The Dubai Future Academy has concluded its Future Design executive education program, which seeks to train executives from both the public and private sectors and prepare them to adapt to the technologies of the future, such as robotics, artificial intelligence, Blockchain, and the Internet of Things (IoT).
The program was organized in partnership with THNK Creative School of Leadership and Innovation in Affiliation with Stanford University. It aims to raise awareness around global future trends in key sectors such as renewable energy, water, transportation, education, health, technology, and space. These sectors coincide with the pillars of the National Strategy for Innovation, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to position the UAE as one of the world’s most innovative countries.
High-Profile Participants
The program attracted a high-profile group of executives from government institutions and major private companies, along with a group of executives from the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), the Ministry of Health and Prevention, and Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).
Maha Khamis Al Mezaina, Project Manager at Dubai Future Foundation, said: “The Dubai Future Academy’s programs embody the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who has called for leaders to hone their skills and be prepared for the challenges of the future. This program is conducted by international experts and aims to train leaders from government institutions and private companies and prepare them for the challenges of tomorrow.”
An Intensive, Knowledge-Packed Program
The program included a session that explored the main catalysts of technological development, conducted by John Henry Clippinger of ID3 (ID Cubed), as well as a session around AI and robotics, where participants discussed robots’ ability to outperform humans.
Participants also noted the gradual shift in the IoT platform from seemingly unrelated technologies into integrated Internet-based solutions that public and private institutions can benefit from. Moreover, they discussed the increasing digitization of our personal and professional lives, and the effects of big data on business models, as well as digital transaction platforms (Blockchain) – a symbol of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
On another note, participants explored virtual, augmented, and mixed realities (VR, AR, and MR), noted the differences between them, and studied ways to benefit from these technologies in creating future services and products. They additionally looked into the effects of big data and cutting-edge digital technologies on education.
Leading Experts
The intensive executive learning program was conducted by prominent experts and academics from the world’s most prestigious universities, including John Henry Clippinger, Research Scientist at the Media Lab of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Founder of the Law Laboratory at Harvard University, and Executive Director of the ID3 (ID Cubed) Foundation, a non-profit organization founded to develop legal frameworks for data-dependent services.
Also conducting the program was Mattia Crespi, Virtual Reality Specialist, Futurist, Technology Expert, Speaker, and Entrepreneur; David Hanson, Founder and CEO of Hanson Robotics, which is currently focusing on producing androids; and Euro Beinat, Computer Scientist, Economics Expert, and Data Science Professor at the University of Salzburg in Austria, who conducted a session on emerging technologies – including IoT.
Distinguished Future Projects
During the course of the program, participants presented projects and blueprints for solutions to the challenges that are projected to face several strategic sectors in the future. They introduced “ Healthy UAE”, a platform that uses artificial intelligence devices to help doctors screen, diagnose, treat, and prevent chronic diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. It also helps healthcare providers track unhealthy habits and factors like obesity, smoking, and high blood pressure.
The platform accesses patients’ medical files and compiles data including genetic information and clinical history, as well as external data and relevant research, in order to accurately diagnose diseases and administer the best treatment to the patient. The project also considers a possible integration with the Internet of Things (IoT), whereby patients can be asked to wear sensors and devices that monitor their health.
In education, participants submitted a project that relies on Blockchain technology to improve learning and educations across all curriculums. Meanwhile, in transportation and logistics, two projects were put forth: the first employs artificial intelligence to process transportation-related data and propose solutions for the sector’s challenges that take into account the city’s transportation demands. The project stands to improve urban planning in the UAE and provide relevant data for other sectors as well.
The second project uses virtual reality to train and test drivers in Dubai, which would serve to improve safety records in the emirate, all the while raising customer satisfaction.
As for the business sector, participants set out to establish an adequate infrastructure that uses artificial intelligence to gather and process data to help institutions predict their clients’ demands and proactively improve their business performance.
Dubai Future Academy
The Dubai Future Academy administers an integrated educational program along three central courses: The Executive Education Program, the Future Design Diploma, and the Master’s Degree in Applied Future Sciences. The Academy is expecting to receive 500 applicants from the government and private sectors in the UAE and the region.
The Academy also offers a number of secondary courses providing executive education in Fourth-Industrial-Revolution sectors such as Blockchain, artificial intelligence, deep learning, and biotechnology, among others.