UAE’s industrial sector needs to catch them young
Nearly every corner of the world is engaged in a longstanding debate over our young people: how do we ensure that our children are equipped to compete, contribute and thrive in the future? This is a perennial challenge, but one that is particularly acute as the global economy moves through the fourth industrial revolution.
To have fruitful careers later on, children must find their niches in the global economy; they must train for the jobs of the future right now.
Integrating industrials and manufacturing into today’s curricula is one way to give our children a leg-up. Just last year, the UAE announced a plan to attract $70 billion in industrial investments by 2025 and increase the share of the industrial sector to the GDP to 25 per cent, up from 16 per cent in 2016.
As oil reserves dry up, industrials will represent an avenue of security and productivity for new generations, and we must retool our curricula to take advantage of every opportunity.
The government of Abu Dhabi is already moving in this direction. Abu Dhabi Vision 2030 is a comprehensive agenda motivated by the desire to diversify the emirate’s economy, and in the process, create a workforce that will “move the economy up the value chain”, to increase economic competitiveness.
Ensuring the future labour force is equipped for the market seems like a no-brainer, but the impact of having the right skills can have a major impact on national economic resilience. According to the International Labour Office (ILO), the well-being of a country significantly improves when the labour force makes even just small improvements in their skills.
In a report entitled G20 Training Strategy, the ILO found that stronger, more relevant skills translate to greater innovation. This leads to investment in fixed capital and higher productivity across the country.
Early exposure to the industrial sector is therefore critical if our young people are to fuel the future growth of the UAE. As our economy diversifies, industrial manufacturers will need to call on talented professionals who can increase productivity in their sectors, and there is no reason why these jobs cannot be filled by the potential of young Emiratis.
At the same time, slowing global demand and geopolitical uncertainties have turned manufacturing into a slowgrowth environment, which means companies are placing higher premiums on productivity and innovation. Fresh faces who can improve efficiency, cut costs and boost performance will extend the life of the industry.
How can these fresh faces innovate if they are not technology-ready or thinking critically about the industrial sector?
Today, many of our national industrial champions, including Emirates Global Aluminium, work with universities to develop practical technologies for our burgeoning industrial sector. When they do, they’re not just knocking on professors’ doors; they’re working closely with students, too, to apply the latest scientific thinking.
Close to home, EGA works with the Masdar Institute, American University of Sharjah and Higher Colleges of Technology in the UAE, mining our local talent to develop usable technology. Imagine how much more impactful these students would be if their secondary school studies had been complemented with an industry-specific focus.
Technology is always changing and students know how to absorb and adapt to every evolution. By working with them, EGA gets the support it needs to create practical solutions for the challenges it faces. These students have an opportunity to engage with the industry and direct their own research.
In this scenario, academia and the private sector are aligned. Participating students have a chance to reinforce what they learn in the lecture hall by developing working prototypes, and in the process they learn the ins-and-outs of a job they may one day hold.
Now, it seems the future of productive employment is industrials, with both the federal government and Dubai launching industrial strategies. The goal is to amplify manufacturing that is value-added, energy-efficient and environmentally sound, creating responsible and innovationfocused businesses.
To ensure that our young people can meet that challenge, we need to support them by integrating industrials into the curriculum. Children who become employable, productive and happy adults should be trained for the jobs of tomorrow. And thanks to the incredible speed of technological change, there’s no time to waste.