When it comes to news on economic trends and policies in the UAE, government and business leaders turn to the Abu Dhabi Council for Economic Development’s Economic Review. Tahseen Consulting is honored to have its work on developing a knowledge economy in the UAE highlighted in the publication’s November issue.
Tahseen Consulting’s Chief operating Officer, Wes Schwalje, spoke with representatives from the Abu Dhabi Council for Economic Development regarding his thoughts on how Abu Dhabi can build a knowledge economy. In a wide-ranging discussion, Schwalje discusses the link between the UAE’s knowledge-based economic development strategy and high skill, high wage job creation.
Tahseen Consulting’s Walid Aradi Discusses the Critical Economic Policy Role ...Wesley Schwalje
When it comes to news on economic trends and policies in the UAE, government and business leaders turn to the Abu Dhabi Council for Economic Development’s Economic Review. Tahseen Consulting is honored to contribute its analysis on the economic policy role of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority to the publication’s November issue. In the article, Tahseen Consulting’s Chief Executive Officer, Walid Aradi, spoke with representatives from the Abu Dhabi Council for Economic Development regarding his thoughts on the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority’s role in fiscal policy.
2019 MENA Venture Investment Summary Arabic Version where you will find all the information about the entrepreneurship statistics and future in ME and North Africa
Abdull Rahman Taishouri – Curriculum Vitae
Supervisor, Trainer, Author, Researcher
Personal Details
Name: Abdull Rahman Taishoori, Address: Tartous – Syria, e-mail: alrahmanabd@gmail.com, Cell Phone: +963932575464 / Fixed Line: +96343352298 / +96343357847.
Date and Place of Birth: Tartous, 27/09/1965.
Nationality: Syrian.
Civil Status: Married to Mrs. Fahida Mustafa.
Visa Status: national passport valid till 2016.
Education
- December, 2007: MPA - Masters of Public Administration, INA-NIPA Damascus.
- December, 2004: Preparatory Diploma of Finance, Law, and Business Administration.
- December, 2003: Masters degree of International Economic Relations, Tishreen
University, Latakia-Syria.
- December, 2002: Diploma of Educational Training, Tishreen University, Faculty
of Education, Latakia-Syria.
- December. 1987: A Licence of Political Science, International Relations, University
of Damascus, Syria.
Work Experience
- Worked as a teacher since 1989, then as a teacher in Commercial Secondary School, then as a teacher in the Industrial Institute.
- Head of Private Education Department 2000-2003.
- Moved to the Department of Tele-communications in 2008.
Tahseen Consulting’s Wes Schwalje on Regulating the Sharing Economy in the Ar...Wesley Schwalje
Tahseen Consulting is honored to have its insights on regulating the emergent sharing economy in the Arab World in the publication’s October issue. Tahseen Consulting’s Chief Operating Officer, Wes Schwalje, spoke with Nikhil Inamdar, a leading voice on key business trends in the region, regarding the evolving role the sharing economy is playing in meeting the region’s youth employment challenge. In a wide-ranging discussion, Schwalje warns of avoiding heavy-handed regulatory approaches that might limit the socio-economic impact pioneering companies in the sharing economy such as Uber and Airbnb can have on the Arab region.
Tahseen Consulting Analysis on Building a Sustainable Economy in the UAE Cite...Wesley Schwalje
When it comes to news on economic trends and policies in the UAE, government and business leaders turn to the Abu Dhabi Council for Economic Development’s Economic Review. Tahseen Consulting is honored to have its work on building sustainable economies in the Arab World highlighted in the publication’s April issue. We have posted the full article below.
Tahseen Consulting’s Chief operating Officer, Wes Schwalje, spoke with representatives from the Abu Dhabi Council for Economic Development regarding his thoughts on the how the concepts of sustainability and knowledge-based economy are evolving into economic policies in the UAE. In a wide-ranging discussion, Schwalje discusses the UAE’s aspirations, its achievements thus far, and potential barriers to progress.
U.S. News’ article More Arab Women Studying STEM features comments by Tahseen Consulting’s Wes Schwalje on competitions as a mechanism of exposing female students to STEM fields.
The State of Higher Education in the Middle EastWesley Schwalje
This article references a Tahseen Consulting study in which we explored the barriers facing women in entering science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields in the GCC in an article in Forbes Middle East. The original article is available at http://tahseen.ae/blog/?p=980.
