Higher Education Digest – May 2021 – International Edition – Business Schools in the Middle East by Connecta Innovation

INTERNATIONAL EDITION

MUST-WATCH BUSINESS SCHOOLS IN THE MIDDLE EAST 2021

MIDDLE EAST SPECIAL

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FEATURING INSIDE Bhakti Ahire, Kang Chiao International School, Shanghai

AMITY UNIVERSITY, DUBAI

Dr Deena Elsori, College of Health Sciences, Abu Dhabi University

EXEED COLLEGE, SHARJAH

Dr Kakul Agha, Skyline University College, UAE

MANIPAL ACADEMY OF 1 HIGHER EDUCATION, DUBAI

Mustafa F. Kaddoura, University of Minnesota

THE BRITISH UNIVERSITY IN DUBAI

Dr Randa Hariri, Dar Al-Hekma University, Saudi Arabia

THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER MIDDLE EAST CENTRE, DUBAI

Dr Sanaa Kaddoura, Zayed University, UAE Dr Sara Nunes, Higher Colleges of Technology, UAE

UNIVERSITY OF STIRLING, RAS AL KHAIMAH

Tariq Fazal, Red Hat Academy, Red Hat Dr Vikas Nand Kumar Batheja, Capital College, UAE

B-SCHOOL OPPORTUNITIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST DE AN HOKE

CO-FOUNDER, E D U A L L I A N C E LT D , A B U D H A B I Higher Education Digest May 2021

Higher Education Digest May 2021

May 2021

Vol - 3 Issue - 5

Business Schools in the Middle East Special (International Edition) Head of Advisory Board Dr. Varughese K.John, PhD

Managing Editor Sarath Shyam

Consultant Editors

Dr. Johny Andrews Andrew Scott Joseph Alex

Naomi Wilson Stanly Lui Emma James

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Art and Design Charlie Jameson

Sales & Marketing

Jennifer Anderson Rachel Roy

Monica Davis Anna Elza

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Higher Education Digest May 2021 March 2019

Higher Education Digest is a digital magazine published by Connecta Innovation Private Limited. All rights reserved. The opinions expressed in the content and pictures provided are those of the authors. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Connecta Innovation Private Limited or any of its members and we do not assume any responsibility. The publisher does not assume any responsibility for the advertisements, its content, pictures, and all representation of warranties made in such advertisements are those of the advertisers and not of the publisher. Higher Education Digest is a Free Subscription digital magazine strictly not for sale and has to be strictly for internal private use only. Publisher does not assume any responsibility arising out of anyone printing copy of this digital magazine in any format and in any country and all matters related to that.

MANAGING EDITOR’S NOTE

Middle East’s Growing Marketplace: A Goldmine for Business Graduates

s per the United Nations’ World Population Prospects, the Middle East and Africa will be home to around 3.4 billion people by 2050, which is likely to be more than the populations of China and India combined. Interestingly, the Middle East is endowed with a young, growing and an increasingly well-educated population that can significantly enhance the region’s future growth trajectory. The potential of this large workforce to contribute to economic growth and social dynamism is tremendous. However, to become an economic superpower, the Middle East states need to optimize their human capital potential through education and skills development. Statics from various reports show that the Middle East region has made significant improvements in expanding the reach of its education system over several decades, and this will pay off in the coming years. For instance, a combination of LinkedIn’s data and UNESCO’s statistics provides a unique view of the region’s high- and medium-skilled white-collar workforce. Nearly a third of LinkedIn’s tertiary-

educated members in the region hold Business, Administration and Law degrees, with a particular emphasis on qualifications in accounting, banking and finance, marketing and business management. The rise in the number of business professionals is not a mere coincidence. From the past two decades, many international universities have opened campuses in the Middle East, in addition to a few local business schools that have launched their own MBA programs. In the latest International Edition of Higher Education Digest, we explore the Middle East’s business education space. With the support of our global advisory board, we have handpicked ‘10 Must-Watch Business Schools in the Middle East’ that are performing exceptionally well to create business graduates who can meet future challenges. The cover story features insights of Dean Hoke, a higher education consultant and Co-Founder of Edu Alliance Ltd located in Abu Dhabi and Managing Partner of Edu Alliance Group in the US. Enjoy Reading.

Sarath Shyam

Higher Education Digest May 2021

ADVISORY BOARD Dr. Kuldeep Kuldeep Nagi, Nagi, Dr. Ph.D, MBA, MBA, BSc. BSc. Ph.D,

Program Director of Ph.D, Recipient of Fulbright Fellowship Award & Dan Evans Award for Excellence and Writer columnist.

Dr. Varughese K.John, MBA, MPhil, PhD,PhD, MBA, MPhil, MCom, MCom, LLB.LLB. Former Program Director, Program Director, MS MS in in Management Program, GSATM - AU

Dr. Venus Venus M. M. Alboruto, Alboruto, PhD, PhD, Dr. Master Teacher, Researcher, Innovator, Trainer.

6 Major General (Rtd.) Dr. Sunil Chandra, VSM (Vishishta Seva Medal), Ph.D, M. Phil, MA, M.Ed, PGBDA Ex-M D Army Welfare Education Society, ExCOO GEMS Education - India, Ex- Addl Dir Gen - Army Education, Mentor - Adventure-Pulse

Dr. Ajay Ajay Shukla, Shukla, Ph.D, Ph.D, Dr. MBA, BE. BE. MBA, Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Higher Education UAE

Mr. Sreedhar Bevara, MBA, B.Com FormerGeneral Senior General Manager: Senior Manager: Panasonic Middle East & Africa, Thought Leader, Speaker & Author of ‘Moment of Signal’ (Amazon’s International Bestseller)

Mr. Amulya Amulya Sah, Sah, PGD PGD Mr. PM & & IR, IR, PG PG Diploma Diploma in in PM PM&IR (XISS Ranchi)

Shanthi Rajan (MSHRM, FHEA, AMCILT) Director, Institution Development, University of Stirling, RAK Campus, UAE.

Higher Education Digest May 2021 2020 November

Chief Human Senior DirectorResources HR. Head Officer, Former HeadR&D HR HR group Samsung group Samsung R&D Institute Institute India,Transformative India,Transformative HR HR Leader, Change agent, Leader, Change agent, Digitization facilitator, Digitization facilitator, Engagement architect, Trainer Engagement architect, Trainer and Diversity champion. and Diversity champion.

Mamta Thakur Former CEO (ASEAN), Arc Skills

Higher Education Education Digest Digest Higher May 2020 2021 October

CONTENTS

COVER

STORY

B-SCHOOL OPPORTUNITIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST DE AN HOKE

CO-FOUNDER, E D U A L L I A N C E LT D , A B U D H A B I

Higher Education Digest May 2021

EXEED COLLEGE

Delivering Quality Education through Digitalization

BUSINESS SCHOOLS

IN THE MIDDLE EAST - 2021

40 AMITY UNIVERSITY DUBAI Delivering World-Class Education and Research

54 MANIPAL ACADEMY OF HIGHER EDUCATION DUBAI (MAHE DUBAI) Integrating Ideas on a Global Platform

80 68 THE BRITISH UNIVERSITY IN DUBAI

THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER MIDDLE EAST CENTRE Expanding Learning Horizons through World-Class Education

A Hub of World-Class Education, Training and Research

UNIVERSITY OF STIRLING, RAS AL KHAIMAH Offering High-Quality Education through Research and Innovation May 2021 Higher Education Digest

BOOSTING WELLBEING OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Dr Deena Elsori, Associate Dean of Student Affairs, College of Health Sciences, Abu Dhabi University

50 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PATHS IN HIGHER EDUCATION

ACADEMIC VIEW

CONTENTS 10

Dr Sanaa Kaddoura, Assistant Professor, College of Technological Innovation, Zayed University, UAE

76 ACADEMIC PHD VS INDUSTRIAL PHD IN STEM FIELDS

Mustafa F. Kaddoura, PhD Candidate and Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota

102 THE XTH EDUCATION REVOLUTION

Higher Education Digest May 2021

Dr Randa Hariri, Associate Professor, Dar Al-Hekma University, Saudi Arabia

106 Dr Kakul Agha, Associate Professor, Skyline University College, UAE

110 TOURISM MANAGEMENT STUDY PATH IN HIGHER EDUCATION

ACADEMIC VIEW

SETTING THE ACADEMIC LEARNING STAGE FOR MILLENNIALS: THE GREAT RESET

Dr Sara Nunes, Assistant Professor Business – Tourism Management, Higher Colleges of Technology, UAE

32 BRIDGING THE DIGITAL SKILLS GAP: WHY FOSTERING ENTERPRISE-READY TALENT IS A REGIONAL PRIORITY

64 HOW INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS CAN PREPARE FOR UNIVERSITIES AND EMPLOYMENT MIDST OF A PANDEMIC?

Bhakti Ahire, Author and Design Technology Lead, Kang Chiao International School, Shanghai

INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE

Tariq Fazal, Program Director - Red Hat Academy, Red Hat

FIVE REASONS WHY B-SCHOOLS CATALYSE STUDENTS TOWARDS THE ENTREPRENEURIAL ROUTE

Dr Vikas Nand Kumar Batheja, Co-Founder & Director, Capital College, UAE

Higher Education Digest May 2021

Higher Education Digest December October January 2019 2020

Higher Education Digest May 2021

C O V E S R T O R Y

Higher Education Digest May 2021 2021

DEAN HOKE, CO-FOUNDER, EDU ALLIANCE LTD, ABU DHABI Dean Hoke is a higher education consultant and Co-Founder of Edu Alliance Ltd located in Abu Dhabi and Managing Partner of Edu Alliance Group in the US. Dean, since 1974 has worked in the higher education industry, serving in senior leadership roles specializing in marketing, communications, partnerships, and online learning. He served in senior positions at Higher Colleges of Technology and Khalifa University in the UAE before co-founding Edu Alliance. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the American Association of University Administrators and serves Franklin University School of Education Advisory Board. Dean has presented and written on higher education, leadership, international relations, and distance learning worldwide.

Higher Education Digest May 2021

B 16

eginning in the Fall of 2021, it appears that most of the universities will be returning to a nearnormal situation. Of the 28,000 higher education institutions worldwide, business degrees have been the most popular academic program for students and employers. The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) states more than 16,000 schools worldwide offer business degrees. This is also the case in the 17 Middle East countries where there are approximately 700 post-secondary institutions. The vast majority provides various undergraduate and graduate degrees in the discipline. A specific example is the United Arab Emirates which has 104 higher education institutions. They attract UAE nationals and children of expats who work in the country, individuals living in the country who seek advanced degrees, and tens of thousands of students from other nations, mostly from other Middle East nations and India. Based on the most current data, 58 institutions in the UAE offer a Bachelor's degree or higher in the general discipline of business. There is no lack of competition for students, and in fact, new online degree competitors are aggressively UAE Business Schools Profile

Higher Education Digest May 2021

entering the Middle East market. More and more accredited US institutions with business programs offer their Masters and above programs primarily online. The University of Arizona who acquired Ashford University, Purdue University Global, who acquired Kaplan University, have entered the marketplace similar to Arizona State, Liberty, Southern New Hampshire, and the University Phoenix. In addition, top-rated universities such as Indiana University are also expanding their online offerings via their core university. Potential graduate students living in the Middle East have numerous options to consider. The question for current B Schools in the Middle East region is how to maintain or increase enrollment. One of the favorite ways schools increased enrollment was offering new concentrations in business or beginning new master's programs. That is not necessarily true anymore. Student needs are still pretty much the same. The parents who pay for the initial degree want to be confident their child will be employed and have the ability to succeed over the long term. The student who now has graduated and working will consider the next step and a Master's or above degree if they believe the return of their financial investment is worth the price.

Source – Bayt.com Middle East Employer Survey January 2021

Job Market in the Middle East Employers who are now beginning to hire and promote employees still need people from the business school discipline. According to the January 2021 Bayt.com Middle East Job Survey, large local companies (62%) and multinational companies (60%) in the private sector are among the companies with the highest intention of hiring in the next 3 months. Throughout all industries, Business Management and Commerce account for over 40% of the educational and academic qualifications sought in a candidate. While 45% of the companies are hiring juniorlevel entry staff, it is important to note another 55% are mid-management and above who have experience and academic qualifications. These qualifications and positions being hired are similar to past reports by Bayt. Bayt also asked employers the skills most sought in a candidate The attribute that is most sought after by employers throughout the entire region is good communication skills in Arabic and English. This is an advantage for the universities with business schools in the Middle East that teach in English.

Higher Education Digest May 2021

How to Effectively Increase Enrollment You Have the Home Team Advantage Being a local or regional school, you know the community and its people more than the out-of-country competitor. Your university has faculty and staff that live in the region. You also have a physical campus people can see and visit. You have local media who are more likely to do stories on your institution and its people. Your students are bi-lingual, which is a very desired attribute for an employer. They also, with your encouragement, can help build up lifelong networking among the students. At the undergraduate level, these are powerful tools. Accreditation Of the 16,000 higher education institutions worldwide that offer degrees in business, only 870 are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). 537 are US institutions, and the other 343 are located in 57 countries outside the United States. It is considered by most employers the gold standard of business schools, similar to how ABETS is perceived in Engineering. Of the 343 international AACSB institutions, 23 are Middle East schools

Higher Education Digest May 2021

In addition to the 23 Middle East universities, an additional 15 Business schools with AACSB accreditation have established branch or satellite campuses in the region.

students and alumni to succeed, they would remember the university once they were in a position to help. Don't believe as a university, your job ends when they graduate.

Alumni Middle east universities have not actively engaged their graduates. Most institutions in the Middle East have not kept up with where their alumni are and where they work. Upper-level students and alumni for 5 years after graduation usually struggle to establish a foothold in their careers. While they liked the school they graduated from, many worried if their degree and cost were worth it. Many have doubts in their early years, and schools are not as helpful as they could be to support the young alumni. I worked many years in my first professional job at a small private university with students and alumni. Though part of my responsibility was to raise financial support, a significant portion of my job was to help support alumni by arranging networking events in cities across the country. I introduced younger alumni to older alumni and let them know who was a fellow graduate at their place of employment. The University President and VP of Development took the long-term view that supporting

Build Your Reputation and Rankings Worldwide ranking groups such as Times Higher Ed, or QS, or US News and World Report affect the decisionmaking process by parents, employers, and funders. There is considerable debate in the higher ed community throughout the world of the meaning of these rankings and their being weighted towards research universities. Applied schools will always be at a disadvantage, but never the less it is a reality. The rankings do enhance your visibility to the public and employers. It's a matter of name recognition and improves your ability to market. More and more Middle East schools have worked to improve their visibility and perceived academic reputation. Be More Interactive with Employers This is another long-term item. Most schools in the Middle East have advisory councils where they meet with them once or twice a year. It is a way of letting potential decision-makers know what you as an institution

Higher Education Digest May 2021

are doing, and hopefully, you learn more about their industry. Overall, I think many of the advisory groups are underutilized. Generally, you bring them to campus but do not let them get the chance to meet with students or the university people who help students find a job or internships. In my opinion, to be more effective, you must engage more with the advisory member. You and members of your university need to identify champions be they alumni, parents, etc. There needs to be an ongoing longterm relationship developed. Your mutual communication and networking will provide you information and opportunities for your department or school. At the same time, you may help them with thoughts on their next steps or their child's future.

Higher Education Digest May 2021

Online degrees are a Reality Everyone from the student to faculty to administration was forced to adapt to a new environment in a hurry. Almost all survived, made mistakes, and learned from those mistakes. Middle East institutions and their governments have accepted that online degree programs are an academically acceptable and effective way to offer a program. It is not for everybody, but it is suitable for some, especially applied graduate degrees. Many schools that have built up their reputation and rankings and have sufficient marketing skills should expand their recruiting footprint by offering some quality online degrees that are academically rigorous. If you don't do it, don't be surprised your next-door neighbor will, and all those higher quality universities in the west will target the Middle East.

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Higher Education Digest April May 2021

ACADEMIC VIEW

BOOSTING WELLBEING

OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS Dr Deena Elsori, Associate Dean of Student Affairs, College of Health Sciences, Abu Dhabi University

Dr Deena Elsori is the Associate Dean of Student Affairs at Abu

Dhabi University’s College of Health Sciences. Dr. Deena achieved several significant milestones and credited for being a topperforming Professor with excellent team leadership capabilities, constantly instilling a plethora of knowledge in students. Her accolades included achieving the distinguished faculty teaching and service awards several times throughout her career at Abu Dhabi University. Before joining Abu Dhabi University, Dr. Deena was a postdoctoral fellow at the Cleveland Clinic, Ohio, United States. Her research focused on studying pathways that contribute to the progression of chronic inflammation and heart disease. Currently her research interest focuses on public health and she has become an advocate for wellbeing and health promotion in the UAE. She is an academician, researcher, mother, educator and community-builder. Dr. Deena played a key role in building the Public Health program at Abu Dhabi University. She also shaped the idea for a Happiness Course to equip students with essential tools to boost their mental and emotional health. Dr. Deena boosts her students’ academic success by prioritizing their well-being.

