ZRE Blog

Preparing for the jobs of the future requires the proper training and qualifications. In order to support candidates prepare for the 10 most in-demand jobs, and to help the vulnerable and underserved youth of Lebanon stand out to recruiters, the BDD Academy has partnered with the World Bank Group, Microsoft, LinkedIn and GitHub, under the SUM initiative, to offer key  FREE courses and Microsoft certifications. By enrolling, candidates can tap into the three most in-demand technical careers, along with 7 other learning paths.

The certifications are open for fresh graduates, professionals and individuals seeking new career opportunities, who have been impacted by the economic situation, the Beirut blast or require financial support to access quality education. The initiative stems from an effort to upskill the workforce, and open up the job prospects for aspiring professionals in Lebanon. By enrolling in these courses, candidates can tap into the top 10 most in-demand jobs, and be part of the digital transformation post COVID-19. Each certification has been carefully selected based on the positions with the greatest number of job openings, recording steady growth over the past four years, and that pay sizable salaries.

As the global economy continues to transform, digital skills are more important than ever. As such, the courses and certifications have been carefully tailored to guide aspiring talent to find the perfect career, and develop the skills needed to become more competitive in the workplace.

The three Microsoft Learning paths include: 

• Software Developer (Top in-demand skills: Programming, storage, networking, security, and deployment; HTML, CSS, SQL, JavaScript, Python)
• Data Analyst (Top in-demand skills: Data analysis, analytics, visualization; Microsoft Excel, SQL, BI, Tableau)
• IT Administrator (Top in-demand skills: Manage systems, subscriptions, configuration, and identity; Windows Server, Active Directory)

In total, 18 Microsoft certifications are also available, such as Azure Fundamentals, Microsoft 365 Associate, Security Administrator, Data analyst Associate. By registering, candidates can enroll in these courses for free, which typically cost upwards of USD 100 to USD 160. In addition, candidates looking to acquire new skills and qualifications can enroll in 7 other free learning paths, including Financial Analyst, Digital Marketing and Graphic Design positions.

“At the BDD Academy, we are very pleased to be a part of this initiative to foster the skills needed for a rapidly changing world,” shares Mouhamad Rabah, CEO of BDD. “What has been demonstrated this year, a lightening speeds, is that the world has already transformed digitally, almost overnight, and rising talents need the right skills to become more competitive when designing their careers,” he adds.

To learn more about the certifications, and to apply to be selected out of the 1,000 candidates to benefit from the free self-paced certifications, visit the website here and fill out the application form before December 20, 2020.

Grow your skills, to tap into the jobs of tomorrow.

More information

About the World Bank Group

The World Bank Group is one of the world’s largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries. Its five institutions share a commitment to reducing poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development. The World Bank Group is governed by 189 member countries and delivers services out of 130 offices with nearly 16,000 staff globally.

About Skilling Up Mashreq

The World Bank Group launched the Skilling Up Mashreq (SUM) initiative which aims at addressing which aims at addressing the digital skills gap by preparing young women and men in Lebanon and the Mashreq region for the local, regional and global jobs of the future and attracting digital technology players to invest in the region. In Lebanon, the World Bank Group has partnered with the BDD Academy to design and implement a national skilling up program to improve access to digital skills learning opportunities for children in school, youth in universities, and active individuals in the workforce to strive and reap the benefit of a digital economy.

About the BDD Academy

The BDD Academy is a non for profit organization aiming to develop the skillset of people from all backgrounds to fulfill the digital jobs of today and tomorrow. It supports the new generation of educational programs in testing and developing their curriculum, sourcing participants and scaling. The BDD Academy is an incubator of educational programs at the intersection of design, technology and leadership targeting Kids, University Students and Continuous Learners.

Children across Lebanon between the ages of 6 and 18 will have access to free online coding courses in English, French and Arabic. BDD Academy is paving the way for children to step into the world of computer science and coding, through a partnership with Code.org, the global nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding access to computer science to the youth.

By participating in these virtual courses, children will learn how to code through basic games offered for free, from the comfort of their homes. By adding a hint of fun to learning, children can enhance their skillsets and advance in STEAM education (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics).

Studies have shown that learning to code at a young age has many benefits. First and foremost, children will be poised to be more competitive in the future workplace. In addition, by gaining digital skills, children can work towards closing the talent gap in the market.

