Introduction

This introduction chapter presents key ponts discussed in this book. The book explains the term “knowledge-based economy” used to describe “societies where wealth is generated primarily through the production of goods and services that have significant intellectual content, rather than through the production of raw materials or resources”. Science, technology, and innovation are crucial for addressing and providing feasible and effective solution options to global problems, as Lambrechts and Hindson suggest. Comprising five percent of the world's population, the Arab world encompasses the 22 members states under the umbrella name of the Arab League. The Gulf States are a popular destination for migrant workers—skilled and unskilled—mainly due to their high per capita incomes. Given education and training are the cornerstones for development and a driver for societal growth in the Arab world, many Arab countries are striving to develop their human capital, particularly regarding the skills and talents needed by reforming their higher education systems.