Higher Education Digest May 2021

If we, as academicians, are to help students reach the end goal of their degree and successfully embark on life after graduation, we need to prioritize supporting their well-being too

believe a healthy individual is the cornerstone of a healthy society. Wellbeing is often an underestimated aspect of our day, especially with the modern lifestyle which puts immense physical and mental demands on us, trapping us into unhealthy and stressful habits. Now more than ever, we have to emphasize individual wellbeing as the bedrock on which our nation’s public health is built. Universities have an instrumental role in educating young minds and providing students with the knowledge, skills, and values that enable them to thrive, reach their potential and contribute to society. However traditionally schools and universities have focused on academic success, knowledge acquisition and preparing students for the world of work, rather than developing individuals as a whole. Four years ago, we introduced a new course called “Introduction to Happiness and Positive Psychology” to our students. The main objective of our happiness course

is to provide an understanding of advances in positive psychology, wellbeing and happiness in order to enable students to understand the real-life applicability and how positive psychology strategies can enable individuals to reach their highest potential. This course has been developed to support the mission of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President for the UAE to become the happiest country in the world and to integrate happiness and positivity as a lifestyle, a government commitment and a spirit uniting the UAE community. Abu Dhabi University has committed to do this by incorporating happiness and positivity as part of the public health curriculum. At the College of Health Sciences, we are encouraging our students to use a rounded approach to acquiring knowledge. In addition to demonstrating the influence and impact of psychological wellbeing to successful learning and focusing on the skills that cultivate the love of learning such as

Higher Education Digest May 2021

accomplishment and positive social interactions. Therefore, students can not only excel in their major but understand how to enhance their focus, motivation and capacity to learn across other subjects. Different courses in our public health program focus on the core components of happiness & positive psychology by focusing on the positive side of human nature and the most effective ways to for individuals to thrive, flourish and become their best. By examining, the latest evidenced based scientific research on well-being we cover topics such as Strength, optimism, appreciation & gratitude, positive communication, positive relationships, connections, selfcompassion, kindness, creativity, flow, motivation and goal setting – becoming your best self. In addition, our courses are largely experiential and includes several activities, interaction, group activities and practical homework. The UAE has high values for all six of the key variables that have been found to support well-being and happiness: income, healthy life expectancy, social

support, freedom, trust and generosity. The UAE is truly a multi-cultural happiness hub, where individuals and groups have the freedom to pursue their dreams without compromising their values or backgrounds. I believe this to be truly key in this unique environment, being a safe and advanced culture that respects everyone, rewards hard work and promotes innovation. All the research and numbers show that people from across the Earth seek to move here and make this their home for long periods of time. I know lots of families who lived in the UAE more than they resided at their own native homes. From my own experience over the past 11 years living here, and I’ve lived in and travelled to the corners of the globe, this is truly the happiest place on Earth. As we get older, we are more accomplished and well established on who we are in society, what our role is, what we really enjoy, and generally have more control and security to avoid things that add stress to our lives. However, we need to establish such positive habits early in our life and this is our job as educators.

Higher Education Digest May 2021

BUSINESS SCHOOLS

IN THE MIDDLE EAST - 2021

EXEED COLLEGE

DELIVERING QUALITY EDUCATION THROUGH DIGITALIZATION

he pandemic has opened up the conversation around an upheaval of the traditional modes of learning. Usually, a transition from a traditional to a digital learning platform requires meticulous planning and implementation; the pandemic forced the global educational institutions to abide by the new norm in a matter of days. However, the world is currently witnessing a new change in imparting education, as to a large extent, educators and learners have been accustomed to this new learning environment. This provides the learners with the necessary flexibility and impetus to prioritize other matters of life without compromising on acquiring quality education. As more and more people are warming up to this idea of knowledge-seeking, as research suggests, the digitization of learning is here to stay. “Exeed College is prepared to undertake any kind of challenge thrown in its way to adapt to the changing circumstances. Recent data shows that the pandemic has aided the institute to increase its learner base as more prospective learners wanted to adopt remote learning”, remarks Samras Mayimi, Co-founder and Executive Director, Westford Education Group.

Higher Education Digest May 2021

Exeed College envisages to be among the foremost global providers of recognized and accredited higher education, executive education and continuing education to working professionals and practitioners in order to equip, enrich and empower them to become experts and leaders in their domains of practise.

Higher Education Digest May 2021

ABOUT

SAMRAS MAYIMI,

CO-FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, WESTFORD EDUCATION GROUP Samras leads the strategic initiatives and projects of the group-wide organization in addition to managing independent SBU’s of the group. Vested with the responsibility to steer the project initiatives and strategic investments of the group for its business expansions and cross border transactions, Samras leads the initiatives of setting up new

SBU’s with P&L responsibility and managing the

delivery

channels,

marketing,

and

business development - branding, advertising, marketing research, product and customer support services, and institutional business. Samras focuses on sustaining and growing the existing partnerships as well as developing new associations and affiliations with external partners and plays an instrumental role in the corporate affairs and public relations of the group-wide organization. Samras brings more than 22 years of experience in the BFSI and Education industry. He holds an MBA from Anglia Ruskin University - UK and a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration from University of Wales - UK.

Higher Education Digest May 2021

An enterprise of Westford Education Group, Exeed College was established in 2016 as a centre of higher education with a vision of ‘Lifelong Learning’ and ‘Continuous Professional Development’. Westford Education Group was started in 2009 to introduce UK higher education to the Middle East. The pragmatic approach to learning with insistence on critical thinking and enterprising, which are the best features of the UK model, was brought to the region with adequate cultural and geographical tweaks. The institute was established with the commitment to become a pioneer in imparting superior higher education, executive education, and continuing education to working professionals and practitioners, which are both recognized and accredited by International bodies. Exeed’s exceptional educational program enables the learners to reinvent themselves and excel in their domains of expertise. They specialize in equipping their learners with cutting-edge skill sets required to succeed in the 21st century. Along with obtaining competitive skill sets, the institute also focuses on instilling within its learners the values of ethics and integrity needed to become active contributors to a sustainable nation-building process. Imparting Knowledge through Technology Exeed College offers a plethora of unique educational and personal development opportunities to its learners. Exeed always strives to be an inclusive and diverse space as it accommodates learners from over 50 nations and more than 10 industrial sectors within its ace educational programs. With its top-notch corporate training portfolio, Exeed is a well sought after and proud collaborator with more than 50 eminent institutes and organizations, which includes Emirates NBD, International Medical Centre – Jeddah, Sharjah Cooperative Society, Emirates Post Group, FedEx, Ministry of Finance Afghanistan, Qatar Petroleum, Global Indian International School Abu Dhabi and King Abdul Aziz City for Science and Technology. “We passionately believe in and promote accessible education for all through our state-of-the-art virtual learning ecosystem. Another special feature of Exeed is its updated analysis of global trends and incorporating it to the benefit of its learners by introducing new and innovative courses periodically”, states Samras. Exeed College boasts of a highly qualified and extremely talented group of faculties who have been guiding its student community with their wide range of knowledge and experience. The academic team headed by Prof. Anil Ahluwalia, Dr Vivek Mohan, and Ms Poonam Heryani, has built a strong atmosphere of academic excellence. With their experience in managing and leading various institutions all over the world, they have brought

A facilitator of world class executive education, teacher training and qualifications, Exeed prides in being the official corporate education partner for more than 50 organizations

29 with them a unique insight into how the business world functions. The team has been instrumental in cultivating a futuristic outlook by keeping them abreast of the latest trend in the business world. They focus on industry training and real-world, hands-on experience, which they believe is essential in helping learners’ transition to the actual workplace. Exeed College focuses on bringing education to working professionals and adult learners as well as people who wish to resume their higher education after a break. Headquartered in the UK, the institute is committed to providing MBA programs, PG Diploma, and Professional Certification courses. Partnering with global awarding bodies and reputed universities, Exeed College has brought about a change in the higher education and professional education landscape and also broadened its scope of educational services by exploring courses related to Child Care and Early Learning Teacher CACHE Qualifications from NCFE, UK. “We are also at the forefront in bringing international and world-class qualification in teaching by collaborating with Liverpool John Moores University, UK for MA Ed. In Leadership in Education and PG Certification in Education International which is a much-

Higher Education Digest May 2021

Exeed College, an institution of higher learning and executive education has accreditation and partnerships from World’s leading bodies.

coveted level seven qualification in the UAE, Asia, and the Middle East”, adds Samras. Exeed College ardently believes in delivering on the promises that it preaches. As a pioneer in promoting the holistic development of its learners, Exeed is ahead of its time and follows the non-traditional way of imparting knowledge. Even before the world started to look into the possibilities of unconventional learning, the institute had already adopted, acquainted, and adapted to the new ways of online learning, which the COVID-19 brought with itself and introduced to the rest of the world. As institutes around the world were reeling under the pressure to either closedown or to adopt a new method of technologydriven learning, Exeed emerged out of this ensuing chaos a victor as the institute was already equipped with the necessary technology, capabilities, and manpower and was already part of the system that promoted remote learning. “We have witnessed an exponential increase in the number of intakes last year, clearly putting the institute in the forefront promoting accessible and state of the art learning in this dynamic world”, points out Samras.

Higher Education Digest May 2021

Looking Ahead Exeed College is also set to launch a new specialization in their MBA programs such as Sports Management, Artificial Intelligence, and Blockchain and Public Relations and Advertising and incorporate other MBA programs in association with premier institutions in the UK, Europe, and the USA. Change is the only constant, and Exeed College fully embraces it as they constantly strive to be updated with the ever-developing modern world and equip its learners accordingly. The universities partnered by Exeed College have fostered an environment of world-class research with tangible output. Following industry standards and academic rigour, research from these prestigious institutions has helped bring their insights into various practical issues affecting the business world. To bridge research gaps in management theory and application, Exeed College has incorporated technology and a sound academic foundation to buttress its research programs. The research on everything there is to know about running a successful business, from small business enterprises, projects, operations, and workplace management to the challenges faced by organizations, are some of the exciting research projects happening in the college right now. Although the future of post-pandemic education is still unclear, Exeed College is ready to take up the challenge backed by its wonderful team and everready spirit. The college is already set to launch its latest programs by teaming up with Carolina University, USA, and University of South Wales, UK. Exeed College is also exploring to bring in career-oriented World-class education from our globally ranked partner institutions to its prospective learners.

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Higher Education Digest May 2021

INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE

BRIDGING THE DIGITAL SKILLS GAP:

WHY FOSTERING ENTERPRISE-READY TALENT IS A REGIONAL PRIORITY Tariq Fazal, Program Director - Red Hat Academy, Red Hat

32 Tariq Fazal has 19 years of experience in the IT industry deploying, delivering and managing enterprise training solutions for global enterprises. As the Global Program Manager for the Red Hat Academy, he works with senior leaders within academic institutions to create centres for enterprise-ready talent by outfitting them with Red Hat Training, including hands-on instruction, curriculum, labs, performance-based testing, and instructor support. Tariq is passionate about talent development and makes the time to mentor and coach individual contributors and managers in their personal and professional development. He is always interested in hearing from his former colleagues, managers, old friends and other innovative people to share ideas and experiences.

Higher Education Digest May 2021

MENA organizations were projected to spend USD 30 billion this year alone, illustrating the growing importance of capturing digital transformation benefits sooner rather than later

oday, digital transformation is revolutionizing the world in ways likely thought impossible at the turn of the millennium. As the digital, biological, and physical worlds become more and more acquainted and the impact and influence of new technologies grows, businesses, governments, and societies have been accelerated on a path towards a limitless future. Artificial intelligence (AI, machine learning (ML), cloud computing, the internet of things (IoT), robotics, and advanced wireless technologies are all evolving at an unprecedented rate, propelling us further along the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) journey. This applies to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, where countries such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) are leading the way in integrating these technologies into all areas of

business and government. MENA organizations were projected to spend USD 30 billion this year alone, illustrating the growing importance of capturing digital transformation benefits sooner rather than later. As such, the region is well-position to become the number one talent hub worldwide and supply the workforces of tomorrow on a global scale. The talent pool is extensive, boasting a third of the planet’s population, of which 40 per cent are below the age of 30. However, a sizeable progression barrier that continues to linger is the digital skills gap, which must be addressed to unlock social value and fully capitalize on the opportunities that await. The evolution of digital technologies has driven fundamental change across the employment landscape – and with it, a lack of qualified personnel equipped with the required competencies.

Higher Education Digest May 2021

According to the World Economic Forum, no fewer than 133 million new positions may be available by 2022 due to people, machines, and algorithms co-existing. Therefore, equipping people with the relevant knowledge and skillsets to succeed in such inclusive environments is an urgent necessity. Seamless connectivity, constant access to ICT development platforms, and substantial digital upskilling investment are essential, as are soft, technical, and digital skills. Knowledge sharing will enable nations across the region to meet their mutual aspirations, and an open-source culture can empower all concerned parties. As the world’s leading provider of open source solutions, Red Hat technologies integrate new and existing IT applications, develop cloud-

Higher Education Digest May 2021

native applications, standardize operating systems, and automate, secure, and manage complex environments. Crucially, more than 90 per cent of Fortune Global 500 Red Hat’s portfolio, including Linux, JBoss Middleware, and Virtualization, illustrating their extensive capabilities to drive digital transformation. Red Hat Enterprise Linux is a prime example, delivering a consistent experience across certified architecture and hardware configuration. It provides reliable interfaces and drives high-performance computing (HPC) into new and existing markets, such as AI and enterprise, cloud, quantum cloud computing. Red Hat technologies promise solid foundations for success, along with security, support, stability, flexibility, and an ecosystem of partners.

Knowledge sharing will enable nations across the region to meet their mutual aspirations, and an opensource culture can empower all concerned parties

Of course, using such technologies and their capabilities requires experts in these fields from the moment they enter professional environments - and the importance of up-skilling through academia must not be overlooked. Should tomorrow’s employees excel in technology the same way organizations do, enhanced productivity is a certainty. Moreover, digital upskilling through academia will engage talent from the outset, ensuring they are not only capable of applying their skills to every area of their future roles, but are equally motivated to do so. Without question, learning opportunities enhance youth training and development. This is why closing the digital skills gap and fostering enterprise-ready talent at institutions in the

Middle East is a priority for the Red Hat Academy. For years, the Academy has collaborated with researchers and students at universities across the UAE and beyond and offering courses that improve digital skills and competencies. More specifically, the program has partnered with nearly 2000 educational institutions globally and more than 360 in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Academic institutions are transformed into centres for enterprise-ready talent and outfitted with training and certification. Each course offering is designed to enhance the skills required to embrace the challenges that come with any positional and professional environment, providing several benefits so students can realize their academic and career potential. These include flexible, hands-on experience in lab environments, performance-based examinations, and diverse content as part of Linux, OpenShift, cloud, and development technologies curriculums, as well as resources through globally standardized materials and training with the support of experienced instructors. Thousands of students participate every year, with 95 per cent insisting they are better prepared following training and 94 per cent of instructors and administrators pointing out that graduates with such certifications have brighter employment prospects. Increased agility, improved productivity, greater profits, better customer experiences, enhanced data collection, and invaluable datadriven insights await organizations in the new digital era. Yet capitalizing on these benefits requires talented personnel with the capabilities to thrive and succeed in the digital landscape. Therefore, the time is now to ensure talent is given even more platforms to become skilled technicians and realize their full potential. Delivering new meaning to customers, business operations, and society can only be achieved through continuous learning - and education is the gateway to success for the digital workforces of the future. An array of advanced curriculums are freely accessible for talent across the region to learn and improve. They should make use of the opportunity and position themselves to flourish professionally.

