Youth narratives for the UAE : the future of learning

Abdullah, Nur Anisah (2017) Youth narratives for the UAE : the future of learning. In: Third Asia Pacific Futures Network 2017, 2017-04-21 - 2017-04-21.

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Abstract

What does the future of learning mean to students? Why should young leaders think about the future of learning? How do students view the social systems within which they live in, how can they now do something to shape a more desired future? A workshop has been planned to be conducted with a group of students of an Emirati university in the UAE. The workshop began with introducing Futures Studies and the need to think about our future. This was followed by group discussions on the history of education in the UAE and the changing landscapes of education: a macro view that affects the local contexts. Students explored the issues, problems and opportunities brought about by those change that set the foundation for looking ahead in anticipation. Students then worked in groups in creating narratives for the future of learning in the UAE guided by the Four Futures Exercise (Dator, 2009). Change is creative expression, hence the narratives – the imaginings of the plausible, probable and possible futures. Students can be active participants in the process of creating change, shaping desired and preferred futures. This workshop is part of a broader youth development project with a view to inculcate the habit of anticipation and to develop anticipatory skills in making better life decisions.

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