ABU DHABI: A roundtable was organised by TRENDS Research and Advisory, along with its Youth Council, under the title ‘From clicks to progress: Youth digital pathways for sustainable development’, in celebration of International Youth Day, which is observed annually on 12th August.
The roundtable included two-panel discussions where participants addressed four main topics: ‘Youth Empowerment and Leadership’, ‘Volunteering and Civic engagement’, ‘Education and skill development’, and ‘Digital technology and youth’.
The participants in the roundtable emphasised that preparing a new generation of future leaders requires clear strategies and plans for youth empowerment, alongside volunteering and community engagement, which play an effective role in strengthening national cohesion. They stressed the importance of developing youth skills through specialised programmes and courses that enhance their abilities and provide them with new scientific and practical experiences.
Additionally, they highlighted the import
ance of proper investment in digital technology through effective communication, influence, and sustainable learning.
The roundtable featured participation from various Youth Councils, including those from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, the General Civil Aviation Authority, the Emirates Red Crescent, the Abu Dhabi Police General Headquarters, the United Arab Emirates University, and Zayed University.
In the first session, which focused on ‘Youth empowerment and leadership’ and ‘Volunteering and civic participation’, participants emphasized the importance of granting youth full trust to develop their leadership skills. They noted that a creative work environment is crucial in motivating young people to acquire new leadership skills, as it removes fear and enables them to express their ideas freely.
Participants highlighted that youth empowerment is one of the key principles of the UAE, which has clear strategic plans for empowering young people, developing their
abilities, and preparing them. However, they also stressed that young people must seize the available opportunities to enhance their capabilities, continue learning through trial and error, and benefit from the experiences and guidance of experienced and competent people.
Members of the Youth Councils who participated in the panel discussion talked about the process of empowering young leaders, which encompass three main elements: the scientific aspect, which involves increasing knowledge and theoretical information; the practical aspect, which is related to acquiring skills and work methods; and the psychological aspect, which focuses on refining behavior in the workplace, developing the ability to face challenges, and analysing problems to find effective solutions.
In the second part of the session, participants highlighted the importance of ‘Volunteering and civic participation. They agreed that volunteering helps young people build character, making them more responsible and enhancing their leadership a
bilities. Volunteering also provides youth with diverse experiences and raises their awareness of societal and global issues.
They pointed out that volunteering contributes to creating a more cohesive society by instilling values of love and respect for others in young people. It also offers an excellent opportunity for youth to apply the skills they have learned previously, thereby strengthening national cohesion and allowing volunteers to make productive use of their free time through beneficial community activities, given that voluntary activities contribute to the continued development of communities and enhance volunteers’ ability to communicate effectively with others.
The second panel discussion focused on the themes ‘Education and skill development’ and ‘digital technology and youth’. Participants in the ‘Education and skill development’ discussion emphasised that the educational environment helps young people discover their talents and acquire new skills. They called for the introduction of new sub
jects in the educational system to foster creative thinking among students and maintain a balance between Arab culture and other Western cultures.
The participants also suggested that the educational system should help young people choose their fields of specialization early by linking academic subjects with practical applications and fieldwork. They highlighted the importance of offering new learning programmes and courses that focus on future needs by combining team-based activities with experimental and fieldwork activities.
In the theme on ‘Digital technology and youth’, members of Youth Councils who participated in the TRENDS roundtable viewed technology as a double-edged sword. While it facilitates the learning process and the acquisition of new skills, if misused, it can become a destructive tool. They added that digital technology has provided significant opportunities for young people who have used them to communicate, influence, learn and prove themselves.
The speakers noted that the rapid develo
pment of digital technologies has led many educational institutions to use digital environments as a medium for educational activities. Many countries have also employed these technologies to enhance sustainable development efforts, as was done by the UAE during the COVID-19 pandemic.
They warned that despite the significant benefits of technology, its risks have increased recently, necessitating the need to raise awareness among young people, educate them about these risks, and equip them with the skills to avoid digital threats. Moreover, they stressed the importance of leveraging modern technology to support values of loyalty, belonging and civic responsibility among youth and all segments of society.
Source : The Namibia News Agency