Dubai: One thousand years after the destruction of the famous Arab House of Wisdom, a modern Knowledge Complex will be set up to offer young Arabs wider access to education.
The proposed complex, unveiled yesterday by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, will also help reduce unemployment and illiteracy in the region
The modern Arab 'House of Wisdom' will be at the heart of the $10 billion education initiative, Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation, which will work towards redeveloping the knowledge roadmap of the Middle East, the Vice-President said at the first day of the Knowledge Conference.
"The challenges we face in the Arab and Islamic worlds are challenges of survival, not only of reform and development. Our knowledge level will determine to a large extent our ability to bypass these challenges," said Shaikh Mohammad in his inaugural speech to scholars, experts, university presidents and professors from the Arab world.
"Let us take the challenges of unemployment for example, which is about 15 per cent, the highest rate in the world. The challenge facing all of us today is not only finding jobs for the unemployed. It is finding 80 million job opportunities during the next decade."
He urged governments to take this challenge seriously. "Naturally, we are not in the age of miracles. There are no magical solutions, or ready recipes. Either we create miracles ourselves, and make solutions with our own hands, or the region will be heading towards millions of frustrated, angry young men and women ... and you may imagine the consequences," he warned.
15 programmes
In this context, Shaikh Mohammad unveiled 15 new programmes, part of the Foundation's effort to face these challenges.
They include, in addition to the Knowledge Complex, providing scholarships for young Arab professionals to study for masters' degree, an online programme for women who have family or practical obligations that do not allow them to continue their higher education, and a loan programme to help refugees in disaster areas to start small businesses.
"We were the first who knew schools, houses of learning, laboratories, hospitals and endowments. We are proud of our past and its scientific achievements. But this pride does not reduce the heavy weight of the bitter present situation in education, universities, laboratories, scientific and intellectual output, whether original or translated, and the endowments assigned for the public good," he said.
Your comments
He is a true visionary. Another great achievement! I believe that this will bring lots of benefits to the region and we will be witnessing another revolution in the education sector very soon.
Ehsan
Dubai,UAE
Posted: October 29, 2007, 15:19
I fully respect Shaikh Mohammed Bin Rashid for his initiatives. Qatar has already started with the Education City by the Qatar Foundation. Qatar wants to invest in human development first before anything else. Dubai has already developed their country and I think it is the time to develop the human capital. Good luck and I wish Dubai success on their mission.
Abdulrazaq
Doha,Qatar
Posted: October 29, 2007, 14:39
I salute His Highness Shaikh Mohammad for having such a great vision for his country and for playing a vital role in the technological field. With this move unemployment will be eradicated and a great vision of good students will get global recognition.
Akber
Hyderabad,India
Posted: October 29, 2007, 14:13
I think that the Arab world needs to start becoming more flexible to the idea that online education is gaining popularity. So Arab countries need to start recognising online degrees.
Omayyah
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: October 29, 2007, 09:18
The house of wisdom is the next great initiative that Shaikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum has initiated. Education about health care should also be included.
Syed
Ajman,UAE
Posted: October 29, 2007, 08:45
I think Shaikh Mohammad is taking a great initiative in bringing a vital contribution to the world, which is education.
Fahim
London,UK
Posted: October 29, 2007, 00:56
