ABU DHABI (WAM)
The UAE is set to host the Conference (19) of Arab Ministers of Higher Education and Scientific Research, organised by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in cooperation with the Arab League Educational, Cultural, and Scientific Organisation (ALECSO).
The event will take place on November 27-28, 2024 at the Saadiyat Rotana Resort and Villas.
The conference will be attended by high-level delegations headed by ministers of higher education and scientific research in Arab countries, delegations from Arab, regional and international education development organisations, leaders from local higher education institutions and experts in the field of education.
This year’s conference is being held under the theme ‘A Flexible Higher Education System Adapts to Rapid Global Developments,’ with the aim of discussing ways to develop policies for the higher education and scientific research sector across the Arab world.
It seeks to enhance the efficiency of human resources and educational curricula while achieving comprehensive quality to establish a leading, advanced and competitive higher education system in Arab countries.
Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation and Acting Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Dr. Abdulrahman Al Awar, said that the UAE’s hosting of this event reflects its distinguished educational status at the regional and international levels.
This aligns with the country's efforts to prioritise education as a key national focus and a cornerstone for building and qualifying competencies capable of leading and implementing comprehensive and sustainable development projects that promote well-being and societal progress, he explained.
He also highlighted that the conference will serve as an interactive platform for exchanging expertise in higher education and scientific research across Arab countries.
It will enable responsible authorities to shape the future of higher education systems in accordance with international best practices, addressing the developmental needs of Arab countries, he added.
Dr. Al Awar said, “In light of the rapid technological, social and economic developments taking place in the world around us, it is imperative that we work to enhance coordination and cooperation among Arab countries This will enable the development of flexible and proactive policies and frameworks that contribute to raising the efficiency and quality of educational and research institutions in the Arab world, while enhancing their competitiveness and presence on the international stage.”
He added, “During the conference, we will showcase the UAE's pioneering experience in developing and advancing its higher education system, focusing on improving the quality of its outputs by raising the efficiency and effectiveness of the country's higher education institutions. This includes linking academic programmes with the needs of economic and social sectors, as well as the requirements of the job market. We will work with our Arab peers and ALECSO to ensure that the conference delivers recommendations and resolutions that transform ambitious visions into practical initiatives and programmes that meet the aspirations ambitions of Arab populations and youth.”
Director-General of ALECSO, Dr. Mohamed Ould Amar, said the UAE generous hosting of the conference reflects its commitment to strengthening joint Arab action in the field of higher education and scientific research and underscores its pioneering experience in the field, which is highlighted by exemplary initiatives and projects to promote digital transformation, quality assurance, and governance.
Dr. Ould Amar explained, “ALECSO's organisation of the Conference falls within the framework of combining the national efforts of Arab countries in the field of higher education to enable them to achieve their national development goals and their regional and international commitments in the field (the UN Sustainable Development Goals and education transformation), as well as within ALECSO's quest for an effective Arab partnership to create a new Arab strategic horizon for the higher education and scientific research system and align it with contemporary expectations and requirements of the next century.”
The conference will also issue the ‘Abu Dhabi Declaration’ on advancing Arab higher education and scientific research systems.