Tahseen Consulting’s Walid Aradi Discusses the Critical Economic Policy Role ...Wesley Schwalje
When it comes to news on economic trends and policies in the UAE, government and business leaders turn to the Abu Dhabi Council for Economic Development’s Economic Review. Tahseen Consulting is honored to contribute its analysis on the economic policy role of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority to the publication’s November issue. In the article, Tahseen Consulting’s Chief Executive Officer, Walid Aradi, spoke with representatives from the Abu Dhabi Council for Economic Development regarding his thoughts on the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority’s role in fiscal policy.
2019 MENA Venture Investment Summary Arabic Version where you will find all the information about the entrepreneurship statistics and future in ME and North Africa
Abdull Rahman Taishouri – Curriculum Vitae
Supervisor, Trainer, Author, Researcher
Personal Details
Name: Abdull Rahman Taishoori, Address: Tartous – Syria, e-mail: alrahmanabd@gmail.com, Cell Phone: +963932575464 / Fixed Line: +96343352298 / +96343357847.
Date and Place of Birth: Tartous, 27/09/1965.
Nationality: Syrian.
Civil Status: Married to Mrs. Fahida Mustafa.
Visa Status: national passport valid till 2016.
Education
- December, 2007: MPA - Masters of Public Administration, INA-NIPA Damascus.
- December, 2004: Preparatory Diploma of Finance, Law, and Business Administration.
- December, 2003: Masters degree of International Economic Relations, Tishreen
University, Latakia-Syria.
- December, 2002: Diploma of Educational Training, Tishreen University, Faculty
of Education, Latakia-Syria.
- December. 1987: A Licence of Political Science, International Relations, University
of Damascus, Syria.
Work Experience
- Worked as a teacher since 1989, then as a teacher in Commercial Secondary School, then as a teacher in the Industrial Institute.
- Head of Private Education Department 2000-2003.
- Moved to the Department of Tele-communications in 2008.
Tahseen Consulting’s Wes Schwalje on Regulating the Sharing Economy in the Ar...Wesley Schwalje
Tahseen Consulting is honored to have its insights on regulating the emergent sharing economy in the Arab World in the publication’s October issue. Tahseen Consulting’s Chief Operating Officer, Wes Schwalje, spoke with Nikhil Inamdar, a leading voice on key business trends in the region, regarding the evolving role the sharing economy is playing in meeting the region’s youth employment challenge. In a wide-ranging discussion, Schwalje warns of avoiding heavy-handed regulatory approaches that might limit the socio-economic impact pioneering companies in the sharing economy such as Uber and Airbnb can have on the Arab region.
Tahseen Consulting Analysis on Building a Sustainable Economy in the UAE Cite...Wesley Schwalje
When it comes to news on economic trends and policies in the UAE, government and business leaders turn to the Abu Dhabi Council for Economic Development’s Economic Review. Tahseen Consulting is honored to have its work on building sustainable economies in the Arab World highlighted in the publication’s April issue. We have posted the full article below.
Tahseen Consulting’s Chief operating Officer, Wes Schwalje, spoke with representatives from the Abu Dhabi Council for Economic Development regarding his thoughts on the how the concepts of sustainability and knowledge-based economy are evolving into economic policies in the UAE. In a wide-ranging discussion, Schwalje discusses the UAE’s aspirations, its achievements thus far, and potential barriers to progress.
U.S. News’ article More Arab Women Studying STEM features comments by Tahseen Consulting’s Wes Schwalje on competitions as a mechanism of exposing female students to STEM fields.
The State of Higher Education in the Middle EastWesley Schwalje
This article references a Tahseen Consulting study in which we explored the barriers facing women in entering science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields in the GCC in an article in Forbes Middle East. The original article is available at http://tahseen.ae/blog/?p=980.
Why Qatar Needs a New Technical Vocational Education and Training Strategy NowWesley Schwalje
Beginning in the late Nineties, Qatar launched a comprehensive set of education reforms to more effectively align its education and training system with its macroeconomic policies aimed at advancing towards a knowledge-based economy. However, technical vocational education and training (TVET) has not been a significant focus of educational reforms.
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Publishing Industry Analysis: Challenges and Opportun...Wesley Schwalje
This study, conducted by Tahseen Consulting, was supported the Saudi Publishers Association’s recent successful bid to gain full membership in the International Publishers Association. Saudi Arabia is the fourth country in the Arab World to achieve full membership in this prestigious international organization which represents publishers’ interests globally. The report comes as Saudi publishers are preparing to attend the 34th Sharjah International Book Fair starting on November 4th.
