By Amitha
Universities are rethinking curricula, industry engagement and learning models to equip graduates for a job market defined by rapid technological and economic changes
Dubai, Jan 30, 2026: As artificial intelligence, automation and shifting economic priorities reshape the labour market, universities are facing a fundamental question: how do you prepare graduates for roles that are still taking shape? For higher education leaders, the challenge is no longer limited to employability at graduation, but to ensuring relevance across decades of professional change.
Universities are responding by re-examining how learning happens, moving beyond narrow discipline-based training to curricula that emphasise adaptability, critical thinking and lifelong learning. From industry-linked projects and interdisciplinary programmes to greater integration of digital and AI skills, institutions are rethinking the relationship between education and work.
Leaders from universities across the GCC offer insights into how higher education is adapting to prepare graduates not just for their first job but for careers that will unfold in an unpredictable world.
