Dr. Zina Kyriakou, Dean of the International Executive School, and Frank Naboulsi, PhD Candidate, presented their research at the 3rd International Conference on Advancing Sustainable Futures, held at the prestigious Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental in Abu Dhabi and hosted by Abu Dhabi University.

Their presentation, “We want to make a real impact for the UAE”: Young (Gen Z) Emirati and Migrant Worker Perspectives on Government-Funded Education for Labor Integration Reform, addressed critical issues in labor policy and sustainable development within the Gulf region.

The research examines how key stakeholder groups, including young Emirati nationals and South Asian migrant workers, perceive labor integration challenges and the potential role of government-funded educational programming as a reform mechanism. By centering voices that have been historically underrepresented in policy discourse, the study contributes valuable empirical insights to ongoing conversations about inclusive development.

This presentation at an internationally recognized conference underscores IES’s commitment to producing rigorous, policy-relevant research that addresses complex regional challenges and advances evidence-based approaches to sustainable development.

The International Executive School congratulates Dr. Kyriakou and Frank Naboulsi on this important scholarly contribution.