UAE advances digital literacy and knowledge-based economy
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The UAE has made significant progress in advancing its knowledge-based economy, as revealed in a comprehensive report on the “State of Computer Science and ICT Education in the UAE”.
Developed as a collaboration between the World Government Summit (WGS) Organization, e& and Code.orgThe report provides insight into the nation’s commitment to fostering digital literacy and preparing citizens for the challenges of the 21st century.
Moving away from traditional sectors, the UAE government has made a decisive commitment to knowledge-based growth. With a significant education budget of $2.7 billion in 2023 and $2.8 billion in 2024, the nation prioritizes programming and emerging technologies, with the goal of transforming and diversifying its economic landscape. This aligns with the UAE National Strategy for Artificial Intelligencewhich focuses on developing elite technology talent.
Ali Al Mansoori, Group Human Resources Director at e&saying,
“In an era where digital frontiers are expanding at an unprecedented pace, equipping our children with strong computing skills, including coding and understanding generative AI, is not just an advantage, but a necessity. As we develop these digital skills in our young people, we empower our workforce, ensuring our country’s competitive advantage in a world where technology is the universal language of progress.”
Emphasizing the development of elite technological talent, the UAE invests substantially in education, allocating funds to universities and implementing directives to improve computational thinking. Currently, 24% of the population has programming skills, in line with the UAE National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence. Initiatives like ‘UAE Codes Day‘ and ‘One million Arab coders‘aims to foster coding skills among young people, contributing to the nation’s vision for a digital future.
The report indicates that 96% of parents believe that computing fosters creativity, problem-solving skills and structured thinking, while 88% of the UAE public believes that computing opens up job opportunities and reduces inequalities.
Sixth place worldwide in the Network ICT Readiness Index skills in the education system, the UAE displays notable digital competency among students and teachers, underscoring the nation’s commitment to fostering a digitally literate society. Furthermore, 86% of the public agrees that offering computer training at an early age is crucial to not miss a strategic opportunity compared to other countries that already implement programs of this type.
The United Arab Emirates stands out as one of the few countries where computer science education is mandatory in primary and secondary schools, and 99% of parents whose children are learning computer science express their desire for them to continue studying it.
The evolution of UAE computing education, marked by milestones such as the 2015 revision of the Computer Science and Technology Standards (CST) and the integration of technology subjects in 2019 into the Innovation and Design curriculum Creative in Computing (CCDI), underlines the nation’s strategic strategy. and progressive to nurture a technologically capable future generation.
Additionally, ongoing initiatives, such as collaborations with Code.org and the Australian Educational Research Council (ACER) in 2023/24 ensures that Computer Science curricula are aligned with the latest global best practices.
Looking ahead, the UAE aims to maintain its growth trajectory by further developing in areas such as experiential learning, computer science awareness, increasing Arabic content and teacher specialization. Initiatives such as continued collaboration with Code.org They play a crucial role in reshaping the educational landscape and ensuring that digital skills are accessible to students around the world.
Pat Yongpradit, academic director of Code.orgsaying,
“Code.org has changed the rules of the game in the global educational landscape, addressing the digital divide head-on. By providing resources, training and promotion, we have opened doors for millions of students around the world to learn computer science and have helped students in the UAE use these skills to continue the tradition of innovation in the country.”
The UAE anticipates continued innovation and efforts to raise awareness of computing education, combined with enhanced resources and comprehensive teacher training to solidify its position as a global leader in digital literacy, preparing youth for the dynamic demands of the 20th century workforce. XXI.
News source: Emirates News Agency
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