UAE: Destination of choice for education

As the country becomes an education hub, more and more students are opting for the UAE as their first choice

The UAE has emerged as an important education hub in the last one decade. With some of the finest universities, higher colleges and institutions that offer world-class education in areas of science, technology and engineering, the country has gone from one development milestone to another. True to its commitment towards education, the government is doing everything at its disposal to facilitate quality education to the local and expatriate population.
According to the Higher Education Landscape report, the UAE has the highest number of international branch campuses in the world offering courses in science, technology and engineering. Needless to say, this feat is accompanied with the largest and the most diverse group of faculty members and students. Higher institutes not only offer an enriching experience and a possibility to opt for a career in technology, but also open doors for links into global networks.
With a number of foreign university campuses in Dubai and other emirates, students have a number of choice. The University of Wollongong in Dubai, for instance, offers technology-based bachelor's degrees, with the opportunity to specialise in specific practical disciplines. Each programme is designed to provide a comprehensive education in the technical and theoretical aspects of the subject and to prepare students for a professional and industrial environment. 
Similarly, the School of Engineering, Applied Sciences and Technology in Dubai offers specialised degree programmes in the field of engineering and sciences. Courses like Bachelor of Computer and Networking Engineering Technology and the Bachelor of Science in Telecommunications Engineering are much sought after. The prestigious Canadian University of Dubai has networked with top engineering research centres in Canada, allowing students to work on active research projects with Canadian academic institutions.
Manipal University has a centre of excellence in the engineering areas, providing industry oriented quality education and training to students. The courses are structured to establish linkage and partnerships with industry. Close on the heels the Rochester Institute of Technology, listed in Peterson's Competitive Colleges, offers some of the finest courses in science, technology and engineering among US universities in Dubai. All programmes offered in Dubai are the same as those offered in the main New York campus. Students also have the option to move between the two campuses in NY or Dubai during their years of study. The examples are only indicative; there are a number of reputed universities and colleges, offering quality education, all across the UAE.
Pertinently the Office of Higher Education Policy and Planning in the UAE has projected that the number of students that could demand a place in the higher education system is expected to increase dramatically beginning in 2016. Since the number of college age students will begin to rise, with a projected 50,000 students able to enrol, the government is pulling all stops to ensure that the nation's higher education system is on par with the best in the world. Academic degrees from higher institutions are certified by Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), which means the qualifications obtained by students in areas like science, technology and engineering are fully recognised by all UAE employers in both the private and public sectors.
Laying the education policy of the UAE, The President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan has emphasised that education would give the nation a competitive edge. Consequently, huge funding has been allocated towards introducing courses on science, technology and engineering. There are numerous scholarships available to students opting for higher education in the UAE. The Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) offers a number of fellowship opportunities based on various criteria. The council is formulating a policy for scholarship programmes for undergraduate and postgraduate degrees with the aim to support human capital development.
The government is leaving no stone unturned to promote the educational field in the UAE and the Arab world by actively encouraging and motivating creative and outstanding individuals working in the field. Recently Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Presidential Affairs, honoured winners of the 8th edition of the Khalifa Award for Education. The previous round was launched under the theme 'Distinguish Yourself, You Deserve Honour'. The award highlights and supports the status of those working in all educational fields and those contributing towards providing a modern and developed educational environment that encourages innovation and excellence. This constitutes a series of efforts that the UAE is undertaking to enrich the Emirati educational field with Gulf, Arab and international educational experiments in the areas of curriculum, research, educational projects, new media, sustainable environment and serving society.
- sadiq@khaleejtimes.com