Staff
The summit explored the rise of skills-based education, micro-credentials and alternative learning pathways, questioning traditional higher education models that no longer fit today’s job market
Dubai, Feb 19, 2025: The AGF Summit 2025: Innovation and Transformation in Higher Education brought together global education leaders, policymakers and industry experts to explore how artificial intelligence (AI), technology and strategic philanthropy are reshaping the future of learning.
Organised by the Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation (AGF), the summit marks a decade of the foundation’s commitment to transforming education in the Arab region. Amid rising digital disruption and growing skills gaps, the event aimed to strengthen collaboration between academia, industry and governments to create an adaptable, inclusive education system that meets the needs of the future workforce.
In alignment with the UAE Year of Community, the summit highlighted the power of collective action in driving meaningful educational change, reinforcing the idea that advancing education is a shared responsibility.
Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair, Chairman of AGF said, “Strategic philanthropy transforms lives by building ecosystems where people thrive. As we embrace the UAE’s Year of Community, AGF is committed to a smarter, more sustainable education system where government, private sector and civil society unite for real, scalable change.”
Sessions throughout the day examined the integration of AI and data analytics in education, workforce readiness in an era of rapid automation and the role of public-private partnerships in bridging the divide between academia and industry. With regional youth unemployment rates among the highest globally and digital exclusion disproportionately affecting women, the summit highlighted efforts to close opportunity gaps and advance digital inclusion.
During the summit, Dr. Sonia Ben Jaafar, CEO of the Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation, emphasised the urgent need to reimagine education in a rapidly changing world. “Artificial intelligence and digital technologies are redefining how people learn and work, but without strategic foresight, we risk deepening the education divide,” she said. “Too many young people, particularly in vulnerable communities, face compromised education systems that fail to prepare them for the future. We cannot afford to be reactive. We must build agile, inclusive models that anticipate change and expand opportunities for all. The urgency to act has never been greater, and the solutions must be bold.”
Speakers explored how AI can be harnessed to expand access to high-quality, adaptive learning while addressing concerns around data privacy, ethics and bias. Industry leaders and academic experts debated the growing relevance of skills-based education, micro-credentials and alternative learning pathways, challenging long-standing models of higher education that no longer align with the evolving job market.
