The Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation (MBRF) has announced the details and activities of the Knowledge Summit 2018, at a press conference held on Monday, November 19, 2018, at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, and the directives of MBRF’s Chairman H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Summit is set to take place on December 5-6, 2018, at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
MBRF’s CEO His Excellency Jamal bin Huwaireb spoke at the conference, which was attended by Khalid Abdul Shafi, Director of the Regional Bureau for Arab States at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and representatives from various local and international media outlets.
H.E. bin Huwaireb asserted that the Knowledge Summit is in sync with the UAE Vision 2021 to build a competitive economy rooted in knowledge-bound investment, an economy that supports innovation and creativity, and embraces technology to enhance people’s wellbeing. The Summit also implements the objectives of the UAE National Agenda for the Youth, which seeks to support Emirati youth and provide opportunities that empower them to hone their skills and use them to serve their communities.
“Choosing ‘Youth and the Future of the Knowledge Economy’ as this year’s theme reflects the critical role that this segment plays in in Governments’ quest to build a sustainable knowledge economy,” H.E. added; “their skills must be developed to address the challenges of the labour market of the future, build a sustainable economy and promote entrepreneurship.”
H.E. bin Huwaireb noted that the Foundation sought to put together a packed agenda for the Knowledge Summit 2018 – one that takes into account the impact of various topics on the youth and the knowledge economy, from developing human and knowledge capital to transforming Arab countries from knowledge consumers to knowledge producers.
Furthermore, the sessions of the Knowledge Summit 2018 shed light on the role of laws and legislation in enabling the knowledge economy and highlight the UAE’s pioneering experience in space exploration. The sessions also explore success stories of a distinguished group of young entrepreneurs among many other topics of interest, where more than 100 experts and decision makers from all around the world are set to speak in over 45 discussion panels and workshops.
The MBRF CEO went on to explain that the upcoming Knowledge Summit is set to reveal the results of the close cooperation between the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on the Knowledge Project, as well as the results of the very first edition of the Index, covering 2018, in addition to the project’s latest developments and future plans.
Furthermore, the Knowledge Summit will honour the winners of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Award, which honours prominent individuals and leading organisations around the world, whose accomplishments inspired humanity in various sectors.
H.E. went on to reveal that the Summit is set to highlight the experiences of winners in the first round of the “Literacy Challenge” – the most notable of its kind in the region. The project seeks to educate 30 million illiterate Arab youth and children by the year 2030 and enhance the knowledge and skills of Arab youth across the region.
For his part, Khalid Abdel Shafi, UNDP’ Director of Regional Bureau for Arab States, asserted the importance of the partnership with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation, noting that the Knowledge Project is a pioneering initiative, seeking to outline a new vision for sustainable development inside and outside the Arab region, that was never deterred by the difficulties, challenges and volatility of the Arab region in recent years.
“We look forward to utilise the results and reports of the Knowledge Project to formulate a forward-thinking strategy that encourages all countries to support knowledge and promote it as a main component in the effort to build a knowledge economy and ensure sustainable development in the Arab region and the world,” Abdul Shafi added.
Since its launch in 2014, the Knowledge Summit has welcomed more than 5,000 participants and 300 decision makers, experts, and academics from all around the world, who took part in over 110 discussion panels and workshops.
Those who wish to attend the Knowledge Summit 2018 can register on the event’s website: https://knowledgesummit.org/