Youth unemployment in the Middle East is higher than anywhere else in the world, according to a leading expert.

Microsoft Gulf regional general manager Samer Abu Lteif said majority of the world's 75 million unemployed young people lived in the region, reported the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

He was speaking at the opening of Microsoft Education Global Forum in Dubai which was held yesterday (February 22) at the Grand Hyatt Dubai Conference Centre.

"The figures here are striking and humbling and put people like us in front of a major responsibility to become an opportunity for growth," he said.

"Over 30 per cent of the Middle East population is between 15 to 29 years old.

"With the historic, traditional and conventional learning methods, we have serious unemployment today that is putting a lot of pressure on government leaders.

"In the GCC we have a great asset evolving around the fact that 50pc of the population is youth.

"However, there are 75 million young people that have attained a certain level of education but don't have skills that will help them attain a job - the highest of which are in the Middle East."

Microsoft worldwide education vice-president and US Ambassador to UAE Anthony Salcito said the region represented "the future workforce" of the world.

"There are still challenges in the Middle East, not only for skilled labour but also for entrepreneurship and industry," he pointed out.

"We need to create new jobs and new capacity as there is a clear connection between economic viability and the quality of the education system.

"What we're achieving today with technology is a fraction of what we could achieve.

"The way all of us learn is fundamentally and forever changed.

"I hear a lot of educators say 'I want to get a device for every teacher and every student in my country'.

"While you would think that's something a technology company would want to celebrate, it's the wrong dream. The dream needs to be the students.

"Change has to be holistic and start with pedagogy and we need to ask questions before we bring technology into the equation.

"We often think from the outside in but we must think inside out, and start the change from the culture of the environment." - TradeArabia News Service