United Arab Emirates: The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research held a virtual workshop entitled “Integration with the Industrial Sector… and Leading Change in Future Labor Market Skills,” with the participation of 40 representatives of higher education institutions, the industrial sector and various economic sectors, as part of the work of the Future of Jobs and Skills in the Labor Market Working Group, which stems from the Advisory Committee for Higher Education and Future Skills, with the aim of discussing mechanisms for developing the system of continuous professional development in higher education institutions, and enhancing the practical openness of academic staff members to industrial and professional work environments .

The workshop was held as part of the Ministry's efforts to enhance the integration of higher education with labor market needs by developing models more aligned with future skills and enabling faculty members to keep pace with the rapid transformations in the industrial and economic sectors. The event emphasized the importance of making direct interaction with the industrial sector a part of the ongoing professional development of faculty members, which will reflect positively on the quality of academic programs, modernize teaching and training methods, and enhance students' ability to transition smoothly into the labor market .

His Excellency Ibrahim Fikri, Assistant Undersecretary for the Higher Education and Scientific Research Regulation and Governance Sector at the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, said: “The rapid transformations in the labor market require the development of educational models that are more closely linked to practical reality and the needs of the economic sectors. From this standpoint, this workshop contributes to supporting the directions of higher education institutions towards enhancing openness to the industrial sector, enabling faculty members to acquire practical experiences that reflect on the development of academic programs, enhancing applied research, and raising students’ readiness for future jobs.”

For her part, Dr. Mariam Al-Hindi, Director of Technical Excellence at ADNOC and Chair of the Future of Jobs and Skills in the Labor Market Working Group, said: “The partnership between the industrial sector and higher education institutions is a fundamental pillar for building an educational system more closely aligned with practical realities. As part of our group’s work, we reviewed the continuing professional development systems adopted by international and local higher education institutions and evaluated leading global frameworks to build a UAE model based on global best practices while simultaneously responding to the priorities of the national economy.”

She added: “We discussed a preliminary vision for a framework that includes hours dedicated to direct interaction with the industrial sector, through models such as field visits, professional secondments, and joint research projects. The UAE is in a unique position to be a global leader in integrating actual industrial experience within the system of continuous professional development for members of the academic staff, which will reflect on the quality of education and the readiness of graduates for the jobs of the future.”

Keeping pace with the rapid developments in work environments

The workshop addressed the importance of developing more integrated models for continuous learning for faculty members, thereby strengthening the link between academic programs and the requirements of the economic sectors. Participants emphasized that the rapid advancements in technology and work environments necessitate greater opportunities for direct exposure to modern professional practices, which will enhance the quality of education and ensure graduates possess the required skills. They also stressed the importance of strengthening institutional cooperation between universities and employers to support graduate readiness and align educational outcomes with labor market needs.

Participants also discussed the opportunity to develop a framework for continuing professional development (CPD), including dedicated hours for practical interaction with the industrial sector—a step that would position the UAE as a global leader . The workshop addressed a preliminary concept for distributing CPD hours among faculty members to ensure they keep pace with applied knowledge and modern technologies, and to enhance their ability to connect academic content with the challenges and actual needs of the labor market .

Practical examples of cooperation between universities and the industrial sector

The workshop reviewed a number of proposed models for practical interaction between faculty members and the industrial sector, including organized field visits, practical tasks within work environments, applied consultations, joint research projects, and professional secondment or assignment programs with sector partners, which allows faculty members to directly learn about the technologies, processes and work culture within institutions, and contributes to the development of academic programs, the promotion of applied research and the expansion of opportunities for cooperation with industrial partners .

Linking academic experiences to practical reality

The participants also discussed ways to support the implementation of these trends and enhance their sustainability, by allocating a number of practical training hours for members of the academic staff to interact with the industrial sector, and activating the use of the Emirates Skills platform in supporting the link between academic expertise and the needs of the economic sectors, in addition to setting a framework for coordination and follow-up between the ministry and the industrial sector.

This workshop comes within the framework of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research’s directions to develop a higher education system that is more closely linked to the needs of the national economy, and to strengthen partnership with the industrial sector and various economic sectors, in order to support the quality of academic programs, consolidate applied research, and enhance the readiness of graduates for future jobs, in line with the UAE’s directions towards building a competitive economy based on knowledge, skills, and innovation.

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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