Junge Menschen in den Golfstaaten müssen dringend davon überzeugt werden, dass eine berufliche Bildung die Türen zu einer erfüllenden Arbeit mit guter Bezahlung öffnet und dieser Weg in eine exzellente persönliche Zukunft führt.
Pearson, a leading education company, says that the World Economic Forum’s recent report on Arab education is an accurate reflection of the challenges facing governments and educators in the region.Kingdom, UAE and Qatar face skills gap warning
The Arab World Competitiveness Report 2013, produced by the World Economic Forum in conjunction with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) was released in late May.
The report identified underdeveloped skills, weak institutions and labor market inefficiencies as the main factors limiting competitiveness and job creation in the region.
Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE were found to be the most competitive economies in the Arab World. However, these countries still faced a severe skills gap that hampers economic development.
Pearson’s Regional Director for Qualifications, Mark Andrews, says the report mirrors research undertaken by Pearson into the causes of youth unemployment and underemployment in the Arab world.
Unemployment rates amongst under 30-year-olds in some Arab countries are estimated to be as high as 30 percent.
Andrews says a key cause of these alarming statistics is the significant disconnect between education systems and the needs of 21st century employers, both public and private.
He says: "There are deep-seated problems with the skill levels of those entering the workforce for the first time. Many school and university leavers who have spent years undertaking formal education are still incapable of effectively applying their knowledge in a real-life work scenario."
Andrews says: "In addition, many recent graduates, while possessing qualifications, do not have the capabilities employers are seeking. Industry consultation has told us that organizations across all sectors find it difficult to find employees with valuable workplace skills, such as acceptable English language, critical thinking, written and oral communication, and importantly, an attitude that allows for success in a competitive work environment."
Pearson's international research project, the Effective Education for Employment Program, has been examining the cause and effect of the disconnect between education and employment in 25 countries since 2007.
The project has included over 2,000 participants, sourced from governments, industry, educators, employers and learners.
The project has found that many problems facing Middle Eastern education systems are echoed in countries all around the world, and that if not sufficiently addressed could have long-term negative social and economic impacts, including low workplace productivity and a lack of youth entrepreneurship and innovation.
The UAE was one of the five countries the Effective Education for Employment Program has examined in detail, along with China, Brazil, South Africa and India. According to the Program’s research, one of the biggest contributing causes of the skills gap in the UAE was the negative perception of professional or vocational education in the country.
The project found that despite what businesses in the country say they want, and despite learners consistently expressing their desire for a good job, recent graduates in the UAE characteristically believe academic qualifications are the best route to a desirable job.
Andrews, however, says that although there has been a negative perception of vocational or professional education in the GCC, it is critical that governments, employers and educators work together to make it an acceptable alternative education path for young Gulf learners.
Having strong vocational education systems in countries like the UAE, Saudi and Qatar will be vital to these countries being able to achieve long term economic goals such as economic diversification and increased rates of local participation in the workforce.
Mr. Andrews says: "As the situation currently stands, there are just not enough suitably qualified candidates to fill a wide number of positions across all the major industries in the GCC. We need to convince young people thinking about their futures that a vocational education can lead to well paid, rewarding work and provide them with an excellent future. A quality vocational education can set someone apart in a competitive job market, because employers will recognize that person’s real-world, job orientated skills."'
Pearson efficacy studies in the UK have proven the benefits of vocational education not only to individuals but to the economy as a whole.
A 2010 London Economics report commissioned by Pearson indicated that there was a strong and positive relationship between vocational qualification attainment and employment.
In addition, the report also found that the Exchequer is estimated to achieve positive returns from the majority of vocational qualifications.
Andrews says that the widespread benefits associated with vocational education should help to encourage young people in this region to seriously consider vocational training.
"Because vocational qualifications are typically focussed on giving learners skills and behaviors that employers are looking for, a vocational qualification will distinguish a job seeker in today's tight employment market. Additionally, vocational training helps people become more effective in the workplace - making their career progression faster and more effective."