Dubai: Within its continuous effortsin promoting Arab and national effortstowrdsbuilding a society and economy of knowledge as a basic source of Arab reformation and development, Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundationin partnership with the United Nations Development Programheld a discussion panel on the "Arab Knowledge Report 2010/1011: Preparing Future Generations for the Knowledge Society", at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.
The event startedat 9:00am with the key speech of H.E Ms. Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO. Secondly, the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation speech, by H.E. Mr. Sultan Ali Lootah, the Executive Director of MBRF. Then came the speech of H.E Dr. Ziad Al-Drees, Saudi Ambassaador to UNESCO, who focused on Arab and international efforts in the knowledge field. Finally, the UNDP opening speech and Arab Knowledge Report presentation, by the Report Director Dr. Ghaith Fariz.
Following speeches, active discussion panels took place, by involving decision makers and specialists in the Arab region. The first discussion panel entitled "preparedness od Arab Future Generations for the Knowledge Report", presents Mr. Janis Karklins, Assistant Director General of communication and information of UNESCO,Dr.Maissa Al-Shamessi, Minister of State (UAE Cabinet) Mrs. Inaam Kachachi, Iraqi Author and Journalist, and Dr. Abdul Hamid El-Zoheiry, AKR Core Team Author.
The second discussion panel, entitled"preparing Arab Future Generations: The way forward" Presents H.E. Mr.Sultan Ali Lootah, MBRF Executive Director, Dr. GhatihFariz, AKR Report director, and Dr. NajwaGhriss, Report Core Team Author.
The Executive Director of MBRF Foundation, H.E. Mr. Sultan Lootah, said: "The Arab Knowledge Report 2010/2011 is initatied based on MBRF's aim of contributing towards establishing the aspired-for knowledge society and economy in the Arab regionas in the wills of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashed Al Maktoum, Vice President of UAE, Prime Minister, and Dubai Governor, upon the initiation of the foundation that seeks to establish an Arab indicator for measuring the state of Knowledge in the Arab region, for supporting decision makers in evaluating performance, developing plans, and founding a spirit of competition in this field".
Lootah added, "Hence, the Arab Knowledge Report is presented within astrategic partnership initiative between MBRF and the UNDP. This second Arab Knowledge Report,builds on the basic findings of the Arab Knowledge Report for 2009. Its results have revealed a knowledge gap, in addition to the marginal performance of Arab knowledge, affirming that these gaps can be dealt with and connections can be formed to address them in the Arab region, once the political will and serious motivation is established".
Lootah clarified that Arab Knowledge Report 2012/2011 is considered to be another accomplishment of the ongoing cooperation between the Foundation and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to promote further the efforts of creating a knowledge society and contribute to the efforts of sustainable human development in the Arab region.
From his side, DrGhaithFariz, Director of the Arab Knowledge Report said: "Knowledge is a basic pillar for development, and we at the United Nations Development Programme are proud of our partnership with Mohammed Bin Rashed Al Maktoum foundation, in preparing the Arab Knowledge Report and contributing to the efforts of establishing the knowledge society in the Arab region. The first and second Arab Knowledge Reports, and the field studies we conducted in four Arab countries, revealed the major opportunities and obstacles in preparing the Arab youth for the knowledge society; and enabled us to better observe the Arab knowledge scene, in its various details and influential factors. This is by itself a step forward towards establishing the knowledge society".
Fariz added: "We at the Arab Knowledge Report do not claim monopoly over knowledge nor claim having the absolute truth, and we always look forward to cooperation with the various stakeholders and researchers/intellectuals and institutions at the local, regional and international levels, towards achieving a goal that has became today a necessary furnishment for realizing sustainable human development".
The Arab Knowledge Report 2010/2011 is characterized with the pioneering field surverys which were probably conducted as extensively and comprehensively for the first time in the Arab region. In order to further approach the reality, case studies were conducted in four Arab countries (Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Morocco, and Yemen) which were chosen in this pilot study to reflect to some extent, the different regions in the Arab area. For the first time in the Arab region, the methodology and mechanism used in the preparation of this report, measured the skills, values and enabling environments sumiltaneously. In addition, workshops in the countries of the case studies were conducted, and attended by experts and stakeholders. It is hoped that this will allow in the future for the development and adoption of tools and methodologies to measure the readiness of future generations to access the knowledge society, and can extend its usage in future studies whether in the Arab region or other countries from around the world. The Arab Knowledge Report 2010/2011, in which many experts from different Arab countries in addition to the team in Dubai participated, includes many innovative tools and significant results which we present to the Arab society and the entire world.
The Arab Knowledg Report 2010/2011 is headingto the stage of action towards laying the foundation to building the knowledge society through establishing the basis to dealing with the methodologies and tools to prepare future generations for an active participation in building the knowledge society and accessing its vast domains. Dealing with this situation puts us at the heart of the process of preparing the Arab citizen to build his skills, and instill his values which control and direct his decisions and dealings, in addition to providing him/her with the empowerment methods and tools to capitalize on the opportunity of his active participation in building the knowledge society and reap its fruits; and to employ the results within the wide framework and the ultimate goal of achieving sustainable human development in support of the dignity and welfare of the Arab citizen.
The vision of the report concerning the preparation of future generations for building the knowledge society is based on the correlation between the triad of skills, values and enabling. The upbringing processes, include equipping future generations with the skills required for building the desired knowledge society and keeping up with cognitive, technological and scientific developments, and the mental skills needed to catch up with global advances in this area. The report confirms that skills alone cannot yield the desired effects unless accompanied by a comprehensive system of values that includes a set of general principles that govern and shape beliefs and practices that utilize the skills and direct them to the desired paths. Empowerment is the key to the processes of preparing future generations for the knowledge society. It represents the framework that allows upcoming Arab generations to obtain the skills that enable them to embody the new values, and build the needed abilities to overcome the internal and external challenges they face.
The Arab Knowledge Report 2010/2011 consists of two main parts. The first part is the "General Report", and discusses the preparation of the future generations for the knowledge society in the Arab region as a whole. This section also includes a synthesis of the results of the field research conducted in four Arab countries (Jordan, UAE, Morocco and Yemen) as case studies about the status of preparing future generations for the knowledge society. The second part of the report, contains the details of the four case studies including a comprehensive evaluation of the status of preparation of future generations in each of the four countries in light of the requirements of the knowledge society in addition to a thorough presentation of the detailed results of the field surveys.MBRF is a non-profit foundation that aims to take the region towards a knowledge economy. The foundation aims to specify and develop promising foundations and special initiatives in order to lead the region to a an economic and social success.
More information regarding the Arab Knowledge Report 2010/2011 and discussion panels can be viewed on the following Twitter and Facebook accounts:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/---2010-2011/134351770020419
https://twitter.com/#!/arabknolreport
-Ends-
About Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation:
The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation was founded on the personal initiative of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, with an endowment worth US$10 billion. The Foundation was announced by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed at the World Economic Forum on the Middle East held at the Dead Sea, Jordan, in May 2007. Through three strategic sectors of Culture, Knowledge and Education, as well as Entrepreneurship and Employment, the Foundation seeks to develop knowledge and human capabilities in the Arab world. The Foundation's three underlying principles are; Building the region's human capital with a pool of knowledgeable and talented individuals; Offering better opportunities for the region's younger generation to acquire knowledge and secure a better future; and Promoting leadership qualities among the younger generation to enhance their living standards.
For more information please contact:
Fatima Al Shuwaihi
Direct: 04 4233492
Mobile: 050 8442255
Email: Fatima.shuwaihi@mbrfoundation.ae
© Press Release 2012
