Celebrating human potential: Mohamed Bin Zayed receives Sweden's king
Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed and King Carl XVI Gustaf hold talks in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. WAM
Gulf Today, Staff Reporter
His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, on Tuesday received King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, who is currently visiting the UAE to attend his country’s National Day celebrations at the Sweden Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai.
Receiving the King of Sweden at Al Shati Palace, Sheikh Mohamed welcomed him and conveyed the greetings of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and his best wishes of continuous progress and development for Sweden.
During the meeting, they discussed friendship and cooperation between their countries and ways to enhance them in all fields, especially in investment, economic, innovation and technology areas, in line with their countries’ efforts to establish sustainable knowledge-based economies and accelerate their development drives.
They also exchanged views on several regional and international issues of mutual interest.
The meeting also discussed Expo 2020 Dubai and the different cultures, innovations and solutions it is showcasing to shape a better tomorrow for generations to come. Dubbed ‘The Forest’, Sweden’s pavilion carries the theme ‘Co-creation for Innovation’ in an effort to showcase the country’s innovative spirit, promote cooperation and celebrate humanity’s potential.
Sheikh Hamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Member of Abu Dhabi Executive Council; Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan; Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamad Bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Special Affairs Advisor at the Ministry of Presidential Affairs; Sheikh Mohammed Bin Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Ambassador to Sweden, attended the meeting.
UAE, BRAZIL RELATIONS: Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence and Commissioner-General of Expo 2020 Dubai, stressed that the UAE and Brazil are linked by close ties and cooperation, which are witnessing significant overall development.
He stated this while receiving Damares Regina Alves, Minister of Women, Family and Human Rights in Brazil, at Expo 2020 Dubai.
Alves lauded the UAE’s efforts in organising Expo 2020 Dubai with professionalism and efficiency and hosting more than 192 countries under the theme, “Connecting Minds, Shaping the Future.”
She also stressed Brazil’s keenness to strengthen its cooperation with the UAE, most notably in advanced technologies, food security, agriculture and future cities, and benefit from the UAE’s experience in promoting principles of tolerance and human fraternity.
Sheikh Nahyan said Brazil’s participation in Expo 2020 Dubai represents a distinguished addition to the most important cultural event in the world, which the UAE is hosting. He added that Brazil Pavilion showcases a vision of biodiversity, sustainable cities and a green economy.
The UAE, under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, is keen to reinforce its cooperation with the entire world, in line with its principles based on the values of tolerance, peace and coexistence, he added.
Colombia: As part of its celebration of Innovation Week at Expo 2020 Dubai, Colombia hosted at its pavilion a high-level conference on Dec.13, 2021. The event featured Colombian Minister of Sciences Tito Crissien, Vice Minister of Digital Transformation Ivan Durán, and representatives of Innpulsa, the country’s entrepreneurship and innovation agency.
During the forum, Innpulsa’s spokesperson tackled Colombia’s projects and programmes focusing on innovation, trade, entrepreneurship, and information and communications technology (ICT).
The discussions are also expected to centre on new partnership opportunities between the South American nation and the UAE in these sectors. Innpulsa had particularly maximise the event to build cooperation agreements and exchange knowledge with Emirati government entities concerned with agribusiness, technology, and health.
As part of Expo 2020, the delegates desire to establish close ties with the world at large in order to achieve Colombia’s objectives and ensure continual innovation and digitalisation. They expect that by implementing this agenda, they will be able to open up new development opportunities and boost entrepreneurship, paving the path for rapid sustainable growth at national level. Given that Expo 2020, the world’s largest exposition, is the focal point for bringing unique and creative solutions from all across the globe, Colombia has envisaged the conference as one of the events to display its innovative initiatives.
As per the experts, in 2022, Colombia will ramp up its efforts to establish a digital society that stands out in Latin America and the world. In this modern society, all citizens in urban and rural communities will be connected and sustainability will be the way of life. The nation expects the deployment of more modern ICT tools and digital services by next year, which will further increase its productivity, stimulate innovation, and raise global competitiveness.
Together with Colombia’s Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, Innpulsa supports high-potential ventures and innovative and financing processes that allow the country’s companies to scale in order to generate more economic development, equity, and opportunities for all Colombians.
Colombia’s conference highlighted innovation and technology in line with the objectives of its ICT Sector Modernisation Law. The law aims to bridge the digital gap in the country by boosting the ICT sector, supporting digitalisation and modernisation, and implementing next-generation technologies.
Higher education: Higher educational institutions need to work more closely with businesses and students to develop courses, increasing employability and opportunities to succeed. This is according to the Vice-Chancellor of De Montfort University Leicester (DMU), speaking to a global audience at an Expo 2020 panel discussion on the future of higher education.
Professor Katie Normington was joined by Jonathan Nicholls, Senior Higher Education Adviser, FutureLearn and Sara Ahmedaziz, Chevening Scholar and Junior Egyptologist, with Professor Sir Steve Smith, UK Government International Education Champion chairing the discussion.
“At DMU we already have courses co-designed with businesses and this will continue. We will see a move away from knowledge – which, in four or five years can be out of date – and a bigger emphasis on skills, both technical and vocational skills.”
“The structure of courses will evolve so that modules will be taught in blocks, rather than the mixed timetables students currently have. Studying through blocks means you have a real sense of what you’re accruing and can take breaks between study modules,” commented Professor Normington
Reflecting on the rapid changes the pandemic had prompted across the sector, the speakers agreed that the physical campus is an inherent part of university life, with remote learning having its limitations.
“A big part of the education experience is to be in the same room as other people. If you’re chairing a meeting, you can’t always make sure people are fairly brought into the discussion because you can’t read their body language. So, while remote learning is a trend that will continue, there will be a more blended approach to education in the future, offering students an experience that is more flexible around their needs.”
The discussion was the first in a series of talks – hosted by Dr Manjeet Ridon, Provost of DMU Dubai - which ran throughout the afternoon at the UK Pavilion, in the heart of Expo 2020, Dubai’s six-month long festival of global innovation.
Helen Grant, Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for Girls’ Education, chaired a discussion on the importance of girls’ education across the globe, while disability activist and entrepreneur Shani Dhanda led a debate on what role universities can play in inspiring and creating entrepreneurs.
The latter also featured DMU Creative Enterprises MA graduate Faith Moyosore Agboola, who founded an African writers’ network along with AFM Stories, which connects students and graduates to funding opportunities.
