Higher Education Digest – May 2022 – Must-Watch Colleges and Universities in the Middle East by Connecta Innovation

INTERNATIONAL EDITION

MUST-WATCH UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES IN THE MIDDLE EAST 2022

MIDDLE EAST SPECIAL

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Higher Education Digest May 2022

May 2022

Vol - 4 Issue - 6

Universities and Colleges in the Middle East Special Head of Advisory Board Dr. Manoj Varghese, Ph.D

Managing Editor Sarath Shyam

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Higher Education Digest May 2022 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

Higher Education in the Middle East: The Golden Visa for a Bright Future

estern universities, especially in the US, UK, and Canada, have a rich history of offering quality education to students worldwide. However, not everyone can afford the expenses of studying in these elite institutions. The quality of western education at an affordable price is what the universities in the Middle East nations offer to the international students today. Besides, for those who wish to study in a less-traveled destination but still offer many opportunities, there is no better place than the Middle East. It is true that the global academic community has underestimated the inherent strength of the Middle East in providing quality education and remained unexplored by the international students. However, the region is rich in history, culture, ethnicity, customs, food, philosophical thought, religious teachings, topography, and much more. Academicians consider these factors as invaluable assets that can be utilized to build education at all levels throughout the region. Now, along with public universities, several foreign providers are

delivering higher education programs and research in the Middle East. Many of these programs are taught in English and gained global recognition. According to the 2021 edition of QS Arab Region University Rankings, the five top universities in the Arab countries are: King Abdulaziz University (Saudi Arabia), the American University of Beirut (Lebanon), Qatar University (Qatar), King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (Saudi Arabia) and United Arab Emirates University (United Arab Emirates). Other Middle Eastern countries boasting universities within the Arab region’s top 100 include Egypt, Oman, Qatar, Iran, Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, and Iraq. To give our readers more understanding of the Middle East Higher Education System, we have come up with a special issue featuring ‘10 Must-Watch Universities and Colleges in the Middle East’ that are emerging as the key players in the Middle East’s Higher Education Sector. We hope our efforts will help you make informed decisions on your international education pursuit. Enjoy Reading.

Sarath Shyam Higher Education Digest May 2022

ADVISORY BOARD Mr. Amulya Sah, PGD PM & IR, PG Diploma in PM&IR (XISS Ranchi) Chief Human Resources Officer, Former Head HR group Samsung R&D Institute India,Transformative HR Leader, Change agent, Digitization facilitator, Engagement architect, Trainer and Diversity champion.

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

Mr. Dean E. Hoke, M.S, B.A Co-Founder of Edu Alliance, LTD, UAE and Managing Partner of Edu Alliance Group, USA

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

Mamta Thakur

Major General (Rtd.) Dr. Sunil Chandra, VSM (Vishishta Seva Medal), Ph.D, M. Phil, MA, M.Ed, PGBDA

Former CEO ( ASEAN), Arc Skills

Ex-M D Army Welfare Education Society, ExCOO GEMS Education - India, Ex- Addl Dir Gen - Army Education, Mentor - Adventure-Pulse

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

Higher Education Digest May 2022

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

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

Dr. Hans A. Andrews Ed.D.

Distinguished Fellow in Community College Leadership, Olney Central College, Illinois,USA

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

Dr. Khyati Shetty

Ph.D (Marketing)., SFHEA (UK), MBA (Marketing), PGHRM, BA (Marketing & Economics)

Mr. Sreedhar Bevara, MBA, B.Com CEO at BMR Innovations, Ex Senior General Manager at Panasonic, LG, The Hindu, TATA, Author: Moment of Signal & The Roaring Lambs, Motivational Speaker & Leadership Consultant.

Dr. Manoj Varghese, Ph.D

Senior Director - Global Partnerships, Advisory & Consulting - Connecta®, Head of Advisory Board Higher Education Digest® & K12 Digest®, Adjunct Faculty - Assumption University, Former CIO - Athena Education, Former Global Director Technology GEMS Education

Higher Education Digest May 2022

CONTENTS

UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES IN THE MIDDLE EAST

DUBAI COLLEGE OF TOURISM Grooming the Gen-Next Tourism Workforce Higher Education Digest May 2022

HERIOT-WATT UNIVERSITY DUBAI

WESTFORD UNIVERSITY COLLEGE

Where World-Class Education Meets Cutting-Edge Research

Embracing Culture through Education Higher Education Digest May 2022

CONTENTS MENTOR’S MANTRA

ACADEMIC VIEW

CLOSING THE SKILLS GAP IN THE ACCOUNTING PROFESSION

WHY ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN EDUCATION IS NECESSARY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS

NEUROSCIENCE EDUCATION WILL HELP YOU BECOME A BETTER BUSINESS DECISION MAKER

SCOPE OF PURSUING DISPUTE RESOLUTION COURSES

Hanadi Khalife, IMA and Taha Nasir, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Saudi Arabia

Higher Education Digest May 2022

Mamdouha Itani, Academic Assistant, AlIttihad National Private School, UAE

Dr Nicolas Hamelin cpm, Associate Prof of Marketing, NeuroScience lab Director, M.Sc (France & UK), D.Phil (Sussex Uni), PhD (East London Uni), SP Jain School of Global Management

Mark Byrne (Dean) and Nadia Bhatti (Head of Law & Professional Studies) Independent College, Dublin, Ireland

INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE

TRENDS IN THE HOSPITALITY EDUCATION: ‘PHYGITAL CLASSROOMS, TECHNOLOGY ADVANCEMENT, PERSONALIZATION, AND LIFELONG LEARNING

IMPORTANCE OF LEADERSHIP IN HIGHER EDUCATION

CANBERRA OFFERS A BETTER BALANCE OF STUDY, WORK AND FUN FOR STUDENTS IN AUSTRALIA

REGIONAL TRENDS IN CAREER COUNSELLING

Adrian Artimov, Director of Marketing and Enrolment, Sommet Education

Varada Murthy K.S., Founder, Mentorslab.in

Mike Ferguson, Director of Global Student Recruitment, University of Canberra

Paridhi Khaitan, Managing Director, ProTeen

Higher Education Digest May 2022

MENTOR’S MANTRA

Closing the Skills Gap in the Accounting Profession Hanadi Khalife, IMA and Taha Nasir, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Saudi Arabia

t’s a no-brainer that the dynamism of the business operations landscape in the finance and accounting (F&A) profession is becoming more complex by the day. On the one hand, professional teams are having to come to grips with varied elements such as increased competition, fluctuating currencies, rising costs, more regulated supply chains, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the varied impacts of enhanced digitization, etc. On the other hand, there is the need to make sense of the enormous streams of

data, which come infused with its own set of technology needed to decipher and use them: tech such as AI and Big Data, for example. If this wasn’t enough – the gradual mainstreaming of cryptocurrencies into the business ecosystem and the emergence of the NFT ecosystem are other fast curveballs being thrown into this landscape. These are all developments that traditional CFOs and their teams were not entirely equipped to handle and most often arise with short to no notice. Last but not least, there are significantly stricter regulatory compliances

CFOs and their teams are seeing many accounting applicants joining the profession; however, they mostly have basic skills — usually limited to entry-level tax and audit work

Higher Education Digest May 2022

Hanadi Khalife

Taha Nasir

Co-authored by Hanadi Khalife, Senior Director of MEA & India, IMA and Taha Nasir, Assistant Director, KBS Business Engagement Office, Lecturer, Department of Accounting and Finance, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Saudi Arabia

Higher Education Digest May 2022

About

Hanadi Khalife

Senior Director, ME and India Operations Hanadi Khalife is IMA’s Senior Director for Middle East and India operations. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the American University of Beirut, an Executive MBA from the University of Manchester and is a certified NLP Master Practitioner. Since assuming her role at IMA in 2013, Hanadi has been responsible for promoting the value of management accounting, IMA membership, and the CMA® (Certified Management Accountant) program in the region. She has led the efforts to establish and grow IMA’s operations and has successfully designed programs and initiatives engaging key industry stakeholders including corporate, universities and local chapters and volunteer leaders resulting in a double-digit growth in IMA membership.

