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McKinsey & Company’s Managing Director – Middle East Briefs Al Habtoor on Pioneering Educational Study

20-NOV-2017

Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor, Founding Chairman, Al Habtoor Group welcomed Tarek El Masry, Managing Director – Middle East, McKinsey & Company at his office. El Masry was accompanied by Professor Dr Nada Mourtada-Sabbah, the Secretary General of The University Leadership Consortium (ULC) and the BUNYAN Initiative for the Capacity-Building of the UAE youth.

McKinsey is assisting the ULC as knowledge partner in shaping the strategy of the University Leadership Consortium of the UAE and the BUNYAN Initiative for the capacity-building of UAE youth, which brings together leading academic institutions of higher learning and prominent figures from industry.  McKinsey & Company led an in-depth study on behalf of the ULC focusing on how the public sector, private sector and academic can collaborate to support the development of a knowledge-based economy in the UAE to enhance human capital and capacity-building of the UAE youth.

El Masry and Professor Dr. Nada briefed Al Habtoor about the outcome of the study, in which Al Habtoor had been the first private sector figure to provide insight and guidance on the initiative.

They discussed the role of technology and its impact on the job market. ElMasry raised the concern that it is important the educators adapt to advances in technology which threaten future job prospects in the global jobs market. He said they need to embrace the advancements and adapt accordingly to ensure that job-seekers are armed with the right skillset for the future.

Al Habtoor said, “We need to make sure that educators are equipping young people with the skills required for the real-world job market. It is not just about having a good education. We need to bridge the gap and ensure that the government, academia and the private sector communicate so that our youth has the best chance in life.” He reiterated his stance that not everyone can be a CEO or an engineer. “We need to train our youth for a variety of jobs from a plumber to a corporate executive,” he said. “It is important that whatever they do they have good practical skills in life to complement their academic background.”

The BUNYAN Initiative for the Capacity-Building of the UAE youth, which was launched by H.E. Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of State for Tolerance, within the University Leadership Council aims at developing, encouraging, and favoring such well-rounded talented young professionals who in turn actively contribute to enhanced knowledge development and knowledge sharing in all its forms thus actively contributing to sustainable nation-building.