DUBAI: The UAE Ministry of Education revealed yesterday its plans to launch the first-of-its-kind programme in the region titled ‘Industrial Revolution X’ (IR-X).

The programme is designed to equip UAE nationals with the knowledge, skills and hands-on expertise required to keep apace with modern technologies and scientific advancements occurring globally.

IR-X will kick off with a ‘Design Thinking’ Workshop at the National Science, Technology and Innovation Festival (NSTI Festival), running in conjunction with UAE innovation month. NSTI Festival is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and taking place at the Festival Arena in Dubai, from 15th-19th February 2018.

VISION

The vision of the programme is for it to evolve with time and adapt its content to gear UAE nationals for upcoming industrial revolutions, hence the ‘X’ in the name, which represents the future eras. The IR-X Programme is aligned with the UAE Artificial Intelligence Strategy and the UAE Strategy for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) to boost government performance and to create a highly productive innovative environment by investing in future technologies. This marks the beginning of the UAE Centennial 2071 phase that will require Emiratis specialised in Artificial Intelligence (AI) to develop new sectors and create opportunities for the national economy.

IR-X 2018 is implemented in collaboration with renowned partners and Udacity, a pioneer in online education with groundbreaking credential programmes headquartered in Silicon Valley, USA to focus on 4IR disciplines that include AI, deep learning, machine learning, the Internet of Things (IoT), self-driving cars, robotics, and blockchain.

Udacity will create a learning programme that invests in the development of high-performing Emirati’s to become world-class specialists in their chosen track and encourages them to apply their leanings into their own working prototypes and research papers that solve real-life problems.

SIGNIFICANCE

The Ministry is collaborating with local based and international entities to set a strong network of knowledge, incubation and funding partners and have a solid foundation for the programme.

Commenting on the significance of the inaugural IR-X Programme, Hussain Bin Ibrahim Al Hammadi, Minister of Education said, “The UAE is the first country in the world to form a specialised Council under the name of the ‘Fourth Industrial Revolution Council’ to utilise opportunities and tackle challenges presented by the 4IR. Our unique IR-X Programme is the only multi-purpose initiative that offers various paths for participants to take and fulfill the future markets requirements from every aspect. As a comprehensive programme designed to create world-class specialists equipped with knowledge and expertise in 4IR technologies, the IR-X Programme will contribute to positioning the UAE as the world’s first open laboratory to test and apply 4IR technologies.”

Dr Ahmad Bin Abdullah Humaid Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of State for Higher Education and Advanced Skills stated, “With the Fourth Industrial Revolution, we seek to elevate individual capabilities and equip students with the right skills, to increase overall competitiveness of the UAE - for the long-term prosperity of our great nation. To augment these efforts, we want to empower our students, by supporting their skills and abilities, throughout the entire educational journey. This will pave the way for life-long learning and form the backbone of a thriving innovation ecosystem. As the UAE delivers on its vision to be one of the most innovative nations in the world, programs such as IR-X Program will spur sustainable economic growth and boost our global competitiveness.”

With its three core tracks; Entrepreneurship, Research, and Employment, the IR-X Programme will play an integral part in building a knowledge-based economy and a workforce capable of meeting future market requirements.

The Programme encourages UAE nationals to embark on an educational journey that offers various paths to help the UAE promote its competitive edge in a rapidly changing world. In addition to launching specialised start-ups, the Programme aims to bridge the gap between academia and industry through matching applicants with employment opportunities and promoting research and development (R&D) within academia to increase the number of scientific papers published by UAE nationals.

Each of the tracks will help participants serve a purpose in this revolution. The “Entrepreneurship Track” will support beneficiaries in starting their entrepreneurial ventures, while the “Employment Track” supports applicants in finding employment opportunities suitable for their expertise and skills. Meanwhile, the “Research Track” provides candidates with the opportunity to submit scientific research papers within 4IR fields in return for postgraduate scholarships in prestigious international institutions.

Dr Amna Al Dahak Al Shamsi, Assistant Undersecretary Activities Sector and Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Department at the Ministry of Education explained, “Utilising the advanced technological tools learned at the Programme will help participants develop innovative outcomes to raise efficiency and productivity and convert future challenges to opportunities and achievements.”