Riyadh - Sharikat Mubasher: The inaugural edition of Coursera Women Leadership Summit MEA 2024 highlighted the potential of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in tackling workforce challenges in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region, a recent statement unveiled.

During the summit, experts affirmed that strategic investments in AI education could play a crucial role in fostering a tech-savvy workforce equipped with the skills necessary for future jobs.

Coursera Women Leadership Summit MEA 2024 took place in Jeddah and served as a platform for sharing insights, debating challenges, and inspiring actions to support women’s leadership development opportunities across the region.

The summit featured several discussions about various topics, notably the importance of GenAI in boosting learning and addressing current obstacles facing Arab economies. It also highlighted the mismatch between education and required skill sets, contributing to Arab women facing a high unemployment rate of 42.5%.

Marni Baker Stein, Chief Content Officer at Coursera, said: “While many countries, particularly in the GCC, are witnessing greater participation of women in the workforce, there is still a substantial gap to fill. New technologies like Generative AI, if used responsibly, can expedite this process.”

“We see Generative AI as a new chapter in the history of work and education — one that, through strategic and consistent upskilling efforts, and, most importantly, public-private collaboration, can yield transformative results in addressing the challenges of gender parity," Stein added.

Moreover, Coursera Women Leadership Summit MEA 2024 showcased female empowerment, ambition, and success across various sectors, notably technology, telecommunications, and education.