The Association of Arab Universities & Arab Labour Organization Sign MoU to Align Higher Education with Arab Labour Market Needs

On the sidelines of the Higher Coordination Committee meetings hosted by the Association of Arab Universities in Amman, Jordan, the Association and the Arab Labour Organization signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen institutional cooperation and enhance coordination in human resources development across Arab countries.

This partnership underscores the importance of integration between higher education institutions and the labour market in supporting sustainable development pathways and advancing a knowledge-based economy in the Arab region.

The MoU reflects the key role of Arab universities in preparing qualified human capital, alongside the Arab Labour Organization’s efforts to develop employment policies, promote social dialogue, support labour-related issues, and advance human resource development across the Arab world.

The agreement was signed by H.E. Prof. Dr. Amr Ezzat Salama, Secretary General of the Association of Arab Universities, and H.E. Mr. Fayez Ali Al-Mutairi, Director General of the Arab Labour Organization, reflecting a shared vision to align higher education outcomes with labour market needs.

The MoU aims to enhance alignment between higher education outputs and labour market requirements, while promoting future skills development, including digital skills and artificial intelligence. It also supports entrepreneurship, innovation, and self-employment among Arab youth, contributing to reducing unemployment and promoting sustainable job creation.

Areas of cooperation include joint research on labour market and human resource development, organization of conferences and training programs, exchange of data and expertise, support for practical training and lifelong learning, and initiatives to improve youth employability.

The agreement also covers the development of Arab observatories and databases on labour markets, skills, and competencies, as well as collaboration on policy papers and strategic reports, and support for innovation and entrepreneurship within Arab universities.

This cooperation marks a new phase of institutional integration between higher education and the Arab labour system, strengthening human capital development and supporting the achievement of sustainable development goals and the broader Arab development agenda.