Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences has concluded the 2026 Tomorrow’s Skills Summer Forum following three weeks of training and hands-on programmes involving more than 100 students. The Forum featured specialised programmes in giftedness, innovation, artificial intelligence, robotics, the Internet of Things and entrepreneurship, helping participants develop practical and intellectual skills, strengthen their readiness for future opportunities and contribute to a knowledge- and innovation-based economy.
The Forum provided participants with experiential learning opportunities built around practical application, exploration and teamwork. Students developed innovative ideas and projects while using advanced tools and technologies in artificial intelligence, robotics, digital design and digital fabrication. They also strengthened their skills in scientific research, entrepreneurship, financial literacy and personal development, creating an integrated learning experience that combined knowledge with practical application.
Commenting on the Forum’s outcomes, H.E. Dr. Khalifa Al Suwaidi, Executive Director of Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences, said: “The outcomes of the Tomorrow’s Skills Summer Forum reflect the success of the Foundation’s approach to designing educational programmes that place practical application at the heart of the learning process and give students the opportunity to discover and develop their abilities in an environment that encourages creativity and innovation. Throughout the Forum, we witnessed clear progress in participants’ engagement, analytical thinking, teamwork and ability to apply modern technologies in developing solutions and projects with added value.”
H.E. Dr. Khalifa Al Suwaidi added that these outcomes provide further impetus for Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences to continue developing more specialised programmes that respond to students’ needs, strengthen sustainable pathways for giftedness and innovation and expand opportunities for participation in scientific and technological initiatives. These efforts contribute to preparing future generations with the knowledge, skills and capabilities required to play an active role in national development.
Within the Skills and Personal Development track, the Forum featured Difference Makers, which focused on building self-awareness, developing personal values and strengthening teamwork and self-confidence. It also included Conscious – Towards Financial and Cognitive Intelligence, which enhanced students’ financial literacy through practical skills in financial planning, saving, investment and informed decision-making. The opening programme also featured the interactive workshop Journey to the Self, designed to support self-awareness and personal growth.
Within the Advanced Technology and Innovation track, the Forum featured Connected Future, which enabled participants to design and develop innovative Internet of Things solutions addressing real-world challenges. The Small World strengthened scientific research and inquiry skills through practical experiments and activities linked to environmental and emerging technology concepts. Underground Robotics Explorer prepared students for international robotics competitions through robot design, programming and engineering problem-solving.
The track also included Future Designers, which enabled participants to use artificial intelligence and digital design tools to develop practical innovation projects, and Nawabigh (Prodigies), which focused on application design and the use of artificial intelligence and automation to create innovative technical solutions. In addition, Search and Rescue Robot introduced participants to the design and programming of search-and-rescue robots using the Robot Operating System and digital fabrication technologies, while IoT Smart Plant Pot combined digital design, electronics and Internet of Things technologies to develop an intelligent plant pot capable of responding automatically to a plant’s needs.
Collectively, these programmes strengthened participants’ critical thinking, problem-solving, scientific inquiry, communication and collaboration skills. They also enabled students to transform their ideas into practical applications and projects, reinforced a culture of innovation and prepared them to participate in scientific and technological initiatives and competitions at both national and international levels.
The success of the 2026 Tomorrow’s Skills Summer Forum reflects Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences’ continued commitment to developing forward-looking educational initiatives that respond to global changes, equip students and young people with future-ready skills and promote innovation and lifelong learning, in line with the UAE’s vision of investing in human capital and building a knowledge- and innovation-based economy.
