Presentation Schedule
Transitioning to the Future: A Review of Education Policies for Economic Diversification in the GCC (109033)
Friday, 10 July 2026 15:30
Session: Poster Session 2
Room: Brunei Gallery (Ground Floor)
Presentation Type:Poster Presentation
Throughout the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), nations are moving away from oil-dependency toward "Knowledge-Based Economies". This shift requires a massive update to education policies. While traditional education focused on rote learning and public sector employment, new policies emphasize skills like problem-solving and digital literacy to meet the demands of a modern global workforce. Objective: This research aims to identify the common goals of recent education policies in the GCC (specifically Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Kuwait). It seeks to understand how these policies plan to bridge the gap between classroom learning and the requirements of the private sector. Methods: The study uses a qualitative document analysis (Review). It examines official policy announcements and "National Vision" summaries from 2020–2026. The research identifies recurring themes—such as "STEM education", "Vocational training", and "Lifelong learning"—without using complex statistical data. Findings: The research finds that GCC education policies are becoming increasingly "result-oriented." There is a clear move toward Vocational and Technical Training (TVET) and a strong push for Private-Public Partnerships. However, the study also finds that "soft skills" like creativity and leadership are now being prioritized just as much as technical grades. The main challenge identified is the speed of implementation across different school districts. Conclusion: The study concludes that GCC education policy is successfully shifting toward a "Market-Ready" model. For these policies to work, the research suggests that continuous teacher support and localized curriculum development are essential.
Authors:
Amthal AlOraifan, Independent Scholar, Kuwait
About the Presenter(s)
Dr Amthal AlOraifan is a School Teacher/Instructor at ministry of education - kuwait in Kuwait
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