Tahseen Consulting’s CEO Sees Strong Potential for Dubai’s Growth as an Islam...Wesley Schwalje
Walid Aradi discusses why Dubai is well positioned to as a financial hub for international Islamic finance
Recently, Tahseen Consulting’s Chief Executive Officer, Walid Aradi, spoke with Philip Moore from Emerging Markets regarding his views on the emergence of Dubai as a global Islamic finance center. In a wide-ranging discussion, Aradi explained the competitive factors that Dubai has going for it as well as highlights the negative impact skills shortages and gaps may have on the evolution of the industry in the UAE.
Tahseen Consulting’s Wes Schwalje Leads Panel on Female Retention in the GCC ...Wesley Schwalje
Schwalje outlines 5 key challenges that GCC countries must overcome to keep women in the labor force
One of the most widely reported challenges that GCC countries and companies now face is the retention of highly qualified female employees. Retention can be particularly problematic as women try to strike a balance between familial responsibilities and succeeding in the workplace. Schwalje asked the panel to reflect on five key challenges: overcoming social perceptions about occupations traditionally dominated by males, implementing female-friendly workplace policies, enabling work-life balance, developing family-friendly facilities, and articulating clear career trajectories for women.
Panel members included Khawla Al Mehairi, Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Communication, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, Khaled Al Khudair, Founder, Glowork, and Deborah Gills, Chief Executive Officer, Catalyst. A copy of Tahseen Consulting’s analysis supporting the criticality of addressing the five panel focus themes is below along a with video that captures Schwalje’s thoughts on the way forward.
Tahseen Consulting’s Wes Schwalje Speaks With Forbes Woman Middle East About ...Wesley Schwalje
With its second issue released in July, Forbes Woman Middle East is quickly emerging as a leading publication for female professionals in the Arab World. Rather than focus on beauty and fashion like many competing publications aimed at women in the region, Forbes Woman Middle East is aimed at professional women who are trying to make a mark on companies across the region.
Tahseen Consulting is honored to have its work on female technical vocational education and training and employment in the GCC featured in the July issue. In the article, Tahseen Consulting’s Chief Operating Officer Wes Schwalje speaks with Hannah Stewart Executive Editor from Forbes Woman Middle East regarding the barriers facing women in entering science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields in the GCC. In a wide ranging discussion, Schwalje explains the economic impact of the lack of women employed in STEM fields and what GCC countries can do to encourage more women to enter emerging technical fields.
Women Wanted: Attracting Women to Technical Fields in QatarWesley Schwalje
Over the past several decades Qatar has dramatically reformed its education and training system to align it with macroeconomic policies aimed at advancing towards a knowledge-based economy. However, technical vocational education and training (TVET) has not been a significant focus of educational reform. Though the need for a technically trained labor force was recognized by policy makers in Qatar as early as the 1940s when Qatar began exporting oil, dedicated TVET institutions began to emerge only in the late 1990s with establishment of several postsecondary institutions, two secondary institutions for boys, government-run training academies, and the emergence of a private training market.
مخطط التنمية للوكالة الوطنية لانعاش التشغيل و الكفاءات في أفق 2020ANAPEC
تسعى الوكالة الوطنية لانعاش التشغيل و الكفاءات إلى أن تصبح، في أفق 2020، مرفقا عموميا منسجما مع محيطه، منخرطا بقوة في الجهوية، يضمن لكل باحث عن شغل مواكبة عن قرب ذات قيمة مضافة فعلية تيسر له الولوج إلى الشغل المأجور أو التشغيل الذاتي، كما يوفر دعما ملائما للقطاعات و المقاولات، مساهما بذلك في تعزيز القدرة التنافسية للاقتصاد المغربي.
يتطرق الكتاب إلى تحليل الوضع الراهن لمشاريع التحول الرقمي في الحكومات العربية، والمراحل الأربعة للتحول في المنظومة الحكومية، وأهم العوائق والتحديات التي تعطل مسيرة التطور والتقدم ويقدم الكتاب بعض الحلول الموجزة والمقترحة في هذا السياق.
