Advisory Committee For Higher Education Establishes Three New Working Groups To Align With Labour Market Needs

The Advisory Committee for Higher Education and Future Skills recently convened its second meeting for 2025. Dr. Abdulrahman Al Awar, the Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation and Acting Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, led the session. The gathering at Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences included representatives from national universities and key economic sectors.

Three new working groups were introduced during the meeting: the Legal Competencies Development Group, the Drone Skills Group, and the National Competencies Enhancement Group. These groups will focus on the Energy, Renewable Energy, and Water sectors, which are crucial to the UAE's economy. This addition brings the total number of working groups under the committee to eight.

Previously, five working groups were formed in the first meeting. These include the Health Sciences Group, Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education Group, Economic Sectors and Higher Education Partnerships Group, Future of Jobs and Skills Group, and Workforce Supply and Demand in Public and Higher Education Group.

Dr. Abdulrahman Al Awar stated that aligning higher education with national priorities is essential for future labour market needs. He emphasised empowering universities and research centres to foster sustainable development. "We are committed to aligning higher education with national priorities and future labour market needs," he said.

The Advisory Committee acts as a collaborative platform that unites experts from academia and industry to transform ideas into actionable initiatives. This collaboration aims to develop talent ready for future challenges.

Strengthening Coordination

His Excellency Dr. Al Awar highlighted that forming new working groups is a significant step towards building a comprehensive network connecting universities with industry leaders. This initiative supports the UAE's vision for global competitiveness by strengthening coordination between higher education institutions and economic sectors.

The meeting also reviewed several key initiatives led by these working groups. Among them is an ethical framework for AI use in higher education, integrating future skills into academic programmes to meet labour market demands, and developing a national roadmap for health education.

Specialised Forums for Stakeholders

Specialised forums will be organised for each working group to bring stakeholders together. These forums will showcase initiatives, share achievements, and facilitate knowledge exchange across education, scientific research, business, and industry sectors.

The Advisory Committee operates as a subcommittee of the Higher Education Committee within the Education, Human Development and Community Development Council. Its mission is to align higher education with future labour market needs while supporting the We the UAE 2031 vision and UAE Centennial 2071 goals.

This strategic approach ensures that educational programmes remain relevant to evolving economic demands while fostering innovation in various fields.

With inputs from WAM