WGS 2018: Equipping Youth With The Right Skills Is Key For Future

Alliances between universities and the private sector, training centers and continuous upskilling will be vital elements in preparing the next generation for the modern digital era, said Bill McDermott, Chief Executive Officer at SAP, at the sixth World Government Summit (WGS 2018) in Dubai.

In his session titled ‘Data: The Gene of Intelligent Governments’, McDermott noted that companies need to focus not just on fighting youth unemployment but also on retooling and reskilling the current workforce. He said: “Today’s youth are not coming out of school prepared and trained for the world. There are many more computers and programs than there are engineers, programmers and coders.”

McDermott highlighted the crucial role of multilateral initiatives – such as the global tech-reskilling drive that includes companies such as SAP, PwC, Cisco and Accenture, aiming at bringing competitive training courses – in closing the skills gap. He added that SAP has also entered alliances with various universities to share its technology with students.

“Technology, unless it serves humanity, is without purpose. We need to have augmented humanity, where computers and humans can come together to serve a greater good,” said McDermott.

Bill McDermott is often credited for SAP’s innovation-led strategy that has resulted in expansive increases in customers, revenue, market value and profitable growth. He is a member of the European Roundtable of Industrialists and the US Business Council.

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the World Government Summit 2018 runs from February 11 to 13 at the Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai. The landmark event convenes more than 4,000 participants from 140 countries, including heads of state and governments, as well as top-tier representatives of 16 international organizations.