Higher Education Digest May 2021

BUSINESS SCHOOLS

IN THE MIDDLE EAST - 2021

tudents leaving their home country in search of better education is not new. However, countries like the US, UK, and Australia have maintained their monopoly in hosting a large number of international students. The last decade saw a change in the direction of student migration with the emergence of lessor-known countries offering quality higher education and gaining a substantial number of students to their university campuses. The Middle East is one of the prominent regions strengthening its place in the global education arena. Let us consider UAE, for instance. In a short period, the UAE has elevated its position globally. Its educational sector has witnessed a significant transformation mainly due to the internationalization of higher education and institutions evolving to meet future needs. Dubai, in particular, is aggressively pursuing growth of its own education capacity, with the expansion of its footprint locally, as well as through the introduction of International Branch Campuses (IBC) in “free zones”. Foreign institutions operate these campuses from countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, United States, Canada and India. Besides, these leading institutions offer the same degrees as their home campuses, with lower tuition rates and living expenses. While the bulk of the region’s population is young, for those cohorts that are already part of the workforce, there is a need for both a culture of lifelong learning and the infrastructure that can help make such continued learning and training feasible. This is particularly necessary due to the rapid technological developments in the global labour market, even for highly educated people. In this issue, to help our international student community who are in search of quality and affordable education, we present ’10 Must-Watch’ Business Schools in the Middle East.’ We sincerely hope that our efforts to identify the management institutions offering world-class education in the Middle East will help students from all over the world in their overseas educational journey.

Higher Education Digest May 2021

College Name

City

State

Amity University Dubai

Dubai

United Arab Emirates

Exeed College

Sharjah

United Arab Emirates

London Business School (LBS) - Dubai

Dubai

United Arab Emirates

Majan University College

Muscat

Oman

Manipal Academy of Higher Education Dubai

Dubai

United Arab Emirates

SP Jain School of Global Management

Dubai

United Arab Emirates

The British University in Dubai

Dubai

United Arab Emirates

The University of Manchester Middle East Centre

Dubai

United Arab Emirates

University of Dubai

Dubai

United Arab Emirates

University of Stirling, Ras Al Khaimah

Ras Al Khaimah

United Arab Emirates

Higher Education Digest May 2021

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Higher Education Digest April May 2021

BUSINESS SCHOOLS

IN THE MIDDLE EAST - 2021

AMITY UNIVERSITY DUBAI

DELIVERING WORLD-CLASS EDUCATION AND RESEARCH

mity is truly a multinational education provider. They have campuses in countries like the UAE, India, London, New York and most recently Amity Tashkent, that opened its doors as a School of Engineering. Most of their Universities are targeting international and local students who are looking for world-class education. With a goal to become a globally successful higher education brand, Amity Education Group, like any other private company, began its story with a business plan and investment. “From licensing and accreditations to finding an inspiring team and finalizing suitable programmes, our journey in the Middle East started in 2010 with a handful of students. We now have over 2,000 students enrolled at Amity University Dubai and over 150,000 students in Amity institutions worldwide,” shares Dr Vajahat Hussain, Chief Executive Officer, Amity Education Group, Middle East. At Amity University Dubai, the focus is on bringing about change, empowering communities, and making the world a better place. Through immersion in real-world projects,

Higher Education Digest May 2021

Amity University Dubai campus is more than just a space to learn, it is an innovative, iconic, vibrant, sustainable, and forward-looking global higher education institution, that has been designed to attract the best and brightest students and faculty, nurture talent, and promote collaboration, creativity and research.

Higher Education Digest May 2021

ABOUT

DR VAJAHAT HUSSAIN, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, AMITY EDUCATION GROUP MIDDLE EAST

Dr Vajahat Hussain is the Chief Executive Officer of the Amity Education Group Middle East, heading the education group’s Middle East and Europe operations. a position he has held for the last ten years. Amity EducationGroup, a not for profit foundation, operates universities and schools around the

world with 150,000 students, 60000 Alumni, and 4500 faculties. An engineering professional who calls Dubai home, Dr. Hussain was awarded a Doctorate (Honorius Causa) in 2014 for his service to education. Having previously held leadership positions in the education and healthcare sectors, his expertise in turnkey greenfield projects, mergers and acquisitions and change management have seen him deliver success in both the education and healthcare sectors. He was listed by Forbes Middle East as one of the top Indian Executives in the GCC and Gulf Business as one of the region’s most influential Indians in 2018.

Higher Education Digest May 2021

Amity Dubai launched a satellite ground station on campus, which will allow students to track satellites, predict weather patterns and pollution levels.

group interactions, and networking opportunities, Amity students reach their full learning potential throughout their program. Whether it is through mock trials in a moot court, creating a collection for a fashion show, building a solar-powered house, or working on a Satellite Ground Station, new programs and projects are constantly introduced to

ensure that international students are ready to take on the corporate world. “The UAE’s vision for the future is enticing, and graduates can expect to join the workforce of a country that will remain on the growth trajectory and invests in its youth. There is no better city than Dubai,” opines Dr Vajahat Hussain. International students are often apprehensive about moving away from family to a new city to pursue their education. It is essential for a student in today’s time to choose a study destination that will provide access to healthcare and a secure future. Faculty and staff of Amity University Dubai are 100% vaccinated following an on-campus vaccine drive in February. They are working closely with local education authorities to ensure that every precaution is being taken to guarantee student safety. A Peek into the Industry Sector Amity University Dubai Offers a range of conventional and unique undergraduate and postgraduate programs like B. Com, BBA, and

Higher Education Digest May 2021

MBA, along with specializations in Insurance and Banking, Construction Project Management, Family Business, and Entrepreneurship, Commerce, and Economics. Students can opt for full-time and part-time options. In addition, the university has a BBA and MBA 3-country program for those seeking further exposure to global markets. Students enrolling in their BBA, B.Com, and MBA programs can also opt for on-campus CIMA or ACCA training, with paper exemptions. Home to a one-of-a-kind Business Incubator program, accredited by Dubai SME, The innovation hub at Amity University Dubai brings together a community of mentors, entrepreneurs, volunteers, innovators, and students. “Students can work on startup business concepts and ideas with the guidance of a dedicated team at the Incubation Centre. From meeting with industry professionals and factory visits to participating in Government competitions for start-up grants, the opportunities for students at Amity Business School are endless,” says Dr Vajahat Hussain. With their excellent infrastructure, both physical and digital, UAE Universities have grown to become self-sufficient and well-equipped to meet and exceed the global quality standards. Amity University Dubai is one such example of a branch University that offers students a complete University experience, with unique programs and unmatched facilities. With the development of educational strategies over the years, education remains at the heart of the national agenda of the UAE Vision 2021. Through their partnership with Dubai SME (Government of Dubai), Amity University Dubai ensures that students develop the core competencies required to succeed in the world of entrepreneurship, in addition to creating unique opportunities for students, while ensuring their contribution to the emirate’s economy, community support, and humanity. “The initiative creates a learning environment and provides the necessary support for future generations of entrepreneurs in the UAE. From ideation to conception and execution, The University’s Incubation Centre has mentored 19 student start-ups to date, with each one being at a different stage,” explains Dr Vajahat Hussain. Amity Business School promotes research endeavours through conducting applied research as well as developing GCC-centric case studies. Business faculty members, in collaboration with their colleagues and students, have published more than 45 applied research papers in the past academic year, including

Higher Education Digest May 2021

The Best Research Paper, ‘Is AI and Digitization New Avatar for Air Freighters and Forwarders’, at the International Conference on Advances in Electrical, Computing, Communications and Sustainable Technologies (ICAECT 2021) by Dr Ashok Chopra. Concerning case studies, Amity University Dubai has the largest repository of Middle East Centric case studies written by resident faculty. These cases are published in UK Case Centres, which serves as the largest repository of business cases worldwide. Several cases have been written in collaboration with

private and public organizations, including Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority (SEWA) and the Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group. Enhancing tech platforms and ensuring transition into e-learning smoothly was quite critical. The faculty at Amity started recording flipped classes for students in 2019. This process of pre-recording lessons in their studios that students can access through an online portal helped prepare them for the digital shift. Before the lockdown, training sessions were conducted by the institution’s media and tech teams on how to effectively

Joint team of University of Bordeaux and Amity University Dubai students, winners of the Solar Decathlon ME 2018. An international competition for universities to design, build and operate grid-connected, solarpowered houses.

Higher Education Digest May 2021

Incorporating intelligent control systems, green building regulations and energy cost and time-saving techniques, the Amity University campus is a campus unlike any other.

Higher Education Digest May 2021

use studios for recording and online platforms for interactive learning. Being part of a large global education group led to the exchange of ideas and enhanced our digital delivery experience. “Distance learning allowed us to connect with experienced professionals from around the world and provide students with more than daily lectures within the classroom. From the Dalai Lama and Noble Laureates to Supreme Court Judges and Film Makers, Amity students had access to the university’s global online portal with a range of live online webinars and guest lectures by world-renowned experts,” states Dr Vajahat Hussain, adding, “our Student Services team

were available throughout the week and weekends, to ensure that any questions or doubts from students and parents were addressed and responded to immediately. Clear communication was key, and our goal was to ensure that learning never stopped, classes continued, and students were engaged. It is never enough to emphasize that we are #inthistogether.” Making Students Experts in All Spheres There is always something new and exciting happening at Amity University Dubai. The events are a great place to meet interesting, like-minded students from different parts of the world and form life-long friendships. The institution’s endless stream of events, hackathons, and meet-ups are more than just social activities; they build the Amity University community and pave the way for lifelong opportunities. Student engagement and the availability of opportunities are key to ensuring satisfaction among students. Dr Vajahat Hussain adds, “Networking with industry professionals, workshops, exhibitions, factory visits, inter-university competitions, and conferences, are just some of the many ways that we support student growth and ensure engagement”. Management programs at Amity University Dubai offer a comprehensive insight into the core elements of a business. They prepare students for upper management and executive-level positions by developing key managerial competencies, including critical thinking, systems thinking, team building, decision making, and ethical leadership, which can be applied to any business or industry. The institution’s in-house Corporate Resource Centre helps students with internships, parttime opportunities, and full-time jobs. The team also organizes regular workshops to assist with CV writing and prepping for interviews. Guest classroom sessions by industry leaders, alumni talks, and company visits are regularly conducted to give students an insight into organizations and how they function. They also conduct Placement Weeks and Recruitment Drives with top recruiters and companies across a wide range of sectors. Amity University’s last Placement Week in April 2021 drew in over 100 companies (virtually and in-person), that took interviews and mentored students. An annual Amity Human Capital Forum is also conducted where recruiters, entrepreneurs, department leads, and HR professionals come together to share their experiences and stories with students. “This networking opportunity has proven to be a great way for students to get an indepth understanding of how organizations function, the latest trends within an industry, future career prospects,

and the key qualities required to take on a job role,” remarks Dr Vajahat Hussain. Amity University Dubai campus was designed around the needs of students. They have created a Satellite Ground Station, which is used by Aerospace Engineering students and faculty. The first of its kind on a University campus, the Ground Station, allows students to perform several operational functions that will help them in their careers and research. The next phase of this project involves the construction of a CubeSat for gathering data for weather forecasting, biodiversity maintenance, water sources, global warming data, and agricultural development. Work on

Higher Education Digest May 2021

The University provides an environment complete with an academic building, hostel (residential) facilities and state-of-the-art amenities including an Olympic size athletic track and sports field. phase two has commenced and will be completed in 2021. Ensuring that we become more sustainable, we installed photovoltaic solar panels on the University campus, with a goal to become a solar-powered campus.

Higher Education Digest May 2021

Ensuring international and local students get the complete University experience, which includes interacting with peers, attending events, presenting at conferences, and joining clubs, Amity University Dubai campus is built over a large area, and they are working on developing creative ways in which the student experience can be enhanced. As an organization, they are embracing diversity amongst their students while also giving back to society. From raising funds for the Amity Humanity Foundation and Al Jalila Foundation through the exclusive Amity Polo Cup to hosting the largest delegation of 650 Special Olympics Athletes during the Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi, Amity University Dubai continues to align its objectives with that of the nation and look forward to working towards bringing a positive change in the world.

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Higher HigherEducation EducationDigest Digest May 2021 October 2020

ACADEMIC VIEWS

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

PATHS IN HIGHER EDUCATION Dr Sanaa Kaddoura, Assistant Professor, College of Technological Innovation, Zayed University, UAE

50 Dr Sanaa Kaddoura holds a PhD in computer science from Beirut Arab University, Lebanon. She is currently employed as an assistant professor of information security at the Department of Computing and Applied Technology, College of Technological Innovation, Zayed University, United Arab Emirates. She is a fellow of Higher Education Academy, Advance HE (FHEA) since 2019. In addition to her research interests in cybersecurity, social networks, machine learning, and natural language processing, she is an active researcher in higher education teaching and learning related to enhancing the quality of instructional delivery to facilitate students’ acquirement of skills and smooth transition to the workplace.

Higher Education Digest May 2021

Unlike other majors in higher education, IT has various concentrations that can fit all students’ interests

o one can deny that the digital revolution has changed our life. We can see information technology (IT) everywhere around us. Currently, we are living in a world full of the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Our houses are automated, cars are self-driving, and intelligent software is filling our phones. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic reinforced the role of information technology in our life. Education has shifted online, and e-learning is the new normal. All business sectors automated their services to permit customers to access them online. IT became an integral part of every business plan with all business sizes. Hence, IT is the backbone behind this technological life that we are living. So, to which extent should we encourage students to join an IT major? What are the IT paths in higher education? And what jobs can an IT graduate join?

The continuous growth of technologies implies a constant demand for IT professionals who will create, maintain and update these technological systems. The job market is currently demanding many IT experts to work in building such systems. According to the U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS, IT jobs are expected to grow by 11% from 2019 to 2029. This number is considered higher than the average of all other occupations in the job market. It is also expected that around 531 thousand IT jobs will be added to the market in the coming years. By looking at the salaries, IT jobs have high annual wages with a median of $88,240 in 2019. Comparing with other jobs in the market, whose average salaries is $39,810, IT jobs have no competitor. Unlike other majors in higher education, IT has various concentrations that can fit all students’ interests. In Zayed University, for instance, the

Higher Education Digest May 2021

A student graduating with a bachelor of science in Information technology can work as a computer networking specialist responsible for building and maintaining the computer networks in any business

College of Technological Innovation prepares students for the information technology, information systems, and engineering market through two bachelor’s degrees: Bachelor of Science in Information Technology and Bachelor of Science in Information Systems and Technology Management. The college also has a master’s degree program in cybersecurity concentration where the student acquires the necessary skills to be an information security expert. The college will also announce a PhD program soon. For the bachelor of science in Information technology, the student will graduate ready for significant IT positions. The available concentrations are Security and Network Technologies and Web and Mobile Application Development. If the student is interested in digging into IT’s technicalities, this major is the correct choice. Security & Network Technologies concentration prepares students to design and develop secure systems. Also, the students learn how to secure computer networks and telecommunication systems from cyberattacks. Ethical Hacking and Countermeasures is one of the courses that will prepare the students to be ethical hackers. They will learn hacking skills so that they can work later in the

Higher Education Digest May 2021

security department at any company. Another significant course the students can register in this major is Wireless Sensors Networks. In this course, the student learns about wireless environments and sensorbased applications. These applications are the base of the emerging IoT domain. The other concentration of the bachelor of science in Information technology is Web and Mobile Application Development. It provides the students with the needed skills to develop user-focused interactive games, web and mobile applications. A student graduating with a bachelor of science in Information technology can work as a computer networking specialist responsible for building and maintaining the computer networks in any business. Besides, the graduate can work as an IT support specialist. This employee is responsible for providing help to endusers in hardware and software areas. You can find this employee in every business. For example, in a school, whenever an IT problem happens in the lab with any student or teacher, an IT support specialist is contacted. An IT graduate can also work as a programmer, or developers, such as a web developer, a mobile applications developer, or a full-stack developer. A programmer is an employee who writes the code that produces the applications and websites we use daily. Game development is demanding in the market, especially with the rise of immersive and 3D technologies. Another option for the students, who join Zayed University, is to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems and Technology Management that is offered jointly with the College of Business. The student will be provided with both IT and business courses. If the student is interested in business and wants to follow IT’s market demand, this major will be a perfect fit. In this major, the student will acquire skills to apply IT to enterprises. A student graduating from this major can work as a system

developer and business IT consultant. UAE job market is demanding professionals in these jobs. Three concentrations are available to the students in this program: Enterprise Systems, Management of Information Systems, Business Intelligence. The Business Intelligence concentration prepares students to be data scientists. The students will acquire the necessary analytical skills to extract hidden patterns and knowledge from big data and make predictions and future forecasting from available data. A data scientist can perform real-time predictions on how a customer will react towards a product. This concentration is booming in the market. Google, Facebook, and Apple are leaders in data science. However, every company now is employing data scientists to learn more about the market and customer behaviour. The Management of Information Systems is another concentration that prepares students for IT management roles. The students will acquire skills on how to design and manage IT systems to provide strategic benefits. The third concentration is Enterprise Systems that focuses on IT systems for organizations with branches in different geographical locations. Students will take courses such as human-computer interaction and logistics and supply chain management. IT graduates will have a great future in the market due to the job demand. Nevertheless, another compelling reason to encourage high school students to join an IT major is “race against the machine”. The digital revolution is disrupting the job market. Many jobs were automated, and human labour is no longer needed. Robots are taking over most of the jobs because they are more powerful than humans in automated jobs. To avoid unemployment, an IT major should be the choice of students so that they become the creators of the technology instead of being replaced by it.

