United Arab Emirates: The Higher Education and Future Skills Advisory Committee held its fourth meeting, chaired by His Excellency Dr. Abdulrahman Al Awar, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratization, and Acting Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, with the participation of committee members representing higher education institutions and economic sectors in the country. The committee reviewed the latest developments in the work of its sub-working groups and the progress they have made in developing initiatives and projects aimed at enhancing the readiness of the higher education system to keep pace with future changes and labor market needs .

His Excellency Dr. Abdulrahman Al Awar affirmed that the Higher Education and Future Skills Advisory Committee presents an advanced national model for partnership and constructive cooperation between higher education institutions, government agencies, and economic sectors, where all elements of the system work to develop a higher education system that is more flexible, efficient, and responsive to rapid changes.

His Excellency said: “The working groups emanating from the Advisory Committee succeeded in transforming dialogues, discussions, and recommendations into practical initiatives and projects based on data and quality partnerships, and closely linked to the needs of students, universities, and the labor market. This was achieved by focusing on developing academic pathways, supporting practical training efforts, systematically employing artificial intelligence applications, and establishing a culture of continuous learning, which supports the readiness of graduates and enhances their contribution to achieving national priorities, in addition to developing the skills of faculty members, in line with the aspirations and requirements of the labor market.”

His Excellency Dr. Al Awar praised the achievements of the eight working groups within their various specializations, noting that the Ministry will continue to support and empower these groups to enhance their contribution to creating global competitiveness for academic institutions in the country, and to ensure that their outputs are aligned with the skills and specializations required in priority economic sectors.

National platforms for translating visions into practical initiatives

The Higher Education and Future Skills Advisory Committee comprises eight specialized working groups with more than 120 experts and representatives from higher education institutions, government agencies and the private sector, working to develop practical solutions and initiatives that support aligning higher education outputs with the needs of the national economy and enhance graduates’ readiness for future jobs and skills .

The working groups emanating from the committee include: (The first group deals with the jobs and skills of the future labor market, the second group deals with cooperation between the economic and academic sectors, the third group relates to aligning the outputs of health education with the needs of the health system, the fourth group aims to reduce the skills gap between general education and higher education, the fifth group deals with employing artificial intelligence technologies in higher education, the sixth working group aims to align the skills of career paths with academic programs, the seventh group is concerned with the transformation of the workforce in legal professions, and the eighth group deals with skills and a model of cooperation with different industrial sectors and apprenticeship programs).

Aligning academic programs with the skills required in the national economy

Specialized working groups contributed to laying the groundwork for updating academic programs in several priority sectors to anticipate the needs of the national economy. The Skills Group, the Collaboration Model with various industrial sectors, and apprenticeship programs identified 40 future-oriented skills required by the sector and, based on this, proposed the development of approximately 140 sector-related academic programs. The Workforce Transformation in Legal Professions Group completed studies and initiatives aimed at updating around 34 academic programs in legal disciplines. Meanwhile, the Skills Alignment with Academic Programs Group continues its efforts to develop educational programs related to the careers sector and emerging technologies through direct collaboration with higher education institutions and relevant economic sectors, identifying 170 proposed improvements to existing and new academic programs.

Applied training in partnership with economic sectors

Regarding the development of practical training and applied learning systems in partnership with economic sectors, the "Work Experience" project was launched. This project aims to provide high-quality practical training opportunities for students in collaboration with approximately 40 companies and institutions across various sectors. The goal is to enhance students' professional skills and bridge the gap between academic learning outcomes and the demands of real-world work environments. It is expected that around 500 students from higher education institutions will benefit from the project during its initial phase.

The working groups' efforts also included developing new models for cooperative and applied training integrated into academic programs, enabling students to gain deeper professional experience without extending their study period. This was coupled with developing specialized initiatives in the legal sector, including enhancing practical training through legal advocacy competitions and establishing training centers that connect students with legal practitioners and faculty members. In the energy and water sector, work is underway to integrate cooperative and applied training pathways into approximately 70 academic programs to support the development of qualified national talent capable of leading future transformations in this vital sector.

Enhancing the efficiency of faculty members through integration with economic sectors

To develop academic competencies and strengthen their connection to economic sectors, a national professional exchange initiative was launched between higher education institutions and the business sector. During the pilot phase, 21 higher education institutions and approximately 30 companies and organizations from various economic sectors participated. The initiative aims to provide opportunities for faculty members to gain firsthand experience of professional practices and rapid developments in work environments. This will contribute to transferring practical expertise into the classroom and updating academic content to meet the needs of economic sectors and the demands of future professions.

Accelerating the use of artificial intelligence in higher education

The working group on employing artificial intelligence in higher education has also made significant progress in integrating AI technologies into teaching and learning, assessment, improving the efficiency of institutional processes, and developing the skills of faculty members. These efforts included organizing specialized workshops with the participation of more than 200 representatives from higher education institutions and the economic sector.

The initiatives led by the working group also included developing guidelines for the responsible use of artificial intelligence, and preparing a study on new AI-based business models to share with member universities, where AI skills and applications are expected to be integrated into approximately 230 academic programs in higher education institutions during the pilot period.

From Studies to Application: Translating Studies into Practices and Applications in Higher Education

In parallel, working groups focused on translating the outputs of specialized studies and research into practical initiatives and applications that support the development of the higher education system. Several qualitative studies were conducted in collaboration with universities and economic sectors in the areas of emerging skills, artificial intelligence, and legal education. These efforts resulted in identifying a set of priority skills and developing recommendations and initiatives to support the modernization of academic programs and enhance their alignment with labor market needs .

The findings of these studies have also contributed to the development of several national initiatives, including supporting the development of the "Future Readiness" pillar within the framework of outcomes-based assessment for higher education institutions, preparing specialized studies to address skills gaps in certain disciplines and emerging sectors, and developing tools and methodologies that leverage data and advanced analytics to support academic decision-making. These efforts encompassed the implementation of approximately seven specialized studies and the development of a set of recommendations and initiatives that are being utilized in developing educational policies and programs at the sector level.

Strategic partnerships with leading technology companies

The Ministry, in collaboration with leading global technology companies, has also developed innovative models and initiatives to accelerate qualitative transformations within higher education institutions and enhance their future readiness. These efforts included implementing pilot projects in partnership with global companies such as Microsoft and Google Cloud, aiming to leverage artificial intelligence technologies in developing curricula, educational and administrative processes, and enhancing learning experiences, scientific research, and innovation. It is expected that more than 120,000 students and faculty members will benefit from AI tools and solutions during the first phase of these projects .

About the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research

The UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research is leading efforts to develop an advanced higher education and scientific research system that supports the building of a knowledge-based and competitive economy built on innovation and future skills. Based on the Federal Decree-Law on Higher Education and Scientific Research, the Ministry is working to establish a flexible and advanced system that enhances the quality and competitiveness of higher education institutions and enables students to acquire the knowledge and skills required for the jobs of the future.

The Ministry plays a pivotal role in linking the outputs of the higher education system to the needs of the national economy, through the development of policies, programs and partnerships that contribute to preparing and empowering national competencies, supporting scientific research and innovation, and transforming knowledge into practical applications with a sustainable economic and social impact.

Through this role, the Ministry contributes to consolidating the UAE’s position as a global center of excellence in higher education and scientific research, and a key driver for investment in human capital and skills development.

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