ويوضح الكتاب بأن مفاهيم الصناعة باتت تدفع بتطبيقات ممكّنة للآلات للتواصل فيما بينها من خلال الشبكات الإلكترونية واتخاذ القرارات اللامركزية بمستويات تفوق القدرات البشرية. كما أن ذلك أصبح يدفع أيضاً إلى ظهور نماذج عمل للمؤسسات أشبه بـ «المصانع الذكية» تتميز بقدراتها الآلية على التطوير الذاتي والتعامل مع المتغيرات والتعلم المستدام، والقدرة على تطوير المنظومات الخدمية والإنتاجية بمستويات كفاءة وفاعلية ومستويات أداء غير مسبوقة؛ وأن المؤسسات في المنطقة العربية لم يعد أمامها خيار سوى الاستمرار ومواكبة التقدم في تنفيذ مشاريع التحول الرقمي.
وجدير بالذكر أن المنطقة العربية وكثير من دول العالم شهدت في العقدين الماضيين آلاف المبادرات والمشاريع في مجال التحول الرقمي، مستهدفة دعم قدراتها كحكومة مسئولة عن صناعة العديد من القرارات وتقديم الخدمات، وانطلاقاً من رؤية القيادات في هذه الدول لتحويل الخدمات الحكومية إلى خدمات إلكترونية وذكية.
Why Qatar Needs a New Technical Vocational Education and Training Strategy NowWesley Schwalje
Beginning in the late Nineties, Qatar launched a comprehensive set of education reforms to more effectively align its education and training system with its macroeconomic policies aimed at advancing towards a knowledge-based economy. However, technical vocational education and training (TVET) has not been a significant focus of educational reforms.
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Publishing Industry Analysis: Challenges and Opportun...Wesley Schwalje
This study, conducted by Tahseen Consulting, was supported the Saudi Publishers Association’s recent successful bid to gain full membership in the International Publishers Association. Saudi Arabia is the fourth country in the Arab World to achieve full membership in this prestigious international organization which represents publishers’ interests globally. The report comes as Saudi publishers are preparing to attend the 34th Sharjah International Book Fair starting on November 4th.
Tahseen Consulting’s CEO Sees Strong Potential for Dubai’s Growth as an Islam...Wesley Schwalje
Walid Aradi discusses why Dubai is well positioned to as a financial hub for international Islamic finance
Recently, Tahseen Consulting’s Chief Executive Officer, Walid Aradi, spoke with Philip Moore from Emerging Markets regarding his views on the emergence of Dubai as a global Islamic finance center. In a wide-ranging discussion, Aradi explained the competitive factors that Dubai has going for it as well as highlights the negative impact skills shortages and gaps may have on the evolution of the industry in the UAE.
Tahseen Consulting’s Wes Schwalje Leads Panel on Female Retention in the GCC ...Wesley Schwalje
Schwalje outlines 5 key challenges that GCC countries must overcome to keep women in the labor force
One of the most widely reported challenges that GCC countries and companies now face is the retention of highly qualified female employees. Retention can be particularly problematic as women try to strike a balance between familial responsibilities and succeeding in the workplace. Schwalje asked the panel to reflect on five key challenges: overcoming social perceptions about occupations traditionally dominated by males, implementing female-friendly workplace policies, enabling work-life balance, developing family-friendly facilities, and articulating clear career trajectories for women.
Panel members included Khawla Al Mehairi, Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Communication, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, Khaled Al Khudair, Founder, Glowork, and Deborah Gills, Chief Executive Officer, Catalyst. A copy of Tahseen Consulting’s analysis supporting the criticality of addressing the five panel focus themes is below along a with video that captures Schwalje’s thoughts on the way forward.
Tahseen Consulting’s Wes Schwalje Speaks With Forbes Woman Middle East About ...Wesley Schwalje
With its second issue released in July, Forbes Woman Middle East is quickly emerging as a leading publication for female professionals in the Arab World. Rather than focus on beauty and fashion like many competing publications aimed at women in the region, Forbes Woman Middle East is aimed at professional women who are trying to make a mark on companies across the region.
Tahseen Consulting is honored to have its work on female technical vocational education and training and employment in the GCC featured in the July issue. In the article, Tahseen Consulting’s Chief Operating Officer Wes Schwalje speaks with Hannah Stewart Executive Editor from Forbes Woman Middle East regarding the barriers facing women in entering science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields in the GCC. In a wide ranging discussion, Schwalje explains the economic impact of the lack of women employed in STEM fields and what GCC countries can do to encourage more women to enter emerging technical fields.
