TAG-Org News

23-May-2011
A speech by HE Senator Talal Abu-Ghazaleh at the 3rd Annual MENA ICT Week in Damascus
HE Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh
CEO and Founder, Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Organization

It is my pleasure to speak to you today in such a unique gathering that brings together international experts, businesses, innovators, and researchers to discuss topics related to “delivering the promise of the digital age” as means to accelerate progress, provide hope, and enable better opportunities for our next generation. In the globalized world of today, the role of ICT has prevailed and digital connectivity has become a key growth element of education, knowledge, and innovation in the new millennium.

More than half of the region’s combined population of around 400 Million people is estimated to be younger than 25 years. This fast growing population places limits and creates challenges for the competitive and economic vitality of the region. Unless effective policies are matched with accelerated structural reforms combined with an up-scaling education and training efforts, our countries are unlikely to capture the vital energy of today’s youth and meet their ambitions for more opportunities and inspiration. Educational reforms and integration of ICT are critically needed not only to unlock the region’s creative potential but also to accelerate the dawning of sustainable economies for meeting the growing regional challenges in education, environment, energy, water, health, security, and governance.

The use of ICTs and, in particular, access to computers and the Internet, are innovative resources that have become recognized as vital tools for education and lifelong learning. Social inclusion and workplace effectiveness are increasingly dependent on access to knowledge, network participation, and the use of ICT. Educational institutions and learning environments play a key role in providing these tools, training, and knowledge that promote meaningful use of ICTs, given that they enable mass access to connectivity and the use of electronic networks.

Education systems provide strategic opportunities for reduction of social inequities, and, when integrated with ICTs, they can overcome the digital divide and improve educational quality. Therefore, the incorporation of ICT in the education field is not just to offer access, but rather also to promote the effective inclusion of ICT in the teaching-learning process and school management. This requires that both school authorities and teachers acquire new skills, which implies profound changes in the traditional school culture. Initiatives to use ICT for development – especially in the education field – carry with them the imperative that technologies are a means, not an end, i.e., a tool for achievement rather than an outcome in and of itself.

In this context, Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Organization (TAGOrg) envisions a potential for cooperation to bring together governments, industries, businesses, and academics in the pursuit of development projects that cultivate cross-border partnerships and educate next-generation leaders with new values and ideas. TAGOrg will build on its successes in the region since 1972 as pan-Arab professional service group of firms specializing in the fields of accounting, management consulting, intellectual property, information technology, training, education, legal services, recruitment, translation, and valuation. TAGOrg will continue to assist in enabling continuous dialogue and coordinated action among Partners to empower ICT use in education and academic activities, in order to advance and improve teaching and learning, promote excellence, and enhance accessibility and quality of education and learning.

In this respect and with UNESCO, TAGOrg has been taking a leadership role in moving forward with GAID’s initiative on “Education for All in the Digital Age”. The initiative is a Joint Global Action Program towards better achievement of MDGs through ICT integration and innovations in Education system for 2010-2015. It is designed on the basis of the dynamics of cultural, social, and institutional changes; environmental awareness; and sustainability in the social, economic, and cultural context. Partners of the action program provide coordinated support and resources for governments in developing countries in order to create an “enabling environment” for large scale ICT integration in their education systems. The “enabling environment” combines strategic elements by recognizing the value of ICT4E and tactical and operational elements. Partners also offer policy support and resources, knowledge sharing and capacity building programs for educators and education institutions, coordinated infrastructure deployment, software and content selection and dissemination, and coordinated research.

Furthermore, and with the support of TAGOrg, the Arab States Research and Education Network (ASREN) is being born as a pan-Arab dedicated e-Infrastructure connecting Arab research and education institutions to the rest of the world. ASREN aims to facilitate cross-border implementation projects; provide state-of-the-art network services, tools and applications to boost productivity; and leverage economies of scale in using available research, academic and technical resources. The fact that students, teaching staff, and researchers use this network will lead to enhanced efficiency and productivity and will boost the concept of creativity and innovation.

In closing,

I thank you for organizing MENA ICT, an opportunity for all towards building a prosperous future for our economies.

I thank you for giving me the opportunity to talk to you on the potential of “Integration of ICT and Education” to build a peaceful world for our people

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A speech by HE Senator Talal Abu-Ghazaleh at the 3rd Annual MENA ICT Week in Damascus

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