النشرة المعرفية: 11 أغسطس 2026

In today’s world, professional success is no longer determined solely by academic qualifications and years of experience. It is also strongly linked to one’s ability to learn and adapt. According to the World Economic Forum, 39 per cent of fundamental labor market skills will change by 2030, positioning future skills as a necessity for both individuals and institutions.
But does everyone need to acquire these skills? Yes, but the nature of the skill sets may vary based on the profession. Engineers, doctors, teachers, entrepreneurs, and government employees all require skills such as critical thinking, continuous learning, problem-solving, communication, and the ability to use artificial intelligence (AI) and data, aligning with their work demands. For government employees, these skills have become essential for developing services, improving customer experience, supporting digital government transformation, and enhancing overall quality of life.
However, the benefits of these future skills are not limited to individuals alone. They extend to the entire economy as they help increase productivity, drive innovation, and attract investments - catalyzing the national transformation towards a knowledge economy. Furthermore, these skills can elevate countries' competitiveness and residents’ quality of life. Recognizing this, governments and companies worldwide are increasingly adopting skill-based recruitment, while investing in reskilling and upskilling programs to keep pace with ongoing transformations.
A joint initiative by the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation (MBRF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Future Skills Academy represents a remarkable milestone in this regard. As a one-of-its-kind knowledge platform that enables individuals to acquire the most in-demand skills through cutting-edge programs in AI, digital skills, leadership, and innovation, among others, the Academy contributes to preparing talents who can compete and shape the future.
Amid this shift, it is critical to understand that future skills are no longer just an added advantage; they are a strategic investment in human capital and a cornerstone of nurturing capable individuals, efficient institutions, and sustainable economies.
 

يكشف مؤشر المعرفة العالمي 2025 أن العلاقة بين المستوى التعليمي ومعدلات البطالة ليست ثابتة، بل تتأثر بمستوى دخل الاقتصاد. ففي الاقتصادات ذات الدخل المرتفع والشريحة العليا من الدخل المتوسط، يتمتع حاملو الشهادات العليا بمعدلات بطالة أقل من حاملي الشهادة المتوسطة، بما يعكس ارتفاع الطلب على المهارات المتقدمة في هذه الأسواق. وعلى النقيض، ترتفع معدلات البطالة بين أصحاب الشهادات العليا في الاقتصادات ذات الشريحة الدنيا من الدخل المتوسط ومنخفضة الدخل، متجاوزة معدلات البطالة بين ذوي التعليم المتوسط. وتشير هذه النتائج إلى أن الاستثمار في التعليم العالي وحده لا يضمن فرص عمل أفضل، بل يعتمد أثره على قدرة الاقتصاد على توليد وظائف نوعية تستوعب الكفاءات والمهارات المتقدمة، بما يعزز أهمية مواءمة سياسات التعليم مع احتياجات سوق العمل ومستوى التطور الاقتصادي.
 

The Global Knowledge Index (GKI) 2025 highlights that the relationship between education and unemployment rate is not fixed but influenced by an economy’s income. Across high-income and upper-middle-income economies, those with higher education degrees record lower unemployment rates than those with intermediate qualifications, reflecting stronger demand for advanced skills in these markets. In contrast, unemployment rates are higher among those who possess higher education degrees in lower-middle-income and low-income economies, even exceeding the unemployment rates of those with intermediate education. These findings show that investment in higher education alone does not ensure better employment opportunities. Its impact depends on the economy’s ability to create quality jobs that leverage advanced competencies and skills, reinforcing the importance of aligning education policies with labor market needs and broader economic development milestones.
 

Professor Hugo Hollanders participated as a speaker at Knowledge Summit 2025, bringing his expertise to the session ‘GKI for Real-World Impact’. He explored the role of GKI in connecting knowledge to policymaking, education planning and the design of innovation ecosystems. Additionally, the session highlighted the critical role of indicators and rankings in supporting decision-making as well as building more efficient and forward-looking policies.
Hugo Hollanders is a leading international expert in innovation and the knowledge economy. He serves as an Economist and Senior Researcher at UNU-MERIT, Maastricht University. For over 25 years, he has been contributing to developing innovation and knowledge indicators for international institutions and governments to assess performance and develop evidence-based policies.
Moreover, for over two decades, Hollanders has been serving as the lead author of the European Innovation Scoreboard, one of the most prominent references for assessing and comparing research and innovation performance across European countries. He has also participated in several European Commission expert groups with a focus on developing methodologies for measuring innovation.
He also served as a member of the Advisory Board of the Global Innovation Index between 2015 and 2018 and has been a member of the Advisory Board of the Global Knowledge Index since 2017. Presently, he is continuing his work as Lead Knowledge Expert for the revision of the Global Knowledge Index, developing one of the world’s most important references connecting knowledge to policymaking and sustainable development.
To watch his full Knowledge Summit 2025 session in English, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7E3qdWm8Xw