Manama: As part of Bahrain's presidency of the 46th session of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Dr. Mohammed bin Mubarak Juma, the Minister of Education and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Higher Education Council, led the 26th meeting of the Ministers of Higher Education and Scientific Research in the GCC countries. The meeting took place in Bahrain and was attended by various GCC ministers, including Khalid bin Ali bin Salem Al Sunaidi, Assistant Secretary General for Economic and Development Affairs at the GCC General Secretariat.
According to Bahrain News Agency, Dr. Juma conveyed the greetings and best wishes of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to the participating ministers. He also expressed their hopes for the meeting's success. The Education Minister stressed the importance of enhancing cooperation mechanisms among GCC countries in higher education and scientific research. He underscored the need to keep pace with global developments by adopting the latest technologies and scientific methods, developing academic programs, and attracting academic talent. Dr. Juma emphasized that these efforts contribute to developing human capital and providing the GCC labor market with qualified professionals.
Dr. Juma also highlighted several GCC projects and initiatives, including unified guidelines for the equivalency of academic qualifications, the GCC database, and the strategic plan for innovation and entrepreneurship in higher education. He discussed efforts to enhance innovation and digital transformation. The Education Minister reiterated Bahrain's commitment to further cooperation through the exchange of expertise, expanding the recognition of qualifications, academic degrees, and programs, and enhancing student exchange programs. He also focused on developing scientific research and academic programs in line with economic transformations.
Al Sunaidi emphasized that higher education and scientific research are key drivers of economic and development strength. He highlighted the importance of enhancing the education system's capacity to produce knowledge, transform scientific research into economic and development value, and equip students with the skills required to meet labor market needs. He noted that higher education institutions across the GCC comprise around 1.8 million students and over 175,000 faculty members across more than 282 institutions, underlining the importance of building on this educational and research base to enhance integration, quality, and competitiveness.
The meeting concluded with a focus on the impact of global economic transformations, rapid digital advancement, and the growing role of artificial intelligence. It underscored the importance of advancing higher education across the GCC to improve its indicators and rankings, meet labor market requirements, serve national and GCC priorities, and fulfill students' aspirations. A consultative session preceded the meeting, during which ministers exchanged views on issues related to higher education and scientific research, discussing the challenges and opportunities facing the sector amid rapid global developments.