Women Wanted: Attracting Women to Technical Fields in QatarWesley Schwalje
Over the past several decades Qatar has dramatically reformed its education and training system to align it with macroeconomic policies aimed at advancing towards a knowledge-based economy. However, technical vocational education and training (TVET) has not been a significant focus of educational reform. Though the need for a technically trained labor force was recognized by policy makers in Qatar as early as the 1940s when Qatar began exporting oil, dedicated TVET institutions began to emerge only in the late 1990s with establishment of several postsecondary institutions, two secondary institutions for boys, government-run training academies, and the emergence of a private training market.
مخطط التنمية للوكالة الوطنية لانعاش التشغيل و الكفاءات في أفق 2020ANAPEC
تسعى الوكالة الوطنية لانعاش التشغيل و الكفاءات إلى أن تصبح، في أفق 2020، مرفقا عموميا منسجما مع محيطه، منخرطا بقوة في الجهوية، يضمن لكل باحث عن شغل مواكبة عن قرب ذات قيمة مضافة فعلية تيسر له الولوج إلى الشغل المأجور أو التشغيل الذاتي، كما يوفر دعما ملائما للقطاعات و المقاولات، مساهما بذلك في تعزيز القدرة التنافسية للاقتصاد المغربي.
يتطرق الكتاب إلى تحليل الوضع الراهن لمشاريع التحول الرقمي في الحكومات العربية، والمراحل الأربعة للتحول في المنظومة الحكومية، وأهم العوائق والتحديات التي تعطل مسيرة التطور والتقدم ويقدم الكتاب بعض الحلول الموجزة والمقترحة في هذا السياق.
ويوضح الكتاب بأن مفاهيم الصناعة باتت تدفع بتطبيقات ممكّنة للآلات للتواصل فيما بينها من خلال الشبكات الإلكترونية واتخاذ القرارات اللامركزية بمستويات تفوق القدرات البشرية. كما أن ذلك أصبح يدفع أيضاً إلى ظهور نماذج عمل للمؤسسات أشبه بـ «المصانع الذكية» تتميز بقدراتها الآلية على التطوير الذاتي والتعامل مع المتغيرات والتعلم المستدام، والقدرة على تطوير المنظومات الخدمية والإنتاجية بمستويات كفاءة وفاعلية ومستويات أداء غير مسبوقة؛ وأن المؤسسات في المنطقة العربية لم يعد أمامها خيار سوى الاستمرار ومواكبة التقدم في تنفيذ مشاريع التحول الرقمي.
وجدير بالذكر أن المنطقة العربية وكثير من دول العالم شهدت في العقدين الماضيين آلاف المبادرات والمشاريع في مجال التحول الرقمي، مستهدفة دعم قدراتها كحكومة مسئولة عن صناعة العديد من القرارات وتقديم الخدمات، وانطلاقاً من رؤية القيادات في هذه الدول لتحويل الخدمات الحكومية إلى خدمات إلكترونية وذكية.
Director General of Emirates Identity Authority Cites Tahseen Consulting’s Wo...Wesley Schwalje
In his recent paper Open Data: A Paradigm Shift in the Heart of Government Ali M. Al-Khouri, Director General of the Emirates Identity Authority, cited Tahseen Consulting’s work on how social media technologies can be used to increase transparency and openness of Arab governments.
Al-Khouri cites Tahseen Consulting’s white paper An Arab Open Government Maturity Model for Social Media Engagement in explaining the need for governments to reflect joined up policy by reducing data silos. Tahseen Consulting’s social media maturity model challenges previous models of e-government and open government maturity based on the experiences of Western countries by offering region-specific guidance that accounts for the unique governance tradition of Arab public sector entities.
Our Arab government social media maturity model has been cited as a potential model for Korean public sector entities, highlighted by the World Bank as a valuable approach in communicating with Arab youth, and referenced in the World Wide Web Foundation’s Open Data Barometer.
The Knowledge-based Economy and the Arab Dream: What Happened?Wesley Schwalje
Many of the Arab countries may be pursing knowledge-based economic development strategies based on flawed practices from countries perceived to have made successful transitions to knowledge-based economies. Several countries presented as archetypal models of the knowledge-based economy transition face substantial economic development problems, such as record high youth unemployment rates, with tremendous societal implications.
The importation of the knowledge economy concept to the Arab region was accompanied by an emphasis on the welfare of individuals being tied directly to their success in gaining and maintaining higher qualifications and skills which could be sold in the labor market to match high wage employment opportunities expected to be generated by emerging high skill, knowledge-based industries. However, the high wage, high skills jobs associated with knowledge-based industries have not materialized in the region and are increasingly subject to competition from the emergence of low wage, high skill workers in other developing countries.