Higher Education Digest May 2022

About

Taha Nasir

Assistant Director, KBS Business Engagement Office, Lecturer, Department of Accounting and Finance, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Saudi Arabia For the past 6 years, Taha Nasir has been attached with KFUPM Business School (KBS), at King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Saudi Arabia, as the Assistant Director for its Business Engagement Office and a faculty member in the Department of Accounting & Finance. He specializes in corporate governance & compliance, ESG, and entrepreneurial finance. Taha also facilitates and co-advises the KFUPM MBA Capstone course and its consulting projects, which he assisted to develop to foster industry-academia partnership.

that these teams must deal with. As firms reengage with the marketplace and focus on enhancing performance and boosting growth post-pandemic, the alignment with corporate governance is another crucial factor. From risk and compliance management, fraud management, and regulatory monitoring and reporting, F&A teams need to be on top of all of this and more - at all times. Challenged as they are to keep up with the complexity of this, there is also the added burden of assisting entry level employees to come up to speed — thus revealing another challenge: the emerging skills gap at multiple levels of the business. CFOs and their teams are seeing many accounting applicants joining the profession; however, they mostly have basic skills — usually limited to entry-level tax and audit work. There is a dearth in the proficiencies needed to lead teams and drive business forward. This reduced influx of adequately if not highly skilled F&A employees is making it nearly impossible to effectively fill key accounting positions inside organizations, thus hampering performance, growth, and economic expansion. Left unsolved, this “entry-level economy” could have serious implications on the F&A domain across industries and sectors. But there are solutions to the problem. The focus is on academia revitalizing age-old curriculum and teaching methodologies to integrate contemporary and industry-aligned subject matter information. For the F&A domain in particular, the old must give way to the new and colleges and universities need to introduce management accounting into both, the finance and accounting and the business management streams, to ensure that students come face-to-face with a business ready approach to financial management. For many years, the traditional accounting curriculum has struggled to keep up with technological advances and changing CFO requirements. To plug the skills gap and ensure the future of the profession, there is a need for a new breed of accountants with skillsets that allow them to become value creators and business partners. Consequently, there is the need for an integrated approach to curricula, competencies, and training that aligns with the way business is conducted for sustainable value creation. Much of this effectively begins in the classroom. However, until recently, classroom curriculum was too narrowly focused on financial accounting, specializing around audit, tax, statutory reporting, and compliance. Many young professionals begin their careers at public accounting firms doing audit and tax work. But, when they move into management accounting roles or into consulting and advisory roles, where the focus is on value creation, they find out that they simply don’t have

Higher Education Digest May 2022

As the digital revolution gathers pace, CFOs increasingly value soft skills such as emotional intelligence, the ability to quickly evaluate situations, and communicate effectively

the required skills to understand business operations and provide strategic value-addition to the business. In comparison, management accounting differs from financial accounting because the intended purpose of management accounting is to assist users internally in making well-informed business decisions. The need to increase and foster industry-academia partnerships is imperative to the success of the future of the F&A functions and the professional world at large. Increased involvement of industry professionals in the classroom provides an array of opportunities for students to learn real-world applications. However,

Higher Education Digest May 2022

markets are also ever-changing more rapidly than before and this requires graduates that are more agile who can deal with such changes. To do this, top business schools are transforming their curriculum and pedagogy to be more inclusive of relevant topics beyond traditional financial statements that affect corporations today. This fusion of theory and practice accelerates the learning curve for students and equips them with the necessary skillsets preparing them for the professional world. Despite that, what remains to be seen is the future role of educational institutions in fulfilling the constantly evolving requirements of the private sector. As the accounting profession shifts away from traditional auditing, statutory reporting, and compliance, and takes on a more managerial hue that aids in value creation, it has spurred a demand for multi-talented professionals with broader skillsets across accounting, finance, technology, operations, and leadership. These professionals are equipped with skillsets not easily automated such as advisory services, decision-making, strategy, and communications. As the digital revolution gathers pace, CFOs increasingly value soft skills such as emotional intelligence, the ability to quickly evaluate situations, and communicate effectively. At a more technical level, these professionals will also need to leverage the potential of artificial intelligence, including cognitive computing and machine learning. As a greater number of institutes offer management accounting courses and an increasing number of CFOs hire management accountants, it is also essential for businesses to invest in the professional development of their existing F&A teams to bolster their planning, leadership, and other skills. According to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report (2020), 54% of large organizations’ employees need significant re-and up-skilling to keep apace rapidly transforming markets. Many organizations have found that mentor programs, internship programs, apprenticeships and certification support have created accounting and finance talent with the ability to provide value across departments and provide decision support at the management table. Expanding accountants’ knowledge base will grant them the ability to adapt when abrupt changes occur. Ultimately, it will translate into greater performance and profitability for companies. Therefore, the task at hand is one of collaborative effort, which can only be achieved when the academic, public, and private sector begin to identify the set of skills needed to cut it in the near future and in turn, prepare the next generation to not only succeed, but to thrive.

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Higher Higher Education Education Digest Digest May 2022 October 2020

ACADEMIC VIEW

Why Entrepreneurship in Education is Necessary for the Development of the Next Generation of Leaders 18

Mamdouha Itani, Academic Assistant, AlIttihad National Private School, UAE

Mamdouha is an entrepreneurship enthusiast, ambitious and a challenge seeker. She started her career in the hospitality industry as an income auditor in Lebanon with Rotana Hotels. Mamdouha had the opportunity to travel to UAE with Rotana Hotels as a Financial Accountant. For Mamdouha working in an office was not satisfying her ambitions although she loved her job as a financial accountant and doing lots of budget and forecasts. She finished her MBA degree in International Hospitality in 2020 during the pandemic with a GPA 3.8. Many researches and articles related to education will be published by Mamdouha until she achieves her next goal in gaining her PHD and being a university lecturer where she can share a lot of work life experience with the future generation. Mamdouha was honored to be a speaker at AIQ MENA conference talking about transforming our students from “Test Takers to Risk Takers”, and she was part of the BLUB World negotiating the importance of encouraging the adolescents participations in global political policies.

Higher Education Digest May 2022

Entrepreneurship in education is necessary to develop the next generation of leaders who will thrive and succeed in our rapidly changing world

ducation is a continuous process of learning, growing and innovating. As such, there is no end to the learning and development that can take place in the world of education. This is why entrepreneurship in education is so important for the future of our institutions and the next generation of leaders. Entrepreneurship is a mindset that values learning, innovation, and constant adaptation to changing circumstances. It is a life long process of staying updated with the ever-changing market and staying ahead of the curve in order to achieve success. If we are to succeed in the future, we must embrace change and innovation. We need to challenge the status quo and adopt new and innovative ideas. Education must be an incubator for new ideas and a place where students can explore and adopt new ways of thinking. Entrepreneurship in education is necessary to develop the next generation of leaders who will thrive and succeed in our rapidly changing world. Here’s why entrepreneurship in education is so important for the future of our institutions and the next generation of leaders. The Need for Entrepreneurship in Education Our education system needs to be transformed. We cannot continue with a system that is static, fixed, and conventional. Change is needed. The old way of doing things is not working. We need to adopt new and innovative ways of doing things in order to meet the needs of the 21st century.

