The United Arab Emirates University’s Second Ramadan Majlis Session Highlighted Universities Role in Developing Curricula for Future Job Demands

The United Arab Emirates University organized its second Ramadan Majlis session on “"Future Curricula: How Can Universities Prepare Students for Jobs That Don't Yet Exist?". The session was attended by H.E.Prof. Ahmed Ali Al Raeesi, Acting Vice Chancellor of the University, and a number of representatives from strategic partners, senior management members, deans, directors of research centers, department directors, academics, researchers, and students. This initiative aligns with the university's commitment to ensuring student readiness and preparing them for the future in a dynamic and flexible learning environments that focus on adaptable skills, enabling students to develop their capabilities in continuous learning, innovation, and preparedness for careers that have yet to be created. The session was held at Seih bin Ammar residence in Al Ain city.

H.E.Prof. Ahmed Ali Al Raeesi, Acting Vice Chancellor of the University, explained at the beginning of the session that "UAEU is working on building continuous academic awareness of the importance of aligning academic curricula with the labor market, scientific developments, and anticipating the future of higher education by including educational materials that help students acquire labor market skills. Aligning academic curricula is a continuous process aimed at enhancing academic outcomes to strengthen the university's global standing. The university emphasizes a forward-looking vision in preparing academic curricula to ensure keeping pace with changes in the higher education system and providing skills demanded by the labor market."

The Acting Vice Chancellor pointed out during the session the necessity of adopting the concept of continuous learning and adapting to the requirements of the times, through offering short courses and continuously updated digital certificates to meet the changing needs of the labor market. He also stressed the importance of developing learning environments that encourage self-learning, and introducing skills-based programs instead of traditional specializations. He said, "The transition from traditional curricula to more flexible, innovative, and future-oriented educational models is inevitable, by enhancing critical and creative thinking, and encouraging students to solve problems innovatively by integrating design thinking into curricula and motivating them to ask questions rather than memorize answers."

The Majlis witnessed in-depth discussions about the role of universities and academic institutions in preparing a generation capable of facing challenges, and integrating modern technology and artificial intelligence into university curricula by teaching programming concepts, data analysis, and artificial intelligence to all disciplines, in addition to using virtual and augmented reality technologies in educational experiences, and providing educational platforms that rely on adaptive learning. Emphasis was also placed on the importance of promoting entrepreneurship and innovation by introducing business incubator programs within universities, encouraging student projects and linking them to real-world problems, as well as providing flexible learning environments that support entrepreneurial thinking.

Participants emphasized that focusing on human skills and emotional intelligence is an essential element in preparing students for the future, by enhancing communication, collaboration, and teamwork skills, teaching them how to manage change and adapt to different work environments, while providing specialized courses in leadership and professional ethics. They also pointed out the importance of strengthening partnerships between universities and various sectors to ensure curricula alignment with labor market needs, through cooperation with start-ups and large companies to provide practical training opportunities and develop integrated study programs based on accurate data analysis and future forecasts. The Majlis recommended the need to enhance experiential learning by adopting problem-solving projects, integrating challenge-based education and academic competitions, as well as adopting a task-based learning approach.

This Majlis is part of a series of Ramadan Majlis sessions organized by the university to promote scientific and community dialogue, and affirm the role of universities in transforming into dynamic and flexible learning environments that focus on adaptable skills, enabling students to develop their capabilities in continuous learning and innovation, ensuring their readiness for the rapidly changing future labor market.