Launched in 2003, Dubai Knowledge Park is home to more than 500 business partners who have helped introduce global best practices and industry standards in the development of the regional talent pool and strengthened Dubai’s position as a destination for professional development. Mohammad Abdullah, Managing Director of Dubai Knowledge Park, said, “Developing an engaged workforce and providing avenues for continuous education and upskilling are vital due to the evolving professional environment and changes happening across industries. Our business partners provide best-in-class solutions for delivering essential training and skills development programs to professionals in line with the UAE Strategy for Talent Attraction and Retention, which aims to place the country among the top locations for talent attraction and availability of highly skilled employees.

“Through our participation in HRSE, we highlighted our unique ecosystem dedicated to human resource management and learning excellence and our leading role in equipping talent with the skills of the future.”

Sova Middle East, a business partner, was also part of Dubai Knowledge Park’s pavilion at HRSE, showcasing its award-winning online assessment platform, which includes tools for internal hiring and leadership development as well as recruitment.

Jonathan Rook, Director of Sova Middle East, said, “We were delighted to participate in the HR summit & Expo with Dubai Knowledge Park. Talent assessment and development is at the heart of what we do. We combine the best of science and technology to help organizations make better people decisions – either for hiring into the right roles or for enabling talent mobility and individual development.

“Our expert psychologists design exercises and psychometric assessments to help organisations to make the best people-based decisions – in addition to personal development, this can include high potential identification, succession planning, lateral and upward career moves.”

A number of other Dubai Knowledge Park business partners also had a presence at the event: Xpert Learning, a consultancy that provides learning, talent and performance solutions to corporate, academic and government clients; ICS Learn Group, an online learning operator with more than 25,000 learners and businesses on board; and Bradfield Learning and Development, which offers a portfolio of training for HR professionals at various stages of their career.

Rebecca Brook, Regional Director of Bradfield Learning & Development, said, “Bradfield Learning & Development are delighted about the return of HRSE in 2021; we participate in the event every year as it is a great way to network with people in the HR industry. Bradfield Learning & Development have been based in the region, operating from Dubai Knowledge Park since 2004.

“We are proud to have been at the forefront of the rise in popularity of CIPD qualifications across the gulf, as it has had such a big impact on the profession.”

ICS Learn Group was part of a panel discussion, titled ‘Transformation needs everyone but especially those at the top’.

Dafina Krasteva, General Manager-Middle East of ICS Learn Group, said, “As an education provider, the ICS Learn Group has been delighted to attend HRSE this year – it’s truly at the forefront of HR in the MENA region. Having just opened our new office in Dubai, we’re fully committed to supporting professional development in the UAE, and HRSE is the perfect launching pad for new ideas, new partnerships, and working together towards a bright future for the people profession.”

HRSE’s agenda discussed a broad range of topics relevant to the workforce of both the present and future. They include the office of the future, new ways to measure productivity in a post-pandemic era, and immersive learning journeys for remote-working learner professionals.

High-profile speakers at the event included David Shing, a digital evangelist, futurist speaker and strategic digital consultant; Robin Sharma, an author who has sold more than 15 million copies of bestsellers including The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari; and Fons Trompenaars, a renowned author, management thinker listed at Thinkers50’s Hall of Fame and a consultant specialized in cross-cultural communication.