Learners in the UAE are choosing more non-traditional subjects to study, thanks to numerous training providers who are thinking outside the box, according to reports.

Subjects such as fashion, at the recently opened College of Fashion and Design (CFD), are attracting learners who are switching from more conventional academic programmes – a sign that the job market is evolving, say experts.

The CFD aims to encourage UAE nationals to develop an entrepreneurial spirit and choose jobs in the private sector. The requirement for designers in the region is predicted to skyrocket, according to the Mena 2016 Design Education Outlook Report, which suggests that approximately 30,000 design graduates will be needed by 2019.

Due to a lack of relevant existing courses, the Mohammed bin Rashid School of Government also recently announced three new Master’s degree programmes, designed to serve the needs of specific government departments.

Zhamal Nanaeva, chairman and co-founder of Urban Associates, believes that the seed for more niche training courses was planted some time ago. She said: “The National Innovation Strategy launched by the government in October 2014 sparked a real demand for innovation. As part of these efforts, the government established the Mohammed bin Rashid Centre for Government Innovation and the Government Innovation Lab, as well as initiating an annual UAE Innovation Week.

“The rise of various innovation training programmes, from professional certification to postgraduate degrees, is a reflection of the market response to the evolving sophistication of the job market,” she added.

Another innovative new school is the Dubai Future Academy, which launched in 2016 as part of the Dubai Future Foundation. The academy aims to empower leaders to shape the future by delivering courses such as Future Design Intensive; a Master’s in Applied Future Studies, which provides foresight, design and leadership skills for early and mid-career professionals; and Executive Education Intensive, which helps executives analyse global technology trends and how they affect industry development. The academy has developed courses in collaboration with MIT Professional Education and Emeritus Institute of Management and THNK, as well as other institutions.

Several courses also teach skills relevant to automated technology, such as blockchains, biotechnology, deep learning and artificial intelligence.

Students are drawn from the government and private sector, and the courses are designed to provide them with skills to take back to the workplace. They learn important foresight techniques, as well as developing prototypes and roadmaps for what they could change in their own organisation.

“We feel honoured to work with the Future Foundation because of their leadership, foresight and commitment to innovation,” said Mark Vernooij, Partner at THNK. “We’re excited about the Executive Education Programme that we have helped put together, because we believe that executives should understand global technology trends and be able to analyse how these create opportunities for organisations, government and industry. We are committed to creating a positive impact on Dubai and the region through our Creative Leadership programmes for individuals and entire organisations. The programme with the Future Academy is a logical part in this commitment.”