We all know that the education system in the US is in need of transformation. It is not meeting the needs of all students, as many are not equipped to deal with the complexities of the 21st century. Many are leaving school with no marketable skills or knowledge, and are then faced with unemployment or under-employment. This is not good for anyone. It is not good for the individual, their families, or the community. It is also not good for the United States as a whole, as we are falling behind in the global economy due to this skills gap. The Importance of Mentors One of the keys to success in any field is to have great mentors. Mentors can help guide you and give you advice. They can also be excellent sources of inspiration. A mentor can help you develop both professionally and personally. Both in school and in your professional life, you can choose to mentor or be mentored. A mentor is someone who has already achieved success in whatever area you are interested in and can share their knowledge and experience with you. Mentors can be individuals you know or they can be people you observe and learn from. A good mentor can offer invaluable advice and help you on your path to success. The Importance of Networking Networking is the process of becoming connected with other people. It can take many forms, including personal contacts, business contacts, and social encounters.

Higher Education Digest May 2022

Networking can help you in many ways. It can help you get a job, find a business partner, secure funding, and launch new products. Networking can also be a great source of business referrals. Networking can happen at any number of events. It can be as simple as meeting someone for breakfast once a month. Or, you can organize formal events, such as business parties or social gatherings with a specific networking theme. Networking is a valuable skill to cultivate both in school and in your professional life. You can begin by making a list of people you know who can be potential mentors or sponsors. Then, you can make a list of people you would like to meet and work toward building a relationship with them.

Entrepreneurship in education can help you develop a stronger understanding of many different career paths.

The Role of Innovation Innovating is the process of creating new ideas and concepts. It can take many forms, including coming up with new business models, developing new educational programs, and creating new uses for existing products. Innovating can help you keep your business competitive. It can also help you find new customers

Higher Education Digest May 2022

and expand your customer base. Innovating can also help you find new and better uses for your existing products or services. Innovating in education is necessary to meet the needs of the 21st century. We need new and innovative ways to teach and learn. We need new and exciting ways to engage and inspire students. We also need new and innovative ways to prepare our students for the future, whether that be in college or the job market. The Benefits of Entrepreneurship in Education There are many benefits to entrepreneurship in education, including: More Flexible Scheduling - Scheduling is one of the most challenging aspects of being a teacher. This is true both in the traditional sense, as well as in the digital world. When you are an entrepreneur, you are in charge of your own schedule. You can choose which projects you want to work on, which classes you want to teach, and how you want to spend your day. This can lead to much more flexibility in scheduling, which can be especially helpful for working parents. Increased Career Paths - Entrepreneurship in education can help you develop a stronger understanding of many different career paths. This can help you build better relationships with your students, as well as help you identify their interests and potential career paths. This can open doors to many different opportunities, both in the classroom and outside of it. More Control - As an entrepreneur, you have more control over your day-to-day life than you would as a typical teacher. You have the ability to choose which projects you work on, which classes you teach, and how you want to spend your day. This can give you a lot of flexibility and control over your daily life. Better Paying Students - Some schools have a tradition of giving teachers income. This income can come from anywhere from bottles of wine at the end of the year to tips from parents. However, most teachers have to rely on a traditional salary to make ends meet. As an entrepreneur, you can set up your own business to make money and pay your students. Conclusion Entrepreneurship in education can help you create new and exciting ways to teach and engage your students. It can also help you find new and innovative ways to prepare them for the future. By embracing change and innovation, as well as the benefits of entrepreneurship in education, you can help usher in the next generation of leaders.

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Higher Education Digest May 2022

Higher Education Digest November 2021

UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES IN THE MIDDLE EAST

he Middle East, a diverse geographic spread of 18 countries, each with its own economies, political frameworks, and social needs, is fast becoming a global hub of education. Many international universities have opened the campus in this region and have been offering cuttingeducation education to the aspirants worldwide. Compared to western countries like the US, UK, and Canada, universities in the Middle East are young, making them

highly adaptable to the latest trends in higher education. Focusing on producing graduates with real-world experience, educational institutions in the Middle East are not attracting both young people from the region itself and candidates from outside the region who are looking to pursue a truly international career. We list ‘10 Must-Watch Universities and Colleges in the Middle East – 2022,’ identified by our expert panel of advisors comprising academicians and industry leaders.

American University of Beirut

Dubai College of Tourism

Website: https://www.aub.edu.lb/

Website: https://www.dct.ac.ae/en/

Location: Beirut, Lebanon

Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Year of Establishment: 1866

Year of Establishment: 2017

How to Apply: https://www.aub.edu.lb/admissions/

How to Apply: https://www.dct.ac.ae/en/admission/

Pages/default.aspx

Higher Education Digest May 2022

Heriot-Watt University

London Business School Dubai Centre

Website: https://www.hw.ac.uk/dubai/index.htm

Website: https://www.london.edu/

Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates Year of Establishment: 2005 How to Apply: https://www.hw.ac.uk/dubai/

study/apply.htm

about/our-campuses/dubai

Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates Year of Establishment: 2007 How to Apply: https://www.london.edu/about/

our-campuses/dubai

Qatar University

SP Jain School of Global Management

Website: http://www.qu.edu.qa/

Website: https://www.spjain.org/global-campus/dubai

Location: Doha, Qatar

Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Year of Establishment: 1973

Year of Establishment: 2004

How to Apply: http://www.qu.edu.qa/students/

How to Apply: https://www.spjain.org/apply-now

admission

Higher Education Digest May 2022

The University of Manchester Middle East Centre

University of Jordan Website: http://ju.edu.jo/home.aspx

Website: https://www.manchester.ac.ae/

Location: Amman, Jordan

Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Year of Establishment: 1962

Year of Establishment: 2006

How to Apply: http://registration.ju.edu.jo/en/

How to Apply: https://www.manchester.ac.ae/study

english/Home.aspx

University of Stirling, Ras Al Khaimah

Westford University College

Website: https://www.stir.ae/

Website: https://www.mywestford.com/

Location: Ras al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates

Location: Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

Year of Establishment: 2018

Year of Establishment: 2009

How to Apply: https://www.stir.ae/admission-policy

How to Apply: https://www.mywestford.com/courses/

Higher Education Digest May 2022

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Higher Education Digest May 2022

UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES IN THE MIDDLE EAST

DUBAI COLLEGE OF TOURISM GROOMING THE GEN-NEXT TOURISM WORKFORCE 26

n recent years, Dubai has successfully established itself as a leading global destination for world travel. This has been made possible due to the vision of His Highness, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai to make Dubai the most visited destination and the most sought-after city in the world to live and work in. Incepted by Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), Dubai College of Tourism (DCT) is on a mission to aid the development of the tourism sector, as well as groom the country’s next generation tourism workforce. DCT offers a unique, multidisciplinary educational platform to Emiratis, expatriates, and students to opt for careers within the tourism industry. DCT’s full time academic offering of certificate and diploma courses includes five disciplines viz. tourism, hospitality, retail business, events and culinary arts. Right from the beginning, offering quality education for all students has been a hallmark at DCT. Therefore, DCT’s fees structure is kept affordable and competitive for both its domestic as well as international students. A while ago, DCT also created Medyaf, the Industry Nationalisation department that aims to attract and train Emiratis to work in Dubai’s tourism industry. The College is also responsible

