INSEAD hosts 4th Middle East Career Development Conference in Abu Dhabi
Preparing the next generation for the future of work was the central theme at the fourth Middle East Career Development Conference (MECDC4), which was held recently in INSEAD’s Middle East campus and hosted by the leading international business school in partnership with The Talent Enterprise.
The conference brought together career development professionals, educationists and employers who discussed the key opportunities and issues of the role of career guidance and education towards preparing the students for the 'Future of Work'.
Miguel Lobo, Director of the Middle East Campus in Abu Dhabi, Associate Professor of Decision Sciences, INSEAD highlighted in his welcome speech the significant role policy makers, educators and employers play in creating a supportive ecosystem for young people in order to contribute to the workforce of the future. Miguel Lobo commented: “With half of its population under age 25, MENA has the second youngest population among world regions after sub-Saharan Africa, and will be greatly altered in the next decade. It is critical to prepare the next generation with the right skills to adapt to and thrive in such a fast-changing environment.”
In his address to the conference, David Jones, CEO and Labour Market Economist at The Talent Enterprise, emphasised the educational backing required to address the skills gap and support career readiness in the future. He commented: “We are extremely happy to be supporting MECDC hosted by INSEAD, as it provides a fantastic opportunity for career guidance professionals, educators, policy makers, employers and other stakeholders to engage in open dialogue on employability and work readiness”.
David Jones added: “Our research at The Talent Enterprise suggests that only 48% of students believe that their education is preparing them for their future careers. The world of work is changing very fast and the 21st century workplace requires 21st century skills. The concept of a ‘job for life’ no longer exists. Employers are looking for young people who are driven, have learning agility, a growth mindset, grit, resilience, confidence, a sense of collaboration and flexibility. Sadly, these skills for life aren’t emphasised or pro-actively developed within their formative years and we are hopeful of changing the status quo through our positive education programs. This will positively impact their employability skills, but also elevate students’ overall levels of well-being and happiness”.
Zeina Sleiman, Associate Director, Institutional Relations & Alumni Affairs, INSEAD said: “The Middle East is a region with one of the highest young populations globally. The next generations have great potential and could become the backbone of strong economies and a vibrant future if they can have the right education, skills, and job opportunities. It is our duty to ensure our future generations have the support they require. INSEAD’s MECDC4 with its aim to share best practice on how universities and career development professionals can create learning environments and provide advice that enables students to develop 21st century employability skills is a step towards this direction”.
The conference presented a full agenda and consisted of two panel discussions with a focus on the students /young professionals perspective on the support systems educational institutions provide and the educators’, employers’ and policy makers’ point of view on the same issue. The panel discussions followed two workshops regarding Job Search via Social Media and Career Guidance and Counseling.
Wassim Hamad, Public Sector Lead - LinkedIn Talent Solutions, MENA, one of this year's INSEAD keynote speakers, commented: “At LinkedIn our longer-term vision is to map the world’s first economic graph. By connecting the world’s professionals, jobs, skills and educational institutions, we hope to reduce friction in the system, and offer schools and places of further education the opportunity to see which skills are in growing demand, and adapt their curriculum to fit.”
On the topic of how students can utilize LinkedIn to find their first job, Hamad emphasized “LinkedIn serves as the perfect platform for students and professionals alike to craft their online professional brand and find their next job opportunity. Having an all-star profile as well connecting with the right people, following relevant companies and engaging in the right discussions with like-minded people within groups will definitely contribute to expanding your network fast and finding the right opportunity for you."
