LONDON, September 7, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --
Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation (MBRF) concluded its fourth global workshop organised in Oxford in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as part of its Arab Knowledge Report workshop series in Arab and international cities. This is the fourth workshop building upon workshops held in Amman, New York and Paris, which have helped highlight best international practices in the fields of knowledge, education and employment.
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The workshop at St. Anthony's College in the University of Oxford hosted a number of specialists and academics in the areas of knowledge and employment. It witnessed significant interaction between the speakers and the audience as participants discussed educational and employment opportunities for young people in the Arab region.
In his opening speech on the occasion, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Maktoum Al Maktoum, 1st Secretary- Head of the Economic Department, UAE Embassy in the UK, pointed out that knowledge is the basis for progress and prosperity of any community. He stressed the need to build a creative generation that is capable of contributing to the production, transfer and localisation of knowledge.
Speaking on the occasion, HE Jamal bin Huwaireb, Managing Director of MBRF, said the workshop in Oxford contributed to MBRF's preparations for the Knowledge Conference, which will be held in Dubai on 7th-9th December 2015.
During the first session of the workshop in London, Dr. Khalid Al Wazani, core team member of the 'Third Arab Knowledge Report', presented the most important results of the third 'Arab Knowledge Report', explaining how the report involved a field survey in which over 5,000 Arab youths from the UAE, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia participated.
The second session tackled the use of technology to improve education and employment opportunities. The speakers - Dr. Nasir Hussain, co-founder of Strategy Foresight Partnership; Mr. Nick Chambers, Director of Education and Employers Organisation, and Dr. Kevin Dunseath of Isis Innovation at the University of Oxford - presented innovative approaches to using technology to strengthen education. These approaches attracted considerable interest from the audience.
The third session examined examples of successful employment creation, and featured Mr. Khalid bin Hadi, Senior Vice President, Siemens, UAE; and Prof. Andrew Godley, Head of the School of Leadership, Organisations and Behaviour at Henley Business School in the University of Reading, who respectively highlighted the German approach of creating opportunities and entrepreneurship, and entrepreneurship-creating careers.
The final session featured Dr. Anthony Mann, Director of Policy and Research at Education and Employers; Dr. Serra Kirdar, Life Fellow, St Antony's College; and Mr. Tarek Osman, author and political economist. The presenters emphasised the value of evidence and analysis, the role of women, and the challenges faced by youths in the Arab region. The session ended on an optimistic note that young people have the potential to gain knowledge, ability and energy to make a difference to their communities, societies and themselves.
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