Mubarak Al Shamsi, the Director-General of the Abu Dhabi Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training, ACTVET, has said that the WorldSkills Conference 2017 in Abu Dhabi provides a wonderful opportunity to address challenges, debate key issues, and identify solutions in the sphere of vocational skills with thought-leaders and policymakers from all corners of the globe.

In his welcome message posted on the conference website, Al Shamsi said, ''Hosting WorldSkills Abu Dhabi 2017, and bringing the world’s largest and most prestigious vocational skills competition to the Middle East and North Africa region for the first time, presents an unprecedented platform from which to energise and enhance the UAE national and regional skills culture."

The event aims to inspire young people to study technical education and vocational skills for entrepreneurship or for their career, in line with the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision.

''The networks of knowledge that we build, and the ideas that we exchange, through this conference will be invaluable in our journey toward the realisation of Abu Dhabi’s goals," he added.

For the emirate of Abu Dhabi to realise its vision of transitioning to a sustainable, diversified, economy, Al Shamsi noted that knowledge-based economy, vocational skills must play an integral role. ''The value of such skills is immense and undeniable. They underpin industry, inspire creativity and critical thinking, enrich the careers of those who possess them, and the economies and societies to which they contribute, and unlock the innate talent of the individual while serving a wider, collective purpose."

He went on to say that the need to promote the importance and impact of technical and vocational education and training, and the widespread benefit that ensues from the skills it nurtures, is constant. ''Vocational skills are not a niche, applicable to certain countries but not to others. They are a universal, global driver of thriving economies and strong, engaged communities, transferable from one generation to the next and always relevant to the fabric of all nations."

According to the Director-General, Abu Dhabi recognises this. "Both the UAE Vision 2021 and the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030 crystallise our commitment to building a globally-competitive economy for the post-hydrocarbon age, an economy characterised by innovation, opportunity, and a deep and diverse pool of human capacity, equipped with skills that match and meet the needs and the nature of a dynamic, agile, forward-thinking industrial and private sector. The greatest natural resource that Abu Dhabi has at its disposal is its people. And the pipeline for this resource is the one that enables the fulfillment of their potential.'' ''We are delighted and honoured to welcome the global vocational skills community, a community that Abu Dhabi Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training is so proud to be part of the dynamic and ambitious city of Abu Dhabi. We look forward to a successful, insightful conference that helps to set the compass for guiding the future profile, progress, and impact of vocational skills throughout the world,'' Al Shamsi concluded.

The WorldSkills Conference brings leaders in education, government, business, and industry from around the globe together to share best practice and learn about global trends and issues found in vocational education and training, skills demand, skills of the future as well as skills excellence and development.

Since 1950, it has raised awareness among the youth, as well as their parents, teachers and employers, that the future depends on an effective skills training system. Today, WorldSkills represents more than 45 skills in over 75 member countries and regions, all working together with youth, educators and industries to help prepare the workforce and talent of today for the jobs of the future.