Arab Knowledge Forum Was Convened

Under the patronage and with the presence of His Highness Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nayahan, UAE Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, the Arab Knowledge Forum was convened on April 18 at Paris-Sorbonne University with the participation of the leading universities and key foundations within this annual leading initiative of the University Leadership Consortium, which is meant to bring together a constructive dialogue among a triangulation of leading figures from industry; chief academic officers; and relevant governmental agencies, as well as cohorts of the brightest young graduates of the leading universities members of “The Consortium” and joining forces in collective capacity-building endeavors to enhance the empowerment of the youth within the UAE, as part of the key strategic objectives of knowledge development, and the sustainable enhancement of human capital as the very foundation of continued nation-building endeavors.

Themed around the timely topic of knowledge development with the focus of “Preserving our Earth, Unearthing our Talents: On Sustainable Knowledge Development & Capacity-Building of the Youth in the UAE” the Forum brought together the chief academic officers of leading institutions of higher learning and key hubs of knowledge development within the UAE, with Professor Dr. Mohammed BaniYas, the Executive Director of Higher Education within Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC), Dr. Eric Fouache, Vice-Chancellor of Paris-Sorbonne University; Dr. Al Bloom, Vice-Chancellor of New York University in Abu Dhabi, Dr. Miguel Lobo, Director of INSEAD, Dr. Jihad Nader, Provost and Chief Academic Officer of American University of Dubai, and Dr. Lamia Fawwaz, Vice President of Masdar Institute, taking part in the Inaugural Keynote Panel themed “Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Capacity-Building of the Youth in the UAE” and other fellow leading university presidents in attendance actively taking part in the thematic deliberations.

H.E. Mohammed Abdul Jalil Al Fahim, Chairman of AlFahim Group of Companies, Yousuf Al Bastaki, Senior Vice President of Emirates Global Aluminum, Mr. Moosa Al Moosa, President of Dow Chemical Company, Mr. Osman Sultan, CEO of du, and Mr. James Arnott, the Managing Director of Accenture, took part on behalf of the private sector, in these capacity-building deliberations moderated by Ramsey Jurdi, the president of the American Business Council, and focusing on ways and means of enhancing the role of the private sector with a steady stream of substantial meaningful contributions from industry into the ongoing capacity-building efforts, as well as the combination of the theoretical knowledge gained at the University with the practical knowledge of the “University of Life.”

Prior to the Inaugural Keynote Panel, four thematic keynote addresses were delivered by Mr. Salem AlNoaimi, the CEO of Waha Capital; Mr. Tirad Mahmoud, CEO of ADIB, Mr. Patrick Chalhoub, CEO of Chalhoub Group; and Mr. Moiedin Thumbay, the Chairman of Thumbay Group and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Gulf Medical University, and focusing on the relevant themes of capacity-building and empowerment of the youth; insights on “success stories” and the underpinnings of fulfilling meaningful achievements in one’s professional journey; the key criteria of successful entrepreneurship and leadership; and the requisite criteria for enhanced contributions and meaningful engagement from the private sector.

The second Inaugural Keynote Panel brought together leading figures in strategic communication and the media sector, with expert insights from leading authorities such as Ms. Caroline Faraj, Vice President of CNN; Mr. Ali Jaber, the Group TV Director of MBC and Dean of the Mohammed bin Rashid School of Communication at AUD; Ms. Aisha Taryam, the Editor-in-Chief of the Gulf Today; Mr. Osman Sultan, the CEO of du; and Mr. Alex Brunori, the Head of Creative Agencies of Google, that were moderated by Professor Dr. Mohammed Ayish, the Head of Mass Communication Department at the American University of Sharjah.

Prior to the concluding address from Professor Miguel Lobo, Director of INSEAD on the underpinnings of decision sciences entitled “Judgment and Data, Big and Small” a leading panel and lively deliberations were allocated to insights from the youth themselves with the Panel themed “ Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Capacity-Building in the UAE: The Aspirations of the Youth.”

Moderated by Noor Shamma, the founder of the Artrepreneur Postcard Initiative for the support of the visually impaired, this Keynote Panel dedicated to the youth by the youth themselves, included insights from Mr. Mohammed Al Qadhi, the Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee of Al Bayt Mitwahhid; Mr. Samer El Gamal, the President of the Alumni Association of the American University of Sharjah; Dr. Khaldoon Nabhan, the President of the Alumni Council of University Paris-Sorbonne in Abu Dhabi;  Ms. Maysoon Barber, the Business Director of the Fatima bint Hazza Cultural Foundation; Mr. Bassam Samman, the CEO of CMCS; and Mr. Rabea Ataya, the Founder and CEO of Bayt.com.

