Students to benefit from UQAIB review

DUBAI — Students looking to join university programmes in Dubai will soon have access to information on the quality of courses offered by higher education providers in the educational free zones.

Muaz Shabandri

Published: Thu 4 Nov 2010, 9:15 PM

Last updated: Mon 6 Apr 2015, 3:52 PM

“The results of this year’s review by University Quality Assurance International Board (UQAIB) will be made available to the public before the start of the new academic year, as it will help students make a better decision before joining a university,” said Dr Warren Fox, Chairman of UQAIB.

Providing useful information on the accreditation of individual courses, the results will give students a better understanding of the course they intend to pursue.

“Our goal is to continue providing quality assurance so that we can let the government, families and students know about the quality of a programme offered by a higher education provider,” said Dr Warren Fox, adding that it is an open and public process and the board wanted to make this information publicly available.”

Educational experts from around the world serve the UQAIB as they meet twice a year to review the quality of education providers in Dubai.

“If the course requirements do not meet UQAIB guidelines, the board’s recommendations are then forwarded to the Regulation and Compliance Commission (RCC) which then looks into the matter,” he explained.

The UQAIB Manual developed by the board will also be updated this year and there will be some minor changes.

“We want international programmes to come here and continue to offer the highest quality. At UQAIB, we ensure that the quality of courses provided in the branch campus is equivalent to that of the same programme offered in the home country,” said Martin Carroll, a member of the UQAIB.

The UQAIB is a board of leading international higher education quality assurance experts established by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA).

muaz@khaleejtimes.com