Higher Education Digest May 2021

BUSINESS SCHOOLS

IN THE MIDDLE EAST - 2021

MANIPAL ACADEMY OF HIGHER EDUCATION DUBAI (MAHE DUBAI) INTEGRATING IDEAS ON A GLOBAL PLATFORM

Manipal Academy of Higher Education Dubai (MAHE Dubai) Campus is an embodiment of the academic excellence of MAHE India, which has evolved into a multi-campus, multi-disciplinary university over the years, spreading quality education worldwide. Set up with the objective of providing the same enriching educational experience for students from the UAE and neighbouring countries, MAHE Dubai is proud to have grown into a renowned and leading multi-disciplinary university in the UAE. At present, the university is home to more than 2000 students of over 40 nationalities. “Students from all over the world study and build a successful career at our university. New not only to the university but also to the UAE, there is a need to have a dedicated focus on their admissions and stay. To achieve the same, we have dedicated teams to cater to the specific needs of its international students,” shares Dr Jason Fitzsimmons, Academic President, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Dubai Campus. MAHE Dubai has a special team for international admissions equipped to handle queries of students from different geographies.

Higher Education Digest May 2021

Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Dubai Campus is a 5-Star Rated University as per the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), Dubai Higher Education Classification (HEC) Rating 2020.

Higher Education Digest May 2021

Dr Fitzsimmons adds, “We offer special scholarships and bursaries for international students.” MAHE Dubai has a dedicated Visa department to cater for the Visa requirements of the students. Furthermore, to make the stay of the international students comfortable, the university has a dedicated International Students Support Services department, including the International Students Centre and International Students Club. “Our International Students Support Services endeavours to make the international students feel at home. The team ensures smooth onboarding, orientation, and counselling for all international students alike. It also conducts periodic events and activities centred around the international students,” explains Dr Fitzsimmons. Besides, MAHE Dubai has also constituted an International Students Club, a networking platform for all International Students. It encourages international students to develop a multicultural environment and establishes to bring in diversity on campus. The committee is focused on supporting the existing and new students to

Higher Education Digest May 2021

adapt to UAE, campus life and creating a “Home Away from Home” environment where they can interact. “We organise various events and activities dedicated to the International Students on campus, according to the country they belong to, their culture as well as their traditions. These celebrations are organised by the International Students Club. The entire university takes part in it with enthusiasm,” says Dr Fitzsimmons. A few of the activities at MAHE Dubai include the National Day celebration of different countries, monthly Birthday Celebrations, participation Diabetes Walk, Dubai Safari Trip, UAE National Day Celebration, amongst others. MAHE Dubai also offers its international students on-campus residential facilities. As a secure and holistic environment, the facilities allow for convenience and proximity to the university that promotes learning and a safe and stimulating environment to encourage students to socialise and pursue extracurricular activities and interests. “Our hostels offer a secure living environment with CCTV Surveillance, diverse cuisines in its dedicated

“One of our flagship programs for international students is the Work Mode MBA, which is a full time evening / weekend program. It gives a great opportunity to the international students to complete their education while using ample time during the day to explore career and job opportunities in Dubai.” - Dr Jason Fitzsimmons

ABOUT

DR JASON FITZSIMMONS, ACADEMIC PRESIDENT, MANIPAL ACADEMY OF HIGHER EDUCATION, DUBAI CAMPUS

Dr Jason Fitzsimmons has been part of the Manipal Education team previously as the Chairperson at the School of Business at MAHE Dubai and Dean of Executive Education. His sheer determination and meticulous nature have driven him to be the Academic Head of this prestigious institution. A Doctorate in Physics and MBA from the Queensland University of Technology, Dr Jason firmly believes in commitment, teamwork and efficient completion of any task undertaken. He leads several disciplines on to the path of excellence to ensure consistent delivery of quality education. He has been responsible for identifying and establishing student exchange programs through collaborations with various universities across the globe. He also focuses on R&D initiatives, Professional Society activities, Industry collaborations for internships, placements, and research activities at MAHE Dubai.

Higher Education Digest May 2021

hostel cafeteria, gym access, laundry services, weekly visits to Dubai’s landmarks, high-speed WiFi, and much more,” pinpoints Dr Fitzsimmons. A Campus to Vouch for MAHE Dubai’s iconic purpose-built University campus is spread over 750,000 square feet in the Dubai International Academic City, including its state-of-the-art student accommodation. The campus houses fully equipped laboratories with cutting edge technology, industrystandard studios and workshops, smart classrooms, a digitally powered library, a cafeteria, a state-of-the-art gym and fitness centre, a multi-purpose indoor sports hall, an outdoor sports facility, a dedicated music room,

Higher Education Digest May 2021

a creatively curated dance room, as well as a recreation centre among other facilities. “We keep upgrading our infrastructure to meet the requirements of the students and the industry alike. We thrive on giving our student a simulated experience throughout their course so that they are industry-ready from the word go,” states Dr Fitzsimmons. MAHE Dubai campus houses 48 fully equipped laboratories with cutting edge technology, hi-tech labs developed in partnership with industry experts, industry-standard studios and workshops for hands-on learning, and smart classrooms enabled with touch-enabled audio-visual facilities. The School of Business at MAHE Dubai boasts of a state-of-the-art Stock Exchange Lab developed in

partnership with the National Stock Exchange (NSE) Academy. The students learn various aspects of trading in this lab and simulate transactions to get a better business understanding. Dr Fitzsimmons adds, “We offer expert, hands-on, industry-relevant programs taught by academicians with years of professional experience in their fields, thereby enhancing the learning process, both at the undergraduate as well as at postgraduate level.” In addition, MAHE Dubai’s faculty members boast of decades of industry experience, accolades across government and industry bodies, including the United Nations, active involvement in research and representation in global conferences, as well as active participation in social and environmental initiatives.

Research is at the core of the pedagogy at MAHE Dubai. The university hosts international research colloquiums every year in five major streams – Business, Design & Architecture, Engineering & IT, Life Sciences, Media & Communication. Researchers from all over the world participate in these events and present their research papers. It must be noted that we also partner with International Universities to co-host these colloquiums to foster enhanced research. “The last research colloquium before pandemic was conducted in partnership with Hochschule Bremen, Bremen, Germany, as well as our parent campus MAHE India,” recounts Dr Fitzsimmons. The university encourages its students to take part in research paper submissions as part of the curriculum. Dr

Higher Education Digest May 2021

Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Dubai has well-equipped laboratories to help graduate, undergraduate and PhD students pursue their studies and research.

Higher Education Digest May 2021

Fitzsimmons adds, “Many of our students have earned laurels for their work in their fields. Very recently, our students from the School of Life Sciences won first place for their research presentation in the “Youth Earth Summit - 2021 - Frontiers in Sustainability”, jointly organised by the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) and the University of Wollongong Dubai on 22nd May 2021.” MAHE Dubai has also collaborated with various industry giants to take these research activities further, including the College of Applied Sciences, Al Qassim University, Saudi Arabia, Sharjah Museum Authority, EdNex, among others.

Preparing Students for the Future “The current UAE Economy is driven by industries like E-commerce, retail, trading, banking, IT, entrepreneurship, and Tourism. The employment opportunities in these key industries are primarily business-focused, and they tend to hire year-round for people in Business Development, Data Analysis, Supply Chain / Logistics, Operations, HR, and Finance/Accounting,” opines Dr Fitzsimmons. Students of MAHE, Dubai School of Business, have received employment opportunities with organisations like Kantar, Damac, Dubizzle, BASF, IKEA, Aster, and numerous other organisations in various management domains.

To enable these employment opportunities, the university has a dedicated Career Services department. “It was established with the vision of helping students get prepared for their corporate stint and help them by providing them with great opportunities to help them excel in their careers. The department helps students to make informed decisions by providing access to relevant industry resources, mentorship programs and career counselling,” shares Dr Fitzsimmons. The career Services department at MAHE Dubai has organised numerous training programs to help candidates transition smoothly to the corporate world. Besides, the university has conducted many on-campus employer interactions, including the Career Fair, Employer Presentations, Industry expert talks to provide students with an opportunity to network and connect with industry experts and their organisations. At present, MAHE Dubai offers Management Programs for undergraduate, postgraduate, as well as PhD aspirants. The BBA program for the UG aspirants offers various specialisations to the students, including HR, Finance, Marketing, Logistics & Supply Chain Management, and Business Analytics. Dr Fitzsimmons adds, “We also offer a BCom program for those with an inclination towards Accounting. The highlight of this program is the collaboration with Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), wherein the students are given substantial exemptions in ACCA final exams.” In Business and Management, MAHE has four postgraduate programs. The university’s flagship Work Mode MBA has been curated, keeping working professionals in mind. Dr Fitzsimmons explains, “The classes are conducted in the evenings, and during weekends, allowing the professionals to upgrade themselves without having to discontinue their professional commitments.” PG Diploma in Business Administration and PG Diploma in Logistics & Supply Chain Management are one-year programs focused on the international students who want to get an industry-oriented postgraduate diploma and dive into the many career opportunities that Dubai offers. Finally, its MBA – Global Business is a comprehensive postgraduate management program focused on your graduates who look to understand in-depth the global business markets, international trade, and so on. On the other side, MAHE Dubai offers meritbased scholarships of over AED 5 million to all

Higher Education Digest May 2021

deserving candidates. These scholarships are provided in the form of Academic Scholarships as well as Sports Scholarships. “We also have Alumni Scholarships to all its undergraduate students to pursue any of the postgraduate programs at the university,” states Dr Fitzsimmons. Furthermore, in collaboration with the Embassy of India, UAE, MAHE Dubai provides Girl Child Scholarship. As part of the Scholarship, MAHE Dubai offers a 100% scholarship to a girl student every year. To help the financially distressed, MAHE Dubai has Al Daem Scholarships, which had been instrumental during the pandemic in helping those in dire financial situation. MAHE Dubai also offers special scholarships for International Students to promote diversity.

Excelling in a New World of Education MAHE Dubai believes that reinvention is a continuous process. While many assume that the process of technological adaption last year was drastic, it was a continuous journey for MAHE Dubai, an extension of something that they had been envisioned and were working towards for over a decade. “Technology has remained at the core of MAHE Dubai, and over the years, we have developed a digital infrastructure well capable of delivering quality online education, in line with the global trends. As a result, as soon as the university was

Higher Education Digest May 2021

MAHE Dubai has been running the Vaccination Drive in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP), Government of Dubai, and its staff members have been 100% vaccinated against COVID-19. locked down, we almost immediately switched to online learning across disciplines and programs,” shares Dr Fitzsimmons. MAHE Dubai’s academic team used to undergo regular training and workshops to conduct online sessions. So, when the need arose, they could quickly shift to the new reality. “We must also commend our students for adapting to the new ways of learning with ease and for the parents who ensured that our students had the right infrastructure to partake in the e-learning practices,” says Dr Fitzsimmons. As one of the pioneers

in education, MAHE is well-equipped with e-learning platforms such as MS Teams, Google Classroom, Adobe Connect, Cisco Webex, and a dedicated LMS. Interestingly, the university even used multiple simulations and demonstration software to conduct the lab-intensive modules online. “Over one year into the new reality, we have successfully conducted two semesters in an online as well as blended mode. Not just academics, but we also conducted a month-long virtual students fest ‘Unplugged’ wherein students were able to showcase their extracurricular talents. We also conducted several online open houses to help the students get counselled from the safety of their homes,” claims Dr Fitzsimmons. In fact, MAHE Dubai’s application and admission process already existed in a 100% online platform. However, the pandemic has forced significant changes in international student mobility, limiting them to a great extent. Dr Fitzsimmons opines, “While international student mobility has become restricted, we are hopeful of the return of normalcy. As more and more countries continue to expand their vaccination drives, it is expected to encourage resumption in student mobility to previous degrees.” Especially with UAE’s effective management of pandemic and aggressive vaccination drives, there is a sense of positivity in the market, with many international students and parents adjudging UAE as a safe and secure study destination. Dr Fitzsimmons adds, “We are exploring many possible ways with our international teams to address the various needs of the international students. We are encouraging blended options and student transfer, wherein the students can continue their education from their home country while the restrictions exist, and then travel to UAE and complete their education when the situations get better.” Today, MAHE Dubai is hopeful of a gradual yet positive stride towards normalcy. Currently, all the staff at MAHE Dubai have been vaccinated, and now the university is focused on getting all its students vaccinated. This will help them return to regular University life. The academic team at MAHE Dubai is optimistic about the steps taken by the government, the efficient management of the pandemic and the nationwide vaccination drives. In fact, the government has already begun vaccination for the school students and have received a positive response from the student community. These indicate positive strides towards normalcy. “We will continue to focus on the safety of our staff and students, enhance our academic delivery through new technological development, strengthen our pedagogy with more academic and industry partnership, and support our students to develop holistically,” concludes Dr Fitzsimmons.

Higher Education Digest May 2021

INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE

HOW INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

CAN PREPARE FOR UNIVERSITIES AND EMPLOYMENT MIDST OF A PANDEMIC? Bhakti Ahire, Author and Design Technology Lead, Kang Chiao International School, Shanghai

64 Bhakti is a Mechanical engineer who became an international teacher and a published author. She has over six years of international teaching experience as an IB and IGCSE Design facilitator in various international schools in India and China. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical engineering and is currently pursuing her Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) from the University of Cumbria, UK. She has worked as a Head of the Design department and as a Design consultant across many premium schools in India. She has published her book for the IB Diploma program Design technology students with Extend Education, a publisher in the UK. She has also been recently awarded as the “100 inspirational women of the year 2021” by the I Can Foundation, India for her outstanding contributions to society.

Higher Education Digest May 2021

When applying to a college, there are only three responses you can receive: an acceptance, a rejection, or a waitlisted notice

n the Covid-19 pandemic, international students are facing new challenges that could impact their readiness for colleges and jobs. With some universities having only online classes and standardized testing unavailable to some students, its ambiguous how students are to prepare for colleges and employment postpandemic. This article will shed some light on ways in which students can use their time to upskill themselves and make them worthy of landing that dream college or job once life after COVID-19 opens up new opportunities. It’s said that necessity is the mother of invention and the education industry has been taking some strong measures to ensure that students suffer no loss of studies while staying away from the campus. The pandemic has been functioning as a catalyst for both, the educational and the corporate world to grow and opt for platforms and practices, they

haven’t utilised before. Educational Institutions and business in no time have become completely digital. It’s difficult to predict whether the pandemic could forever change the way we work and study in the future. Even in good times, applying to college can be stressful. Applying to college amidst a global pandemic, however, adds more uncertainties for some students and parents. The most typical question that I have been hearing during the pandemic is -How will universities gauge students when some of them are missing test scores, grades, and extracurricular, or have experienced substantial disruptions to their lives since the pandemic? So here are some ways that can help students stand out when applying to college during a pandemic: 1. Research more about the colleges you’re interested in– Search for data about universities’

Higher Education Digest May 2021

“Why Oxford?” Or “Why UCLA?” This will show how much efforts you took to find out of this university is going to be a good match for you

Higher Education Digest May 2021

strength, emphasis, course offerings in the fields that you are interested in. Even some highly ranked colleges have inadequate academic departments. 2. Keep an eye on the changing admissions requirements- Even though, requirements may seem to be set in stone, a university’s entry requirements have the possibility to change unpredictably. Some academies and universities including the University of California team will now not require the SAT/ACT scores for students applying for the 2021 class. 3. Find college scholarships– Scholarships are all over, and more or less all candidates are looking to apply to them. It is a good idea to look for financial assistance opportunities as well. For this, you’ll need to put serious effort into your applications if you hope to stand out and receive aid from the college. 4. Add some extracurricular to your application– This is a great approach to support your application and make you stand out to universities during the admissions process. Whether its sports, hobbies or activities outside of the school can help you and your application significantly. 5. Move on from rejection- When applying to a college, there are only three responses you can receive: an acceptance, a rejection, or a waitlisted notice. It’s not rare to be rejected from a university, so you must apply to numerous universities to upsurge your possibilities of acceptance. 6. Take advantage of virtual opportunities to connect – In response to the suspension of university visit, students and parents now get a chance to meet in-person with admissions officers through webinars and video presentations featuring everything from interviews to financial aid and walking tours. 7. One of the other opportunities to focus amidst the pandemic is the virtual internships, which are allowing the students to go beyond their syllabus and learn about the practicality of their jobs.