Tunisian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Former Head of the UN Commission on...Wesley Schwalje
A key challenge to knowledge-based economic development faced by Arab countries is weak innovation systems. We are honored to have had our research on Arab innovation systems cited by Dr. Mongi Hamdi, former Head, Science, Technology, and ICT at UNCTAD and Head of the Secretariat of the United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development (now Tunisian Minister of Foreign Affairs) in his address to the Arab Forum for Scientific Research and Sustainable Development.
Tahseen Consulting’s National Skills Formation Governance Model Applied to th...Wesley Schwalje
Tahseen Consulting’s conceptual model for the governance of national workforce skills development systems was recently cited in an analysis of Romania’s lifelong learning system for knowledge-based economic development. The findings from Romania indicate that government interventions are needed to align the education and training system with macroeconomic development as well as resolve issues that discourage individuals from participating in lifelong learning.
Tahseen Consulting’s Research on Knowledge Economies Cited by the Nigerian Fe...Wesley Schwalje
Tahseen Consulting’s research on skills required for knowledge-based development is featured in the below report by the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Science and Technology and the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta. The report, entitled Technical Skills Mapping for Accelerated Technology-Based Socioeconomic Development, shows that Nigeria faces many of the same difficulties resource-rich Arab countries face in developing national technical and vocational workforce skills for diversification into knowledge-based industries.
Tahseen Consulting’s Work on Knowledge-based Economies in the Arab Word is Ci...Wesley Schwalje
The United Nations University’s Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology cited Tahseen Consulting's Wes Schwalje's research on knowledge-based economies in analyzing knowledge transfer in the MENA countries.
Tahseen Consulting Contributes to the 2013 Open Data Barometer Global ReportWesley Schwalje
Tahseen Consulting’s research on open data initiatives in several countries in the Arab World is featured in the first annual Open Data Barometer which explores the spread of open data policy and practice across the world. The report, funded by the Open Data Institute, World Wide Web Foundation, Canada’s International Development Research Centre, and the UK Department for International Development, shows that many of the open data initiatives in the Arab World are lacking.
Tahseen Consulting’s CEO Sees Strong Growth Potential for Local Banks in the ...Wesley Schwalje
Recently, Tahseen Consulting’s Chief Executive Officer, Walid Aradi, spoke with Ryan Harrison from Gulf Business regarding his thoughts on the competitive landscape evolving in the UAE retail and commercial banking sector. In a wide-ranging discussion, Aradi explained some of the reasons why local banks such as Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Emirates NBD, Mashreq, and First Gulf bank have been performing well while internationals have been downsizing their operations.
A Conceptual Model of National Skills Formation for Knowledge-based Economic ...Wesley Schwalje
Nearly all of the countries in the Arab World have adopted development of a knowledge-based economy as a policy objective to meet economic, political, and social objectives. Policies aimed at catalyzing knowledge-based economies are highly related to job creation, economic integration, economic diversification, environmental sustainability, and social development. While the advantages of knowledge-based economic development have become clearer, so too have the challenges of implementing related policies. A Conceptual Model of National Skills Formation for Knowledge-based Economic Development in the Arab World, a new report by Tahseen Consulting, developed in collaboration with the Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research, provides a framework and best practices from the Gulf Cooperation Council for helping governments align skills formation policies with knowledge-based economic development.
National Skills Formation for Knowledge-based Economic Development
Beginning in the 1990s, there was a shift in the Arab World away from viewing education and training systems as solely suppliers of skills toward an emphasis on the relationship between governments, educational systems, labor markets, and firms to generate demand for skills. By adopting demand-driven, ecosystem approaches to skills formation, Arab governments can align education and training systems with high-growth sectors of industry for knowledge-based economic development and achievement of accompanying economic, political, and social objectives.
While many international models of skills formation promote an exclusively market based approach, several Arab countries view investment in human capital as a political and economic goal in which significant government intervention is warranted. Yet, many previous attempts at skills formation policy have failed to address persistent skills development problems and do not present a comprehensive strategy to develop the skills of the national workforce as a whole. Despite the need for countries to adopt demand-driven approaches to skills formation, many of the countries in the region have pursued policies with no clear link between key stakeholders and specific economic outcomes.
