At the Extraordinary Virtual Conference of Culture Ministers of ICESCO Member States Abu-Ghazaleh Calls for Enhancing Digital Culture to Overcome Future Challenges

AMMAN – HE Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, founder and chairman of Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Global (TAG.Global), participated in the Extraordinary Virtual Conference of the Islamic World ministers of culture, members of the Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), entitled "Sustainability of Cultural Action in the Face of Crises”.

During his speech on the ‘Future of Knowledge in the Digital World", Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh stressed the importance of culture and improving interpersonal skills, pointing out that the Internet-based education is the future. 

Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh noted that the Internet enables all to access information and data, therefore no excuse for failure or not to excel, affirming that students today need inspirational mentors, not inoculators. He added that the ‘Tsunami’ of Internet and Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based education will wipe out traditional educational institutions which fail to transform into knowledge-based entities.

Furthermore, Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh said that ‘the aim of education should be for innovation, not for getting a certificate, since innovation is the only means to create knowledge and consequently create wealth’. He accentuated the necessity of focusing on educational programs relevant to building practical and professional capacities to meet the need for establishing an AI-based educational system.

Additionally, Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh called on universities and governments to provide attractive environment for investment, especially in technology and innovation fields, urging representatives of government, academic and private sectors to work together in developing a strategy that assists in bringing the Arab region to the level it is supposed to be at. 

It is worth mentioning that the conference was chaired by the United Arab Emirates, represented by Ms. Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, with the participation of a host of ministers, experts and researchers from 50 countries and 22 international organizations, with the aim of finding solutions for the future of culture and its relation with tourism and sport, as well as developing future cultural actions and smart applications to this effect.

At the end of the conference, Ministers of Culture and heads of regional and international organizations pledged to enhance the status of culture to face future challenges. The also agreed to work on supporting and developing digital culture and promoting awareness on the importance of cultural heritage in addition to encouraging the culture of solidarity and interdependence.