8. Complete optional college application requirements-Some universities offer candidates opportunities to include an extra letter of recommendation, or “Spontaneous OnDemand Video Response” to showcase your strengths or accomplishments. Completing these “extras” might be more critical now. 9. Pay attention to supplemental essays– Students might think that if their applications are lacking some letter grades or test scores, their college essay will be weighted more heavily by admissions. But that’s not the case. Admission teams are now looking more closely at supplemental essay questions. For example: “Why Oxford?” Or “Why UCLA?” This will show how much efforts you took to find out of this university is going to be a good match for you. 10. Take advantage of opportunities and resources that are available online-Students can narrow down career choices and start identifying the best colleges for that career and research more about student engagement opportunities. Mastery Prep, College Board and Khan Academy are now providing a lot of free resources online by holding virtual seminars, , panel discussions, resource fairs, college fairs. 11. Students who have not decided on a college or university can use this time to see if their desired career field is offering any virtual opportunities or use this time to connect with a counsellor at your potential college or simply learn a new skill before going to a college. 12. Contribute to your community– Research has shown that helping others in your community is the best ways to deal with in a crisis. Extend your support to your neighbours, make a donation, or give support to those around you who need it. 13. Keep up with your classes– It is a common misunderstanding that online courses are easier than physical, but this isn’t always right, continue to attempt for the best grades and put all your effort into daily work and discussion boards! Even if you’ve already been accepted into a university, your

high school classes are still vital, colleges do have the option to withdraw their acceptance to your application. 14. Final reminder- Remember that, counsellors and school administrators are there to support this process. As a student, do not feel lonely or isolated, even if you are in a virtual school this year. Always ask questions as you can never have enough information. Here are a few tips on how graduates can prepare to enter the workforce after the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic: 1. LinkedIn Learning– Even though we are currently housebound, it is still important to network. The professional networking website LinkedIn also has a learning platform known as LinkedIn Learning, where users can access over 5000 courses available. Several universities give their students a LinkedIn Learning subscription for free. Once you complete a course, you can add the certification to your profile on LinkedIn, which will add more value to your profile. 2. EdX, FutureLearn and Udemy– are all online learning platforms founded by some of the eminent universities like Harvard University, Deakin University and MIT. About 140 plus institutions have work together with such platforms to offer over 2,500 courses. These platforms allow aspirants to check the course for free, and if you wish to get the certification then, there is a fixed fee for it. The certification fees may vary from university to university. 3. Understand the market- Once there is a clear career direction, start looking for jobs available and the skillsets to get a particular job. Then look into ways to develop these skills and prepare for the interviews. 4. Hone your workspace skills– The top three skills recruiters are looking at the moment are adaptability, communication skills and collaboration. The key to selection during these challenging times is to be optimistic, eager to learn and adaptable to different environments with the daily changing situations.

Higher Education Digest May 2021

BUSINESS SCHOOLS

IN THE MIDDLE EAST - 2021

THE BRITISH UNIVERSITY IN DUBAI

A HUB OF WORLD-CLASS EDUCATION, TRAINING AND RESEARCH

n the past couple of decades, Dubai has seen sizable growth in the number of international universities and colleges establishing their branches on its soil. One of the early entrants was The British University in Dubai (BUiD), established in 2003 by government law #5/2003 by HH Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai. The university grew out of the collaboration between British and Dubai academic, government, and commercial organisations to make a unique contribution to the UAE and Gulf region. Hugh Martin, Registrar and Chief Administrative Officer, The British University in Dubai, says, “The University was established to be the region’s leading research-based university, facilitating excellent education, training and research. It provides an important and growing community and resources for young professionals, leading academics, corporate managers and aspiring leaders of all description.” BUiD is allied with three world-class UK universities - the University of Edinburgh, the University of Glasgow, and the University of Manchester - within an agreement that provides

Higher Education Digest May 2021

The British University in Dubai (BUiD) offers a unique not-forprofit brand of higher education with high standards for study and research designed to contribute to the technological innovation and socioeconomic development of the Arab world and beyond.

Higher Education Digest May 2021

ABOUT

HUGH MARTIN,

REGISTRAR AND CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER, THE BRITISH UNIVERSITY IN DUBAI Hugh graduated from the University of Oxford with a BA (Hons) and an MA (Hons) in English Language and Literature. This was followed by an MLitt in Creative Writing (with Distinction) from the University of St Andrews. His PhD research is in rhetoric and writing. Hugh has worked in Higher Education

senior management for over 20 years, including as the University Secretary at the University of Bedfordshire, the Chief of Staff at the London School of Economics, the Head of Governance at the University of Bristol, and the Executive Officer at the University of St Andrews. His most recent post is Registrar and Chief Administrative Officer at The British University in Dubai. As an academic, Hugh held the post of Associate Lecturer at The Open University for 15 years. Before returning to work in universities, he worked in various management positions for the retailer W H Smith Ltd, becoming their Head of Customer Relations in 1996.

Higher Education Digest May 2021

BUiD is proudly located in Dubai International Academic City, as a constituent of Dubai’s Education Free Zone community.

a comprehensive framework for the strategic direction and research collaborations between these institutions. The university was established as a research-intensive university with a focus on promoting research-based activities in different fields of knowledge through its innovative academic research. All of its programmes,

including at undergraduate level, are research-based. “Students are assessed by original research elements. This is benchmarked to international standards by the aid of competent external examiners; the focus of these standards, our quality assurance, and our external examiners, is on world-class UK universities,” adds Hugh Martin. At BUiD, students are required to apply skills and knowledge to develop research questions and then conduct studies that accord with the rigour of scientific principles. BUiD also has several specialised research centres established to support students and the community through their research journey. Hugh Martin gives this example: “Recently, we organised our 5th Doctoral Research Conference. More than 70 research papers were presented by our postgraduate students in areas of education, management, finance, Blockchain, sustainability, computer science, AI and cybersecurity.”

Higher Education Digest May 2021

As a smaller, research-intensive university, BUiD focuses on small-group teaching and one-to-one supervision with its postgraduate students. The university hires faculty members who are experts in their areas to develop regionally tailored programmes, in which they extend and challenge the boundaries of knowledge, understanding and research. BUiD’s faculty members are active in research and publish in internationally recognised research journals. “With the building of our new campus will come an open learning commons which will act as a hub and centre for all research, library, IT, and student affairs. The new campus will feature stateof-the-art AV-equipped teaching spaces and technologyenhanced facilities for all our programmes, including business. We aim to encourage a multidisciplinary approach which gives students a wide range of skills beyond their immediate programme specialism,” explains Hugh Martin.

Higher Education Digest May 2021

Working in association with leading UK universities BUiD offers cuttingedge education and research in key disciplines.

A Perfect Place for Global Education International student mobility – like most travel – has been greatly affected by COVID-19. On the other hand, as restrictions start to ease around the world, the UAE is in a prime position to capitalise, both on its swift and effective response to the pandemic which has kept infections and deaths low, and also on its location as a central hub for air travel. BUiD’s ability to offer world-class education

expected to publish in top-ranked journals. Because of our British heritage, our students are exposed to leading UK universities and academics, both in the programmes they study at BUiD as well as in collaborations with and visits to UK institutions,” Hugh Martin adds. BUiD’s model, therefore, attracts international students. As Hugh Martin points out, BUiD’s focus is on quality and research, and it marks them as unique in this region, and its student body reflects this - a third of BUiD’s students are Emirati, and two-thirds are international. The university also offers a variety of scholarships to high achievers along with discounted rates through collaboration agreements with government and private entities and with schools as well.

in Dubai, a city renowned for its high standards of living, safety, recreation, and opportunity, makes it well placed for international students who are looking for a topquality degree but may be wary of travelling to places further from home or where the pandemic has been dealt with less well. Hugh Martin states, “BUiD is unique as a university in the region – we are a not-for-profit Dubai government institution which teaches and researches entirely in English, using the highly-acclaimed British model of higher education. That means we are researchintensive, and our programmes demand high entry and ongoing academic standards, maintained by adhering to UK quality assurance.” BUiD students are expected to be independent learners, both at undergraduate as well as postgraduate levels, as the university places significant importance on students as researchers in their own right. “All Masters and doctoral students are

The BUiD Experience BUiD fosters a campus that provides a safe and comfortable learning experience. The university encourages extracurricular activities that support students’ development and prepare them to reach their goals – these include competitions, tournaments, societies, and public engagements. “Prior to COVID-19 restrictions, academic trips to our partner UK universities were arranged at least once a year for our students to give them the opportunity to interact and learn from their peers – these and other international opportunities will resume once travel restrictions are eased,” shares Hugh Martin. At present, BUiD offers a range of management programmes at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The BUiD MBA (Master of Business Administration) is a business-oriented degree that aims to equip students for an enhanced middle and higher-level professional role in business or public sector management. The university’s teaching-learning process is research-led and all students undertake a consultancy project, which helps businesses overcome specific problems or enhance their overall performance. The BUiD MBA can be taken as a general business management programme or with a concentration in Finance, Marketing or Sustainability. It features the British model of higher education, accredited by the UAE’s Ministry of Education, it is broad-based, giving a wide range of career options, interactive, with a studentcentred style of learning, research-based education, and opportunities to visit or study in the UK. The BUiD DBA (Doctor of Business Administration) gives students a deep knowledge in their chosen area of research and positions them for new opportunities in academia or higher management. As Hugh Martin explains, “The students learn a broad spectrum of competencies in conducting rigorous and worthwhile

Higher Education Digest May 2021

research and how to apply the results of their endeavours in a myriad of contexts within the UAE, the Gulf region and more broadly at the international level. Our academic supervisors come with a wide range of experience and specialisms – students can focus their research on a particular industry or sector and in areas as diverse as innovation management, strategy, finance, governance, sustainability, human resource management, marketing, leadership and global business management.” BUiD students pursuing Project Management Masters and doctoral degrees enjoy a strong industry-linked educational experience through a variety of online sessions, briefings, workshops and mentoring. Students can work on real case projects. “Our MSc degrees equip students with skills of critical thinking, innovation, communication, planning and control of resources, as well as business awareness and problem-solving ability, all of which are highly valued by employers globally. Both our MSc and PhD Project Management programmes are underpinned by experiential learning and research,” says Hugh Martin. BUiD’s BSc in Business Management is designed to enable students to develop their critical thinking, innovation, competencies, and effective skills for life. The programme provides a thorough grounding in a range of business and management subjects, including operations management, finance, marketing, and human resource management. The university emphasises innovation and entrepreneurship throughout the programme. Making Ready for the Future “Our programmes are practical. We use UAE-based case studies, and we have guest speakers who hold senior management roles in UAE organisations,” pinpoints Hugh Martin. The BUiD MBA is suitable for those currently employed in a wide range of job roles or for individuals seeking to move into roles and professions that range from operations manager, banker, and retail manager to public sector management, economist, entrepreneur and business analyst. While the BUiD DBA is for individuals seeking to develop themselves or senior managers in business public sector organisations. Candidates will develop high-level research and data analysis skills suitable for careers in a wide variety of sectors and roles. DBA graduates may also seek to pursue specialist research or consultancy careers. “The BUiD PhD in Business Management is primarily a qualification for those seeking to become researchers, academics and teachers. The BUiD MSc degrees in Project Management give our graduates a good opportunity to assume a variety of positions in public and private organisations or go on to further postgraduate education,”

Higher Education Digest May 2021

explains Hugh Martin. To ensure that its postgraduate students are well prepared for the challenging global workforce, BUiD provide students with specialised professional practice knowledge and higher-order skills to facilitate access to high-level careers in project management and cognate disciplines. The university also develops transferable skills to prepare students for managing highly complex projects and ethical and behavioural professional issues. “We integrate experiential learning and teach our students the right values and soft skills so that they become responsible and ethical leaders of tomorrow. We also equip our students with advanced knowledge in project management practice and procedure,” adds Hugh Martin. The BUiD BSc in Business Management gives its graduates a wide range of opportunities in the business world. They can work in government entities, companies, financial markets, and banks. Preparing for a Post-Pandemic World of Education No story is complete without mentioning the disruptions due to the pandemic. Hugh Martin remembers, “Our students and staff were mainly used to face-to-face interaction. So, we needed everyone to be comfortable with moving our operations online. Within two weeks of the first lockdown starting, we made sure that all our students, academic and administrative staff were connected virtually with the ability to work remotely as well as on campus.” The university has spared no effort in order to facilitate the online learning process and has provided all necessary technical support for its students and staff. Furthermore, in the years leading up to the pandemic, BUiD’s Library had already been making the necessary investment in international e-resources to expand its considerable electronic databases and to guarantee the smooth running of the teaching process as well as ongoing research. “The early adoption of e-library resources has stood us in good stead during COVID-19 as our students and researchers are already familiar with working online,” notes Hugh Martin. BUiD has scheduled viva voce exams to be conducted virtually so all its doctoral students can complete their PhD requirements, with its external examiners joining online from their universities across the world. “To enhance our students’ learning experience as well as their campus life, we are in the process of building a new campus, which will be our first independent purpose-built home. As for learning and teaching, as a result of the pandemic, we have adopted a more flexible approach to the needs of our students by offering blended learning to complement our existing models,” concludes Hugh Martin.

Higher Education Digest May 2021

ACADEMIC VIEWS

ACADEMIC PhD

VS INDUSTRIAL PhD IN STEM FIELDS Mustafa F. Kaddoura, PhD Candidate and Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota

76 Mustafa Kaddoura is a PhD candidate in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Minnesota. He earned his master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the American University of Beirut (AUB) and his Bachelor of Engineering from Beirut Arab University. His research is focused on the modelling and design optimization of renewable energy and water desalination systems. He is aspired to work at the intersection of fluid mechanics, energy & water systems, and numerical simulations.

Higher Education Digest May 2021

Academic PhD usually gives the student a wider range of job options, including faculty positions in academia (professorship), research scientist jobs in national research laboratories, and research and development (R&D) engineers/scientists positions in the industry

he world nowadays is indeed needing more PhDs. The goal of the PhD programs is to train students at an advanced level in a specific field of study to prepare future researchers. While the stereotype is that all PhD holders end up teaching in academia, this is not always the case. A PhD prepares students to pursue leadership positions either in academia or industry. From here, there are basically two types of Doctoral degrees (PhD) in STEM domains, the Academic PhD and the Industrial PhD. The core of both PhD programs is to write a doctoral dissertation that includes original research conducted by the student and a contribution to the scientific literature. However, the road for achieving the doctoral dissertation differs in the two types of programs. The differences lie in six main areas: coursework load, duties, research topic selection, degree duration, potential jobs after graduation, and application process.

The first major difference between the academic and industrial PhDs is the coursework load. The Academic PhD program usually consists of approximately 18 credits of coursework in addition to the doctoral dissertation. This includes regular lectures, weekly assignments, projects, and exams. Coursework allows PhD students to learn and practice advanced topics, which expand their knowledge and expertise significantly; however, it also consumes a significant amount of the students’ time during the first couple of years in the PhD program. On the other hand, an industrial PhD has almost no coursework which gives the students more time to focus on their doctoral dissertation research and allows them to progress faster towards earning their degrees. The second substantial difference between academic and industrial PhDs are the duties required from the students. In an academic PhD, the duties include dissertation research, coursework in

Higher Education Digest May 2021

addition to teaching duties in several cases. Several departments involve their PhD students in the teaching process as teaching assistants (TA). Teaching assistants are required to lead laboratory courses, lead solving and recitation sessions, hold office hours to answer undergraduate students’ questions, and grade assignments and exams. This enhances the students teaching and communication skills, but again it consumes their time. On the other hand, an industrial PhD includes only research duties in most cases. A third considerable difference between academic and industrial PhDs is the research topics selection. In industrial PhD, the student works on a research topic that benefits the funding company and contributes to its industrial development in a direct or indirect way. This is an advantage in which the student is engaged in real industrial problems, which expose the student to the real challenges in manufacturing, marketing, etc. On the other hand, an academic PhD may give the student more flexibility in selecting the research topic ranging from theoretical, fundamental, academic topics to real industrial projects. This, in turns, could be an advantage for ambitious students who are interested in pursuing new and creative topics. The fourth critical difference lies in the career goals and potential jobs after graduation. Academic PhD usually gives the student a wider range of job options, including faculty positions in academia (professorship), research scientist jobs in national research laboratories, and research and development (R&D) engineers/scientists positions in the industry. In addition, it is not limited to this; some students who succeed to initiate innovative research could

Higher Education Digest May 2021

It is important to emphasize that both types of degrees, academic and industrial PhDs, are equally good depending on the student’s long-term goals

patent their inventions and push their research towards commercialization and start their own companies. On the other hand, students in industrial PhD programs have a higher probability of getting a job in the industry, mainly as research and development engineers/scientists, as they graduate with substantial knowledge about the industry and the market. However, academic position and other options are still possible for them. The fifth notable difference between the two programs is the time duration. This could be a disadvantage for the academic PhD program. Because the academic PhD puts more duties on the student, it has a longer duration and requires the students to spend more time in the program ending up by an average of 5 years, with potential extension for a longer period. However, the time duration for the industrial PhD is 3 to 4 years, and this duration is usually inextensible due to funding limitation. Last but not least, even the application process to an academic PhD differs from that of an industrial PhD. For an academic PhD, a student usually contacts an academic professor ahead of time to inquire about a research position in

a professor’s research group, then he/ she applies to the PhD program in the department that the professor is affiliated to. While in industrial PhD, the research projects and their description are usually published online as job vacancies on the university website, and the student applies directly to a specific project that fits his/ her background and expertise. In addition, academic PhDs are mainly offered by the universities in the USA and Canada, while industrial PhDs are mainly offered in Europe and Australia. Finally, it is important to emphasize that both types of degrees, academic and industrial PhDs, are equally good depending on the student’s long-term goals. Nowadays, there are some new emerging PhD programs like the ‘PDEng program’ offered by TU Delft and some other universities in Netherland and Europe. PDEng program is a two-year practical oriented professional doctorate in engineering that is better suited to the direct needs of industry which differs from a regular PhD that is focused on scientific research. In conclusion, careful program selection is required from the student to match his/her skills, abilities, and career dreams.

