ATRC spotlights initiatives to prepare UAE youth for tech-driven future
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)With the rapid, tech-driven transformation reshaping the world, skills development must keep pace to ensure that 50 years from now, there is a sufficiently skilled talent pool to drive progress. This is central to the Advanced Technology Research Council's (ATRC) mission to prepare the Emirati youth for the future.The ATRC is among those participating in the 16th edition of the EmiratesSkills National Competition (ESNC), which runs until April 30 at ADNEC Centre in Abu Dhabi.Held under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Mother of the Nation, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, the ESNC is considered the UAE's largest national platform dedicated to technical and vocational skills.Organised by the Abu Dhabi Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (ACTVET), the competition showcases the best emerging Emirati talent across a wide range of disciplines.On the sidelines of the event, the ATRC's Director of R&D Talent Enablement, Dr. Ing. Mae AlMansoori, highlighted how the council prepares and enables the UAE youth to excel in advanced technologies and shape their own future in these industries."Technology is forever evolving. While we focus on fields like AI, robotics, and engineering, it's equally important to equip the youth with an adaptive mindset - to be flexible and stay updated with changing trends," Dr. AlMansoori told Aletihad.The organisation taps international experts to conduct applied research as it builds a robust talent pipeline that will meet the needs of emerging fields for the next 50 years, she said."Our long-term vision is aligned with the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030. As we transform into a knowledge-based economy, the ATRC is playing a key role through subsidiaries like the Technology Innovation Institute, where we focus on 10 advanced technology areas, including AI, secure systems, quantum technologies, cryptography, and advanced materials," Dr. AlMansoori said.In ATRC's mission to future-proof the youth and their skills, competitions such as EmiratesSkills play a crucial role, especially in inspiring young talents to pursue STEM, AlMansoori said."Competitions like EmiratesSkills give the youth some hands-on experience. They not only learn the theory but also apply it, compete, succeed, and inspire their peers to become leaders. This year's theme focuses on AI, playing a vital role in bridging education with industry and transforming students into inventors, not just learners," she said.At their stand, ATRC is showcasing an early-engagement advanced technology initiative for elementary students; specialised support and scholarships for top young talents; as well as a drive to integrate these achievers into the R&D ecosystem."We also have the Future-Focused Career Pathways initiative to build awareness about emerging careers, and platforms like the UAE Research Map to bring together researchers and experts under one network, offering mentorship, funding, and collaboration opportunities," she added.The UAE Research Map, she stressed, allows researchers to access mentorship, project funding, and collaborative opportunities.Highlighting the unique environment at its subsidiary, the Technology Innovation Institute (TII), Dr. AlMansoori said: "We have over 1,300 researchers and engineers from more than 80 countries working on breakthrough technologies. Through our scholarships, students can pursue niche fields like photonics, high-power electromagnetics, advanced materials, and AI. We also offer mentorship, internships, and access to some of the most advanced research labs in the region."At ATRC, skills development knows no age boundaries. Opportunities could be offered to children as young as seven up to adults who are already in advanced careers, Dr. AlMansoori said.
"We are a young entity - only five years old - but we are deeply committed to empowering youth in the advanced technology fields. We believe in the vision of a knowledge-based economy, and we are determined to be part of it, to create it, and to pioneer it through our youth. The power always lies in our youth, and many exciting initiatives will be launched soon," she said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Filipino Times
5 hours ago
- Filipino Times
405 Fake Emiratisation Cases Detected in UAE Private Sector in First Half of 2025
The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) revealed that 405 cases of fake Emiratisation were uncovered in private companies during the first half of 2025. Authorities confirmed that legal action has been taken against establishments involved in the schemes. MoHRE explained that fake Emiratisation refers to companies hiring UAE citizens only on paper — issuing work permits and signing contracts without providing actual employment. The ministry said its field inspections and digital monitoring systems were instrumental in detecting such violations. The UAE government has maintained a zero-tolerance policy, with past violators fined millions of dirhams, including one company penalized Dh10 million last year for appointing 113 citizens in fictitious jobs. Private firms are required to raise Emirati hires by 2% annually until they reach 10% by 2026, with compliance rewarded through incentives such as reduced fees and government procurement priority under the Nafis programme. Community members are encouraged to report suspicious cases via MoHRE's hotlines, smart app, or website.