The Arab Knowledge Forum  also feature the much-acclaimed “Fashion: A Second Skin” Exhibition brought by The cARTel Art Gallery featuring the artworks of Artists Patricia Millns and Una Burke and Curated by the cARTel’s co-founder May Barber. "We at the cARTel are very excited about bringing “Fashion: A Second Skin Exhibition” to Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi as part of the Arab Knowledge Forum endeavors to enhance knowledge and culture in multifaceted enriching ways. The second skin interpretations showcased in the exhibition reflect a refined level of detail, technique, and artistic language and corresponds to the vision of forward-thinking strategies and the encouragement of creativity and innovation which PSUAD and the Bunyan, the leading capacity-building Initiative for the empowerment of the youth value, a vision which is shared and lies at the core of the cARTel.

Professor Dr. Nada Mourtada-Sabbah who delivered the inaugural remarks introducing the Forum and “The Consortium,” commented that these joint capacity-building endeavors for the benefit of Emirati youth undertaken by a uniquely distinguished host of institutions of higher learning and key foundations and academic entities within the United Arab Emirates are meant to contribute to sustainable nation-building by enhancing human capital in the UAE—a long-standing strategic national goal and key factor of success--by providing the youth with both inspirational role-models for their business aspirations, and increased resources for their start-ups and entrepreneurial endeavors, as well as first-hand training from leading experts in their respective fields, who devote their unique wealth of expertise to showcasing, as role-models and inspirational figures from industry to the youth, how best to lead their entrepreneurial activities and reach the ambitious goals they set for themselves.

The various partners are participating in these joined capacity-building endeavors with the aim of contributing to the UAE’s continued position as the leading benchmark for success, creativity, innovation, and break-through in every possible way.

Expressing his pride at hosting the Arab Knowledge Forum on the campus of Paris-Sorbonne University in Abu Dhabi, Professor Eric Fouache, Vice-Chancellor of Paris-Sorbonne University commented that the thematic topic of the Forum was particularly germane to the goals of Knowledge Development set forth as key strategic objectives by the UAE leadership since the very inception of the Union. He expressed his profound gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, UAE Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, for his unwavering support of the joint efforts of both UAE knowledge entities and regional partners (such as AUB and the Arab Council for the Social Sciences, to name but a few) in providing the Emirati youth with the sustainable underpinnings of knowledge development, capacity-building, and continued empowerment with culture and the attribute of life-long learning.

Dr. Jihad Nader, Provost of AUD, expressed his pride at the new cohort of BUNYAN Knights nominated by the American University of Dubai, which were being presented to His Highness for their recognition as part of the BUNYAN Capacity-Building Initiative for the Empowerment of the Youth, to contribute to mentoring fellow young entrepreneurs and enhance the fabric of sustainable capacity-building in the UAE.

Solicited to speak on behalf of the youth cohorts of fellow BUNYAN Knights in attendance, Maysoon Barber director of the Fatima bint Hazza Cultural Foundation, expressed her pride in participating in a very ambitious platform that brings together leading academic and business minds and exports the most successful experiences to the region's leading universities alumni. She expressed that the Foundation shares this same vision when it comes to supporting the Youth in the UAE and enhancing entrepreneurial know-how and sustainable capacity building, and expressed her pride in seeing the incoming cohorts of fellow BUNYAN Knights being recognized by His Highness as leading contributors to nation-building in the UAE.

Mr. Rabia Ataya, Founder & CEO of Bayt.com emphasized the importance of such constructive dialogues between the private sector, academia, and relevant governmental agencies, and providing the youth with a platform for skill enhancement, talent acquisition, and knowledge development through ongoing capacity-building endeavors.

Mr. Ramsey Jurdi, President of the American Business Council, who moderated the inaugural Keynote Panel expressed his pride at the high level of engagement witnessed from Emirati youth as well as the willingness of leading experts in a wide variety of fields to contribute their time, wealth of expertise, and thought-provoking insights with the youth in the UAE.

The program commenced with the Emirati national anthem and the French national anthem being played by the renowned Arab musician Jihad Akl, along with a musical piece entitled “Baynoonah” which was especially dedicated by the musician to the Arab Know1ledge Forum under the aegis of His Highness Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nayahan.