Higher Education Digest May 2021

BUSINESS SCHOOLS

IN THE MIDDLE EAST - 2021

THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER MIDDLE EAST CENTRE

EXPANDING LEARNING HORIZONS THROUGH WORLD-CLASS EDUCATION

ovid-19 has disrupted the world forever, including the way formal business education is delivered. However, B-Schools that could leverage technology and had visionary leadership to quickly build an eco-system of virtual learning, teaching, evaluation, and community-building were less impacted. “Applications to top MBA programmes tend to rise in challenging times, and we have seen this during the current pandemic, as working professionals review their career direction and future employability, and the workplace undergoes a dramatic transformation. Our aim is to help students develop sustainable and fulfilling careers, and this means counselling candidates,” comments Randa Bessiso, Director Middle East, the University of Manchester. You only get one chance to study for an MBA or a specialist Master’s, and finding the right fit is vital. The right course content, format, and balance between technical and soft skills are important while choosing the right programme. At the University of Manchester, there is a focus on the Manchester Method - learning by doing - emphasises group work and real-world case studies.

Higher Education Digest May 2021

Opened at Dubai Knowledge Park in 2006, The Middle East Centre is the largest and fastest growing centre in The University of Manchester’s international network.

Higher Education Digest May 2021

ABOUT

RANDA BESSISO,

DIRECTOR MIDDLE EAST, THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER Randa Bessiso has spent much of her career working on market entry strategies, company startups and channel development programmes, and building profitable regional businesses and brands. Randa was instrumental in planning and establishing the Middle East Centre, which opened in Dubai in 2006. She is responsible for the overall management, operations, strategic planning and business development of The University of Manchester in the Middle East. Initially, Randa led the successful launch of the Alliance Manchester Business School Middle East Centre. This success was recognised by the wider University, which led to the re-naming of the centre and broadening of its role representing the academic interests

of the entire University in the region. Randa has overseen the development of the Middle East team and the launch of a range of educational products, services and initiatives, including a careers service, the Manchester Innovation Award for Emiratis, a range of CSR and research projects, and a portfolio of new part-time specialist Master’s programmes from the wider University. Among the regional recognitions is the ‘Best MBA Program’ award for the Global Part-time MBA at the inaugural Forbes Middle East Higher Education Awards 2019. On a personal basis, Randa has been recognised annually among the 100 Most Powerful Arab Businesswomen and the Middle East 100 Most Influential Women by Forbes Middle East, from 2014 to 2018. She was also named among the 30 most influential women in the Arab World by Arabian Business in 2019, and the annual Arab Power List 2021. Randa is a regular media commentator and speaker at executive forums in the UAE and region on her special area of interest – women in business.

Higher Education Digest May 2021

Xavier Duran Martinez, Director, MBA Programmes, says, “At Alliance Manchester Business School, we produce creative, resilient and socially-responsibly graduates who will thrive in the technological age. We continuously update our curriculum to ensure it focuses on the business challenges they will face as a leader, now and in the future. Students will learn to navigate uncertainty and confidently take on complex challenges in this once-in-a-lifetime learning journey.” The University of Manchester Middle East Centre was established in 2006 in Dubai Knowledge Park as the regional centre for the University’s Alliance Manchester Business School. Now, Dubai is one of the University’s five international regional centres in key business cities, spanning Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Manchester. Randa Bessiso shares, “The Middle East Centre in Dubai benefited from the city’s emergence as the business capital of the region and the creation of the world’s first free zone for higher education providers, along with its world-class business and communications infrastructure.” In 2017, the Middle East Centre became the University’s Centre for the Middle East, supporting all the University’s faculties. Until now, the centre has supported more than 2800 part-time MBA students, graduated more than 1800,

and supports and connects a regional alumni community of 2800 former students of the University. It is the largest and fastest-growing in the University’s international network of centres. “We have a global mission focusing on the three pillars of teaching, research, and social responsibility. The Middle East Centre supports all three pillars, and in addition to the extensive teaching program, it has also been active in regional and local research and social responsibility through its support for a range of local community initiatives,” states Randa Bessiso. Pursuing Educational Excellence As a regional centre supporting a large number of parttime Master’s students based across the Middle East, the team at the Middle East Centre provides local support and counselling for students and arranges facilities in Dubai to host regular MBA workshops and course conferences, which are all led by University faculty or program directors. Although these sessions are designed to be face-to-face experiences, they are currently delivered in a hybrid format, offering students the option of joining physical sessions in Dubai or connecting remotely through online video platforms. The centre itself provides a range of study areas for group work and also a reference library open to all students.

Higher Education Digest May 2021

The regional portfolio comprises five part-time Master’s programs – the University offers two MBA options (the Manchester Global Part-time MBA and the Kelley-Manchester Global MBA), in addition to specialist MSc degrees in Educational Leadership in Practice and Real Estate. A new program will start in the Middle East in September 2021 - the part-time MSc in Financial Management is a flexible Master’s degree designed to help students transform their finance and business careers by developing their financial understanding, expertise, and skills. The Manchester Global Part-time MBA is a 2-year, faculty-led blended learning program that offers as much face-to-face contact time as many full-time MBA programs. This human connection is irreplaceable. The Global MBA produces creative, resilient, and socially-responsibly

Higher Education Digest May 2021

graduates who will thrive in the technological age, and it focuses on the business challenges leaders will face. Students learn to navigate uncertainty and confidently take on complex challenges in this once-in-a-lifetime learning journey. The course also offers flexible options, including accelerated study pathways for students who meet the criteria. These pathways can accelerate the learning process and help students complete their MBA program in as little as 18 months. The Global Accelerated MBA program is for senior managers, high-level executives, and entrepreneurs with at least eight years of experience. Students travel together to attend face-to-face workshops in Manchester, Dubai, and Shanghai, followed by a choice of electives at any of the University’s five global locations. Randa Bessiso adds, “An MBA is a serious commitment of time, but the part-

85 The University works in a range of collaborations with professional bodies such as IMA, ACCA, and Society of Engineers, as well as UK organisations including UKTI, British Business Group and British Centres for Business. time, blended learning format means that students can continue to work and earn, even while they study in their own time, and enjoy the benefits of their new learning almost immediately in their workplaces. The demand amongst MBA candidates is for shorter and more intensive study programs to help students complete their programs faster and help them enjoy a quicker return on their investment.” Integrating Technology in the ‘New Normal’ As a world-class research institution, The University of Manchester has a strong commitment to undertaking and supporting research and the opportunity that arose in the

Middle East during the pandemic. A Covid-19 Response Report (CRR) by Oxford Business Group (OBG), produced in 2020 in partnership with The University of Manchester (UoM) Middle East Centre in Dubai, mapped out the positive impact of sustained investment by the UAE in health, technology and education has had on the country’s efforts to reduce the impact of the coronavirus and move towards recovery. The report looks at how the UAE’s education sector adapted to new ways of operating during the lockdown. It analyses, in particular, the part that technology played in helping to ease the transition to remote learning at the height of the pandemic, facilitated by the country’s robust digital infrastructure and strong ICT adoption rating. It covers the steps that the University’s Middle East Centre took to increase digital engagement for its large regional community of part-time MBA students when the pandemic arrived - a move it was able to make rapidly, due to an already strong blended learning platform, combining online study and face to face workshops, while also rolling out a series of publicly accessible online webinars. Continuity and quality of student experience was the focus of the University’s Middle East Centre as the

Higher Education Digest May 2021

team continued to enrol, support, and engage with current and new students and alumni across the region. University life in the region continued whilst operating within the protocols in place to ensure the community stayed safe and well. The University’s portfolio of part-time blended learning Master’s programs for working professionals is ideally suited to flexible study, and whilst the face-to-face teaching and networking component of the programs is very valuable, most of the teaching, content, and interaction that students need can be virtualised. The centre team is highly skilled with the technologies that they have all adopted, and the student experience remains rich and interactive, with the choice of online and face-to-face or hybrid access to content and events. One of the principal advantages of blended learning is its flexibility in terms of when, where, and how students connect to the learning experience – especially the online study components. However, the face-to-face workshop experience is core to blended learning and is where students gain significant benefits from exposure to their peers, teaching faculty, and the opportunity to build professional networks. The University’s virtual workshops are faculty-led, delivered to regional time zones, and designed to provide a highly interactive experience. “We are using all the flexibility of the blended learning format and our online experience to ensure continued access to learning for our students. The Middle East team continues to deliver student support services and an active online program of masterclasses and careers webinars for students and alumni, and information sessions and 1-2-1 counselling for candidates,” remarks Bessiso. Securing Students’ Bright Future The students at the University of Manchester Middle East Centre have shared their personal and professional journeys through their study programs. The Global Part-time MBA is a very challenging academic program and a life-changing experience – it’s also a human experience, and the close personal and professional friendships with peers, faculty, and support team members are deep and lasting for all students. For busy working professionals with demanding careers, families, and other commitments,

Higher Education Digest May 2021

Since successfully launching the University’s top ranked part-time MBA programme in the Middle East, the centre has identified a range of key educational and leadership needs in the region through research, collaborations and consultancy work.

creating face to face – or online – networking and group study opportunities is a vital central component of the overall student experience. Students joining programs through the University’s Middle East Centre are generally already pursuing successful careers. Students joining the Global Part-time MBA are looking to accelerate their existing careers, switch careers, or become more entrepreneurial. The latest Global Part-time MBA cohort (January 2021) comprises 90 students of diverse nationalities and residents in countries across the region. Many of them already hold a post-graduate qualification, and the majority are selffunded. They hold various positions, with around 40

per cent already in executive management roles in companies across all the region’s major industries, with technology, banking, construction, healthcare, consulting, and aviation prominent among them. All the students are experienced working professionals, with around 60 per cent bringing 10 years or more experience to the program. Women professionals comprise 21 per cent of the new cohort. The MBA students have access to career support from day one of the program, right up to a year after they graduate. The students can book a session with a careers counsellor with consultations in person or online. When possible, there are also networking events at the centre where students can meet the careers team, other students from their course. The team hosts regular virtual webinars, covering a variety of topics, from how to write a CV to offer negotiation. These webinars allow students to access them at any time during their MBA. The University’s large alumni network is also helpful for making introductions for students in various countries or industries. The University’s comprehensive Careers Service helps to create access to the regional pool of talent for corporate partners of the University in the Middle East. The University of Manchester Middle East Centre has made a significant impact on individuals, organisations, and communities over the last 15 years and is committed to sustaining this level of excellence. The emergence of educational technology (EduTech) will help create access to lifelong learning opportunities in response to the rapid obsolescence of existing skills, while flexible part-time, blended learning opportunities will help sustain employability. Alongside the digital learning experience, there is a clear need to ensure we maintain human connections. Soft skills such as leadership, creativity and innovation, and adaptability will remain essential elements of existing programs and new ones. “We will see a surge in creative partnerships between educational institutions, as organisations try to build on our new collective experience and quickly add capabilities, resources, and reach. Our dynamic portfolio of blended learning, part-time Master’s programs for working professionals in the region will continue to grow and develop,” concludes Randa Bessiso.

Higher Education Digest May 2021

INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE

FIVE REASONS

WHY B-SCHOOLS CATALYSE STUDENTS TOWARDS THE ENTREPRENEURIAL ROUTE Dr Vikas Nand Kumar Batheja, Co-Founder & Director, Capital College, UAE

Dr Vikas Nand Kumar Batheja is the CoFounder & Director of Capital College, the region’s first entrepreneurial college founded in 1998. Dr Batheja is a veteran and an awardwinning entrepreneur in the education sector serving over 20 years in the industry. He is also on the Board of Advisors of various other colleges including London College of Arts and London College of Management.

Higher Education Digest May 2021

One of the underrated advantages of attending B-school is the validation you could seek when you are forming your company

n recent times, many 20-something students are keen to try the entrepreneurial league. In the 21st century, it is analysed that small businesses are booming as many people prefer to be managers of themselves rather than being stuck in a regular 9-5 job. Individuals are thirsty for knowledge and are looking for platforms where they can ideate, develop and execute mind-boggling business strategies and become trendsetters of their relevant industry. This year alone, there have been more than 33 million entrepreneurs who have ventured into small business setups. However, it can be asked - what is the necessary qualification for an entrepreneur? While some have the natural flair of building businesses and being courageous of the various risk factors, many require some knowledge and experience which comes in the form of a qualification.

89 Let us explore how B-Schools catalyse the entrepreneur in oneself by giving them the necessary knowledge to become successful, considering the current competitive corporate market. A foundation in business principles While many argue that there is nothing that can replace valuable experience, many aspects of a business school curriculum can directly reflect on the ways an entrepreneur thinks and functions. Although the specifics of the subject depends on the type of program and specialisation you choose, it is essential to know the kind of business you would like to venture in and then be aware of the legal considerations such as liquidation preferences, preferred versus common stock etc. Although one can argue that the internet has a pool of information that one can refer to, a B-school gives a significant

Higher Education Digest May 2021

proportion of information that is wellstructured with case studies and anecdotes. Most people tend to believe that the subjects taught in a B-school are outdated and may not be relevant to the current market trends. However, the same modules can be used to create a framework of the business idea, evaluate strategies and lay a concrete roadmap to success. B-School – A place to build a team Research suggests that bad management is one of the primary reasons for a failed enterprise. Further analysis shows that at least 60% of start-ups tend to fail in the first decade if the management or the founding member(s) are not driven in the right direction. Either people lack the necessary experience and hastily take decisions to become entrepreneurs or due to poor delegation fail to execute the vision of the corporation. This is why a place at a good B-school will allow you to make an informed decision as almost every student is a potential co-founder of your venture. Unlike any other opportunities where within 2-3 years, you may discover the inability to work together, you can perform a ‘test drive’ at your postgraduate studies. Also, in B-schools, you may not have to immediately validate the ownership of the company. Instead, you can continue working on its structure and prototype. Once you have reached a particular stage, you would be able to have a clear vision of the future of your corporation.