Higher Education Digest May 2022

As a student-centered institution, DCT’s vocational education and values are designed to prepare students for real outcomes, specifically job opportunities and career potential upon course completion

Higher Education Digest May 2022

ABOUT

ESSA BIN HADHER GENERAL MANAGER, DUBAI COLLEGE OF TOURISM In his role as General Manager, Essa Bin Hadher is responsible for running all facets of the operation and curriculum at Dubai College of Tourism, an educational institution that was established under Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), the principal authority responsible for strengthening Dubai’s positioning as a world-leading tourism destination and commercial hub. Essa is focused on the development

of quality training programmes that help educate and empower future leaders, entrepreneurs and employees of Dubai’s rapidly growing tourism industry. This has led to the launch of innovative initiatives such as ‘Medyaf’, a programme to help Emirati job seekers and to provide the tourism industry with local talent, as well as training tools for professionals within the tourism industry, including the ‘Dubai Way’ programme (for touristfacing staff in Dubai) and ‘Dubai Expert’ (an interactive online training tool for international travel agents). Essa has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Franklin University Switzerland, and obtained an MBA from Business School Lausanne in 1998.

Higher Education Digest May 2022

for delivering unique programmes specifically designed for those working within the tourism industry, such as; ‘Dubai Way’ (for tourist-facing staff in Dubai) and ‘Dubai Expert’ (an interactive online training tool for international travel agents). Programs Catching Eyes of International Students Currently, DCT has a diverse student population of 25 different nationalities. The most popular courses among international students are the tourism, hospitality and culinary arts. As part of the Department of Economy and Tourism, internships are also a crucial element of DCT’s courses and pave the way for students to work with the institution’s

industry partners during major events within Dubai’s retail and events calendar. This includes Dubai Food Festival (DFF), Dubai Fitness Challenge (DFC), and Arab Fashion Week amongst a host of others. DCT is located in the heart of the city where its students get to experience a cosmopolitan, safe, and vibrant area that houses a mall, multiple restaurants, cafes and a vibrant social scene as well as being located close to a metro station and other public transport. In this way, pupils studying at DCT can strike a positive study/life balance and have the opportunity to explore the very best of Dubai. This makes learning more exciting and engaging.

Some of the international students shared their experiences of studying at DCT. Sophia Baeva, who is currently pursuing a certificate course in hospitality, said, “DCT gives you a high quality of education. You become a part of DCT’s family: you are involved in every process, from social media to the organization of events in the college. It’s hard to find your path in life, but I finally found mine.” Another student from the same programme, Ibon Arrieta opined, “This new experience is teaching me how to manage a new life in a new city full of new friends and to build a network that will enable me to have a successful future in the UAE.”

Higher Education Digest May 2022

Educators Bringing Real-World Experience to the Classroom Quality education and seasoned educators are the foundational pillars of learning. Students benefit the most when they receive an amalgamation of both. Along with an extensive education program, DCT has a pool of well-experienced educators who are renowned for their industry expertise within Dubai’s tourism sector. Unlike other institutions where the class size is big, DCT has an average class size of 16 students per class. This enables each student to receive in-depth personal feedback and obtain invaluable knowledge and advice from their teachers. Let’s meet some of DCT’s instructors. Elham Bolooki, is Experiential Learning Manager and a Senior Instructor at DCT. Elham holds an MBA in International Hospitality from The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management and has worked with leading hospitality brands. To name a few: the Burj Al Arab, Madinat Jumeirah, Jumeirah Beach Hotel and Jumeirah Port Soller in Mallorca, Spain. Cristian Biesbrouck, the Lead Culinary Arts instructor at DCT comes with a long history in the kitchen of

Higher Education Digest May 2022

DCT has been set up to adhere to the highest international standards and to fully utilize the benefits of technology including a new e-Library accessible to all students

established hotels throughout the UAE, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. He has previously worked with Marriott International as an Executive Chef. He now inspires educates, and prepares students for a future career within the hospitality and culinary arts industries. Sally Maddison, is a passionate events and marketing professional with an impressive track record for creating successful campaigns and events for the world’s most renowned consumer brands. With a qualification from the Chartered Institute of Marketing’s (CIM), Sally has worked on planning and promoting events for world famous brands such as Adidas, Atlantis Dubai, Levi’s, Volkswagen and the Dubai Marathon. Going Global with Collaborative Partnerships DCT has global accreditations for four programmes with the Institute of Hospitality, the world-renowned entity dedicated to the career development of tourism

and hospitality professionals worldwide. The Institute of Hospitality has granted DCT with global accreditation for its following programmes: Certificate in Culinary Arts and Diploma in Culinary Arts, Certificate in Events and Diploma in Events Management, Certificate in Hospitality and Diploma in Hospitality Management, and Certificate in Tourism and Diploma in Tourism Management. DCT also focuses on industry partnerships and holds memberships in various bodies including: AMFORHT (The World Association for Hospitality and Tourism Education and Training, the Council on Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Education (CHRIE), and AEME (Association for Events Management Education), where DCT works together to support and raise the profile of the events discipline around the world through the sharing of education and best practices. DCT is also a member of the WorldChefs Recognition of Quality Culinary Education (RQCE) programme,

Higher Education Digest May 2022

The DCT difference is its hands-on training from industry professionals, personalised mentoring from teachers and counselors, and the working internships before graduating

Higher Education Digest May 2022

which recognizes educational companies, associations and institutions worldwide which offer culinary and pastry art that meet and exceed global standards for quality culinary education as established by the World Chefs Education Committee. Overcoming Pandemic Challenges & Building Post Strategies The coronavirus pandemic shook the world to its very core. With quick lockdowns imposed and domestic & international travelling banned, the tourism sector also had to bear its ramifications. Most of all, education and learning was disrupted. During such unprecedented times, Dubai’s effective citywide management of the pandemic

enabled DCT to soon reopen its doors to students and give them the best learning experiences. Keeping the safety of students and uninterrupted learning in mind, DCT created an online platform that enabled students to continue building key industry skills and their knowledge base. The College’s inspirational instructors have been able to minimize disruption to student development by following the same schedule as if they were in the classroom, with virtual interactive sessions that include a mix of practical demonstrations including the culinary arts practical kitchen sessions, live guest speakers, Q&As, group presentations, role-plays and assessments, which are then presented online. DCT’s focus continues

to ensure that it stays up to date with industry trends and movements within the sector, and give its students all the support they require to succeed. Currently, DCT is offering a hybrid method of both in-person and online learning and the college has also seen tremendous interest from international students since the beginning of the pandemic. For the forthcoming year, DCT’s management reveals that they will continue to attract UAE nationals, local expatriates, and international students and focus their attention on offering some of the best opportunities for professionals in tourism and hospitality to build a career in one of the world’s most exciting, vibrant and dynamic cities.