Web Release
7 hours ago
- Web Release
Ministry of Economy & Tourism participates in 'Women's Economic Dialogue' in China to enhance the global presence of Emirati women
As part of the UAE's celebrations of Emirati Women's Day 2025, held under the theme 'Hand in Hand, We Celebrate 50 Years,' the Ministry of Economy and Tourism took part in the 'Women's Economy Dialogue' in Guangzhou, People's Republic of China. The event was aimed at strengthening the global presence of Emirati women, highlighting their remarkable achievements, and fostering international partnerships between successful women leaders in the economic sector in both the UAE and China. These efforts align with the UAE wise leadership's vision to support and empower women and to reinforce their role in shaping the future. The UAE delegation participating in the event – organized by the Consulate General of the UAE in Guangzhou – was led by H.E. Badreya Al Maidoor, Assistant Undersecretary for the Support Services Sector at the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, and included H.E. Mariam Alshamsi, Consul General of the UAE in Guangzhou; Emirati entrepreneur Maryam Al Mansoori, General Manager of Rebound; as well as representatives from Sky River and Esaal. H.E. Badreya Al Maidoor affirmed that the empowerment of women remains one of the UAE's strategic priorities, in line with the wise leadership's vision to support Emirati women and enhance their role in shaping the nation's economic future. She emphasized that since its founding, the UAE has adopted a pioneering approach to positioning women as active partners in the country's development journey, through supportive policies, legislation, and initiatives across both the public and private sectors – making women's participation in national development a key driver of the UAE's regional and global competitiveness. Her Excellency said: 'We take pride in the remarkable achievements of Emirati women across all sectors. Through this dialogue, we aim to expand cooperation with women entrepreneurs in China by fostering economic partnerships built on diversity and innovation, while sharing success stories that inspire the next generation of women leaders in both countries.' The event featured a series of panel discussions highlighting women's roles in vital sectors such as sustainable finance, investment, fintech, green building, and the localization of foreign companies in the UAE. Women leaders from both countries shared their professional experiences and the opportunities that empowered them. The event marks a significant milestone in the UAE's ongoing efforts to reinforce the pioneering role of Emirati women in sustainable development, in line with the objectives of the 'We the UAE 2031' vision and several other national goals.
Al Etihad
8 hours ago
- Al Etihad
UAE serves as model in advancing women's leadership
20 Aug 2025 14:56 DUBAI (WAM) The UAE has developed a comprehensive framework for women's empowerment, adopting a systematic approach to address challenges, expand opportunities and prepare women for leadership across multiple sectors. These efforts have strengthened the country's competitiveness regionally and entities, such as the UAE Gender Balance Council and Dubai Women Establishment, have contributed significantly to developing Emirati women's leadership capacities and facilitating their advancement to senior posts in both the public and private sectors, in cooperation with leading international Mohammed Al Ghuwais Al Suwaidi, Secretary-General of the UAE Gender Balance Council, said that the Council is intensifying efforts to increase women's participation in the private sector and raise their representation in leadership positions. This, she said, is being achieved through strategies and initiatives aimed at creating inclusive and balanced workplaces, in partnership with strategic stakeholders from both public and private highlighted that a number of national and international companies operating in the UAE have joined the 'SDG 5 Pledge to Accelerate Women's Leadership in the UAE Private Sector'. These companies have voluntarily committed to raising women's representation in middle and senior management roles to at least 30 per cent by 2025 for the first group, and by 2028 for the second group of companies that have recently joined the UAE Gender Balance Council Strategy 2026 aims to further reduce the gender gap across all sectors, enhance the UAE's ranking in global competitiveness reports on gender equality and achieve gender balance in decision-making positions, as well as promote the UAE's status as a benchmark for gender balance this context, the UAE ranked first regionally and 13th globally in the 2025 Gender Inequality Index published by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).Naeema Ahli, CEO of Dubai Women Establishment, said that advancing Emirati women's leadership remains one of the organisation's key priorities. She noted that the Establishment continues to design and implement advanced training programmes to build leadership skills for women across sectors, while also preparing them for senior roles in international organisations through specialised programmes developed with global institutions and universities with expertise in executive and leadership education. She added that these programmes aim not only to provide women with modern leadership knowledge and skills, but also to strengthen their understanding of leadership dynamics in changing work environments and build their confidence in decision-making roles.