A Place to Validate your Ideas One of the underrated advantages of attending B-school is the validation you could seek when you are forming your company. As a student, you will be able to access a large test group and get your strategies and ideas validated from fellow students as well as program coordinators. It would be interesting to know their response, especially if the industry you venture into, caters to a millennial crowd. On the flip side, there couldn’t be a better place to initiate your research process as business

Higher Education Digest May 2021

An MBA may only fuel your business proposition; fellow batch mates can be relevant potential investors that you may otherwise have to look for

students will willingly participate in surveys, trials of new products/services and give constructive feedback. When you initialise your entrepreneurial career in a B-school, you can rapidly iterate your key concepts, designs and the core vision supported with constant feedback from your target audience. Mitigate Start-Up Risk For any entrepreneur, it is almost impossible to give a precise value of risk they may have to take on while starting a new company. In many cases, the founding member(s) needs to remain optimistic about its success, although it may seem highly irrational. In some cases, people are hit by a unique business idea or proposition that they are excited to take on but are second-guessing as they may lose out on the comfort they currently enjoy. This could be a current job with a good pay scale, growth and added benefits, or it could be the fear of failure amongst many others. Alternatively, people who attend B-school are already formally committing to quitting their full-time job and the income that comes along. Perhaps, at that point, it could almost seem like a risk-free event or a no plan-B plan as you have already accepted and admitted to the risk factor along with the resume gap. Worst case, the start-up could fail, and you would use the B-school qualification to become an employee in another firm. Best case – you would utilise the time to commit to your ideas, seek the

necessary validation and develop a full-proof plan for a successful career as an entrepreneur along with the knowledge you would eventually gain. An Array of Opportunities Irrespective of the size of the start-up, you wish to open, it is important to think of the fundraising options you may have. Although, the funds may initially start with friends and family, slowly transpire into a bank loan and at a later stage, opt for venture capital, B-schools and their alumni network can be a great place to pitch your business ideas. An MBA may only fuel your business proposition; fellow batch mates can be relevant potential investors that you may otherwise have to look for. Furthermore, a valuable qualification from B-school can give you the required credibility in investor meetings and will give them a positive perception of your intentions. Well, aren’t businesses all about building trust, momentum and success? Capital College UAE offers MBA programs in exclusive partnership with North Wales Business School Glyndwr University in the UK, Westcliff University located in California and Rome Business School, Europe’s most international business school. UAE and KSA students can enrol for the world’s 59th ranked International MBA program where students will be awarded triple qualification and an opportunity to seamlessly transfer and graduate in Italy.

Higher Education Digest May 2021

BUSINESS SCHOOLS

IN THE MIDDLE EAST - 2021

UNIVERSITY OF STIRLING, RAS AL KHAIMAH

OFFERING HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION THROUGH RESEARCH AND INNOVATION

AE is rapidly transforming into a powerful and engaging knowledge-based economy. The number of educational institutions imparting various programs at all levels till tertiary has grown manifolds. “We are witnessing more and more participation from local regulators, government agencies, communities, parents, and students alike. Every second can inspire a spark in the young minds of the students and nourish a dream of incalculable value and a deep fondness for education and its manifests. Thus far and to that farthest, the education sector is the change agent in shaping students’ lives. Education is a sentiment and runs deep in people, and they are proud of it. Everybody is,” opines Dr Richa Arora, Head of Institution and COO, University of Stirling, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE. A seasoned business leader and a passionate educationist with 18 years of experience in the education sector, Dr Richa brings with her a rare combination of extensive business, leadership skills, academic and insight across various business segments. She adds, “In UAE, what we see today is a sublimely matured educational ecosystem. And this is

Higher Education Digest May 2021

University of Stirling campus in Ras Al Khaimah in UAE formally opened its doors in 2018 and is gearing to enable students undertake prestigious courses developed by their expert academics.

Higher Education Digest May 2021

University of Stirling has a long history of supporting Indian students to becoming global citizens with successful careers around the world.

going to advance further, probably making UAE the hub of higher education in this region. Moreover, with this current pandemic, what we have witnessed is that this has opened doors for us to connect globally and to attract students from various parts of the world viz India, Africa, and Southeast Asia.” Founded in 1967 by the Royal Charter, the University of Stirling is evolving into UAE’s leading institution

Higher Education Digest May 2021

of learning, discovery and knowledge creation. The university houses the state of the art facilities for the courses that they offer and offers programs for students in various fields like Accounting and Finance, Computing Science, Business Computing, Software Engineering, Big Data, Financial Technology, and Finance, along with excellent computer lab and classroom facilities. They also have a good library for those who wish to for additional knowledge and interests and e a large auditorium, Cafeteria and game courts for Basket Ball and Volley Ball. “Since the quality of our programs is of paramount importance to us, we keep upgrading our facilities to align our quality objectives,” shares Dr Richa Arora. The University of Stirling is a public University in Scotland, UK, and has taken pride in its various achievements and laurels. It is ranked by the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) consistently five stars in Teaching, Employability, Internationalization, Facilities, and Inclusiveness. An extended campus in the emirate of Ras

ABOUT

DR RICHA ARORA,

HEAD OF INSTITUTION AND COO, UNIVERSITY OF STIRLING, RAS AL KHAIMAH, UAE Dr Richa holds extensive leadership experience in propelling academic growth across the campuses of the University of Stirling. Her vision of nurturing future leaders to make them globally competent and socially committed has proved to be a turning point in the arena of the University of Stirling’s growth internationally. She holds leadership

accountability for continuous improvement and implementation of the mission, vision, goals, values and policies of the University of Stirling, UAE campus and its subsidiaries. Earlier, Dr Richa was the Group CEO and Director of South African based university with having campuses in India, South Africa and Nigeria. Dr Richa had been instrumental in bringing pedagogical innovations and its mission of influencing practice and promoting value-based growth. She has been instrumental in devising several innovative strategies to increase the students’ admission for different business management programs offered by Regenesys and had also ensured 100 per cent placements for all the programs.

Higher Education Digest May 2021

Al Khaimah, UAE, the university campus was launched in 2018 to provide a world-class education for the students in UAE. Their Ras Al Khaimah Campus enables their students to study the courses developed by expert academics and deliver internationally. The institute’s programs are in demand in the industry for undergraduate and postgraduate levels, providing affordable education programs while keeping it sustainable and qualityassured. Dr Richa explains, “We offer a bouquet of courses for students who pursue study in Accounting and Finance, Business Management, Software Engineering, or

Higher Education Digest May 2021

Computer Science at the undergraduate level or a study in analytical areas like Big Data, Fintech, or Finance at the Masters level. Most of our programs are becoming quite popular given their significance and future requirements for finance and computing professionals.” Fostering research and sustaining research interest is one of the key objectives of the University of Stirling, RAK Campus. They discuss recent research papers, the latest advancements in various domains, the research our faculties are currently into and their publications, intended publications and partnering with each other or

The University of Stirling is recognised for addressing the needs of the society through innovative interdisciplinary research, learning and teaching of the highest quality and sharing knowledge.

with academics outside the university and to discuss and define various research initiatives. The main purpose of this initiative is to encourage a research bend of mind among the teaching faculties. The University of Stirling has given importance to research and an andragogic teaching and learning environment. With an active Research and Innovation Cell, the institute explores new frontiers of knowledge and their applications. They have regular conferences on various contemporary topics to encourage students and faculty participation and provide a forum to showcase their aptitude toward research and to analyze a problem or a situation from a different perspective. These initiatives include internal workshops, encouraging faculties to publish their research papers in indexed research journals, International conferences, seminars, faculty development programs to achieve the best practices in both: teaching and their subject domains. The committee also encourages industrial and management consultancies, and most recently, getting into research initiatives and partnerships with various reputed Universities. “We take pride in our academics who have published extensively in Scopus indexed Journal, incited as Research session Chair and even some senior academics who are peer-reviewers of recognized Journal publications,” remarks Dr Richa. Pillars of Support – Students and Faculty of University of Stirling Present-day teaching has to be student-centric, for this gives them a sense of pride as owners of the learning process in a level playing field environment. This also provides an erudite habitat- both in critical thoughts and applications of the learnings. It empowers the students and finds in them eager participants in all teaching-related

Higher Education Digest May 2021

The university’s specially designed courses equip ambitious students with the skills to thrive in this fastmoving world and help them to transfer into better individuals.

Higher Education Digest May 2021

activities. Students come from different backgrounds and cultures and have different prior knowledge and abilities, and my objective is to give every student credence to what they have and what they can identify within the context of the learnings at hand. This then becomes the fulcrum for onward learning delivery. The focus has thus shifted from traditional teacher-centric to student-centric. Now there is a complete union between the learner, the imparter, and the environment. Coming from various domains, the faculty at the University of Stirling, RAK Campus, have received their doctorates, and some of them are progressing towards their Post-Doctoral research. To enhance a world-class education system, the university has set up a Centre of Academic Excellence at our Campus (CAE). “CAE is a think-tank for all the activities we pursue as teachers. This centre is to bring in the latest in all the areas of research

pertinent to the taught curriculum at our campus. Another significant objective of the CAE is to enhance and encourage self, peer and guided mentoring and to bring their results to the classrooms. Research and Excellence in everything we do became the core thought driver of CAE,” adds Dr Richa. The students at the University of Stirling, RAK Campus, have an all-rounded academic pursuit as a result of a purposeful design of the academic calendar year. While they accord with a lot of weightage to the program curricula, the institute also ensures that other personality development activities and competitive scholastic inclinations are given significant consideration. Adopting a learners-centric approach and giving students ownership of their learning process, they spend a considerable time of their day designing their approach to the curriculum with the help of their teachers to guide them. “This

approach cultivates a research orientation in our students. For the successive years at our campus, their progressions in their studies become more meaningful and rewarding. From a classroom perspective, possibly this could be a memorable experience for the students,” opines Dr Richa. Focusing on industry-relevant programs since the beginning, the University of Stirling’s undergraduate program delivers a good platform for its students to assess and understand the graduate program they are looking for based on their aptitude, likes, and interest. Their dedicated Placement and Education (PEW) Wing is a student-led body in consultation and collaboration with experienced and trained academics from various faculty who know both the academics and industry. “The objective of PEW is to be a catalyst with the responsibility of liaising with industries and inviting them to the campus for campus placement, and the students go through a

Higher Education Digest May 2021

100

The University of Stirling is recognised for addressing the needs of the society through innovative interdisciplinary research, learning and teaching of the highest quality and sharing knowledge.

rigorous selection process for which they will be groomed by PEW to face the interview panel. Through our Campus to Corporate Skills and Work-readiness workshops, we provide industry-based skills and competence for our students to make them employable. We have a good track record of providing students with summer internships and final placements with various organizations. Most of them have even been offered final placements with the same organizations,” shares Dr Richa. The university also has an industry-academia interface that will aid in not just in building their network but as an avenue to meet industry experts to understand the best practices from various sectors and the expectations of the industry and assessing their hiring goals. PEW organizes various sectoral HR Forums that aids in enhancing student’s awareness regarding the available career options and matching their career objectives most optimally. Also, PEW believes in reaching out to other learning communities,

Higher Education Digest May 2021

enterprises, entities, and people locally and in different parts of the world who may benefit from the propagation of the knowledge and create success in life for themselves, and this essentially is done as part of our Education Wing offering short online courses. Making the Best out of the ‘New Normal’ COVID – 19 has impacted almost all the sectors, and the education sector was no exception. The UAE community is very resilient and had already figured out how to deal with this catastrophe. Almost everybody is connected here to the internet and has their own connecting devices like a laptop or a tablet. Also, every school, college, university, and institution have their technology platforms. Before the COVID -19 scenario, the University of Stirling had already had enabled an IT learning platform and, therefore, the migration to the online learning model was almost a seamless integration. “Our current system is as effective as a physical classroom except that what we miss is ‘teaching in a formal and controlled classroom environment’. Using these platforms, we have managed to deliver the curriculum as best as to replicate our classroom experiences for the students. Our academic staff is already well trained to deliver the curriculum online since even with the classroom scenarios, there were always some components that had to be done online like assignment submissions and other doubt clearing sessions,” states Dr. Richa. The University of Stirling also engaged students in international and inter-university competitions and events (online) besides the regular rigours of the prescribed

pedagogy. Startup Weekend, an entrepreneurial or business idea platform for the students, personality, employability, and skills development programs are some of these. They also have slated the inter-collegiate subject domain competition. “Our intention to provide this holistic development is to enhance and increase the engagement of students with our faculties so that the classroom privy factor and sociopsychological influence of teachers and peers are mimicked through these activities,” adds Dr Richa. Mankind is battling COVID 19 on an unprecedented scale ever witnessed, and this scourge has withered communities forcing them to recede from day-to-day life to their homes in solitude. This pandemic has caused the hardest hit to the basic services to our communities, and the educational sector is one of them. University of Stirling, UAE has wisely and proactively approached this menace with the most prudent and effective ways possible through their PEW, and empower their students to take on various responsibilities and learn onthe-job working in multiple roles and be ready to face the real world of work. Through their Campus to Corporate Skills and Workreadiness workshops, the university is providing industrybased skills and competence for its students to make them employable. To this end, the university conducts extensive Employability Skills Workshop (ESW) for its graduates to be job-ready through its Campus to Corporate intensive workshops. These highly stimulating workshops are made completely interactive with ‘Experiential Learning Methodologies’, which provides a platform where students explore new dimensions to their personalities. The

University of Stirling, Ras Al Khaimah is proud to have educated students on its state-of-the-art campus from over 120 nations.

competencies that are trained as part of this include Winning Attitudes, Stress Management, Leadership Skills, CV writing, Interview preparation, Personality and EI, Team building, etc., to name a few. As the student enrollments increase year after year, the University of Stirling is benchmarking each of its successes and well-fared initiatives to become even grander in scale, intellectually deeper and wider in scope, and higher in achievements. The students round the year have a busy calendar of events, academic festivals, inter-university competitions, cultural events, town halls, webinars, and public speaking workshops. This provides them with a unique edge over their peers. Academic rigours of the curriculum combined with these events acquaint them with the required nuances and hues of the real-life world. It helps them to know that a realm exists and equips them to harness it effectively toward a good citizenry – whether corporate or for the community at large.

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101

ACADEMIC VIEW

THE Xth

EDUCATION REVOLUTION Dr Randa Hariri, Associate Professor, Dar Al-Hekma University, Saudi Arabia

102 Dr. Randa Hariri is an Associate Professor in the Master’s Program of Educational Leadership and the Director of the Center of Excellence in Teaching & Learning at Dar Al-Hekma University, Saudi Arabia. A certified KPI professional and practitioner in education institutions and Strategic Planning Professional. Dr. Hariri is a passionate and dedicated educator, excited to share her expertise and prowess in the education field and gain novel relevant experiences. She has over 20 years of experience in teaching and learning, curriculum development, teachers’ professional development, strategic planning, quality and accreditation associated work in higher education institutions.

Higher Education Digest May 2021

Wise Leadership is considered intelligent when it can manifest itself in providing the best learning opportunities to students, within which learning starts and ceases to end

103

here is no doubt that the attentiveness to education, its research and development, has reached the forefront as a main priority of the myriads of countries around the globe. Education is one that propels civilizations, by distinguishing the advancement and the peculiarity of a country from others. A radical revolution took place towards the traditional education systems, with their stereotypes that are loosely based on memorization and indoctrination. A reformed education system would take the façade of a new image grounded on analysis, critical thinking, creativity and teamwork. This specific change compelled a major shift in the education system as a whole. Education,

witnessed the change of the focal point of authority, which has been passed down from teachers to students. Nevertheless, the essential related practices for this change are still yet to be practiced or implemented in the most effective ways, as it should be. To be more precise, student centeredness is highly misinterpreted and misunderstood in most, if not all education institutions, whether at school or higher education levels, and it’s time to correct this perception. The concept of student centeredness is dwarfed to only express and include the understanding and utilization of student-centered teaching strategies or practices inside or outside the physical or virtual classrooms. However, student-centeredness is way a broader and deeper concept that encompasses

Higher Education Digest May 2021

It is necessary for education institutions to have all adequate requirements to face any significant obstacles that may threaten their essence or in more exact words, their existence

104 ALL of the education. Accordingly, to correct this perception a revolution in education must take place in order to incorporate ALL of the education. This revolution should emphasize and prioritize the talents of students and capitalize on them so that one may pave the way towards a brighter future. A wise and promising future entails having a smart leadership that can make intuitive decisions and provide guidance that will push the progress and improvement of the education system in the most effective and efficient path possible. Wise Leadership is considered intelligent when it can manifest itself in providing the best learning opportunities to students, within which learning starts and ceases to end. A leadership that assists higher education, alter its focus from teaching to learning, from teaching excellence to learning

Higher Education Digest May 2021

excellence, and from centering on the quality of teaching to concentrating on the quality of learning. “Learning starts with an opportunity”! This philosophy for teaching should be the guide based on which education institutions are invited to design their teachers’ professional development programs, modify their academic curriculums, tailor their student development programs, enhance all related academic and non-academic support services, and even rethink the overall design of their facilities. Shedding this light, educational leaders are encouraged to diversify their learning opportunities to address students’ needs and meet their interests while considering each student’s uniqueness. Investing in their Talents, and motivation will yield them to utilize their full potential and maximize their achievements.