Higher Education Digest May 2022

ACADEMIC VIEW

Neuroscience Education will Help you Become a Better Business Decision Maker 34

Dr Nicolas Hamelin cpm, Associate Prof of Marketing, NeuroScience lab Director, M.Sc (France & UK), D.Phil (Sussex Uni), PhD (East London Uni), SP Jain School of Global Management

Nicolas Hamelin is an Associate Professor and the Director of S P Jain School of Global Managements’ neuroscience lab in Sydney. His main research interests are in the fields of Neuromarketing, Social Marketing, PR and Environmental Communication. Nicolas holds a Ph.D. in Physics from Sussex University in the UK, an M.Sc. in Environmental Management from Ulster University, and a PhD in Business at the Royal Docks Business School from the University of East London. He is also a qualified TV news reporter from INA, Paris. He is the founder of Mindbci a neuroscience startup based in Sydney and Singapore. In international business, he was a strategic marketing manager for STmicroelectronics, Nokia Business Unit for over 10 years, a principal scientist at the Foundation for Fundamental Research on Matter and the Energy Center, Netherlands.

Higher Education Digest May 2022

The fundamentals of Neuroscience education focuses on acquiring the knowhow to measure a person autonomic body reaction, or in other words unconscious bodily reaction

35 Understanding Consumer Behaviour: Humans are complex; their decision-making processes have always been subject to stormy debates. Understanding human decision making and constructing models of human behaviour is key to businesses and society. Before making a decision, a consumer will consider a wide array of characteristics, from product design, user experience, shape, material, colour, pricing and packaging design. However, our perception of the world is grossly inaccurate since it relies on the interpretation of external stimuli, sight, sound, smell, touch. These stimuli are analysed by our brain, however far from being analysed rationally they first pass through a bottleneck – The Limbic system – regions of the brain that process emotions and primal feelings like pain and disgust. Buying decisions depend significantly on these unconscious emotions, hence recognizing your target market’s affective response is essential. Neuroscience Education: Neuroscience education focuses on providing businesspeople and decision makers with actionable knowledge of human decision-making

concepts and provides them practical skills to be able to measure a person’s unconscious response to various marketing stimuli. The fundamentals of Neuroscience education focuses on acquiring the knowhow to measure a person autonomic body reaction, or in other words unconscious bodily reaction. Neuromarketing students will learn to assess which cues on a package, ads or website a person is looking at (attention) and whether these cues are generating positive or negative emotional arousals. There is a direct synchronicity between the brain decision making process, gaze and attention. The human brain unconsciously focuses its attention to the cues that are considered important to make a choice and ignore cues which appear irrelevant – all this process is done mostly at the unconscious level. Benefits of Practical Neuroscience education: Neuroscience education will teach product developers, marketers, or advertisers how to use eye tracking, galvanic skin response detection, and facial expression analysis to scientifically evaluate which cues are central to the decision making process in order to maximise

Higher Education Digest May 2022

The use of neuromarketing has become fully integrated to large organisations’ products and marketing strategy (Unilever, Hyundai, Paypal and Microsoft).

consumers’ cognitive and emotional responses to their packages, websites, ads, supermarket display, price tags and so on. Students will learn to explore the subconscious of consumer behaviour by evaluating the body’s autonomic response to a marketing stimulus. They will learn why altered emotional state changes the heartbeat rate of the respondents, dilate the pupil and trigger changes to the skin’s electrodermal response. A simplistic explanation lies in how the brain processes information. For every stimulus, we experience –

Higher Education Digest May 2022

the limbic system, associates to each stimulus an emotional valence: positive, negative, or neutral. So, humans’ brain does not only process the information but also the emotions associated to this stimulus. The emotional valence associated to a given stimulus will then be processed by various regions on the brain impacting visual attention, retention, motivation, and decision making. Good salespeople are able to create an emotional connect with potential buyers, hence persuading them to buy their goods, nowadays in our digital worlds researchers have proven that online incidental similarities on social media platform such as sharing the same passion generate positive emotions and increase the likelihood of sales. Supporting market strategy with Neuromarketing education: Traditional market research focuses on data collection based on self-report methods such as a questionnaire. However questionnaires provide poor customer insight since they rely on consumer conscious thought process while 95% percent of all cognitive process such as buying decision, viewer engagement, attention, learning, and recall takes place in the subconscious mind. The use of neuromarketing has become fully integrated to large organisations’ products and marketing strategy (Unilever, Hyundai, Paypal and Microsoft). Likewise leading marketing research companies are increasingly relying on neuromarketers to support their corporate customers. A Neuromarketing education will provide businesspeople with the skills needed to understand customer’s motivation, engagement and buying decision and support their organization marketing strategy.

Higher Education Digest October 2021

Digital First Magazine March 2022

INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE

Trends in the Hospitality Education:

‘Phygital Classrooms, Technology Advancement, Personalization, and Lifelong Learning Adrian Artimov, Director of Marketing and Enrolment, Sommet Education

Adrian Artimov is a dynamic, innovative and target-driven professional with 18 years of experience delivering premium sales, marketing, shopper marketing, consumer and brand activation initiatives across Central Europe, South Asia, Middle East and Africa, in FMCG and Higher Education. Adrian began his career as a Sales Area manager and after working at different organizations including IDO AD (Client Servicing Director/Business Development), Regional Sales and Marketing Manager (Laureate Hospitality Education), he became Head of Enrolment South Asia at Sommet Education. He is currently Director Marketing and Enrolment Higher Ed at Sommet Education.

Higher Education Digest May 2022

Moving from physical to remote and now back to physical classroom requires the adaption of curriculum and content but more importantly, the adaption has to be smooth in keeping with student’s preferences

n the last two years, educational institutes underwent a major transformation. Physical classrooms altered into virtual and soon remote or ‘Phygital’ learning became the usual norm. Remote learning cut down students’ transportation costs and travelling time which gave them the flexibility to revisit the lectures and adapt the curriculum as per their convenience. As we enter 2022 and the government of India announces ‘One class, One TV channel’ in the Union budget 2022- a progressive and much need change by making the internet accessible to students in every part of India and with expansion plans of executing 12 to 200 TV channels, educational institutes are hopeful that it will help rural students to imbibe, and to understand the curriculum effectively as supplementary education will be done in regional languages. It is expected to help students from rural India to join mainstream India with confidence. As schools open up and physical classrooms resume, let’s understand the current and future trends in hospitality education: ‘Phygital’ Classrooms Technology is changing rapidly and with the ‘One class, One TV channel’ scheme announcement educational institution has a great opportunity, more than before to

maximize the opportunity to digitize the classrooms and streamline the process and centralize the data. Certain hospitality institutes are increasingly proposing a unique learning solution to the students to choose online study or study on campus. Options such as part campus part online or fully remote possibilities are also presented to them. Moving from physical to remote and now back to physical classroom requires the adaption of curriculum and content but more importantly, the adaption has to be smooth in keeping with student’s preferences. To ensure the success of the studies and to keep the interest alive of online students, hospitality institutes have proposed extracurricular activities such as interactive sessions on ‘how to introduce creativity in cocktails and mocktails’ live demonstrations of culinary skills, and prominent guest speaker interviews. Certain institutes have leveraged big time on technological advancement and have come up with an innovative new app with a personalized AI tutor which identifies gaps in students’ knowledge, process, and coaches it accordingly. To generate a sense of belonging among the students, bespoke career counseling, online interview techniques, mentorship programs are also being introduced.

