Dubai: The different ways to produce and localise knowledge in the Arab region were addressed at the third session of the First Knowledge Conference.
The session, ‘Producing and Localising Knowledge’, touched on the importance of financing the creation of knowledge, which could come through the involvement of different sectors of society ranging from governments to private sectors.
Among the speakers was Engineer Hussain Nasser Lootah, Director-General of Dubai Municipality, who defined knowledge and said that a big part of the private sector in each country should be supporting scientific research in their nation and working towards building minds.
“There is an abundance of information, but knowledge is not about information. We can have lots of information but it doesn’t mean we have knowledge. Knowledge is about taking the information you have, transforming it by using the tools available to you, and by thinking outside the box in order to create knowledge,” he said.
He added that these sectors should work on building institutions which could serve as a platform for those who are able to take information and think outside the box and produce knowledge.
Professor Mohammad Al Baili, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs at UAE University, said a lot of research universities abroad are able to produce knowledge because they are being financed in millions by the private sector, but in certain Arab societies “there is no collaboration or involvement by the private sector although Arabs have huge potential in producing knowledge”.
“The vision of the leadership plays an important role as well. In the UAE we have a leadership with a clear vision of producing creativity and knowledge through the initiatives they are putting forward.”
The speakers agreed that administering knowledge is the key, and that there must be sectors involved in supporting and funding scientific research in universities.
Furthermore, they said that preparing future generations by providing them with the tools needed for research is also important.
“We have all the opportunities to succeed and do something. We need those who are open-minded to build on the information we are receiving,” said Mansour Al Awar, Chancellor of Hamdan Bin Mohammad Smart University.
