Establishing the next generation of innovative leaders is essential for continuous advancement in the digital era. Moderated by Telecom Review Group’s Senior Journalist, Elvi Correos, the fireside chat titled ‘The Role of AI and Advanced Technologies in Empowering the Youth by du Youth Council,’ held on day two, 11th December, 2024, of the Telecom Review Leaders’ Summit, held at the Ritz-Carlton, Dubai, brought together du’s Manager UI Design Lead, Maha Almarzooqi, and Trainee Engineer for Broadcasting Operations, Rashid Alsaadi, to discuss the strategies for education and training in the ICT sector for the youth.
Empowering the Youth through Technology
Opening the session, Telecom Review’s Correos highlighted the du Youth Council's embodiment of the UAE’s core values: inclusion, tolerance, and commitment to excellence. With the announcement of the Youth Council’s sixth cohort, du’s initiatives reflect its commitment to empowering young Emiratis and unlocking their career potential in the ICT sector.
When asked about technology’s role in youth empowerment, Almarzooqi said, “Everything under the umbrella of technology enables the youth to come up with intricate solutions that enhance efficiency and productivity in various industries and everyday life.”
Almarzooqi referenced the Youth Council’s YouthCast—a podcast facilitating an open dialogue among the youth covering various topics to enhance their knowledge and skills, developing a more informed and capable generation.
With over 25,000 views across five episodes, the initiative has received strong interest from the UAE’s youth community.
Innovation and Digital Entrepreneurship
The advent of modern technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), has enabled young entrepreneurs to gain the skills required to drive innovation and launch successful businesses.
According to Alsaadi, “Young entrepreneurs are using technology to transform ideas. This enables the youth to showcase and identify their skills within the organization.”
Moreover, he underscored the significance of conducting workshops to showcase the abilities and talents of young individuals.
Looking ahead to future innovations, Almarzooqi highlighted the du Youth Council’s Youth Digital Pioneers Program. This initiative aims to equip young individuals with in-depth knowledge and essential skills, preparing them to excel in the rapidly evolving digital era. The initiative will explore global trends and developments such as 5G, 6G, Wi-Fi 7, computing, and the metaverse.
The UI Design Manager noted that the initiative aims to establish a highly skilled workforce, ensuring that businesses have access to top-tier talent familiar with emerging trends in technology.
Through this, companies will be able to position themselves as the preferred employers for the next generation of technology professionals.
Accelerating the Future of the Job Market
The panelists emphasized the crucial role of collaboration between the youth and industry leaders in driving future innovations. They stressed that while young talent is essential, the guidance and support of established leaders in the ICT field are equally important in shaping the technological landscape.
Alsaadi highlighted the importance of adaptability in the future of the job market, stating, “The youth need to adapt to change by learning new things such as AI, blockchain, and big data. They need to learn skills such as analytics.”
He further emphasized that by leveraging the transformative potential of AI, the future will thrive. “I believe that it can have a big impact and make things easier,” he concluded.
du’s initiatives demonstrate its commitment to empowering the youth and fostering the next generation of Emirati talent through inclusion, aligning with the UAE’s professional advancement goals.
