Arab Knowledge Report 2010/2011 Preparing Future Generations for the Knowledge Society This Report has been produced through joint sponsorship and support of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation (MBRF) and The United Nations Development Programme / Regional Bureau for Arab States (UNDP/RBAS) Cover is printed on 350 GSM paper that is Chlorine – Free and meets the Sustainable Forest Initiative guidelines. Text pages are printed on 80 GSM uncoated white opaque, wood free Paper. Both cover and text papers are printed with vegetable-based inks and produced by means of environmentally–compatible technology. Cove Design: Pro Creative Concepts Advertising Agency-Cairo, Egypt Layout and Production: Al Ghurair Printing & Publishing House L.L.C Printed at: Al Ghurair Printing & Publishing House L.L.C, Dubai, UAE Printed in Dubai - United Arab Emirates The analysis and policy recommendations of this 5eport do not necessarily reÁect the views of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation or the United Nations Development Programme, its Executive Board Members or UN Member States. The Report is the work of an independent team of authors jointly sponsored by the Regional Bureau for Arab States, UNDP, and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation. This work was originally published in Arabic. In case of discrepancy, the original language shall take precedence. Foreword by the Chairman of the Board, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation “Undoubtedly, the Arab reality is thorny and are capable of confronting challenges and problematic; this is our reality, and we know of contributing to comprehensive and it well in detail. We have no way out but to sustainable development. work through this reality, with awareness and determination to overcome obstacles, and The Àrst Arab Knowledge Report for with recognition that human’s worthiness 2009 expressed the structural relationship is not measured by the success to adapt between the triad of community, knowledge, with reality, whatever it may be, neither by and development for establishing and the skills in managing the statuesque, but supporting knowledge economy bases, rather by the ability to develop this reality and for achieving the welfare and pride of and change it for the better through serious, the Arab citizen. This involved a detailed persistent, and well thought hard work that analysis and description of the knowledge is driven by a spirit of optimism, selÁessness, scene in the Arab world, and the formulation and devotion. By this, change will happen of a road map for achieving a “knowledge and development will be achieved”. renaissance” along with identiÀcation of the relevant priorities. This is one of the fundamental basis in the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed The second Arab Knowledge Report bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and sheds light on one of the most important Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of recommendations of the previous Report Dubai, for achieving sustainable and fruitful by addressing the issue of preparing future Arab development through diagnosis of generations for the knowledge society which the status of knowledge in the Arab world, is considered the cornerstone for building a developing its infrastructure and improving sustainable human development. Relying its quality, in order to produce a reliable high- on updated Àeld surveys undertaken in quality cognitive outputs that correspond various Arab countries, the Report provides with the requirements of the labour market. practical solutions that can guide Arab countries in bridging the ”cognitive gap” The annual Arab Knowledge Report that was highlighted in the Àrst report. project; a joint initiative of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation and Using a detailed methodology, the report the UNDP, provides an international Arab also reviews many pedagogic and educational index for measuring the state of knowledge theories that are related to preparing future in the Arab countries. It is also considered generations for the knowledge society, as a qualitative and accurate analysis and well as the associated problematic issues description, from several perspectives, including those related to the political, that can assist ofÀcials in evaluating the economic, and social conditions and the performance and improving developmental impact of these challenges on building the plans for building knowledge societies that desired knowledge society. Going beyond A theories and studies concerned with In this context, I would like to extend building knowledge societies, the scope of thanks and appreciation to the UNDP/ this Report extends to the investigation and Regional 2fÀce for the Arab States, collection of data and information from especially the report team in Dubai, and their original resources by going to the to every person who contributed to the Arab streets to gather facts and conduct completion of the report, be they thinkers, comprehensive Àeld surveys using real and authors, editors or technicians. representative samples of the young Arabs, from north to south and from east to west. I am looking forward to continuing This Report, which is optimistic in nature, further fruitful cooperation between us in provides practical solutions derived from solidifying the pillars of the cognitive and the Arab reality, that are based on theories intellectual structures in the region, and in and methodologies of sustainable human consolidating the foundations of the aspired development, providing a guiding reference human development in the Arab world. for the Arab decision-maker that can assist in building the knowledge society. Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Chairman of the Board Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation B Foreword by the Regional Director, UNDP Regional Bureau for Arab States The partnership between the Mohammed that are consistent with the requirements bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation and the of the future era including cognitive, Regional Bureau for Arab States in UNDP compassionate and social skills. The Report to support the Arab and international stresses that skills alone are not enough efforts in building the knowledge society unless they are accompanied by a set of and economy, brings to fruition the Arab values that guide the youth in their work Knowledge Report for 2010-2011 which for the good of humanity and society. deals with one of the most important issues The vision of the Report emphasizes the in the preparation of the future generations importance of providing supportive and for the knowledge society. motivating enabling environments, including The second Arab Knowledge Report for the provision and protection of freedoms in 2010/2011: “Preparing Future Generations their broader sense, in order to nurture and for the Knowledge Society” builds on the maintain the value system, and embrace and main Àndings of the Àrst Arab Knowledge develop the skills of the youth in order to Report launched in 2009, which showcased optimize their investment in the processes the deÀcits and gaps in the Arab knowledge of building the knowledge society. scene and proposed ways to address these The Report is characterized by its gaps, including political will and mobilization inclusion of Àeld studies on the status of of required capabilities and resources. preparing future generations in four selected It relied on one of the most important Arab countries; the United Arab Emirates, recommendations calling for building “the Jordan, Morocco, and Yemen, as well as necessary capacity” of qualiÀed human addressing issues of preparing the future capital to lead the processes of moving generations for the knowledge society in forward the knowledge society and economy. the Arab region as a whole. The Àrst part Following these diagnoses, and based on of the Report highlights the most important the triad of “knowledge, development, and concepts and practices in the preparation freedom” which was adopted in the previous of the future generations for the knowledge Report, “the Arab Knowledge Report society in the Arab region, including an 2010/2011: Preparing Future Generations in-depth investigation on the status of for the Knowledge Society” moves to the education systems as being among the most stage of “action”. This puts us at the core signiÀcant approaches to the preparation of building the knowledge society through processes along with the overall family and preparing of the Arab society to actively societal conditions. participate in building the aspired knowledge The Report also provides an objective society and to beneÀt from its fruits; and analysis of the status of enabling environments then utilize the gains in serving the objectives for the future generation, stressing the of sustainable human development. urgent need for effective intervention According to the Report’s authors, the for the establishment of proper enabling preparation of the future generations for environments stimulating the youth and their the knowledge society requires providing preparation for the knowledge society. them with a comprehensive set of skills After a consolidated presentation of C the outcomes of the empirical studies that most efÀcient and effective way to build the were conducted as case studies in the four knowledge society as a Àrst step towards selected Arab countries, the Àrst part of the achieving the aspired Arab renaissance. Report concludes by presenting a proposed A selection of Arab intellectuals and model for the future practices towards experts in related