Gulf News Edufair 2025: Why that degree alone won’t cut it anymore

In today’s job market, your degree is just the entry ticket, what really matters is what you’ve done since.

At the Gulf News Edufair 2025, currently underway at the H Dubai Hotel and running through Sunday, a power-packed panel discussion titled Reskill, Upskill, Repeat – The Only Career Rule That Still Works tackled the rapidly evolving demands of today’s workplace. The verdict? You either learn, or you’re left behind.

“There’s no such thing as a stable career anymore,” said Hisham Jiffry, Course Manager and Senior CMA Trainer at PwC Academy Middle East. “Mid-career professionals must now choose between upskilling to grow or reskilling to pivot, and these aren’t interchangeable. One helps you climb, the other helps you switch.”

Jiffry believes the urgency is no longer theoretical. “The World Economic Forum has predicted that 22 per cent of jobs will transform in the next five years due to tech disruption. That’s not a statistic, it’s a signal to act.”

For Vignesh Sivakumar, Operations Director at Phoenix Financial Training, the impact is already visible. “In finance, micro-credentials are gaining ground. Professionals want immediate, relevant knowledge that keeps pace with AI, automation, and global shifts. The traditional degree alone no longer guarantees relevance.”

He also emphasised the importance of continuous agility. “A qualification earned today could be obsolete in two years. Institutions and individuals must both be nimble, adapting to market shifts with shorter, sharper learning tools.”

But are universities keeping up? Krishna Kumar Negade, Head of Recruitment & External Engagement at De Montfort University Dubai, said they are trying. “We’re seeing accelerated degrees, flexible intakes, and hybrid formats. But substance matters. University isn’t just a knowledge dump, it’s a space to develop maturity, decision-making, and perspective.”

Negade insisted that learning should never be rushed. “Cutting corners on education risks producing graduates who know the theory but lack the resilience to thrive.”

Dr Arpita Mehrotra, Associate Dean at Westford, pointed out that employers now expect more than just qualifications, they want initiative. “I recently completed an information security training module. Not because it was in my job description, but because I manage sensitive data. Progressive employers demand such cross-skilling.”

But the responsibility doesn’t lie with organisations alone. “Nobody told me to pursue a CFA,” she added. “I did it because I wanted to sharpen my financial lens. The best outcomes happen when personal motivation meets employer support.”

All four panelists agree: the culture of learning within organisations is key. Jiffry noted that companies that embrace learning outperform those that don’t. “In my career, the best employers aligned growth with learning. Those that ignored it? Their teams stagnated.”

Sivakumar took it a step further: “The best companies let employees pitch their own learning paths. Gen Z, especially, values that flexibility, it’s a form of trust. The ability to learn beyond KPIs is what makes an organisation future-ready.”

Generational shifts are driving much of this change. “Gen Z is vocal about wanting growth,” said Dr Mehrotra. “They ask for targeted learning. Millennials? They’re more likely to settle for what’s offered. So the design of development programs needs to reflect workforce diversity.”

What about picking the right kind of learning, online course, diploma, or degree? “It depends on where you are in life,” said Negade. “My two daughters are on completely different paths. And that’s okay. The key is to stay open and to unlearn old ideas.”

Credential overload, however, is a rising concern. “Certifications without clarity don’t help,” warned Jiffry. “Each one I’ve taken served a purpose at the time. Collecting qualifications is not the goal, knowing why you need them is.”

And while AI looms large over every conversation about the future of work, Sivakumar wasn’t worried. “AI is changing finance, yes, but it’s also creating new roles. The fear of replacement is outdated. We must evolve with the tools.”

Dr Mehrotra added that institutions are already adapting. “Executive MBAs and flexible postgrad formats are built for mid-career learners. Even CEOs are returning to the classroom, not to tick boxes, but to deepen their strategic skillsets.”

The panel wrapped up with each expert revealing the most recent skill they upgraded, and why.

Negade said he's staying on top of AI trends and letting life be his classroom. “My 70-year-old mother is now a YouTube pro. We don’t always need classrooms, sometimes, experience teaches best.”

For Sivakumar, it was about speaking Gen Z’s language. “The way I taught ten years ago doesn’t work today. Relevance matters, and tone matters too.”

Jiffry swore by storytelling. “It’s not just a soft skill, it’s transformational. I joined Toastmasters, became a Distinguished Toastmaster. Twice. Storytelling helps ideas stick.”

And Dr Mehrotra? “Python and data visualisation. My goal was to make financial models more accessible to my students. Now, I use Tableau to show stories through numbers.”

One last insight from Negade hit home. “Sometimes, the skill you need most is to just pause. I cycle at 4am, it clears my head. We guide students, but they must chart their own path. Our job is to give them the freedom to do it.”

Gulf News Edufair Dubai is happening this weekend, May 9–11, at The H Hotel on Sheikh Zayed Road — just steps from the World Trade Center Metro Station.

Enjoy free valet parking and exclusive gift bags for all attendees. Explore 1,000+ programmes from over 40 top universities and educational institutions, discover global study opportunities, meet career experts, attend seminars by 30+ thought leaders, and unlock exclusive offers and spot admissions — only at Edufair.

Register now: https://events.gulfnews.com/GulfNewsEdufair