• GEMS Education becomes the first private school group in the world to join Oracle University's Skills Development Initiative (SDI).
• Over 11,000 students from the GEMS Education group in the UAE will be equipped with the skills needed for the most in-demand technical jobs over the next three years.
• Enabling high school students and graduates of GEMS Education schools to access a university-level digital skills program and foundational certificates in artificial intelligence, data analytics and cloud computing

Dubai, UAE: GEMS Education has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Oracle to provide GEMS secondary school students and graduates with industry-recognized and accredited digital skills. As part of this collaboration, GEMS schools will participate in Oracle University’s Skills Development Initiative (SDI), which offers high-quality educational content and foundational certifications in artificial intelligence, data analytics, and cloud computing, free of charge.

In a first for Oracle University’s Skills Development Initiative, the program is being expanded to include a network of private schools, allowing high school students to benefit from advanced professional-standard educational experiences that were previously limited to higher education students and professionals wishing to develop or retrain their skills.

In this context, Dino Varkey, CEO of GEMS Education, stated: “The competitiveness of nations in the future will be determined by their success in developing a workforce with digital literacy and an innovative mindset. In the UAE, technology, artificial intelligence, and the digital economy are key pillars of the country’s long-term vision, and education plays a pivotal role in supporting these ambitions. Through our partnership with Oracle, we are providing our secondary school students with access to accredited learning experiences and industry-recognized qualifications that were previously limited to university education or the early stages of careers. This step represents a significant milestone in reimagining school education in the age of artificial intelligence and digital transformation. Together, we are working to prepare a generation of talent capable of succeeding and actively contributing to the UAE’s knowledge economy.”

This collaboration allows GEMS Education to adopt a more structured approach to digital skills development, focusing on equipping students with essential skills and enhancing their capabilities to achieve professional certifications. The memorandum of understanding includes clear objectives: to qualify at least 11,000 students across GEMS schools over the next three years, with 50% of participants obtaining professional certifications.

Leopoldo Boado Lama, Senior Vice President for the Middle East and Africa at Oracle, said: “The UAE is setting a global benchmark in how to prepare societies for an AI-driven future. By expanding Oracle University’s Skills Development Initiative to secondary education for the first time in partnership with GEMS Education, we are giving students access to essential technical skills and professional qualifications that are increasingly valued by universities and employers worldwide. This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to developing a future-proof workforce and empowering young people to actively participate in and contribute to the development of the digital economy.”

As part of this program, GEMS students and graduates will have access to the Oracle MyLearn platform, which offers structured learning pathways that support continuous skills development, from foundational to advanced levels. The platform includes a range of in-demand courses covering topics such as the fundamentals of artificial intelligence and generative AI, cloud computing, data and analytics platforms, cybersecurity, and enterprise applications like enterprise resource planning (ERP), human capital management (HCM), and customer experience (CX).

With its global expertise in enterprise technologies, artificial intelligence, and cloud solutions, Oracle will help equip students with industry-recognized skills and qualifications throughout their education. The agreement also establishes a framework for a long-term partnership that will allow for future expansion of collaboration.

Participants will be able to earn digital badges, along with free opportunities to take professional certification exams. Upon successfully passing these exams, they will receive industry-recognized qualifications, enhancing their university applications and career readiness.

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