“As the world continues to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, school closures have left tens of millions of students at home,” shares Hadi Partovi, Founder of Code.org. “We invite parents and children to explore the world of coding through our online resources. Students can continue learning in a fun and engaging way from the comfort of their homes, while preparing for the future,” he adds.

“Preparing children for the future workplace is our shared responsibility,” says Mouhamad Rabah, CEO of BDD. “Through the BDD Academy, and in collaboration with the World Bank Group and Code.org, we are investing in the Lebanese youth, to become more competitive, and learn the vital digital skills, that leading companies are searching for,” he adds.

Since its founding, the BDD Academy has been committed to incubate and promote educational programs at the intersection of leadership, design and technology. The nonprofit organization covers 3 tracks, which include specialized courses for the youth and graduates, as well as continuous learning.

For more information, visit beirutdigitaldistrict.com/bdd-academy to find out more and sign up now.

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About the BDD Academy

The BDD Academy is a not-for-profit organization, committed to develop the skill sets of individuals from all backgrounds, to fulfill the digital jobs of today and tomorrow. It serves as an incubator of educational programs at the intersection of design, technology and leadership targeting Kids, University Students and Continuous Learners. The BDD Academy supports the new generation of educational programs, by testing and developing their curricula, sourcing participants and scaling.

About the World Bank Group

The World Bank Group is one of the world’s largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries. Its five institutions share a commitment to reducing poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development. The World Bank Group is governed by 189 member countries and delivers services out of 130 offices with nearly 16,000 staff globally.

The World Bank Group launched the Skilling Up Mashreq (SUM) initiative which aims at addressing this skills gap by preparing young women and men in Lebanon and the Mashreq region for the local, regional and global jobs of the future and attracting digital technology players to invest in the region. In Lebanon, the World Bank Group has partnered with the BDD Academy to design and implement a national skilling up program to improve access to digital skills learning opportunities for children in school, youth in universities, and active individuals in the workforce to strive and reap the benefit of a digital economy.

About Code.org®

Code.org® is a nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to computer science in schools and increasing participation by women and underrepresented youth. Our vision is that every student in every school has the opportunity to learn computer science, just like biology, chemistry or algebra.

The vision of the Beirut Digital District may have seemed like a far-fetched dream when word started to spread. In a country that is already crowded, bustling with sights and sounds, questions arose as to where the space for such an ambitious project would be made in the heart of Beirut.

With a masterplan in place, the blueprint of the community was laid out. Phase after phase, the team behind the Beirut Digital District outlined just how dreams could and would be realized.

It was in 2012 that the first part of the unique cluster of innovation became a reality. Gathering the digital and creative community, the Beirut Digital District’s mission began to spread, attracting companies and individuals to be part of a groundbreaking movement.

Mouhamad Rabah, BDD’s CEO, shares the driving force behind the development, intended to serve as a community where dreams could grow and companies could flourish. “The objective was for Lebanon to become a production hub, to ultimately reverse brain drain,” he shares. “By building a sustainable community, we aimed to create employment opportunities and fuel growth, both locally and globally,” he explains.

Today, the Beirut Digital District has taken on a life of its own, powered every day, by over 1,500 community members. The energy that flows from the growing district to neighboring, areas cannot be missed.

“We have created a bubble of hope,” says Rabah.

Check out the video here.

Lebanon’s real estate sector has taken a hit in recent years, where a multitude of factors have led to dwindling demand among endless supply.

In Lebanon’s ailing economy, a few sectors have stood the strain and continued to see production despite all. One of these sectors has been real estate.
Yet, while the production has existed, the demand hasn’t.
What’s keeping buyers away?

The usual suspects

In truth, a variety of factors are behind bringing Lebanon’s real estate sector to its knees.

“Political tension and the economic crisis in the region are the main drivers of the stagnation, as they decreased the demand from Arabs and expats which were the driving force for the real estate market,” Christelle Abou Jaoude, Sales and Marketing Manager at Lebanese real estate company Z.R.E., told AMEinfo. Z.R.E. is the company that brought the Beirut Digital District to life, a distinctive startup hub in the MENA region.

From the Syrian conflict to high unemployment rates and dwindling Gulf investments, things aren’t looking too great. Furthermore, the country can in no shape or form rely solely on local purchases to keep itself afloat – not with the current economic situation, and especially not given the rampant inflation in the market. This inflation reared its head near the late noughties, peaking in 2010.

