International Symposium on Education, Skills for Future-Ready Workforce Kicks Off -2-

HE the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Representative for the Gulf States and Yemen and Director of the UNESCO Regional Office in Doha, Salah El Din Zaki Khaled, stressed the symposium's importance in promoting science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) education in addition to technical and vocational training in Qatar and beyond, in line with the UNESCO strategy for Technical and Vocational Education and Training 2022-2029, which promotes youth employment, entrepreneurship, justice, gender equality, and facilitates the transition to green economies and sustainable societies. Khaled told Qatar News Agency that the symposium's timing is just right, given the significance of the topics it touches on, expressing His Excellency's pride in the close cooperation and partnership between UNESCO and the State of Qatar. His Excellency commended UNESCO's cooperation with the UDST, hoping that the symposium brings forth many positive returns to new generations, for t hem to be better equipped to meet the needs of the labor market. Khaled added that the State of Qatar and its educational institutions are leaders in the topics addressed by the symposium, which is in line with UNESCO's global strategy in that regard. For his part, Head of the International Labor Organization (ILO) Project Office for the State of Qatar, Max Tunon, said that skill and lifelong learning are essential items on the ILO's agenda, noting that skill development is vital for individuals to land in decent and productive jobs in addition to its importance for the prosperity of establishments and economies. According to ILO global estimates, Tunon said, 63 percent of high-skilled jobs will be occupied by workers who lack sufficient qualifications in 2025, adding that due to the creation of new jobs and industries and the decline of others, in addition to job evolution, an increasing shortage of appropriate skills will occur, for which decisive and immediate action is needed. The Head of the ILO Proj ect Office for the State of Qatar said that the country has in place a clear road map for the future, manifested in the form of the 3rd National Development Strategy, which focuses on diversifying the economy and strengthening priority sectors, for which the private sector needs to be supplied with a future-ready workforce. Source: Qatar News Agency