This drives me to courageously and confidently invite “leaders in education” to adopt the Wise Leadership and implement a new strategy in curriculum or academic program development, in teachers’ professional development, as well as in learning and teaching. This new suggested strategy is TalentOriented rather than subject matter or discipline oriented. This strategy would transform the higher education role from being observed as an entity which serves the labor market, to an entity that leads whole communities through its students’ body of talents and dictate the labor market. This strategy is Student -Centered. Let us rename our “Academic Programs” and call them “Talent Programs”. Let us redesign or customize our assessment tools and standardized tests around the student bodies of talents to uncover their hidden potentials. Let us retailor the teachers’ professional development to focus on learning activities and opportunities, instead of focusing on teaching strategies. Simply, let us rethink education. There are myriads of ways to improve and thrust educational development. Some include the management and efficient organization of human resources, the selection of qualified competencies in the fields of education, the provision of ample working conditions, which includes financial returns and economic incentives, provision of mutual homage and recognition particularly to the teachers or faculty. This starts and ends with respecting and securing their rights, investing in their potentials, and appreciating their efforts which will in turn positively impact the educational system as a whole. This Wise Leadership is essential for the benefit of the education sector in general and higher education in particular. It is necessary for education institutions to have all adequate requirements to face any significant obstacles that may threaten their essence or in more

exact words, their existence. These challenges include different aspects but mainly revolve around teaching and learning, teacher- student relationship, the wellbeing of students and teachers, as well as financial related aspects. At this point, it is highly pertinent to discuss the impact of technology as one of the dramatic factors “controlling” all sectors. This with no doubt includes education, whereby all technology professionals are invited to partner with educators and teachers to be the pillar that supports education rather than controls it. As technology continuously makes the availability and abundance of knowledge easy to access, it is also the comprised catalyst that led the drastic shift in the learning-teaching process during the past decades. This colossal dynamic continues to lead other changes in the essence of education and specifically in the aspects mentioned above in our current time. During COVID 19, when the world halted its functions, technology once again shined as the savior of day-to-day management and operations that range from manual labor, to teaching and learning, all the way to state and international governance. Technology has for a countless amount of times sufficiently proved to be yet-again a momentous factor that constitutes the lungs through which our modern world could retrieve its breath. Here is where, when, and how Wise Leadership is highly needed to hold the deck to maintain the growth and development of higher education. The link to higher education is found in all areas of life. Henceforth, the role of education is to stimulate critical and analytical thinking to the concern of finding solutions to local and global problems in the field of sustainable development. Yes, this era with all the overwhelming changes needs an “Xth Education Revolution”. A revolution that emphasizes students’ talents and adopt a Wise Leadership. “Learning Starts with an Opportunity”.

Higher Education Digest May 2021

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ACADEMIC VIEW

SETTING THE ACADEMIC LEARNING STAGE FOR MILLENNIALS:

THE GREAT RESET Dr Kakul Agha, Associate Professor, Skyline University College, UAE

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Dr Kakul Agha is a PhD from Aligarh Muslim University India; MBA(HR); PG in Higher Education Professional Practice from Coventry University, UK, and carries 23 years UG and PG teaching, research, dissertation, internship, consultancy, PhD supervision and student clubs experience in UAE, Oman and India. Since 2014, she is an Associate Professor at Skyline University College, Sharjah. Till 2014; was Head, PG Department, Middle East College, and Visiting Professor, Sultan Qaboos University, Sultanate of Oman. Dr Agha has published Cases, book-chapters and research articles in Worklife-balance and education domains. At Skyline University, she won “Award for Excellence in Teaching Effectiveness” (2016-17); “Excellence in Services” (2017-18) and “Excellence in Research” (2018-19). She received Award/Certificate from Ministry of Infrastructure Development, Dubai for Mentoring Innovation Projects (2018) and Award/Certificate from Sharjah Government for Supporting and Mentoring Students for Innovation during the UAE Innovation Month (2018).

Higher Education Digest May 2021

The pandemic COVID-19 has left educationists pondering and debating over how and what is essential for university students

hat sort of education do millennials need? This is a prime question nowadays. Millennials, the “generation with a purpose” needs education that teaches them how to achieve their purpose. Primarily, millennials are disparate from their university professors, the Gen Xers, who fall between baby boomers and millennials, and are approaching the middle of their working careers and potential peakearning years. A major proportion of millennials want to improve the society instead of just generating profits for the company and utilize their skills and competencies for a societal cause. Additionally, the pandemic COVID-19 has set forth new challenges and an urgent need for global stakeholders to manage the consequences of this crisis. The World Economic Forum (WEF) Chief Executive Officer Klaus Schwab, described the three core components of the Great Reset as stakeholder economy, better resilience, equity and sustainability and lastly to harness the innovations of the Fourth Industrial Revolution for public good. These indicators are strong enough to define what to teach and how to engage the millennials in contemporary university education.

The educators need to focus on developing knowledge sets, skills and competencies in Business Ethics. An appropriately designed course with practical information would enable students learn ethical decision making. There is a great need for creating, generating and sustaining an interest about business ethics among millennials, as they are the future workforce and entrepreneurs in the forthcoming decades. One of the core tenets of Business Ethics is Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). The topic of CSR is interesting as well as useful for people who want to give back to the society and have an inclination towards benefiting the world at large. Volunteering and charity are two critical pillars of CSR too. All this education could build a better set of workforce for the future. Additionally, this would let the world get rid of a number of unethical scandals carried out by the business world. In fact, this is what the millennials would love to do, make the world a better and cleaner place to live. Further, the millennials need to learn about sustainability so that the future can be secured in a positive way. Sustainability means learners know and use strategies of development that meet the needs of

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the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. So sustainability courses are a prime requirement in academic learning institutions targeted to the millennials. The pandemic COVID-19 has left educationists pondering and debating over how and what is essential for university students. It is imperative that new educational estimates and policies should be arranged and institutionalized across the globe. The millennials also need new knowledge about managing their worklife balance. The most important lesson millennials are interested in, focuses on improving the three domains of work-life balance – physical, mental and social domains. During the pandemic, suddenly the millennials feel that requisite and timely importance should be given to creating a greater balance between their work and life related activities. They want to engage in building relationships in order to understand the people they work and live with. They like focusing on physical health by eating healthy and timely meals; visiting the gym and taking enough night sleep. They want flextime work arrangements and simultaneously focus on their lives. Beyond physical health, millennials also love enhancing their emotional health, through investing in relationships with family members, friends, and colleagues at work. Bonding is critical for them, whether on social media or in person. They also love volunteering and charity-related activities. So millennials need to acquire all these skills and competencies. The universities across the globe need to design and run “work-life balance” courses so as to build vital skills among the millennials. Along with this, in contemporary educational world, importance needs to be given to 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by United Nations in 2015 that address the challenges of the world and its people. As rightly said by thinkers that even the worst people and situations make us learn something, this pandemic COVID-19 also teaches us a host of things to improve ourselves and the world around us. “Core Life Skills” is an exquisite course that is the need of the hour. The educational institutions should lay more focus on developing and nurturing core life skills among the millennials so that they can live a happier and more fulfilled life. UNICEF, UNESCO and WHO list the ten core life skill strategies and techniques as problem solving, critical thinking, effective communication skills, decision-making, creative thinking, interpersonal relationship skills, self- awareness building skills, empathy, and coping with stress and emotions. Self-awareness, self-esteem and self-confidence are essential tools required for the future generations of

Higher Education Digest May 2021

The educational institutions should lay more focus on developing and nurturing core life skills among the millennials so that they can live a happier and more fulfilled life

this world including millennials, in order to understand inner strengths and weaknesses. Consequently, the individual is able to discern available opportunities and prepare to face possible threats, which prompts for innovation. This leads to the development of social awareness of the concerns of one’s family and society. Subsequently, it is possible to identify problems that arise within both the family and society. Therefore, it is vital for educational institutions to carve out courses for developing and sustaining core life skills, creativity and innovation for millennials. So what should educators do? The universities across the globe should focus on 2 vital aspects. The first aspect revolves around harnessing KSAs through valid content – Developing requisite knowledge, skills and abilities among millennials is essential. Institutions should design effective curriculum to build and harness knowledge, skills and abilities – so curriculum development is the need of the hour. Developing a requisite curriculum needs to be done at a fast pace so that once COVID-19 pandemic ends the universities can readily float such courses across institutions of the world. Content is a critical factor as without legitimate and balanced content, no major development is possible among learners. The content should effectively

influence knowledge, behavior and skills development so as to positively impact millennials in the university. The second aspect discuses about the teaching methods to be utilized in order for delivering learning among millennials. Teaching methods are key to success when it comes to student learning. The right methods related to the type of KSA to be provided to students, need to be deployed. Instead of teacher-centered methods, educators should focus on student-centered teaching methods. Studentcentered learning engages students in their own success and incorporates their interests and skills in the learning process. It is crucial to use teaching methods that sustain interest and passion of millennials within the classroom environment. With the pandemic, enhancing the learning process at online learning platforms is also very essential. Student-centered learning is not only personalized and competency-based but also highly engaging for the learners, because the latter take greater responsibility of their own learning. It helps students nurture their interests and skills and further prepares the millennials to be part of the skilled workforce of the future. This method supports diversity of learning styles and pace among the students and even the time and place they want to learn. This enhances overall learning in a generation of humans and thus the overall world population at some stage. Some of the globally accepted tools for student-centered learning may include choice boards, self-assessment rubrics, group tasks and many such highly engaging methods. So in a way student-centered learning could be highly useful in universities for millennials. So in all the learning curve is steep and requires extensive effort to manage and organize the learning process of the millennials. Hence policy makers and academicians need to be fast and efficient in order to design and operationalize academic courses that enable millennials to be able to shape the world as a better place to live. To conclude, the academic world has to join the movement of the Great Reset, identify new factors that have arisen due to the pandemic COVID-19, restrategize policies, processes and rules of learning, discover new and enhanced tools, techniques and methods, revisit and choose emergent technologies and then only let the new academic learning process flow. This whole resetting process may take extra energy and time, but has to be carried out in a professional manner. The movement has to be at a global level involving each and every education providing institution and potential learner.

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ACADEMIC VIEW

TOURISM MANAGEMENT

STUDY PATH IN HIGHER EDUCATION Dr Sara Nunes, Assistant Professor Business – Tourism Management, Higher Colleges of Technology, UAE

110 Dr Nunes has been an academic in Tourism & Hospitality Management for more than 15 years. She held teaching positions in Portugal, South Korea, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates in undergraduate and graduate levels. Apart from teaching, Dr Nunes engaged in support tasks as thesis advising, curriculum development, student mentoring, advising and admissions. Dr Nunes also held management positions in internship coordinator, minor coordinator, program leader, and director of international relations.

Higher Education Digest May 2021

Technology will transform how the tourism industry design, offer and deliver tourism products, services, and experiences

tudying tourism management can be the ticket to be a part of one of the world’s highest growing and most dynamic industry. This industry gives you the opportunity to travel the world, meet new people from different countries, offer a significant pay scale, and benefit from an exciting work environment. Unlike regular 9-5 jobs, careers in this industry are often flexible and unlimited. When pursuing a degree in tourism management, students will learn a wide range of transferable skills, like teamwork, leadership, problem-solving, presentation skills, IT skills, research skills, and communication skills with a strong focus on the customer. In terms of offered courses, the majority of the universities focus on events, culture, and heritage, destination management, travel intermediaries and transportation, tourism geography, and economics, regulations in tourism, strategic management in tourism, policy, and planning, HR in tourism, tourism marketing, special interest tourism, visitor attractions, and sustainability. Some universities are incorporating on their curriculum other offers related to the latest trends of the industry. The newly offered courses are related

to tourism management dynamics such as safety and security, crisis management, information technology in tourism, and social media. These courses recognize a new paradigm shift towards the role of information and communication technology and the disruptive correspondent effects on the industry. Technology will transform how the tourism industry design, offer and deliver tourism products, services, and experiences. Also, push our attention to the industry’s susceptibility in terms of the external environment, especially to potential incidents, like terrorist attacks, outbreaks of disease, and natural phenomena, and how it is vital to deal with these dynamics and adopt the correct management approach. Besides the crucial skills from the curriculum, universities are investing in creating more collaboration opportunities between academia and the industry. This collaboration increases students’ learning experiences and empowers them with the competencies; they need to thrive when they pursue their careers. An example of this partnership is developing international projects, competitions, and challenges to build and enhance students’ management skills and motivate them to get involved within the industry, presenting innovative

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About

Dr Sara Nunes Dr Nunes is the holder of a Ph.D. in Business with specialization in Tourism Destination Marketing, MBA in Marketing and Tourism Promotion, and two bachelor’s degree, Hotel Management and Tourism Management from European’s universities. Furthermore, Dr Nunes’ main areas of research are tourism destinations images, future development of tourism destinations, over-tourism, and visitor pressure, the resilience of tourism destinations in times of crisis, new business models on the accommodation sector, information technologies in tourism, and special interest tourism.

Higher Education Digest May 2021

solutions for the current challenges. In addition, the majority of universities invest in their startups to engage students with the possibility to open their own business in the industry after graduation. Universities are also investing in internal projects with the same goals; examples are tourism clubs, field trips, webinars, workshops, guest lectures, and practical classes since the student must develop their practical skills. Some universities face issues to expand and provide certain facilities; instead, they are arranging partnerships with the

Many students aspire to enroll in a university and pursue an outstanding career on the area; however, the reality over the Middle East and the United Arab Emirates is different

companies that allow students to pursue a career while studying, hence the apprenticeships offered by many tourism companies worldwide. Even though tourism management is an area of relative certification, universities also invest in accreditation and memberships with the essential institution to ensure schools’ accountability and quality of their degree programs. Like other areas in tourism management, there are a variety of possibilities for academic degree partnerships, such as offering joint or double degree

programs, which bring benefits for students to ensure their CVs and be more competitive in the domestic and international job market. Also, study abroad programs that grant students the chance to be exposed to other people, their traditions, culture, and history, the opportunity to learn a foreign language, expand network tools will increase internship opportunities. In addition, universities are investing in projects and capstone projects industry-related; that way, it is possible to integrate previously taught courses, apply, and critically review theory and practice in a business environment, allowing a high level of authentic learning. Finally, yet significantly, universities are investing in expanding their network opportunities for internships; students nowadays have the chance to pick internships worldwide and to be exposed to a new business organizational culture and society. Many agencies on the market focused on developing talents and giving them international opportunities. As can be seen, infinite opportunities are waiting for those willing to study tourism management. Whenever students graduate, they will have access to endless opportunities with a wide range of options to choose from. There is a misunderstanding between the meaning of tourism management and hospitality management. Hospitality is only a tiny part of the tourism industry; besides that sub-sector, we also have visitor attractions, travel agencies, tour operators, transportation, ancillary services, and tourism development and promotion sectors. Therefore, studying tourism management does not lead to a career in hospitality as the unique option; students can also pursue their careers on airlines and airports, travel agencies, tour operators, cruises, theme parks, events, and tourism attractions, government officials, IT, and social media, tourism shopping, among others on management-level positions. Some examples could include airport manager, route-planning manager, director of sales and marketing, director of customer service manager, tour operators managers, travel agents managers, tour guides, hotel managers, recreation and entertainment manager, events manager, a government official in tourism, social media managers, tourism shopping manager, amongst others. The bachelor in tourism management is a trend in Europe, the Americas, and Asia. Many students aspire to enroll in a university and pursue an

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outstanding career on the area; however, the reality over the Middle East and the United Arab Emirates is different. A degree in tourism management is not viewed as a potential area among students, even though this region of the world is investing to be a part of the international tourism demand panorama, with substantial investments in tourism infrastructures, attractions, services, and events. There is a lot of work that needs to be done, and I feel responsible also to give my contribution. Emirati students must understand the importance of studying this area since tourism continues to grow and new opportunities for business and career development are created since the country is determined to rely less on oil and strengthen the tourism portfolio. In January 2021, the UAE Cabinet approved the formation of the Emirates Tourism Council, which shows the importance of this sector for the country. On Higher Colleges of Technology, we recognize the importance of this industry and we offer a bachelor of tourism management (operations), emphasizing the understanding, application, and analysis of managerial skills applied to travel, tourism, events, and hospitality. The college also invests in bringing the best international opportunities for students with international projects, international competitions, international internship opportunities, guest lectures from the industry, community-related projects, capstone projects industry-related, and virtual exchange. We are the first college of the Middle East to be represented and have a student chapter, PATA UAE Higher Colleges of Technology Student Chapter, from PATA – Pacific Asia Travel Association. HCT goal is to prepare Emiratis to play an essential role in the tourism and hospitality industry and contribute to the country’s aspirations and vision for the sector. In this industry, the sky is the limit, and students have many opportunities to grow and develop outstanding career. I never regret choosing this industry to build my career, and the possibilities were more limited when I started; now, the tourism industry, due to the development of technology, brings more exciting and challenging positions and opportunities. The COVID-19 pandemic also changes the dynamic of this industry; however, this industry keeps on being resilient and one of the most important economic activities worldwide with the possibility of being so much more.

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CXO OUTLOOK Higher Education Digest April May 2021 2021

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Higher Education Education Digest Digest Higher May 2021 October 2020