The education sector has witnessed significant growth and transformation, reflecting smart educational practices and a future-ready workforce. From global partnerships to technologies, educational institutions across the world are now leveraging various ways to re-design classrooms to fit the evolving needs of the 21st century.
The Middle East is no exception as innovative approaches are transforming the education ecosystem throughout the region. The region is home to a diverse population of youth and has been experiencing rapid growth in demand for quality education. In this blog, we will discuss the various challenges and opportunities in the growing education sector of the region.
Edtech
With the rise of tech-led innovation and the necessity of personalised and accessible education, edtech has become imperative to growth in recent years. According to a study released in 2019 by Kenneth Research, the Middle East online education market was expected to expand at a CAGR of 9.8% during 2017-2023, likely to be driven by sizable government investments and rapid adoption of online education and e-learning by educational institutes and corporate organizations.
After the outbreak of COVID-19, education technology has undergone major changes due to closures of institutions and adoption of the remote learning imposed by the pandemic. It has emerged as a catalyst of development and advancement, keeping education in sync with the evolving digital age. According to reports, edtech expenditure in the region is expected to rise by 75 per cent, to $ 7 billion.
Though technology has made education more accessible, a large population is devoid of it due to the lack of a robust infrastructure. According to a report by the United Nations, the Covid-19 pandemic affected nearly 1.6 billion learners across more than 190 countries all around the world.
E-Learning
A shift to e-learning or blended learning, which is the need of the hour to survive in unforeseen situation like the pandemic, needs a robust, inclusive, and future-ready ecosystem. The Middle East is giving a boost to investment with a considerable focus on e-learning to stay relevant in the dynamic digital era. For instance, the UAE Government announced an expected spending of AED 10 billion on the education sector through 2021.
At the global level also, this segment is expanding on a massive scale. According to a report, the global e-learning market is projected to rise from USD 90.67 Billion in 2019 to USD 249.95 Billion by the end of 2025.
Furthermore, as learning and acquiring new skills have become critical to thriving in the job market, schools and higher education institutes are revamping curriculums in order to prepare a future-ready workforce. Integration of new-age technologies like AI has increased manifold.
Collaboration in the Era of Globalisation
In the Middle East, education reform is emphasszing meeting international standards of excellence. Also, the region is focussing on building a system according to globally accepted measures. Hence, the region is welcoming partnerships and collaboration with international educational institutions, organisations, programs, etc. to develop the best learning environment.
The United Arab Emirates Vision 2021 statement says “a progressive national curriculum will extend beyond rote learning to encompass critical thinking and practical abilities equipping our youth with essential skills and knowledge for the modern world”. Recently, Union Cabinet approved the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India’s Education Ministry and the Ministry of Education of the Government of the United Arab Emirates on cooperation in the field of education.
The future of collaborative learning looks bright, presenting vast opportunities to stakeholders to drive growth and innovation in the education system.
25th Elets World Education Summit
Do you want to explore opportunities in the Middle East? The 25th World Education Summit is an ideal platform for learning and networking with key stakeholders.
With a vision to boost tech-driven innovation, the premium closed-door event on 20-21 March 2023 in Dubai is bringing top leaders from Asia and the Middle East on one platform for the exchange of ideas and networking.
The Advantages that You Don’t Want to Miss
For more details, visit: wes.eletsonline.com
