Under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hazza Bin Zayed Al Nahyan .. Abu Dhabi Center for Technical and Vocational Education and Training inaugurates the Leaders Forum to mark the Commencement of TVET Innovation Week 2021

H.E. Hussein Ibrahim Al Hammadi, Minister of Education, opened the first session of the forum. He said: "I thank you all for your presence, participation and the multiple contributions each provide in his own dynamic field. Thank you for taking part in the Leaders Forum that marks the start of TVET Innovation Week 2021, which addresses a very important and current topic: Private sector enhances youth employability. The event is being organised by the Abu Dhabi Center for Technical and Vocational Education and Training, for the seventh year.  Strategic important topics are being discussed every year at this forum, thanks to the organiser who truly believes in the value of learning and the importance of the education to achieve human development. The warmest thanks goes to His Highness Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice Chairman of the Executive Council of Abu Dhabi, for his generous and continuous support to this remarkable event.” 

His Excellency the Minister of Education, praised ACTVET’s initiative, EEE: Empower Emiratis for Employment, through which ACTVET successfully deployed young Emiratis to work in the private sector. He also commended ACTVET’s dedicated efforts to advance TVET’s educational outcome and adequately equip the UAE’s national talent with the competencies required for their effective contribution to the UAE’s sustainable economic development. ACTVET, through its EEE program, created effective engagement between the national talent and the labour market and enhanced the competitiveness of UAE youth. 

His Excellency Hussain Al Hammadi added that the UAE is vigorously moving forward towards preparing for the next 50 years. Hence, UAE’s leadership launched a project named “Towards the next 50" inviting the general public to contribute to shaping the future of UAE and outlining the UAE’s Centennial Plan 2071.  The education sector sits on the top of this plan, articulating its outcome is a priority. TVET is a vital sector that we need to formulate and develop, TVET graduates can be a real contributor to UAE’s sustainable development. Since we all know that the fourth industrial revolution is around the corner, for UAE to keep pace, or even compete at, we need to invest in the opportunities in hand. Our goal is to prepare the future youth to master their trades in the technical, applied and professional fields. Taking into account the different educational needs of the students, we developed specialised educational paths and different modern disciplines aligned with the requirements of the ever developing industry sectors, while instilling in our youth the importance of the lifelong learning.  

H.E. the Minister of Education clarified that the UAE gives equal importance to the different learning paths offered to students in UAE.  The human development, the advancement of our nation can only be achieved through a balanced educational outcome that combines both skills and knowledge.  Vocational education has become a pillar for the economic development of any country. It offers students unique opportunities to innovate and excel in vital industrial sectors. Achieving integration in the education sector depends on the great efforts being made on a large national scale. Organising "TVET Innovation Week 2021" by Abu Dhabi Center for Technical and Vocational Education and Training indicates clearly that the integrative education strategy in the United Arab Emirates is being achieved. 

His Excellency Hussain Al Hammadi concluded his speech by saying, "We are all confident and certain that the Leaders’ Forum and the" TVET Innovation Week 2021 "in general will present to us many new ideas, visions and initiatives that raises to the level of expectation and the aspirations of our nation and leadership.

This conference is a manifestation of the wise vision of our leadership coming to action.  UAE’s leadership envisioned the cooperation and the integration between the public and the private sectors as the best way to achieve sustainable economic development in the UAE. The goal is to supply the labor market with qualified national cadres capable of building a diversified and sustainable economy with high productivity gauge. Such strong economy will upscale the UAE’s global position in business and increase its competitiveness.  

His Excellency Dr. Mubarak Al Shamsi, Director General of ACTVET expressed in his speech his sincere gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his generous patronage to this great event. This generous patronage reflects how UAE leadership is keen to empower ACTVET to fulfill  its important national role performing to benchmark with international standards.  This trust indicates that ACTVET’s initiatives and programs are aligned to realize the vision of UAE’s leadership by developing the skills and the competencies of the UAE youth, supporting their employment and empowering them to work in the public and private sectors. Few of our distinguished programs are: "TVET Innovation Week", "Yes to work" and the “Empower Emiratis for Employment”. Which helps UAE nationals in obtaining a qualification diploma in the retail sector. Our programs are all developed with one goal in mind, to provide the necessary education and training to develop the skills of the UAE nationals and increase their employability through career guidance and mentoring. 

In his speech, His Excellency Dr. Mubarak Al Shamsi pointed out that the Leaders’ Forum includes an elite group of experts and an enthusiastic young generation who enjoy skills and knowledge and are coming from various industries and sectors. HE. Confirmed that ACTVET is keen to support Emirati youth in achieving their ambitions and support them to employ their skills and talents in the right job and prove their efficiency in the job and their potential to be the leaders of tomorrow.

ACTVET’s Director General concluded his speech wishing success to all, highlighting the need for this forum to come up with important recommendations and initiatives that serve the vision of UAE’s leadership for the prosperity and the wellbeing of UAE and its citizens.