Distinguished Achievements of MBRF in 2019.
The Mohammed bin Rashid Knowledge Foundation (MBRF) ended the year 2019 with a robust record of outstanding new initiatives and achievements, which strengthened its pioneering position as a body concerned with the transfer, dissemination and promotion of knowledge in the Arab region and the world.
For the Foundation, 2019 was another year full of achievements that contributed to activating knowledge mobility, creating new methods and tools for measuring and improving knowledge, setting mechanisms and formulating proposals that contribute to advancing these achievements all over the world.
First, the MBRF signed a new 10-year agreement with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), which runs until 2030. It was signed at a special ceremony held at the UN Headquarters in New York City, renewing the partnership between the two organisations on the Knowledge Project. The agreement enhances both parties’ thought leadership, and boosts their ability to conduct evidence-based policymaking for sustainable development in the Arab region and the world.
Knowledge management
The Foundation (MBRF) has received ISO 30401:2018 Certif ication for Knowledge Management Systems Requirements, which serves to upgrade systems management processes at the Foundation, and helps it achieve its objectives and strategic goals. The ISO Certification came following concerted internal efforts by the Foundation’s team to meet every requirement of the certification. MBRF launched the Knowledge Management Strategy 2019-2021, which included several initiatives based on thorough stakeholder analysis, which helped identify their needs and expectations and develop a knowledge management policy.
The UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning selected His Excellency Jamal bin Huwaireb, MBRF’s CEO, to be a member of its Board of Directors. The Institute’s Board of Directors serves a four-year term, implying that H.E. bin Huwaireb’s tenure will run till 2023; a milestone added to the UAE’s track record.
The Knowledge Summit 2019 reviewed the role of knowledge in achieving sustainable development, best practices and related experiences, which enables countries within their development process in various sectors.
The Summit was held at the Dubai World Trade Center, on November 19-20, 2019 under the theme: Knowledge: The Path to Sustainable Development. The Summit focused on health, education, food security, and ways to develop renewable energy sources. It also highlighted the UAE’s vision of 2021 towards achieving the goals of sustainable development, and the role of skills development and innovation in building sustainable cities. During the Summit, winners of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Award were recognised.
Dubai is the City of Knowledge in 2020
Under the aegis of MBRF, a group of highprofile experts in research and development (R&D) in collaboration with global assurance, tax, and consulting services provider PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) announced the “Cities for Knowledge Creation” initiative, naming Dubai as the City of Knowledge for the year 2020.
This was on the second day of the 2019 edition of the annual Knowledge Summit which was held last November. One city will be named every year at the Knowledge Summit in Dubai in line with the Foundation’s commitment to promote knowledge worldwide, launching a series of initiatives and knowledge reports.
For the Foundation, 2019 was
another year full of achievements
that contributed to activating
knowledge mobility, creating new
methods and tools for measuring
and improving knowledge, setting
mechanisms and formulating
proposals that contribute to
advancing them all over the
world.
MBRF a lso organized the 5th annual Nobel Exhibition in partnership with the Nobel Prize Museum. It was held in Dubai’s La Mer district from February 3 to March 2, 2019 under the theme: Nobel Prize for Literature: Sharing Worlds – In Memory of Naguib Mahfouz.
The exhibition welcomed 40,000 visitors from all age groups, including on site visitors and virtual visitors from around the world who toured the exhibition online through MBRF’s website. Some activities attracted significant numbers of school and university students such as the interactive workshops about the Nobel Prize presented by experts from the Nobel Museum in Sweden.
External activities
The MBRF had many external activities, including its participation in in the London Book Fair 2019. While there, it honoured Emirati exchange students in the UK, appointing them as “Bil Arabi Ambassadors” to represent MBRF’s “Bil Arabi” initiative in the UK. Their assigned tasks include organising events to support the use of the Arabic language and promote it among Arab communities in Britain, and to act as a link between Arab students in the UK and the activities of the “Bil Arabi” initiative all around the world.
MBRF took part in PwC Luxembourg’s ‘Upskilling for the Future’ workshop to shed light on the mechanisms for developing future skills related to the labor market. The workshop attracted more than 300 experts from around the world.
During 2019, the Foundation
launched a number of workshops
and courses as well, within the
Dubai International Program for
Writing, in the UAE and abroad.
It also established partnerships
with international knowledge
parties.
The Foundation also strengthened its joint cooperation with Al-Azhar University through audiences with Dr. Ahmed El Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al Azhar, as well as several joint cooperation agreements with the Al-Ahram Foundation.
The Foundation participated in the 71st annual Frankfurt International Book Fair held on October 16-20, 2019, in Frankfurt, Germany. The Foundation was represented by its publishing arm Qindeel Printing, Publishing, and Distribution. Qindeel hosted a number of events, seminars, and book signing ceremonies, which sought to shed light on its new literary projects, in addition to showcasing some of the Foundation’s projects and initiatives globally.
Best practices
MBRF held its “Knowledge Week” event in Amman, Jordan, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on March 24-28, 2019. The event included a workshop for the youth and sought to showcase and explore the findings of the Global Knowledge Index 2018, which were announced at the Knowledge Summit 2018. Knowledge Week Jordan included an extensive series of events and interactive workshops.
During 2019, the Foundation launched a number of workshops and courses as well, within the Dubai International Program for Writing, in the UAE and abroad. Within the framework of the strategic partnership agreement between MBRF and the Al-Ahram Foundation in Egypt, the “Writing the Essay” course was held for two continuous months. Participation drew 23 journalists from Egypt under the supervision of the Al-Ahram Regional Institute for the Press.
The MBRF also worked on the second edition of the “Literacy Challenge” award, selecting the winners from the institutions and individuals participating in the challenge. The number of nominated individual and institutional applications reached 55. Of these, 37 requests came from individuals and 18 from institutions.
The Foundation has received
ISO 30401:2018 Certification for
Knowledge Management Systems
Requirements, which serves to
upgrade systems management
processes at the Foundation, and
helps it achieve its objectives and
strategic goals.
Huge interaction
During its participation in the GITEX Technology Week in Dubai 2019, MBRF reviewed its projects and digital knowledge initiatives. Through them, it pursues the goals of Dubai Paperless Strategy launched by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council, in February 2019. The Foundation announced at the exhibition, the digital conversion of all its publications making them available to readers on the Foundation’s website and the Dubai Digital Library.
The 7th edition of Bil Arabi initiative and its related activities organized by MBRF to celebrate the International Day of the Arabic Language attracted a big following and interaction on leading social networking sites all over the world. The day was set by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on December 18 with the aim of promoting the status of the Arabic language among the world’s languages.
Under the guidance of its Chairman His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Foundation in conjunction with Dubai Tourism and the House of Poetry organized two poetic nights at the La Mer of Jumeirah Beach which attracted large audiences of both Emirati citizens and residents of various nationalities.
The experts selected Dubai as the
City of Knowledge for the 2020
edition of the initiative, where one
city will be named every year at
the Knowledge Summit in Dubai.
As the new year gets underway, the Foundation aims to consolidate this wide range of achievements and build on them at the local, Arab and international levels throughout 2020.
