Switching jobs help to remain employable for years, says expert

Changing four jobs by the age of 32 is new normal for millennials, making it imperative for them to remain employable even several years after completing conventional education.

Experts from the Commonwealth of Learning (COL), an intergovernmental organisation of the Commonwealth of Nations, said that orientation needs to change from providing certification based on competence rather than the number of hours attended to meet increasing demands from global organisations.

Disruption in higher education was of the main topics of discussion at the 11th edition of Innovation Arabia, a conference and exhibition dedicated to 'innovation' in the Middle East. The conference under the theme 'Innovate, Disrupt and Transform' opened at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre on Sunday.

Lt-Gen Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, deputy chairman of Police and General Security in Dubai and chairman of the board of governors of Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University (HBMSU), who officially inaugurated the ceremony, said: "Innovation Arabia is an important integrated platform that supports the vision of the UAE's leadership for the country's future, aimed at establishing the country as one of the most innovative and developed in the world." 

Speaking at a session titled 'Higher Education in an Age of Disruption', Prof. Asha Singh Kanwar, president and chief executive officer of the COL, said: "While technology disruption would change the educational landscape for the better, without equitable opportunity for all, tech developments may create further divides. Hence, it is very important to have appropriate policies in place to provide affordable and low-cost options to people with disabilities and everyone who needs higher education." 

Speaking to Khaleej Times about the changing needs in higher education, Kanwar stated: "To create a higher education system that is responsive to market needs and future requirements it is necessary to look at the different stages of employability and re-imagine policies and practices."

She advised that blended learning, massive open online courses and other online learning platforms would help meet demands posed by companies in the future. 

Kanwar is one of the world's leading advocates of learning for sustainable development. She added that inclusivity, especially of people with disabilities, lifelong learning and employability are three primary segments that the global higher education community needs to look into to reach global sustainable developmental goals.

Dr Mansoor Al Awar, chancellor of HBMSU, pointed out that the current edition of Innovation Arabia is being held in conjunction with the 'Reading Month' initiative in the UAE. "Reading is the first step towards education and knowledge. It is the real window to see the achievements of our ancestors." 

Dr Al Awar insisted that reading is the first brick in building the edifice of innovation and what innovators offer to the society. "Innovation Arabia coincides with the Year of Zayed, which was declared by the UAE's wise leadership to commemorate this great leader, who had made fundamental changes in education system." 

dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com

Dhanusha Gokulan

Originally from India, Dhanusha Gokulan has been working as a journalist for over ten years. For Khaleej Times, she covers NRI affairs, civil aviation, and immigration issues among other things. She completed her BA in Journalism, Economics and English Literature from Mangalore University in 2008 and is currently pursuing her MA in Leadership and Innovation in Contemporary Media at the American University in Dubai. In her spare time, she dabbles with some singing/songwriting, loves food, and is mom to an over-enthusiastic Labrador retriever. Tweet at her @shootsprintrite.