Higher Education Digest May 2022

Virtual Learning (VR) The advent of animation has made it a lot easier for information to be absorbed in a faster and more suitable way. Simple or tough – any subject or topic can be presented in a simplified way with the help of animation. And this innovation has given room for Virtual Reality (VR) technology that has been transforming and has the potential to transform the education landscape massively in the future. Time and again, technology has proven to be an impressive learning tool that makes teaching fun and engaging. In the current scenario, it allows effectively replicating practical environment to gain professional experience by making and rectifying mistakes a fun way. It is adapted according to students’ needs and levels, allowing them to take risks without losing things. To help students become adept in handling complex scenarios and tricky situations, Les Roches, through its on-campus innovation center named Spark, have developed a concept for virtual reality for their student training activities on campus. These new-age training solutions will acquaint students with customer service experience, ways to manage consumer needs and resolve conflict in a real-time manner without needing humans. For instance, the new VR solution will train future receptionists (students) in check-in/check-out (or other services) with virtual customers (bots). These virtual customers could be drunk, aggressive or unreasonable etc. The technology helps in recreating situations in front of students that are difficult to reproduce in real, even with a professor. These virtual customers (bots) offer both national or international inferences that require receptionists (student) to act accordingly, considering the cultural factors, as the response in Japan would be different from that in Mexico). To help the students get exposed to people of different nationalities, the VR solution uses different languages (with natural language processing technology), including different accents or slangs. This system, used in classes, can manipulate visual, auditory (audio), olfactory (sense of smell), and other sensations in the body while tracking the participant’s eyes, head, and body movements. Controlled by researchers, this tool can fully immerse a user into a virtual world. The students can even undertake this training alone or in a group (in a physical classroom with a teacher). After its completion, students and professors receive a “training” report with information about their experiences (for their continued improvement). 2021 presented numerous opportunities for the hospitality industry by allowing the players to re-center

Higher Education Digest May 2022

As the hospitality industry grapples with constant changes, professionals need to embrace the newly emerging culture of lifelong learning in hospitality education

their activity on the principles of sustainable growth. 2022 is the year of sustainable growth- businesses across sectors are working towards sustainable practices at the workplace. Many players focus on turning their businesses locally by providing consumers with the experience of organic with local goods and services. Certain hospitality management schools are using experiential learning systems. They are basing their content and educational model to help students learn and pick the nuances of hospitality management as professionals and help in the overall personality development. Constant Changes As the hospitality industry grapples with constant changes, professionals need to embrace the newly emerging culture of lifelong learning in hospitality education. According to a recent study carried out by Oxford University, about 47 per cent of US jobs will be digitalized in the

next two decades, which means people will now have to acquire new skills to remain employable. Besides, research conducted by PWC stated that 79 per cent of CEOs worldwide are concerned about the talent gap that may hinder the future growth of their organizations. A possible solution to the issue rests in encouraging employees to undertake short-term and long-term training programs along with other professional courses to boost their careers. Understanding the need of the hour, several hospitality institutions have redesigned their offerings and course structures, allowing professionals to resume their academic journey through flexible learning programs with the option of adjusting the course duration and platform (online or offline). To conclude, ‘phygital’ classrooms, technology advancement, personalization, and lifelong learning will emerge as the key future trends governing hospitality education.

Higher Education Digest May 2022

UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES IN THE MIDDLE EAST

HERIOT-WATT UNIVERSITY DUBAI WHERE WORLD-CLASS EDUCATION MEETS CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH 42

eriot-Watt University Dubai Campus, a satellite campus of Heriot-Watt University, UK, with a rich heritage dating back to 1821, enjoys an early bird advantage in the higher education sector in the UAE. “When we established our presence in UAE in 2005, we were the first university to open a campus in Academic City. We offered three programs and had a student population of 120. Since then, we have grown to be the largest international university in the UAE,” says Professor Ammar Kaka, Provost and Vice Principal, Heriot-Watt University Dubai. A pioneer in education and innovative research for 200 years, Heriot-Watt University Dubai, has approximately 4000 students enrolled across 90 programs and is one of the top UK universities for business and industry. Professor Kaka adds, “We have an established reputation for world-class teaching and practical, leading-edge research. We have moved into a new and state-ofthe-art campus in the heart of Dubai and have twice been given a five-star rating by the KHDA for the quality of education we offer.” Heriot-Watt University’s new digitally enabled campus at Dubai Knowledge Park occupies 218,000 square feet distributed over seven floors, with eight different types of teaching spaces that have been carefully designed to deliver a myriad of learning experiences. The many laboratories and workshops cover automotive, chemical,

Higher Education Digest May 2022

Heriot-Watt University Dubai offers an extensive range of research-informed degree programmes in a global study environment, with strong links to business and industry

Higher Education Digest May 2022

civil, mechanical, electrical, energy, robotic and structural engineering, and offer facilities for students to learn through practical application as well as through formal timetabled classes. The campus was awarded Gold status by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), the world’s most widely used green building rating system.

The new campus of Heriot-Watt University Dubai in Knowledge Park occupies 218,000 square feet, which are distributed over seven floors, with eight different types of teaching spaces that have been carefully designed to deliver a myriad of learning experiences

Higher Education Digest May 2022

Why Heriot-Watt University Dubai? Heriot-Watt University Dubai has been consistently ranked as a top provider of higher education across a number of key university ratings and rankings. Professor Kaka claims, “From our research performance to student satisfaction, graduate employability and the quality of our teaching, our status as a world-class university has been confirmed by several independent bodies.” Heriot-Watt is today a truly international university with five global campuses, partners in over 100 countries, and approximately 27,000 students studying worldwide. The university has excellent facilities, highly rated teaching, and world-leading research activity, providing exceptional learning and teaching experience. “We offer students will the opportunity to realise their potential by gaining the knowledge and skills needed to achieve their career aspirations,” pinpoints Professor Kaka. No wonder employers around the world actively seek out Heriot-

Watt University’s graduates. As per The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2021, Heriot-Watt University’s graduate salaries are first in Scotland and 17th in the UK six months after graduation. Since its establishment, Heriot-Watt University Dubai has also won several laurels. In 2019, it was named one of Dubai’s top universities and awarded five stars in the first-ever quality rankings undertaken by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), the supreme educational quality assurance and regulatory authority of the Government of Dubai. The rating system, developed in conjunction with QS, evaluates universities on eight quality indicators: Teaching, Employability, Research, Internationalisation, Facilities, Overall Program Strength, Well-being, Social Responsibility, and Inclusiveness. Heriot-Watt University was one of just three Universities to be awarded five stars. The campus was also crowned the ‘Best University’ in the same year at the first-ever Forbes Middle East Higher Education Awards. High-Quality British Education in the Middle East Heriot-Watt University Dubai offers a great learning experience for domestic and international students. Specialising in the built environment, computer science,

Higher Education Digest May 2022

engineering, fashion, and management, the University provides degree programs relevant to the UAE employment market and the broader economies of the Middle East. “Our programs are taught by almost one hundred permanent Heriot-Watt academic staff, and most are accredited by the same professional bodies as the degrees we offer in the UK,” states Professor Kaka. The University has an extensive range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs, spanning multiple disciplines such as Petroleum Engineering, Construction Project Management, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Architecture, and Interior Design. It also offers the world-renowned Edinburgh Business School MBA. “With strong links to industry and business, we pride ourselves in offering top quality British education. Our degrees are also accredited and approved by the Royal Charter in the UK,” assures Professor Kaka. Heriot-Watt University Dubai programs include the option to transfer and undertake part of the degree at its home campus in Scotland. Professor Kaka adds, “Our graduates are highly sought after by employers worldwide, and our 77,000

Higher Education Digest May 2022

alumni working in key positions around the globe are testament to our success.” The University also provides students a supportive campus environment where they can lead their student life to the full, make lasting friendships, and enjoy everything that one of the world’s greatest cities has to offer.

