YKF: Empowering Young Minds to Drive Change
After successful editions in Dubai, Cairo, and Rabat, the Youth Knowledge Forum (YKF) returns to Egypt, reaffirming its message: youth are the architects of the future, and knowledge is the foundation for building cohesive, innovative societies.
Cairo will host the fourth edition of YKF on 20–21 July 2025. The forum is organized by the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation (MBRF), in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Egypt’s Ministry of Youth and Sports.
YKF serves as a global platform for young people to engage with leading experts in a dynamic setting that encourages the exchange of ideas and experiences. It empowers youth to develop innovative solutions that localize and apply knowledge for a more prosperous future.
Discussions will focus on key issues shaping new generations—boosting economic growth through skills and knowledge, expanding partnerships, and building impactful knowledge networks. The forum will also explore the role of artificial intelligence and digital transformation in reshaping education, employment, and innovation.
YKF offers youth a unique opportunity to transform their ideas into actionable initiatives that support sustainable development, within an environment that fosters critical thinking, collaboration, and forward-looking dialogue.
 

 

Data for Social Impact: A Revolution in Addressing Society’s Greatest Challenges
Authors: Michael Froomkin and Rajiv Shah
This article explores how data science is emerging as a transformative force in addressing some of the most complex social and economic challenges of our time. Just as scientific breakthroughs revolutionized medicine and agriculture in the last century, data science now holds the potential to drive sweeping change in areas such as public health, social justice, poverty reduction, climate action, and inclusive economic growth.
The authors highlight that, when used responsibly and effectively, data can provide practical, scalable solutions to long-standing global issues. They envision a future in which analytics and artificial intelligence inform public policy, improve social services, predict risks, and optimize the allocation of resources.
While the private sector has made significant strides in leveraging data, many public and social institutions still lack the technical and strategic capacity to fully realize its potential. The article underscores the need for cross-sector collaboration, investment in both human and technological capital, and the adoption of evidence-based, participatory approaches.
It concludes with a powerful call for sustained collective investment in digital knowledge infrastructure, which is essential to advancing justice, equity, and shared prosperity on a global scale.

جولي ستاك: رائدة التعلم الرقمي والتحول المعرفي
من خلال مشاركتها في قمة المعرفة 2024، سلّطت جولي ستاك الضوء على تأثير التقنيات الناشئة، وعلى رأسها الذكاء الاصطناعي، في إعادة تشكيل مستقبل التعليم والعمل. وقد جاءت هذه المشاركة ضمن جلسة بعنوان "التحول إلى الذكاء الاصطناعي: التأثير الواسع وكيف ينعكس على مختلف الصناعات"، حيث استعرضت رؤى استراتيجية تعكس خبرتها الواسعة في تطوير المهارات الرقمية.
وتُعد جولي من الأصوات المؤثرة في مشهد التعليم الرقمي بالمنطقة، إذ تؤمن بأن تعزيز الوصول إلى المعرفة هو مفتاح تمكين الأفراد والمؤسسات، وترى أن أدوات الذكاء الاصطناعي تمثل فرصة لتسريع هذا التمكين وتحقيق العدالة في فرص التعلم.
بإيمانها العميق بقوة التعلم، تواصل ستاك إحداث فرق ملموس في حياة الأفراد، وتعزيز جاهزيتهم لعالم سريع التغير. لمشاهدة جلستها كاملة خلال القمة، الرجاء الضغط على الرابط التالي: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ComoY8h79aE

وتشغل جولي منصب المديرة الإقليمية لكورسيرا في دول الخليج العربي، وتقود من خلاله مبادرات رائدة لتمكين الأفراد والمؤسسات من الوصول إلى تعليم عالي الجودة ومواكب لاحتياجات الاقتصاد الرقمي. وتستند في ذلك إلى أكثر من 15 عاماً من الخبرة في مؤسسات تعليمية عالمية مثل بيرسون، وفوليت، ومطبعة جامعة كامبريدج. كما أن بداياتها المهنية في اليابان كمعلمة للغة الإنجليزية أضافت بُعداً إنسانياً وتربوياً واضحاً في نهجها القيادي.
 

Julie Stack: A Pioneer in Digital Learning and Knowledge Transformation
Through her participation in the Knowledge Summit 2024, Julie Stack highlighted the impact of emerging technologies, particularly AI, in reshaping the future of education and work. Her participation came as part of a session titled “Transitioning to Artificial Intelligence: The Broad Impact and Its Reflection on Various Industries,” where she shared strategic insights that reflect her extensive expertise in digital skills development.
Julie is considered one of the influential voices in the region’s digital learning landscape. She believes that expanding access to knowledge is key to empowering individuals and institutions and sees AI tools as an opportunity to accelerate this empowerment and achieve equity in learning opportunities.
With a deep belief in the power of learning, Stack continues to make a tangible difference in people’s lives and enhance their readiness for a rapidly changing world. To watch her full session at the summit, please click the following link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-nkc1ANVio
Julie currently serves as the Regional Director for Coursera in the Gulf Arab States, where she leads pioneering initiatives that enable individuals and institutions to access high-quality education aligned with the needs of the digital economy. She draws on more than 15 years of experience with global education providers such as Pearson, Follett, and Cambridge University Press. Her early career as an English teacher in Japan also added a strong humanistic and educational dimension to her leadership approach.