–A Panel Discussion on Advancing Education, Competitiveness, and National Identity

For the eighth consecutive day, the TRENDS pavilion at the  Abu Dhabi International Book Fair 2025 continues to attract  large numbers of visitors from diverse backgrounds and interests.

This remarkable turnout is driven by the pavilion’s rich and extensive selection of original and translated books spanning a wide range of disciplines and fields of knowledge, as well as in-depth research and studies produced by the TRENDS.

Sheikh Zayed bin Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan visited the pavilion, where he was briefed on the center’s youth support initiatives, which focus on continuous training and development of skills creative abilities.

In addition, Sheikha Rawda bint Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan visited the pavilion, where she explored a diverse collection of the center’s key knowledge publications; including “The Era of Pearls: From Poverty to Prosperity”, which recounts a pivotal period in the region’s history, and “The Little Researcher” series, which aims to instill a passion for research and discovery in younger generations.

H.E. Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, also toured the TRENDS pavilion at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair. He reviewed the center’s most prominent newly signed research and scientific publications and noted how the pavilion’s design highlights an economic era that shaped a vision for the future. He also attended the signing of a new book by H.E. Mohammed Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cybersecurity Council, which is recently published by TRENDS.

Panel Discussion on Advancing Education, Competitiveness, and Identity

As part of its activities at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, TRENDS organized a panel discussion at its pavilion under the title: “Toward an Education System that Enhances Global Competitiveness and Respects Local Identity.” The session saw the signing of the first volume in strategic educational report series titled “Strategic Alignment of Curricula: Toward Education that Enhances Global Competitiveness and Respects Local Identity,” published as part of the “Bridging Educational Gaps and Building Skills” series.

The panel hosted Dr. Karima Matar Al‑Mazrouei, Advisor at Mohamed Bin Zayed University for Humanities, who presented an in‑depth analysis of how curriculum development can meet global competitiveness requirements while preserving local cultural identity. The discussion was moderated by Ms. Al‑Anood Al‑Marar, Training Sector Advisor at the TRENDS International Training Institute, who commended Dr. Al‑Mazrouei’s valuable contributions to the field of education.

During the session, Dr. Al Mazrouei discussed the motivation behind this research series, emphasizing its aim to bridge a critical gap between education policy and the rapid changes occurring in education systems worldwide. She explained that the series provides practical guidance to educational decision-makers to redesign curricula in ways that meet the evolving labor-market requirements while safeguarding the core values of national identity and heritage.

Summarizing the report’s key findings, Dr. Al‑Mazrouei called for a flexible national framework for curricula development and highlighted the central role of teachers as agents of change and reform. The report also recommends a sustainable, effective partnership model linking educational institutions with all sectors of society.

When asked about the most important element in the educational process, Dr. Al‑Mazrouei emphasized the integration between teacher, student, and curriculum, noting that these three components form an ecosystem whose parts are inseparable. However, she stressed that the curriculum remains the core foundation for all reform and development efforts, as it defines objectives, content, and education methods.

Following the session, the first copies of the book were signed at the TRENDS pavilion in the presence of an elite group of educators, academics, and media professionals, reflecting the importance of the new publication and the issues it addresses.