Empowering Youth Through The Power Of Digital

ENOC Group’s human resources director, Iman Al Qasim, looks at how technology can help bring young talent to the fore

ONE OF THE FINDINGS from the 2018 Arab Youth Survey showed that over 60 per cent of people aged between 18 to 24 years believe that the digital revolution has had a positive impact on the Middle East, viewing it as the most important development that has shaped the region over the past decade.

Arab entrepreneurs are turning to the tech sector as a gateway to the future, and with young people increasingly studying, shopping and banking online, a lot more needs to be done to develop the digital ecosystem so young people can convert this into a career or business opportunity.

Young people are already deeply entwined with the digital economy, but it is crucial that we prepare them to take advantage of this new landscape in shaping their own destinies.

The Global Education & Skills Forum in Dubai highlighted that one way to prepare children for the digital future is to make sure they have a strong foundation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and learn adaptive skills.

The UAE Government has been spearheading STEM initiatives over the past few years. In fact, the UAE Vision 2021 clearly states that ‘Innovation, research, science and technology will form the pillars of a knowledge-based, highly productive and competitive economy, driven by entrepreneurs in a business friendly environment where public and private sectors form effective partnerships’.