Today's Edition
RABI HAMAMSAH (DUBAI)
In the presence of Minister of Cabinet Affairs Mohammed Al Gergawi, the New Media Academy, the first innovative academy of its kind in the field of digital media in the Middle East, celebrated a batch of graduates from the Faris Al Muhtawa Programme, which included 90 content creators from the UAE and the Arab world.
The graduation ceremony took place on the sidelines of the 1 Billion Followers Summit, which kicked off on Wednesday at the Emirates Towers in Dubai.
The Faris Al Muhtawa Programme
The Faris Al Muhtawa Programme aims to attract youth to empower them with skills, talents, and experiences to lead the content industry regionally and globally. On a broader scale, the programme works to enhance the UAE's efforts to develop the talents and expertise of influencers and digital content creators in the Arab region. During the programme, participants created 400 pieces of content, and the programme offered 80 training hours. The programme's alumni have a combined total of 12,750,000 account views across various platforms. So far, 20 graduates have been employed by various local and federal government departments.
Graduates' Ambitions
In an interview with Aleithad, graduate Safa Al Naqabi said that the 1 Billion Followers Summit is the right place for the Faris Al Muhtawa Programme's graduation ceremony.
'We are the next generation of influencers and content creators at all levels, and here is the right place and the right time to have the graduation ceremony,'' she said.
Al Naqabi said that the programme taught her and the other graduates the integrated skills and expertise necessary to be a content creator that addresses different topics in the UAE.
''I am a business owner and a General Practitioner; I learned how to use my previous expertise and employ it to generate original content for different social media planforms. The academy brought the best media trainers and experts to train and teach us how to excel and be successful,'' she added.
Al Naqabi told Aletihad that the UAE's support in general, namely in the technology and social media sector, is beyond imagination, ''and that is because the UAE believes in keeping up with the latest technologies and uplifting us with it''.
Another graduate, Saeed Al Khasouni, told Aletihad that the programme added a lot to his previous experience in dealing with generating content related to different topics.
''This programme equipped me with what I need to start generating content addressing any topic, and it also taught me how to reach a target audience through using different platforms. The programme also inspired me with many ideas to work on after graduating, and I will apply everything I learned to better the content I create,'' he said.
Al Khasouni stressed that the 1 Billion Followers Summit is a chance to meet advanced content creators, as well as famous influencers, to follow in their footsteps and be successful in this field.
''I am so glad that the graduation ceremony took place today at the summit, so the content creators and influencers can see us and guide us in this field. The summit is a place for networking, learning, building partnership in the world of content creation,'' he added.
Al Khasouni said that UAE's support for its youth is an important tool that led to his success, ''as the UAE is keen on empowering youth in all sectors, and this sector is among them."
''We are here today at a summit considered one-of-a-kind by all, which brings together top-notch content creators and influencers from all around the world. That shows how the UAE is a pioneer in its efforts to empower all in this domain, and today we have influencers who have been able to provide innovative content in tourism, economics, and science. We have influencers and creators in creating media content in engineering, culture, arts, history, and other fields''.
Future Vision
Launched in June 2020 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, The New Media Academy serves as a dynamic hub for content creation and education.
''Its mission is to propel Emiratis and Arabs into the digital realm by fostering their presence across various social media platforms. With a focus on authentic storytelling and open dialogue, the New Media Academy cultivates a new generation of digital thought leaders through creator development and capacity building,'' said Hussein Al Atouli, the Academy's acting Executive Director.
Al Atouli said that the academy offers comprehensive training to professionals aspiring to become communication experts and managers in both public and private sector institutions, while also nurturing the skills of social media influencers.
The New Media Academy is dedicated to nurturing a fresh wave of digital change-makers. Its world-class educational programmes, led by seasoned digital practitioners, cover vital subjects such as content creation, social media content marketing, digital communication strategies, storytelling, and community building.
