Some of the experts during the discussions at the American University of Beirut.
DOHA: Researchers, academics and experts gathered in Beirut, Lebanon last week for a two-day workshop to discuss the latest findings regarding youth employment, education, entrepreneurship and related issues.
The event was co-organised by Silatech and the Middle East Youth Initiative (MEYI) and was hosted by the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs at the American University of Beirut.
‘The Social-Economic Situation of Middle East Youth on the Eve of the Arab Spring’ focused on the region’s rapidly changing social, political, and economic landscapes, and analysed events leading up to and during the early days of the Arab Spring.
With young people driving much of the region’s current social and political change, the workshop provided an opportunity for top regional and international experts to discuss labour market issues, the demographic impact of a large youth population, education reform, the impact of women in the labour force, youth entrepreneurship and social engagement, among other issues. One session was devoted to GCC youth, focusing on reducing unemployment and boosting citizen participation in the labour force in Qatar and the UAE.
Silatech CEO Dr Tarik M Yousef said: “We now have over 100 million young people in the Arab world between the age of 15 and 29 — the highest proportion of young people in the region’s history — as well as the world’s highest rate of youth unemployment. Often unable to find a job, get married, start a household, these young people are not yet fully integrated into their society.”
Rami Khouri, Director of the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs at the American University of Beirut, said, “The Issam Fares Institute and the American University of Beirut are delighted to partner with Silatech and the Middle East Youth Initiative at this critical moment to build on our shared commitment to fostering research that can contribute to better policymaking in the Arab world.”
Participants at the workshop also discussed knowledge gaps in our understanding of youth issues and exchanged ideas on future topics for research consideration, as well as how to communicate their findings to the region’s policy makers in order to maximise impact and most effectively benefit youth. Organisers noted that an edited volume of papers presented at the workshop will be published.
The Peninsula
