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Students upset as DWC scraps degree course

Around 60 students enrolled into the first batch of the five-year degree programme (one year foundation plus four year degree programme) introduced by DWC four years ago, were promised they could graduate in various business majors without interruption on completion of four-year higher diploma (HD).

Speaking to your favourite No. 1 newspaper Khaleej Times, students said, “the college supervisors informed us recently that the individual degree programme in various business majors has been shelved due to budget constraints. We are about to complete the four-year HD programme in June, following which, one more year is required to complete the degree programme. But, at this point of time, when the students are so close to graduating, the college informed us it will offer only a consolidated degree programme in business administration spanning over one and half year period and to be offered as part-time programme in the evenings only.”

“Besides, the criteria for enrolment into the programme will be based on job experience and high academic scores in HD,” a student said, adding, but two days ago our supervisors informed us that they were not sure if the college would proceed with the degree programme and accomodate all HD students keen on pursuing their studies because of financial crunch faced by DWC.

“How can the college let us down? ”complained the students, saying, “if DWC had to scrap the degree programme, why did they encourage us to choose different business majors after one-year of foundation programme.”

The students also complained that if the college decides to run only one class offering the business administration degree programme, enrolment opportunity will be restricted to not more than 20 to 25 students . “There will be high competition to seek admission into the programme,” students said, expressing apprehension that many students who otherwise fulfilled the admission criteria of both employment and high scores, would still not be admitted at DWC due to limited seats..

“We will be forced to look at other majors like IT where the degree programme spans over three year period, upon completion of a four -year HD programme,”disclosed a student from the Marketing major. “Besides, we will be forced to look at private institutions to pursue a degree in our respective majors,” she said, however, pointing out that there is no guarantee that the private universities will accept DWC credits in total. There have been cases in the past where students seeking enrolment into the American University in Dubai (AUD) to complete their degree programme, had to start afresh because the credits were not accepted by the university.

Another student majoring in Travel and Tourism claims, “it will be difficult to change over to a general degree in Business administration and ruled out that limited number of students in her major could be the reason to scrap the degree programme.”

A third student complained, “if budget constraints was the reason for dropping the bachelors programme, then why is the college spending money on beautification of its campus by setting up fountains,plants, trees etc. We need an institution that can offer necessary infrastructure and faculty for various programmes, rather than beautifying the place and spending heavily on other things.“

The Director of DWC, Dr Howard Reed currently out of the country was not available for comment . But, Dr Tayeb Kamali, Vice Chancellor of HCT noted that HCT does not run on frivolous policies like starting a course and abruptly shelving it without genuine reasons.

In the case of DWC's degree programme in various business majors being shelved from the new academic year, Kamali said, it could be because of lack of certain number of students required for a class.

He ruled out that budget deficit was the reason for shelving the programme. “Some of the programmes offered at HCT institutions in different emirates are dependent on the local market requirements,” he said, “for example in Abu Dhabi the institutions focus on offering specialisations and majors in areas like petroleum and gas, while in Dubai it is more business and trade.”

“We look at what is required by the industry and accordingly offer programmes concentrating in these areas for the students, he disclosed, adding, “also if the number of students in particular specialisations is small, HCT enjoys the flexibility to mould its policies accordingly.” But, he stressed that the policies differ from one institution to another and shelving of degree programmes in specific majors at DWC is not a decision that applies to other HCT institutions .

Dr Kamali assured that if the students at DWC are faced with problems following the shelving of the degree programme, they should approach the college management and highlight their problems and “we will surely address their concerns.”

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