“The changing demands of knowledge-based economic development create a need for interdependence and collaborative networks for effective skills formation, said Wes Schwalje, Chief Operating Officer of Tahseen Consulting and author of the report. “The widespread regional pursuit of knowledge-based economic development is driven by policies that envision the emergence of high skill, high wage economies that will create jobs. However, the global availability and growth of low cost, high skill workers potentially threatens the viability and economic fundamentals of sophisticated, innovation-driven knowledge-based industries taking root in the region if skills formation challenges are not addressed.”
Towards New Knowledge Based Policies for Development in the Arab Economies & ...Wesley Schwalje
The European Union’s Forum Euroméditerranéen des Instituts de Sciences cited Tahseen Consulting's research on the changing post-Arab Spring conceptualization of knowledge-based economy as a potential model for a policy road map to restructure regional economies.
Skills for Prosperity? A review of OECD and Partner Country Skill StrategiesWesley Schwalje
The Centre for Learning and Life Chances in Knowledge Economies and Societies at the Institute of Education, University of London cited Tahseen Consulting's research on the governance of skills formation in knowledge-based economies as a potential model for more effective national education and skills formation strategies.
Latin American Economic Outlook 2013 SME Policies for Structural ChangeWesley Schwalje
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean cites Tahseen Consulting's research while discussing the impact of workforce skills gaps on small and medium enterprise development.
UNESCO’s 2012 Education for All Global Monitoring Report on Youth and Skills: Putting Education to Work cites Tahseen Consulting’s work on national skills formation and skills gaps in Latin America.
PPP in Research Development and Innovation for the Southern MediterraneanWesley Schwalje
The European Investment Bank used our research as background for its presentation on PPPs in Research Development and Innovation for the Southern Mediterranean region citing our work as the rationale for improved skill creation; increased technology transfer through FDI; employment creation; and enhanced regulatory framework for business.
African Leadership in ICT and Knowledge Societies: Issues, Tensions and Oppor...Wesley Schwalje
Our work on knowledge-based economies and skill formation is cited in this report by GESCI, established by the United Nations ICT Task, and funded by Irish Aid, Sida, SDC, and Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland. Speaking of our institutionalist approach, the report states “There is a demand for profound rethinking of the role of education and training systems and constituent actors inclusive of leadership actors to adapt and respond to skill demands of employers, technological progress and macro trends for knowledge-based socio-economic development (Schwalje, 2011).”
A Good Worker is Hard to Find: Skills Shortages in New Zealand FirmsWesley Schwalje
Our work on skills is cited by the New Zealand Ministry of Economic Development in the document titled A Good Worker is Hard to Find: Skills Shortages in New Zealand Firms.
Using Social Networking to Complement Business Incubators and Career CentersWesley Schwalje
We see IT as an important enabler for regional development, and we have worked with global technology leaders such as Intel and Microsoft to deepen the impact of regional development programs leveraging technology. We see social networking as a valuable channel to facilitate regional communication, information sharing, and collaboration.
Across the region, youth reading habits are poor. We propose a program to motivate children in grades K-6 to read by rewarding reading accomplishments with praise, recognition, and tangible awards.
Tahseen Consulting Analysis on Building a Knowledge Economy in the UAE Cited by the Abu Dhabi Council for Economic Development
1. Issue 21 2015
Abu Dhabi’s growing retail sector
Shopping Success
PAGE 06
Building a knowledge-
based economy
PAGE 08
Abu Dhabi Investment
Authority’s sound returns
PAGE 04
Leading the way
in human capital
3. 06 | Feature Innovation
Building a knowledge-based economy has been
pinpointed as one of the UAE’s most effective long-term
strategies to diversify sources of growth whilst enriching
the country’s technological and human capital capacity,
reports Alicia Buller.
Building a knowledge economy
S
eventeen of the Arab
world’s 22 countries list
the implementation of a
knowledge-based economy as
a medium to long-term policy objective,
according to Tahseen Consulting.
Still, UNESCO says the Middle East
and North Africa region has some
way to go before it catches up with
the rest of the world on research and
development, with its governments
accounting for just 0.7 per cent of
global spending in the fields.
“Innovation is the heart of a
knowledge economy, so providing
the best possible environment for
innovation to happen is crucial,”
said Stephen Forster and Andrew
Fawcett, partner and senior associate,
respectively, of TMT in Abu Dhabi.
“The UAE is well-placed to build a
knowledge economy, as the country
seems to have become a
front-runner when
it comes to the
adoption of new
technologies.”
