Abu dhabi: Dr. Abdulrahman Al Awar, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation and Acting Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, chaired a pivotal meeting of the Advisory Committee for Higher Education and Future Skills. The meeting was attended by key academic and economic leaders, as well as UAE-based research councils, with a focus on advancing transformative reforms in the UAE's higher education system.
According to Emirates News Agency, the meeting emphasized a shift from traditional educational models to a national approach that is skills-driven and data-informed, with strong economic partnerships to prepare national talent for a rapidly evolving global labor market. Participants reviewed progress on the new Higher Education Law, which establishes legislative and executional frameworks for this transformation, reorienting the higher education system from procedural inputs to measurable outcomes, ensuring alignment with labor market needs and economic growth.
A key highlight of the meeting was the Higher Education Database, which serves as a strategic tool for planning and evidence-based decision-making by providing accurate and up-to-date insights. Additionally, the committee reviewed initial results of the National Practical Training Platform, Nafis. Launched by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in partnership with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation and the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council, the platform enhances alignment between academia and practical experience, boosting students' readiness with skills relevant to the labor market. Early findings indicate strong engagement from higher education institutions and training providers.
The committee also assessed progress across its eight working groups, which are aligned with key national strategic priorities in sectors such as energy, renewable energy, and water. These groups include the Health Sciences Group, Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education Group, and the Economic Sectors and Higher Education Partnerships Group, among others.
Participants reiterated the committee's role in transitioning from basic institutional coordination to integrated governance of the higher education system, placing future skills at the core of policies and linking them to the UAE's economic priorities. This reinforces a flexible, future-ready national education system.
The meeting was attended by prominent figures such as Dr. Faisal Al Ayyan, President and CEO of the Higher Colleges of Technology; Prof. Ahmed Al Raeesi, Acting Vice Chancellor of the United Arab Emirates University; and Dr. Mansoor Al Awar, Chancellor of Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University, among others.
The Advisory Committee for Higher Education and Future Skills is a subcommittee of the Higher Education Committee of the Education, Human Development and Community Council, aiming to strengthen institutional collaboration and align higher education outcomes with future labor market needs.