ADEC and Mubadala herald new educational partnership

The Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) recently partnered with the Mubadala Development Company to launch new science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) educational initiatives.

This latest cooperation agreement between ADEC and Mubadala, the wholly owned investment vehicle of the Abu Dhabi government, is intended to align education with emerging career paths in important industries that are key to long-term economic diversification in the United Arab Emirates.

“Our industries require strong technical and engineering talent, and a sustained pipeline of [intellectual properties] and know-how to ensure global competitiveness and sustainability,” Amal Al-Qubaisi, ADEC’s director general, said. “The proposed alliance is envisioned to build the infrastructure in curricula, laboratories, knowledge portals, experiential learning, teacher training and applied research to produce STEM talent and knowledge at the required scale for generations to come.”

As Abu Dhabi’s non-energy industries grow, they require higher and higher levels of technically skilled workers, which in turn requires investment in higher education programs. This program is set to ensure that happens.

Experts predict the fields of aerospace, utilities, health care and information communications technology will be in the greatest need of new technical talent in the next five years. Other emerging sectors, such as semiconductors and renewables, also will need new skilled employees, though at lower levels.

The partnership between ADEC and Mubadala will take the form of a joint steering committee to design the objectives and frameworks of future education programs. An initial pilot program is scheduled for the opening of the 2015-2016 academic year.