{"id":38319,"date":"2019-06-12T10:16:05","date_gmt":"2019-06-12T10:16:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.alj.com\/?post_type=perspective&p=38319"},"modified":"2022-03-29T11:48:23","modified_gmt":"2022-03-29T11:48:23","slug":"helping-the-next-generation-of-leaders-to-build-their-careers","status":"publish","type":"perspective","link":"https:\/\/alj.com\/en\/perspective\/helping-the-next-generation-of-leaders-to-build-their-careers\/","title":{"rendered":"Helping the next generation of leaders to build their careers"},"content":{"rendered":"

As a new generation prepares to take its place in industry, Abdul Latif Jameel provides opportunities around the world for tomorrow\u2019s leaders to start their careers today.<\/p>\n

How should we best provide opportunities for the next generation?\u00a0 How can we ensure all potential is fulfilled?\u00a0 And what mechanisms are available to harness the energy and entrepreneurial spirit spreading across the Middle East and beyond?\u00a0 These are the significant questions being grappled with by organizations and industry leaders around the world.<\/p>\n

Tackling a global problem<\/strong><\/p>\n

Since the 2008, economic crash, global youth unemployment has remained uncomfortably high. \u00a0In 2018, youth unemployment around the world stood at 11.8%[1]<\/a>, with young people making up 35% of the world\u2019s unemployed population[2]<\/a>. \u00a0In the Middle East, youth unemployment stands at approximately 20.1%[3]<\/a>. \u00a0<\/p>\n

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Tackling youth unemployment is a central tenet to unlocking progress on several of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including Goal 8 (sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth), Goal 10 (reduced inequality), and Goal 11 (sustainable communities)[4]<\/a>. \u00a0It also supports progress on UN Global Compact Principle 6, which aims to eliminate employment discrimination on a range of factors \u2013 including age[5]<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Opening new doors to opportunity<\/strong><\/p>\n

Studies have shown that internships can be a useful first step for helping young people climb the career ladder, helping them to develop the soft and interpersonal skills highly valued by employers, alongside job-specific skills and experience that, taken together, increase the probability of finding employment for those who have completed them[6]<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Abdul Latif Jameel<\/a> follows a three-pronged approach of offering education opportunities, supporting academic scholarships, and encouraging innovation and enterprise across the MENAT region.\u00a0 It is a policy that it is in line with the region\u2019s ambitions and ongoing development.<\/p>\n

\"\"As recently as May 2019, the Saudi Arabian government \u2013 through its Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF<\/a>) \u2013 publicly encouraged private-sector businesses to be conscious of their social responsibility to provide training opportunities to ambitious youngsters[7]<\/a>.\u00a0 HRDF\u2019s summer training program, Saifi<\/a>, is being staged in cooperation with several bodies, including the Ministry of Labor and Social Development.\u00a0 All private enterprises with 25 or more employees are obliged to join the program, while smaller firms are also being encouraged to understand how they can help to develop youngsters\u2019 skills and workplace experience.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Abdul Latif Jameel has an impressive track record in providing employment, training and education opportunities to people who may otherwise be unable to access them.<\/p>\n

Scholarships at MIT<\/strong><\/p>\n

It is 25 years since Community Jameel first established the Abdul Latif Jameel-Toyota Endowed Scholarship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT<\/a>).\u00a0 The scholarship \u2013 today known more readily as the Jameel-Toyota Scholars (or JTS<\/a>) \u2013 is available to students across the Middle East, North Africa and Asia, and provides financial support to those studying undergraduate degrees at MIT.\u00a0 Its aim is to help young people achieve their potential at one of the world\u2019s leading universities, and there can be little doubt it has and is continuing to fulfill its ambition.<\/p>\n

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So far, almost 200 students from 25 different countries have benefited from the scholarship.\u00a0 Many of the scholarship recipients have gone one to launch successful businesses, contributing to their communities both economically, through job creation, and socially through the promotion and advance of the positive qualities encouraged by Abdul Latif Jameel.<\/p>\n

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Fady M. Jameel, Deputy President & Chairman Abdul Latif Jameel (Center) is flanked by Omar H. Al-Madhi, (center-left) Senior Managing Director Abdul Latif Jameel Investments (and MIT Sloan alumnus) and George Richards (center-right) Director of Strategy International for Community Jameel, as they meet the current crop of Jameel Toyota Scholars at the MIT campus in Boston, USA.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Supporting young and talented leaders<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Jameel-Toyota Endowed Scholarship is far from the only program run across the diversified businesses of Abdul Latif Jameel.<\/p>\n

\"\"Fotowatio Renewable Ventures (FRV<\/a>), part of Abdul Latif Jameel Energy<\/a> and a global developer of utility-scale renewable projects, has offered a Young Talented Leaders<\/a> scholarship for the last four years in partnership with Fundacion Instituto de Empresa (IE Foundation<\/a>).\u00a0<\/p>\n

Scholarships are open to applicants from areas close to FRV projects. \u00a0Valued at more than US$ 140,000, the scholarship covers a four-year degree program at Spain\u2019s IE University.\u00a0 Previous winners of the scholarship have come from Uruguay and Jordan.<\/p>\n

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