Dr. Mohammed Al Biali, Director of the United Arab Emirates University, UAE, has affirmed that promoting essential skills can achieve a balance between academic and professional education.

During his meeting with experts while visiting the pavilions at the WorldSkills Abu Dhabi 2017, Dr. Al Biali added that skills play an essential role in promoting economic development and achieving harmony with the fourth industrial revolution while stressing that the vision of the UAE’s wise leadership, which consists of entrusting the youth and promoting their skills, will support the country’s leading position in world competitiveness indicators. Emirati youth have also acquired the global skills that will enable them to drive the future, he continued.

He explained that the presence of a number of experts at the event would assist Emirati youth to acquire further skills and teach them how to develop themselves. He expressed his happiness at the availability of these opportunities in Abu Dhabi, which will help the country achieve a balance between academic and professional education, comply with its development plans, and promote innovation in a positive and competitive environment.

Dr. Al Biali also attended a conference titled, 'Skills Strategies for a Globalised World', which was held on the sidelines of the WorldSkills 2017 and addressed the challenges and opportunities of the fourth industrial revolution. The conference was attended by many prominent figures from governments, industries and international organisations, as well as academic professionals.