It’s no secret that Lebanon’s unemployment rates are not an exact picture of health. Unemployment reached 6.3% in 2017, according to Trading Economics, with fresh graduates receiving the brunt of this jobless reality.

All the while, Lebanon’s real estate values have been skyrocketing. It all comes down to basic economics: supply has far exceeded demand. According to Annahar, Chief Financial Market Strategist Jihad El Hokayem believes that you will be able to buy 3 properties for the price of one in Lebanon by 2020.

According to Executive magazine, “the year-on-year comparison through July [2018] shows transactions down almost 10%, with their value declining by nearly 23%. Demand for real estate was down 26% in the first quarter of this year compared to the preceding quarter, and down 24% compared to Q1 2017, results of the Byblos Bank Real Estate Demand Index show.

“Foreign demand has been steadily declining in recent years, with investment from wealthy businessmen based in the Gulf almost non-existent today,” Annahar said.

The nearby Syrian conflict has not helped with the situation either, causing potential investors both local and foreign to think twice before committing to the country. We say local because the Lebanese often seek their fortunes abroad, with expats in the greater diaspora eclipsing local nationals in numbers.

Finally, many Lebanese rely on subsidized housing loans (Iskan loans) from the government to help them complete a purchase. With high unemployment rates and low wages, this should come as no surprise.

The Iskan loan, however, had been discontinued by the end of 2017, leaving many low-earning Lebanon to contend with high rent rates. This will change in 2019, however.

“Lebanon’s housing authority, the Public Corporation for Housing (PCH), is set to restart its subsidy in 2019 for lower-income, first-time homebuyers, thanks to a one-time allocation of $66 million by Parliament,” Executive noted.

This will help get cheaper apartments off the shelf, but higher-end units in areas such as Beirut will remain collecting dust.

McKinsey pitches in

A Lebanese Ministry of Economy-commissioned report, conducted by global consulting firm McKinsey for a $1.3 million fee, paints a very troubling picture of Lebanon.

The scathing 1,200-page report put several sectors under the microscope and pointed to a country teetering on the edge of calamity.

As for its analysis of the real estate sector, it seemed to concur with general opinions of the sector: No one was buying.

As McKinsey notes above, Lebanon is “standing with a stock of vacant apartments valued at [approximately] $9 billion, mainly in luxury developments.”

Abdallah Hayek, CEO of Hayek Engineering and Construction Group, said in an expert discussion with Annahar and Daniel Azzi, former CEO of Standard Chartered Lebanon, that the surplus in the market was aggravated by “non-professional developers who entered the market” during the peak years of 2010, arguing that they played a role in impacting consumer’s confidence in the market as a whole.

“We are faced with a correction, the professionals will survive and the intruders have to figure a way out with minimum losses,” he said.

Azzi agreed, alluding to these “amateur professionals who entered the market at the peak of the bubble” with no prior experience in the real estate sector.

A simple solution?

To compound this supply issue, the fact that Lebanon has been a complete stranger to the concept of urban planning has severely hurt its real estate sector.

Urban planning would allow Lebanon to get a handle on its scattershot approach to urban development, and perhaps regulate the market and its prices.

In Azzi’s opinion, the solution might be even simpler: “The problem can only be solved with major price reductions.”

Indeed, if we follow basic economic principles, the price has nowhere to go except down, regardless of what any pushy real estate agent might tell you. It’s true that Lebanon is a tiny country, and the urban hotspots aren’t getting bigger anytime soon, but this market cannot sustain the inflation it has been propagating for the last 8-9 years.

Z.R.E.’s Abou Jaoude has more positive prospects to share: “The recent formation of the government and the plans to boost the Lebanese economy by working with the EU show that the market is in the process of becoming a stable one.”

She continued: “The main focus would be to boost the Lebanese economy by working on its infrastructure. This gives the Lebanese market a chance to be an attractive one in the region. A country with a stronger infrastructure attracts more investors to its market making it more stable. With that, growing industries including Urban Development / Smart Cities, Fintech, and Agritech, would choose Lebanon to invest in due to the lower costs to be incurred compared to the region.”

Could you indeed buy 3 properties for the price of one by 2020? We’ll have to wait and see. The return of the Iskan subsidies could stoke seller arrogance and trigger higher prices once more, but the market has been suffering, and these same property owners must be dying to make a sale right now.

Regarding expansion, could you tell us about the agreement that you signed with the Faculty of Engineering at AUB?
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