Developing Future Leaders - Prospects for an Empowered Youth in Europe and the Gulf”, was the topic of a conference organised recently by the Gulf Studies Centre (GSC) at Qatar University’s College of Arts and Sciences (QU-CAS).
The forum was held in collaboration with the Regional Office Gulf States of Konrad-Adenauer Foundation.
The two-day conference was part of a series of collaborations carried out by GSC with international research institutes to tackle important sociopolitical and economic issues in the region.
Attendees included former minister of Social Development in Oman and visiting professor at Sultan Qaboos University Dr Sharifa Khalfan al-Yahyai, GSC director Dr Abdullah Baabood and national president of Junior Chamber International Germany Christian Wewezow.
The event also featured scholars and experts from the GCC and Germany, including assistant professor of Public Policy Dr Rémi Piet (QU-CAS, Qatar); research associate/deputy head of division, iMOVE, Hans-Gerhard Reh (Germany); Sciences Po Paris postgraduate student in Public Affairs Latifa Mattar (Bahrain); director of Research and Policy, Silatech, Dr Nader Kabbani (Qatar); senior adviser, Learning, Skills & Assessment, Silatech, Tracy Pryce (Qatar); and public policy consultant Hanan Alawadi (the UAE), as well as several faculty members and staff.
Discussions focused on aspects of education and youth employment in Europe and the GCC, and on women’s employment and the economic advantages of a diverse workforce.
Three young leaders - Rabaa H al-Hajeri (head of Marketing, Loyac, Kuwait), Mark Hartmann (partner, Project A Ventures, Germany) and Florian Nöll (chairman, German Startups Association, Germany) - shared personal experiences and the challenges they encounter in their daily lives.
“This timely conference plays an important role in giving the centre the opportunity to look at the various challenges that are affecting youth. The young population in this region needs to explore new opportunities and learn from other international experiences, particularly in Europe,” said Dr Baabood.
“This event is a strong platform to exchange and investigate the image of young people, particularly in the GCC, who have been stereotyped as spoiled and not capable of serving their country and community,” said Dr al-Yahyai.
