Gulf Cooperation Council Focuses on Smart Technologies to Boost Human Capital
KUWAIT CITY – The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is prioritizing the integration of smart technologies to enhance human capital development and institutional performance across member states. A recent seminar hosted by the Intellectual Property Training Center of the GCC General Secretariat, in collaboration with the Saud Al-Nasser Diplomatic Institute, underscored the critical role of these technologies in fostering a skilled workforce and driving sustainable growth.
The seminar, held Tuesday, featured Dr. Amima Al-Swaileh, a professor of educational technology at Kuwait University, who emphasized that true investment extends beyond financial resources to encompass empowering individuals and cultivating their skills. “Investing in people and developing their skills is the best and most sustainable investment,” Al-Swaileh stated, according to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA). “Societies do not advance with machines alone, but with the human being capable of managing and harnessing them to serve development.”
The focus on human capital development comes at a pivotal time for the GCC region, which is actively diversifying its economies away from reliance on oil revenues. According to the World Bank, the GCC countries collectively invested approximately 2.5% of their GDP in education in 2022, demonstrating a commitment to building a knowledge-based economy. However, experts note that simply increasing investment isn’t enough; the quality of education and skills training must also evolve to meet the demands of a rapidly changing global landscape.
Al-Swaileh highlighted education as the cornerstone of human capital development and building societies capable of adapting to change. The seminar participants discussed how artificial intelligence (AI) and other smart technologies can be leveraged to personalize learning, improve training programs, and foster innovation within organizations.
Rana Al-Qurtas, a consultant representing the head of the Intellectual Property Training Center, affirmed the center’s dedication to promoting a culture of intellectual property and innovation alongside building a qualified workforce prepared for modern work environments. “This seminar aims to highlight the role of smart technologies and artificial intelligence in enhancing institutional innovation, protecting intellectual outputs, and enabling human cadres to understand and manage intellectual property rights in digital work environments,” Al-Qurtas explained.
The GCC’s initiative aligns with broader international trends recognizing the importance of lifelong learning and skills development in the age of automation. The World Economic Forum’s “Future of Jobs Report 2023” predicts that 44% of workers’ skills will need to be updated in the next five years.
The Intellectual Property Training Center has previously conducted workshops and seminars aimed at raising awareness of intellectual property and promoting innovation across various sectors, contributing to the GCC’s sustainable development goals. The center’s ongoing efforts reflect a regional commitment to building a future-ready workforce equipped to navigate the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century.
