(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) The Mena region, mainly Arab countries, needs to bridge the gap between education supply and the demands of the labour market to equip students with necessary skills, meet human resource requirements and ensure competitiveness in all fields.
This was affirmed by economic experts at the 'Impact of e-Economy on the development of Mena region' conference, recently organised by the Department of Economic Development in Ras Al Khaimah.
The event was held in collaboration with the Ministry of Economy, under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah.
"There is a real war in the regional and international labour markets to attract the most competent and talented workforce to gigantic institutions and foundations across the world," an expert said.
A number of experts called for a review of the education methodology. Some others recommended an online social platform to bridge this gap and develop students' skills.
In his presentation on the 'Dynamics of knowledge-driven e-Economy', Prof. Basil Al Bustany, an international development advisor, said the GCC states, unlike other Arab countries, rank high in the global digital revolution.
"The Arab response to the ICT revolution is unintegrated because of being more consuming and non-productive. That must be handled as advanced, high-tech services have increased their share of US GDP by 40 per cent."
The only way out is to develop technological capabilities for Arabs' participation in the current information age, he added.
"Universities need to be interlinked with research, creativity and production centres whereas the education system has to be thoroughly changed. More investments must be pumped into creative technological development centres."
Odd Eiken, former minister of education, Sweden, said UAE students need to be qualified for the electronic future at an early age.
"The education methodology and techniques are still conventional in most schools and educational institutes in the UAE in general and Ras Al Khaimah in particular as technological presence in the education mechanism is very limited."
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