered and how they overcame them, and their impact on young people and society.

The Youth Knowledge Forum serves as a platform to encourage youth and motivate them to realize their intellectual ambitions and learn from previous winners of the Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Prize and their significant mark on the world Inspired by success stories. Regional and global knowledge ecosystems.