The Knowledge Summit, under the theme ‘Knowledge: Protecting Humanity and the Planet in the Pandemic’ started at Expo 2020 Dubai on Monday, in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Media Council, and Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority.
In his opening remarks, Jamal bin Huwaireb, CEO of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation, said the UAE provides a unique role model for its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, based on knowledge and innovation.
Jamal bin Huwaireb said: “The Knowledge Summit this year highlights all the aspects of many challenges, including climate change, food security, tackling poverty, reshaping the public legal landscape, and rethinking legal practices in a post-pandemic world. It also spotlights the role and effect of the media throughout the pandemic, the future of education in the metaverse world, and the critical need to update better economic and environmental systems.
“The UAE’s great efforts in knowledge and investing in youth, through equipping them with skills and knowledge in line with rapid changes, are reflected in the UAE’s pioneering rank in the Knowledge Index of 2021. It rose up by four levels compared to 2020, and is ranked first in the Arab world and eleventh globally in the index, which ranks the knowledge levels in 145 countries.”
Khalida Bouzar, UN Assistant Secretary-General, UNDP Assistant Administrator, said: “The Knowledge Summit that we are witnessing today… is one of the most important outcomes of the partnership between the United Nations Development Program and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation, which has resulted in many knowledge initiatives that influenced the knowledge landscape in Arab countries and the world.”
Khalida Bouzar added: “Today, we launch our eighth Future of Knowledge: A Foresight Report under the theme: ‘Knowledge: Protecting Humanity and the Planet in the Pandemic’. The report focuses on studying the capabilities that enable countries to invest in facing shocks and maintaining development gains. The report also addresses the three risks [to knowledge] namely health, environmental and technological. A digital information platform was used to produce this report, enabling access to 150 million sources in more than 180 languages, and the information was analysed using artificial intelligence.
“This year’s Knowledge Summit will address many issues, including the importance of accelerating the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and how to help countries redefine their priorities.”
The influence of the media and the role it plays during crises was at the top of the agenda, with the discussion focusing on how the media actively participates in tackling crises, foreseeing solutions to overcome them, and fighting misinformation, especially since the latter’s effect has become more significant, in light of the strong presence of social media.
The two-day Knowledge Summit is being held at the Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo 2020 Dubai and organised by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Program, with experts, leaders, and government officials from all over the world taking part. It covers issues including successful leadership during crises, job restructuring and employment processes, and education based on sustainable development.
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