The UAE
takes the
lead when
compared to
its peers. It
was ranked
number one
at the World
Economic
Forum in 2011
for information
technology in the
Middle East, and it
presently ranks fifth
for the proliferation
of technology across
government sectors;
third for state spending
on technical products; and first for
mobile phone subscribers per capita,
according to government data.
The UAE is also investing heavily
in its human capital, with about
24 per cent of all local graduates
attaining degrees in the disciplines
of science, technology, engineering
and mathematics. The Abu Dhabi
Education Council plays a critical
role in the nurturing of this human
capital; the authority says in its
manifesto that its goal is to produce
“world-class learners” prepared to
meet global challenges.
The country, as part of its official
2021 vision, intends to become
an “economic, touristic and
commercial capital for more than
two billion people by transitioning
to a knowledge-based economy,
promoting innovation and research
and development, strengthening the
regulatory framework for key sectors,
and encouraging high value-adding
sectors.” Attaining these objectives
will enhance the UAE’s business
environment and, in turn, boost foreign
investment, the government says.
More specifically, the UAE capital
is targeting the creation of a
knowledge-based economy as one
of its nine main pillars for ensuring
a prosperous social, political and
economic future, according to the
official Abu Dhabi 2030 vision. Other
pillars include “a large empowered
private sector; an optimal, transparent
regulatory environment; and a
continuation of strong and diverse
international relationships.”
The attainment of a knowledge-
based economy can in turn facilitate
the growth of a society in other
areas, as the strengthening of one
4. The Economic Review | 07
Abu Dhabi
will need to
“focus on high-
value adding
industrial sectors
with high
technological
and local
knowledge
content” to
ensure its
transition to
a knowledge-
based economy
pans out
successfully.
sector can pave the way for the
strengthening of another, according
to Tahseen Consulting.
“The causal relationship between
knowledge-based economic
development and ensuing job
creation, which will create the need
for increased supplies of high skill
workers, has been particularly
appealing to Gulf Cooperation
Council policymakers,” says Wes
Schwalje, Chief Operating Officer at
Tahseen Consulting.
“For Arab governments, the
heavy reliance on the concept
of a knowledge-based economy
and human capital development
provides a useful means to achieve
a number of attributed social and
economic objectives,” including
higher levels of educational
attainment, increased health and
efficiency of consumer choices,
Schwalje says.
That is not to say strides haven’t
already been made. Abu Dhabi has
already become one of the region’s
most lucrative destinations for small
and medium-sized enterprises,
startups and entrepreneurs.
The capital’s twofour54, for
example, describes itself as one of
the fastest growing media free-
zones in the Arab world, and is
home to more than 300 global
and local companies including
Bloomberg, Brunswick and Cartoon
Network Saudi Arabia.
And on the technological
front, significant steps are being
taken. The Abu Dhabi Science,
Technology and Innovation policy,
for example, aims to help improve
the technology and sustainable
energy sectors. To do so, the
government is boosting investment
in areas including economic
advancement (by strengthening
existing industries and developing
new ones), as well as cultivating
social innovation (utilities, utilities/
environment, national security).
A number of international
universities and academic
institutions have also set up shop
in Abu Dhabi, including New
York University and the Paris-
Sorbonne University.
Despite these advances,
challenges remain. For one thing,
the nation must create sufficient
human capital with a national, high-
skilled workforce.
In this context, Abu Dhabi will
need to “focus on high-value
adding industrial sectors with high
technological and local knowledge
content” to ensure its transition
to a knowledge-based economy
pans out successfully, according to
Houssem Jemili, a partner at Roland
Berger Strategy Consultants.
“Target sectors should be selected
based on the competitive advantages
Abu Dhabi offers currently or can
potentially offer in the future” and
the emirate should focus its efforts
on supporting “the attraction and
retention of highly-skilled expatriates
more effectively, particularly those
with knowledge-based, scientific and
technological expertise.”
Abu Dhabi’s challenge in
generating and retaining high-
skilled, industry-specific talent
has hampered the nation’s overall
efforts to cultivate businesses that
add to regional competitiveness
and knowledge-based economic
development, according to
Schwalje of Tahseen.
“The movement of many Arab
countries towards knowledge-based
economic development inevitably
requires the transition to more
effective skills formation systems,”
Schwalje says.
The emirate remains confident
that its drive to increase
productivity and promote a
knowledge-based economy will
decrease the ratio of unskilled
foreign labour in the city while
boosting local talent and skills
among its populace.
Currently, many of these initiatives
are occurring in Abu Dhabi, but there
is always room for more.◆