2017
Conference 16: "Arab Higher Education and the World of Work and Production: A New Vision", the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States, Cairo, the Arab Republic of Egypt, December 2017
The sixteenth (16th) Conference addressed the relationship of higher education with the world of work and production and examined its competitive advantage and operational capacity through a new vision that harmonizes national development needs with the requirements of a global economy that imposes its conditions and standards. The conference concluded with the issuance of a vast number of recommendations, some of which are addressed to Arab countries, such as integrated planning of higher education, scientific research and the work and production sectors, within the framework of each country's national vision for sustainable development, its priorities and its elements of relative distinction. It also called for reviewing the national legislation and laws governing the relationship of higher education and scientific research institutions with the labour market in order to strengthen the partnership between them, and for encouraging young people to take up employment in the private sector. It also called for establishing national databases on graduates and employment opportunities, taking into account international standards for the protection of personal data, and linking them to the Arab Labour Market Information Network of the Arab Labour Organization in order to enumerate the numbers and types of jobs and the educational requirements of each existing and future anticipated job; developing the capacities of Arab youth, university students and graduates to equip them with global skills that facilitate their access to global employment opportunities, as well as Arab and local job opportunities; and supporting higher education and scientific research institutions that have been damaged by conflicts, acts of sabotage or occupation, and their rehabilitation by governments as well as by private institutions.
In addition, there were recommendations addressed to the private sector, such as financing applied scientific research chairs at universities and research centres to support projects for developing production and solving its problems in the various economic sectors on a scientific basis; sponsoring educational and qualification programmes for the specializations required at higher education and scientific research institutions, within a framework of integrated planning between the two sectors and a future vision of the needs of the work sector; and supporting business incubators at higher education and scientific research institutions and developing and ensuring the success of start-up companies.
The conference also addressed two recommendations to the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization, namely continuing coordination with the member states to establish an "Arab framework for higher education qualifications," and working to disseminate successful Arab experiences and expertise in the field of linking higher education with the labour market.
