Taibah U. Aims to Attract Top High School Grads; U. of Bahrain Offers New Degrees in AI, Counseling
AI Skills in the Arab World
Coursera’s Global Skills Report 2025, based on data from over 170 million learners across 109 countries, highlights generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) as the most in-demand skill worldwide. But what does the report reveal about the Arab world?
According to the report, countries in the Middle East and North Africa are making strides in developing digital skills, though their levels of proficiency vary across the region.
The United Arab Emirates leads the Arab world and ranks 38th globally, driven by its emphasis on generative AI and data science. Qatar follows as the second in the region and 40th worldwide, with a strong focus on business and digital transformation.
Saudi Arabia claimed third place regionally and 54th globally, supported by national strategic AI initiatives aimed at accelerating skill development, while Egypt ranked fourth in the Arab world and 87th globally.
While there has been a rise in AI programme enrollments, notable skills gaps persist. Overall, the report highlights a 36-percent increase in enrollment in professional certifications across the MENA region, along with a significant surge in participation in GenAI courses. Governments in the region are increasingly supporting skills-based initiatives to boost AI knowledge and capabilities.
Key challenges persist, the report notes, particularly gender gaps, with women accounting for only one-third of enrolments in AI-related content. Additionally, disparities in infrastructure and resources continue to limit universal access in parts of the region.
The report recommends that governments integrate training in generative AI and cybersecurity into national programmes, encourage companies to adopt micro-credentials for recruitment and workforce development, and guide learners to focus on essential credentials and practical AI applications.
Mohammad El-Hawary
Al-Fanar Media editor-in-chief
News of the Arab Region:
Taibah U. Aims to Attract Top High School Graduates
Taibah University, in Medina, has opened applications for the “Jadeer” programme, aimed at attracting exceptional high school graduates from both local and international backgrounds. Applications are open until 2 August 2025.
According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the programme offers unconditional admission to qualified students, partial exemptions from select university courses, and acceptance of international test scores in place of local aptitude and achievement exams.
Participants also benefit from tailored support for exceptional talents within an environment designed to nurture excellence and creativity. Interested applicants are encouraged to visit the university’s official social media platforms for more details and application guidelines.
Applications Open for Egypt–Hungary Research Exchange Projects
Egypt’s Academy of Scientific Research and Technology (ASRT) is accepting applications for the 2026–2027 Mobility Projects exchange programme with Hungary. Selected joint research proposals will receive funding from both the Egyptian and Hungarian sides, with Egypt providing up to 300,000 Egyptian pounds annually per project.
The call is open for projects across all scientific fields. Each project will run for 24 months. Submissions will be accepted online until 30 September 2025. For inquiries, contact: [email protected]. For Hungarian application details, click here.
Birzeit U. Offers New Master’s Degree in Digital Learning
the Faculty of Education at Birzeit University, in Palestine, will offer a new master’s programme in Learning and Teaching in the Digital World, starting this fall. The programme is designed to advance education in Palestine by integrating technology into teaching and learning. It aims to prepare specialists capable of creating digital learning environments, applying modern educational technologies, and leading digital transformation efforts in academic institutions.
Click here to learn more about the programme. The application deadline for this course and all master’s programmes that Birzeit University will offer this fall is 26 August 2025. To register for any of the university’s programmes, use this link.
Fujairah’s ‘Young Techpreneurs’ Concludes with Exhibition
The third and final phase of Fujairah’s “Young Techpreneurs” initiative concluded with a closing ceremony that showcased an array of innovative, student-developed technology projects across five key sectors: health, tourism, education, community, and the economy. Projects explored practical applications and interactive solutions reflecting the initiative’s focus on smart education and future-ready skills.
The event served as a culmination of Fujairah’s broader strategy to foster youth-driven digital transformation and promote sustainable development through technology. Fujairah started the Young Techpreneurs initiative in April, aiming to equip young people in the Emirate with advanced skills in digital technologies, including AI, programming, and cybersecurity.
U. of Bahrain Offers New Graduate Degrees in AI, Counseling
The University of Bahrain has announced the introduction of two new graduate programmes: a Master of Science in Applied Artificial Intelligence offered by the College of Information Technology, and a PhD in Counseling Psychology offered by the College of Arts.
According to a university statement, the master’s programme in applied AI is designed for students from non-IT backgrounds who aim to apply AI tools and intelligent systems within their own disciplines. The Ph.D. programme in counseling psychology focuses on equipping students with knowledge and hands-on experience in counseling supervision, covering diverse areas such as family and career counseling, electronic supervision, special populations, and crisis and trauma cases.
Events and Conferences:
Digital Universities Arab World 2025, 16-18 September 2025, Muscat, Oman. Organised by Times Higher Education, this event spotlights the digital transformation shaping higher education across the Arab world. The conference will explore key themes such as enhancing digital infrastructure in universities, the role of AI in education, hybrid learning models, digital inclusion and student empowerment, and strengthening collaboration between universities and governments in the digital era.
8th International Conference on Islamic Finance, 8-9 October 2025, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar. Hosted by the Centre for Islamic Economics and Finance at the College of Islamic Studies, in collaboration with the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC), the 8th edition of the International Islamic Finance Conference will take place amid growing geopolitical tensions, mounting economic instability, and escalating climate crises.
Egyptian Knowledge Bank Workshops. Free online workshops are now available for undergraduate students, researchers, and faculty members. View the schedule here.
Syrian Universities as Sanctuaries against Sectarianism: A Student’s View
Universities are where students don’t just absorb knowledge, they create culture, writes Ghazal Hamdan, an aspiring journalist who studied computer science at Al-Rasheed University, in Damascus. They challenge what’s wrong, they protect what’s right, and more often than not, they remind societies of who they truly are. In Syria, this function has never been more crucial, she argues. While every other space grew more segregated, campuses remained a patchwork of every sect, ethnicity, and belief. Read more here.
Opinion:
Japan’s Expectations of Future Teachers Could Hold Lessons for Arab Schools
Japan is undergoing a time of profound socio-economic transformation, driven by globalisation, rapid advancements in artificial intelligence, a declining birth rate, and an increasingly aging population. These changes make educational reform a necessity, writes Almoamen Abdalla, a professor of Japanese studies and linguistics at Tokai University. Outlining the list of qualities the Japanese education ministry hopes to cultivate in future teachers, he asks: Can the “Japanese approach” transform the reality of our Arab schools, helping us create a future with a Japanese touch? Read more here.
Tips and Resources:
Top 10 Leadership Skills: Definitions and Examples
If you’re aiming for a prestigious job or a leadership position in a university, company, or research centre, it’s essential to recognise that, in addition to your knowledge and experience, you need strong leadership skills. These skills will significantly enhance your ability to lead a team and engage with officials effectively. This article will provide valuable insights to support your development in this area.
Podcast:
How University Changes You
In this episode of Al-Fanar Media’s Student Sowt podcast, Omima Esmaeel El-Ghabri, a food sciences graduate from Yemen, hosts Alaa Al-Hammadi, a student of Multimedia from Yemen, and Giulia, a German-Italian student who studies in Britain. Omima asks the students about their university experience and how it has affected their attitudes to life.
Scholarships:
Advance Your Academic Journey in the U.S.: AAUW International Fellowships for Women Now Open. The American Association of University Women (AAUW) is proud to announce the opening of its International Fellowships for the 2025/2026 academic year. These prestigious awards are designed to empower women from around the world. including all Arab countries, who are committed to pursuing full-time graduate or postdoctoral study at accredited institutions in the United States. Explore details of this award and other scholarships available to Arab students on Al-Fanar Media’s scholarship database.