At Heriot-Watt University Dubai, students enjoy dedicated classroom, ICT, computer, library, and counselling facilities

Living in a Global Community of Scholars “Being part of an international community and the opportunities that the University offered to widen my network and create a multifaceted experience has been the highlight of my time at Heriot-Watt,” says Radhika Kumar, an undergraduate student at Heriot-Watt University Dubai. The university’s student community has learners from 158 countries, giving the students the opportunity to meet and learn from people worldwide. Rasha Tareq Abdulmunam, a postgraduate student, justifies this fact by saying, “I’ve really enjoyed the team spirit among my peers and the help and support that I’ve continuously received from my professors. It has been a challenging and exciting learning experience for me. Heriot-Watt provided me with a social experience and academic achievement in a supportive and positive learning environment.” At the same time, Heriot-Watt University Dubai recognises the substantial investment students make towards their education. The University has several scholarships to help ease this financial burden. For instance, the Edinburgh Business School – ‘Shaping Women Entrepreneurs’ scholarship covers the costs of all study materials, teaching sessions, revision seminars, and examination fees for the nine MBA courses required to qualify for the MBA degree, plus the graduation fee. This full-tuition scholarship to attend the full-time or parttime MBA program at the Heriot-Watt University Dubai campus will be offered to an exceptional entrepreneurial woman. The University also recently announced a discount of AED 8,000 for students applying and paying their tuition fee deposit by March 31, 2022, for September 2022 intake. With roots in Scotland and a truly international reach, Heriot-Watt University Dubai is a leader in transnational education. Be it in Edinburgh, Dubai, or Kuala Lumpur, it is a powerful driver and engine of the economy. Together with its alumni, civic community, and industry partners, the University transforms people, society, and the world we live in. “At Heriot-Watt, you will learn from world-leading academics at the forefront of their specialisms. You’ll enjoy a distinctive, high-quality academic experience focused on developing your skills and knowledge to help you transition into the world of work at the end of your studies,” concludes Professor Kaka.

Higher Education Digest May 2022

INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE

Importance of Leadership in Higher Education 48

Varada Murthy K.S., Founder, Mentorslab.in

Varada is a thought-leader with over 25 years of professional experience working both in India and abroad in the area of Human Resources and Educational Services, Varada is an internationally Certified Leadership and Success Coach (CLC and CEC) from one of the highly reputed training institutions in United States, certified by International Coach Federation (ICF). He is also affiliated with Certified Coaches Alliance (CCA), is keen to help people unleash their true potential and make a difference.

Higher Education Digest May 2022

Leaders of Higher Education play a significant role in creating a culture that is essential for its faculty and other employees to cultivate the habit of continuous professional development and this can happen through a culture of paradigm shift

t is a challenging yet exciting time for Leaders in the Education Industry with the administration task growing with a huge number of jobs to be filled in a post- pandemic scenario where Covid-19 challenges are still continuing and meeting the needs of diverse student population; be it preparing them for everchanging corporate needs and helping the students to learn remotely. What is more critical in today’s time is innovation as the industry is taking an entrepreneurial approach to the way students learn, professors teach and increasing collaborative approach. Leading change, especially the attempt to shift to a learning institution is a huge task for Leaders in Higher Education where most people, after their formal education comes with a mindset that they have done with it. Attempting to change in an Institutional culture requires a vision, energy, focus, and ultimately buy-in from those that are part of an already established deeprooted culture in an Institute or organization they are working. In fact, Change Management is one of the critical qualities of Effective Leaders as they go through rapid changes in today’s work environment. A rapid change at workplace often leads to conflicts. Effective

Leaders prepare for this as it has to be managed in a sensitive way keeping in mind the needs and interests of all stakeholders, including the Institution itself. Another very important quality of a Leader in the Higher Education is to be an Effective communicator. Communication plays a significant role like in any other Industries. Leaders must be comfortable engaging with a wide range of people; both in and outside the campus and in both public and private settings. And Intellectual Curiosity – This is another very important quality required to be successful for a Leader in the Higher Education. Although Leaders like Dean, Academic Head or a Chancellor may end up investing a lot of their time in regular meetings in and outside the campus, developing intellectual curiosity is extremely important. It helps Leaders to master new disciplines, understand the needs of their Institute and stakeholders better and create a better learning environment. And of course, in becoming better decision makers as well. It is very important for any Institute to create a culture within the Institute to develop it as a “Learning Institute”. Therefore, Leaders of Higher Education play a significant role in creating a culture that is essential

Higher Education Digest May 2022

for its faculty and other employees to cultivate the habit of continuous professional development and this can happen through a culture of paradigm shift. With the demands and needs of the Corporate Houses ever-changing, it is critical for the Higher Educational Institutes to equip students with the knowledge and skills they will need to succeed in a constantly changing and challenging tomorrow and meet the diverse needs of student population. The old methods or simply lecturing method of teaching would not work today. Faculty

Higher Education Digest May 2022

members need to update themselves regularly with latest methodologies of teaching and the use of technology in order to engage the students in the classroom more meaningfully and will have to adopt different teaching styles, as learning styles of students differ. Teachers must develop passion to teach! A Teacher cannot step into the classroom with one style of teaching; she has to wear many hats to connect and engage with all those different types of learners present in classrooms. She/he must expand her role to a Facilitator to ensure that

It is time that Leaders in Higher Education seize the opportunity to create their Institutes “Learning Institutes”, bring positive change, help their employees become progressive and also make them feel that the Management cares for their employees

students enjoy the process of learning and meaningful learning takes place in the classroom. Leaders in Higher Education must ensure they coach / mentor their faculty to empower faculty and academic staff to develop leadership skills. It has dual benefits; one it allows existing leaders to support those who are keen to becoming future leaders and it enables leadership to focus training and professional development on the most critical needs of the Institution. Today, embracing continuous professional

development is critical for Faculty members to survive and succeed. The need of creating a Learning Institution that can react more quickly to changing external environments to improve student outcomes is essential. Another very important factor the Higher Educational Institutes need to emphasize today is “Skill Development” of its students. Having just Degrees does not guarantee jobs or success. Degrees with Skills are the need of the hour. Developing essential skills and making them employable is key to their success, and eventually for the Institute’s success as well. If we closely look history, we observe that the purpose of education during 60s 70s was to make a child “a good human being, good citizen for the nation and to the community” so that the long term problems of nation can be solved with human engineering. But post 1990 and more so in the current century with the boom in private education and the needs of Industry ever-changing, the emphasis should be on developing employability skills of students. It is time that Leaders in Higher Education seize the opportunity to create their Institutes “Learning Institutes”, bring positive change, help their employees become progressive and also make them feel that the Management cares for their employees. Without a doubt, we can say that “Skill development” should certainly be a primary goal of education. Yet it is a question to deliberate that “can the Nation be satisfied if every educated individual only fulfills his/her own economic needs through learning”, and should it not formulate an education policy which can create citizens with the proper approach to “Nation Building”? Perhaps, NEP will address this to some extent! I conclude by writing that the learning must be integrated with focus on creating future leaders. ● Creating and supporting learning opportunities and continuous professional development for all faculty and other members of the institution to ensure they create future leaders from the classrooms ● Focus on promoting collaborative learning where people work in teams for better and desired results ● Encourage Creativity, Innovation and skill development through holistic approach ● Introduce innovative methods of learning ● Create more Thinkers and Problem Solvers by introducing such skill based syllabus. ● Communication Skills – Developing effective communication and essential Leadership skills are important. ● And create Good and Smart People - Good when I say, “Value side” and Smart on “skills”.

