AMMAN – Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Knowledge Forum
(TAG-KF), a member of Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Global (TAG.Global), held a symposium
entitled ‘Youth Essential Skills for the Future’ under the patronage of HE Dr.
Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, founder and chairman of TAG.Global, jointly with the World
Youth Skills Day.

 The symposium aimed to shed light on
the importance of the skills needed to empower the youth and build their
capacities in order to qualify them to meet labor market requirements. The
event was organized in cooperation with several national institutions, with the
participation of a number of young men and women representing institutions, associations,
youth initiatives and universities. 

In his key address to the youth, Dr.
Abu-Ghazaleh underlined the significance of shifting from teaching to learning,
stressing the importance of sharpening their skills and creating ideas and
projects based on information and communication technology, noting that all
kinds of information are  available on the Internet, which creates equal
opportunities for everyone. “If you are not a ‘knowledge worker’, and if you
fail to utilize the Internet to serve your life and economy, then, you will
have no place in this world in the future,” Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh said.

He further added that the world needs
innovations and inventions in all sectors, especially since the world today
passes through one of the most important phases of change in human history,
which is the Knowledge Revolution that entirely relies on knowledge
technologies.

For his part, TAG.Global Education and
Youth Advisor and TAG-KF Executive Director, Dr. Fadi Daoud, welcomed
the participating institutions, speakers and attendees from the various
youth entities, affirming that the forum was held in conjunction with the
celebrations of the World Youth Skills Day; marked on July 15 every year,
after being endorsed by the UN General Assembly. Dr. Daoud, also, said that
holding the forum comes in line with TAG-KF’s belief in the importance of
training and equipping the youth with the skills required in the labor
market. The event was held due to the commitment of the Form to its national
role and mission in raising awareness, educating and creating a safe platform
for dialogue among the youth.

It is worth mentioning that the forum
included various activities and specialized seminars with the participation of
a group of experts from national institutions in the areas of training, and
capacity building of individuals and institutions. 

The first-panel session entitled ‘Digital
Skills and Future Business Requirements’, was moderated by Ms. Noor Abu-Jbara;
who is in charge of entrepreneurship and innovation at Umniah’s “The Tank”
business incubator, and was attended by Mr. Nidal Bitar, chief executive
officer of the Information and Communications Technology Association (Int@j),
and Eng. Ismail Hakki, TechWorks managing director – one of the Crown Prince
Foundation’s initiatives. That is in addition to Eng. Jamil Alkhatib, founder
of Ibtikar for Innovation & Technology Management Company, and Mr. Mohammad
Al-Kayed, expert at the Black Mountain Cybersecurity Company.

A number of specialized seminars also took
place to contribute to raising youth awareness and familiarizing them with
diverse national initiatives, volunteering and training opportunities in
addition to their success stories. On the other hand, Managing Director of
Thinking Schools Academy Trust - Rethinkers, Dr. Lana Mbaideen, presented a
seminar entitled ‘Brain Keys, their Role in Talent and Creativity’, while
Dr. Aghadeer Jweihan, general director of Princess Taghrid Institute for
Development and Training, gave a presentation entitled ‘Craft Skills in Empowering
Women Economically and Developing Local Society.’ 

Meanwhile, Ms. Isra’a Awajan, PMU senior
manager of Education for Employment – Jordan, talked about the labor needs and
the required youth skills.

The Forum concluded with a seminar on
‘Financial Digital Skills in the World of Finance and Investment’ presented by
Mr. Jareer Hiary, co-head of business development at Credit Financier Invest -
Jordan.

At the closing, participants were honored with
honorary shields for their national efforts in supporting the youth and
equipping them with the necessary skills to engage in the labor market and
provide job opportunities in different economic sectors.