Education is UAE’s trump card to move towards post-oil era, says Al Suwaidi

Abu Dhabi / WAM

The Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR), organised on Thursday a symposium themed “Mohamed bin Zayed and Education”, which hosted a number of officials and education experts and educators.
Dr Jamal Al-Suwaidi, Director-General, the Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR), spoke about the importance of this seminar that addressed the vision and rich contributions of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, in the development of
education in the UAE.
Education is a top priority in the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed,”
Al-Suwaidi said.
“His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed believes that education is the cornerstone of any successful development; because education is the natural pathway to building the national cadres and enhancing their qualification in order to enable them play their roles in the national job market. At the same time, education represents also the UAE trump card to moving towards post-oil era,” he added.
“His Highness Sheikh Mohamed also realises that enhancing education and raising its outputs are necessary to maintain the continuity of the state and its leading position in various fields, particularly with regards to shifting to sustainable knowledge society and preparing the favourable circumstances in various sectors, through providing the qualified labour force that possesses the tools of the age, including modern sciences and multiple knowledge, and that is able to
effectively participate in the support of the development the UAE is witnessing all fronts,” he noted.
“And out of the belief of the Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR) in the importance of the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for education and the importance of this vision within the philosophy of comprehensive and sustainable development in the UAE, and for the country’s future plans, the ECSSR organising this symposium titled “Mohamed bin Zayed and Education.
The Symposium consists of four main themes: the first, “The Vision of HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for Education,” was addressed by Hussain bin Ibrahim Al Hammadi, Minister of Education, who tackled the role of education in building the Emirati citizens and consolidating the values of belonging and loyalty in the face of the destructive thought, and the relationship between education and knowledge economy and post-oil era, in addition to the role of education in the support of major national projects such as space exploration and renewable and nuclear energies.
Dr Ali Rashid Al-Nuaimi, Director-General, Abu Dhabi Education Council, told the second theme on “The Efforts and Initiatives of HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to Develop Education,” about the moral education initiative, and his vision to develop curricula and raise the qualitative level of education and teachers, and the role of His Highness in the support of academic scholarships abroad and attracting foreign education institutions.
The third theme centerd on “Innovation and the Future of Education” through tackling the importance of education in the national plans to outline the future, such as the UAE Vision 2021 and the Abu Dhabi Vision 2030. Dr Abdullatif Al Shamsi, Vice Chancellor, the Higher Colleges of Technology, Dr Arif Al Hammadi, Executive Vice President, Khalifa University, and Mubarak Al-Shamsi, Director-General, Abu Dhabi Center for Technical and Vocational Education and Training, spoke on this theme.
Dr. Farouk Hamada, Religious Advisor to the Court of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, tackled the fourth theme, titled “Education and Development of Society and State in the Thought of HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. It revolved around the high status education enjoys in the thought of HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and his keen interest in consolidating the role that the education system plays in the development of society and state and in driving comprehensive and sustainable development, including all its varied dimensions.