Mohammed Alardhi is the executive chairman of Investcorp, chairman of Muscat Stock Exchange MSX and chairman of Royal Jet
October 24, 2023
In the past few decades, the Gulf region has come a long way in terms of education and literacy. It has grown from establishing schools to supporting students in their choice of higher education that aligns with both their talents as well as national economic goals.
Strategic partnerships with global institutions have been important, but the most important aspect that has supported literacy and education efforts in the Gulf has been the willingness of citizens to excel in academics.
Arab youth are at an advantage as far as technological literacy and access are concerned. In the coming decades, I anticipate that the region will fare well in transforming its education systems to suit growing demands.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming systems across the globe and education is no exception. The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) has confirmed that AI holds the potential to address some of the greatest challenges in education. It can bring about much-needed innovation in teaching and learning, while catalysing progress towards the UN's Sustainable Development Goal 4, which calls for inclusive and equitable quality education for all. There are challenges, of course, and it is important that disruptive technology, such as AI, is introduced in a way that is fair and does not create further inequalities.
I believe the Gulf region has a special edge in this area, particularly since we have seen an increase in numbers of Arab women opting for Stem fields (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) in recent years, and in many cases, are surpassing men in enrolment numbers in higher education.
Computer science programmes are most notably male-dominated in western countries. In this region, however, women are taking the lead, with 70 to 80 per cent of enrolment in the UAE and Saudi Arabia and approximately 40 per cent in Arab nations as a whole. These statistics were published by the New York University in Abu Dhabi, which noted that these numbers are significantly higher compared to other parts of the world. In the US, for example, women account for 15 to 20 per cent of computer science students.
Arab women in tech are uniquely qualified. With their education and knowledge of the region, they can lead a transformation in the way education is delivered within the region and also set benchmarks that other nations can aspire to.
There truly is no better time than now for governments, educational institutions and leaders in technology to engage with these professionals, fresh graduates and students from the computer science and tech fields to brainstorm over the future of education, especially with respect to AI and the future of technology. AI can support learning needs in various ways.
Furthermore, there is potential to enrich learning models by offering immersive experiences to students at all levels through virtual and augmented reality. This is already a part of healthcare education that is growing fast, where nursing students can see a situation through the eyes of patients, and medical students are learning to perform surgery through virtual support.
Education institutions all across the GCC could benefit from incorporating more virtual and augmented reality learning components, especially to give students perspectives they may not ordinarily be able to experience in a school or university setting.
Following the Covid-19 pandemic, remote, online and hybrid learning has increased, which could open up endless opportunities for students across the Gulf region. But we need extensive support from governments, particularly strategic initiatives and partnerships with tech leaders and the education sector.
App innovation and gamification in learning have also vastly changed the way students approach learning. With more children having access to smart devices, the lines between play and learning have blurred. Again, this is an area that holds great potential, specifically with reference to the Gulf region.
Widespread access to tools and uniform levels of tech literacy are essential foundations to enhance learning experiences in the region. Governments must ensure this and incentivise innovation in tech and learning. These initiatives will also support economic diversification goals and create more jobs, in addition to newer and more sustainable streams of revenue.
The world is at an interesting juncture. We are witnessing faster growth and transformations of systems than ever. Our governments and citizens have sowed the seeds for growth in coming years, but we must stay ahead of the curve and invest resources wisely.
Our people are undoubtedly our greatest asset, and we must plan strategically and use the best of our talent and other resources to support our youth in their education and learning.
The Limehouse Golem
Director: Juan Carlos Medina
Cast: Olivia Cooke, Bill Nighy, Douglas Booth
Three stars
RESULTS
Bantamweight:
Zia Mashwani (PAK) bt Chris Corton (PHI)
Super lightweight:
Flavio Serafin (BRA) bt Mohammad Al Khatib (JOR)
Super lightweight:
Dwight Brooks (USA) bt Alex Nacfur (BRA)
Bantamweight:
Tariq Ismail (CAN) bt Jalal Al Daaja (JOR)
Featherweight:
Abdullatip Magomedov (RUS) bt Sulaiman Al Modhyan (KUW)
Middleweight:
Mohammad Fakhreddine (LEB) bt Christofer Silva (BRA)
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
The Indoor Cricket World Cup
When: September 16-23
Where: Insportz, Dubai
Indoor cricket World Cup:
Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23
UAE fixtures:
Men
Saturday, September 16 – 1.45pm, v New Zealand
Sunday, September 17 – 10.30am, v Australia; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Monday, September 18 – 2pm, v England; 7.15pm, v India
Tuesday, September 19 – 12.15pm, v Singapore; 5.30pm, v Sri Lanka
Thursday, September 21 – 2pm v Malaysia
Friday, September 22 – 3.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 3pm, grand final
Women
Saturday, September 16 – 5.15pm, v Australia
Sunday, September 17 – 2pm, v South Africa; 7.15pm, v New Zealand
Monday, September 18 – 5.30pm, v England
Tuesday, September 19 – 10.30am, v New Zealand; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Thursday, September 21 – 12.15pm, v Australia
Friday, September 22 – 1.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 1pm, grand final
What are the influencer academy modules?
Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
Cinematography, shots and movement.
All aspects of post-production.
Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad.
SM Town Live is on Friday, April 6 at Autism Rocks Arena, Dubai. Tickets are Dh375 at www.platinumlist.net
The specs
Engine: 2-litre 4-cylinder and 3.6-litre 6-cylinder
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023 More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company name: baraka
Started: July 2020
Founders: Feras Jalbout and Kunal Taneja
Based: Dubai and Bahrain
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: $150,000
Current staff: 12
Stage: Pre-seed capital raising of $1 million
Investors: Class 5 Global, FJ Labs, IMO Ventures, The Community Fund, VentureSouq, Fox Ventures, Dr Abdulla Elyas (private investment)
Heavily-sugared soft drinks slip through the tax net
Some popular drinks with high levels of sugar and caffeine have slipped through the fizz drink tax loophole, as they are not carbonated or classed as an energy drink.
Arizona Iced Tea with lemon is one of those beverages, with one 240 millilitre serving offering up 23 grams of sugar - about six teaspoons.
A 680ml can of Arizona Iced Tea costs just Dh6.
Most sports drinks sold in supermarkets were found to contain, on average, five teaspoons of sugar in a 500ml bottle.
Poland Statement
All people fleeing from Ukraine before the armed conflict are allowed to enter Poland. Our country shelters every person whose life is in danger - regardless of their nationality.
The dominant group of refugees in Poland are citizens of Ukraine, but among the people checked by the Border Guard are also citizens of the USA, Nigeria, India, Georgia and other countries.
All persons admitted to Poland are verified by the Border Guard. In relation to those who are in doubt, e.g. do not have documents, Border Guard officers apply appropriate checking procedures.
No person who has received refuge in Poland will be sent back to a country torn by war.
