According to the 2020 Global Skills Index published by Coursera, the online learning platform, the UAE ranks 5th globally in business skills including marketing, management and sales. It has also been recognized for making great advances in data sciences.
UAE tops among the Middle East and African (MEA) in business skills while it grabbed the 4th spot for data sciences in the same region and is in the 50th position globally. Data sciences mainly focus on areas like statistics, mathematics and automation.
Switzerland ranked the highest globally in business skills while Russia leads the world in data science.
The report from the world’s largest online learning network measured the skills of its 65 million learners in 60 countries over the past year based on test results in industry, technology and data science.
“Even through layoffs and furloughs and this disruption, businesses are spending more money more quickly to build data science and technology skills than they were before the pandemic,” Jeff Maggioncalda, chief executive of Coursera, which was developed by professors at Stanford University.
According to the report, the most trending business skills are Microsoft Excel, Project Management, Digital Marketing, Blockchain, Business Analytics, People Management, Writing, Human Resources, Product Placement and Supply Chain.
Coursera saw a rise in almost every category of online education, but technology, business, and data science courses have held the momentum, Maggioncalda said, adding that healthcare courses and degrees are the company’s next frontiers. More than two-thirds of government, corporate, and campus enrollments on the Coursera platform are in business, technology, and data science courses.
The company has seen 15 million new students on its platform since the start of the pandemic.
“During a global slowdown, public and private sector institutions across the Middle East must accelerate reskilling efforts that prepare workers for a rapidly changing economy,” Mr. Maggioncalda said.
Coursera has an enrollment of 350,000 students in the UAE. The Abu Dhabi School of Government, its biggest institutional user, plans to upgrade 60,000 of its civil servants. Many are taking business courses, said Mr. Maggioncalda, which accounts for some of the UAE ‘s strong success in the subject.
Vinod Bakthavachalam, a senior data scientist at Coursera, said that the foundational skills required for data science, like math and statistics, could be improved in the UAE. In the coming years, the country aims to massively increase knowledge and investment in this domain.
The 69-page report that breaks down information based on industry and country also gathered insights like the demand for personal development skills such as confidence, stress management and mindfulness among individual learners has increased by 1,200%.
Also, it found that industries with more highly qualified talent see higher stock returns and less disruption from COVID-19, especially in technology skills.
Further, the countries that have improved knowledge and skills in critical industry, technology, and data science see more revenue.
