SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
Future skills, artificial intelligence, labour market needs and the National Education Charter topped the agenda of the inaugural Emirati Education Forum on Wednesday in Abu Dhabi.
Organised by the Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR), the event at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi brought together around 1,200 participants to advance a student-centred education system.
Held under the theme “Five Pillars of Education: Toward an Integrated Education Ecosystem”, the forum focused on strengthening collaboration among educational institutions, teachers, families, policymakers and the wider community.
Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of Education, discussed the UAE Education Charter, a national initiative aimed at advancing the education system. “The charter reflects the need to rethink education and the skills students require for the future,” she said.
She highlighted the importance of adapting education to emerging challenges, noting that while academic knowledge and strong educational foundations remain essential, teaching methods must evolve to respond to rapid changes in technology and the labour market.
She also emphasised the importance of developing practical skills, stressing that students need more than traditional classroom knowledge. “They must develop the ability to use modern tools and technologies, strengthen their language skills, particularly Arabic, and acquire the competencies needed in an increasingly changing world.”
On implementing these changes, she noted that they must be gradual and systematic. “Educational development cannot happen overnight; it must be introduced progressively and systematically.”
Dr Sultan Mohammed Al Nuaimi, Director General of the ECSSR, highlighted education as a national priority and stressed that educational outcomes are a collective responsibility involving all members of society.
He said the forum places students at the centre of an interconnected ecosystem.
“There is no place in the future for those who lack knowledge and learning,” he said.
He added: “We now have Emirati expertise capable of understanding our educational system and shaping its future. At the Emirates Education Forum, the Emirati voice remains at the heart of our discussions and our vision for the future.”
Dr Ebrahim Al Hajri, President of Khalifa University of Science and Technology, highlighted the university’s growing role in driving innovation. “Our focus has been on five strategic areas that are important to the country, including energy, aviation, space, artificial intelligence and industry.”
He stressed the importance of commercialising research through collaboration with companies and support for entrepreneurs and startups. Al Hajri also emphasised the university’s contribution to the local economy through innovation and entrepreneurship.
“Ultimately, our focus is on creating a positive impact on the local economy by supporting innovators, helping startups develop their ideas and transforming research into commercially viable solutions.”
Speaking to Aletihad, on the sidelines of the event, Obaid Al Zaabi, Director of the Strategic Studies and Scientific Research Division at ECSSR, highlighted the forum’s role in advancing education in the UAE.
“The forum serves as an interactive platform to discuss the most prominent challenges and opportunities in the education sector from an Emirati perspective.”
He explained that the forum promotes a broader vision of education by placing students at the heart of an integrated education ecosystem.
He added that the forum builds on numerous previous conferences organised by ECSSR that focused primarily on education.
“Our ambition is for the forum to serve as a laboratory for ideas aimed at developing education in the UAE.”