Higher Education Digest May 2022

INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE

Canberra Offers a Better Balance of Study, Work and Fun for Students in Australia Mike Ferguson, Director of Global Student Recruitment, University of Canberra

Mike Ferguson is a senior leader in the International Education Sector of Australia with experience within the Tertiary and Government sectors. He is passionate about the long-term sustainability of the international education sector and a strong advocate for Australian education internationally. Mike dedicates his professional expertise to ensuring international students receive the best possible education experience in Australia – both in terms of education and personal enrichment that overseas study provides.

Higher Education Digest May 2022

For international students building a new life abroad, Canberra provides a terrific balance of study and fun

ustralia’s national capital, Canberra delivers the best of both worlds as a modern multicultural city located within a stunning natural environment. It exudes a charm that has positioned it amongst the world’s best education destinations in the QS Best Student City ranking for 2022. For students seeking an opportunity to pursue their dreams in a welcoming environment, with a balanced lifestyle, Canberra is an ideal choice. Students from India have been choosing to study in Australia because it is renowned for its world-class education, post-study work opportunities, and excellent quality of living. With borders now fully open after lockdowns necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, student numbers are seeing an uptick. It is encouraging to see that a recent survey of 10,000 students from over 180 countries has put Australia back at the very top of the list of overseas study destinations. Why Canberra is a top choice in Australia For international students building a new life abroad, Canberra provides a terrific balance of study and fun. It

also offers a wealth of opportunity thanks to its highly diverse employment market and the highest average income and lowest unemployment rates in the nation. Little wonder that many students opt to make Canberra their home after graduation. Canberra is young, exciting, and thrives on education Canberra is a young and progressive city with a global reputation for excellence in education. The city is home to some of the brightest minds in Australia. Some of Australia’s highest-ranked universities are also located in Canberra. Students can pick from a wide range of world-class courses at Canberra’s universities, such as bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degrees, or other studies. There’s always something for everyone. However, the city is very much about work and play. It has a lot to offer when it comes to vibrant culture, entertainment, and cuisine. Canberra packs in a host of year-round festivals, and world-class arts, culture, entertainment and sporting fixtures. For students arriving from a country like India, which already enjoys a rich

Higher Education Digest May 2022

cultural diversity, Canberra may feel just like home. The diverse multicultural community in Canberra makes it both culturally rich and welcoming. Students and visitors alike can expect a pleasant, safe, and enriching stay. Post-study work opportunities and attractive salaries are just some of the perks Canberra has on offer Students may find it exciting to learn that the average income in Canberra is consistently the highest in Australia. International students in Canberra can avail themselves of an extra year of post-study work rights when compared to other capital cities such as Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. This, coupled with Canberra’s strong job opportunities in both public and private organisations, makes the city an attractive pick for those looking to embark on a career path. Graduates can expect strong career opportunities in industries such as technology and innovation, healthcare, education, professional services and construction. Internships and work experience opportunities are built into many of the university courses here, aimed at giving students real insight into their industries of choice.

Canberra’s affordability makes it accessible for students Canberra’s cost of living is lower compared to most bigger Australian cities, which means students can expect a higher standard of living at lower living costs. Transport costs are also lower due to an excellent public transport system, with concessional fares on offer for international students. It’s a bicycle-friendly city, giving students a flexible and economical way of getting around. Free Wi-Fi is available in the city centre or galleries, libraries, and cafes. Scholarships make studying in Australia more accessible Universities in Canberra have various scholarship opportunities for international students on offer. These include scholarships from the Australian Government, education providers, and other organisations. Each scholarship program has different criteria and conditions, and students can apply for the ones that suit them best in terms of their academic performance. Canberra has a lot to offer students looking at making Australia their study destination. Aspiring students are actively encouraged to consider Canberra as a possible option and conduct research to ensure that they choose the lifestyle, location and experience that suits them best.

Higher Education Digest May 2022

UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES IN THE MIDDLE EAST

WESTFORD UNIVERSITY COLLEGE EMBRACING CULTURE THROUGH EDUCATION 56

s the global economy evolves, so do business education systems throughout the world’s positions and services. Today’s executives and professionals across various fields require distinctive talents such as the capacity to negotiate, persuade, and transform, as well as the ability to balance creative and commercial components. Business schools have played an important role in instilling these skills among students and advancing their careers. Westford University College, one of the leading accredited business schools in the UAE, aims to develop future business leaders by actively embracing the continual dynamic changes around the globe. Westford University College was established in 2009 as the Westford School of Management and had only 3 Personnel’s and one program from the Pearson, UK. Over time, new courses were introduced,and the institution rebranded itself to be called the Westford University College (WUC). The institute is the vision of the founders, who are educational aficionados with a business mindset. They were aware and responded to the shortcomings in the Middle East education services. As part of the founding philosophy, they believed in providing graduates with experiences and opportunities that would prepare them for

Higher Education Digest May 2022

It has been a decade since Westford University College committed itself to education and has transformed itself into one of the most soughtafter business schools in the Middle East.

Higher Education Digest May 2022

ABOUT

HANIL DAS

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR – BUSINESS HEAD Hanil Das is a self-driven and inspired edupreneur, a higher education professional, and a strategist with over ten years of experience in the higher education sector. He is a team leader committed to helping employees develop their abilities and strategies to accomplish greater goals. The visionary behind the actions and programs of the WUC. A comprehensive multitasker that thrives in fast-paced environments. Hanil holds an MBA from Bangalore University and a PG Diploma in Strategic Management from RVIM, Bangalore.

He has represented the higher education market for the past eight years and has more than a decade of experience at the senior management level in the banking and education sectors in various capacities. From his early years in the education market, he soon advanced to this most influential and successful role through self-motivation, creativity, powerful management plans, and excellent business tactics. Hanil is head of finance, media, and overall company development at Westford University College. The whole phase of all services, including preparation, organizing, hiring, and implementation, is run and organized by him. In sum, he handles the terminal stage of completing the student admissions to the qualification stage and plays an instrumental role in all phases of business development.

Higher Education Digest May 2022

employment in the corporate sector. Thus, it focused on executive education and developed a curriculum unlike any other institute in the region. “It seeks to be student-centred, providing a comprehensive picture of the corporate sector, its working environment, and the community in which it operates. Furthermore, it preserves a multicultural learning atmosphere as students worldwide enroll here to advance their careers,” shares Hanil Das, the Executive Director – Business Head at Westford University College. The institute provides opportunities and initiatives that are shared with not only UAE students but also their Indian counterparts. They are offered the chance to be one with the blended pedagogy that Westford University College implies. Learners develop a sense of ethos around them and are exposed to varied walks of life which helps them comprehend customs and practices through the mix of cultures coming together. They also

Westford faculty members demonstrate immense passion for teaching, learning & research, and come from diverse backgrounds and nationalities.

Higher Education Digest May 2022

offer students the choice of studying in the UK for one of the course semesters and/or attending their graduation ceremonies in UK. Popular Academia In recent years, WUC has seen a rise in applications in courses related to Supply Chain, Logistics, Shipping Management, and Healthcare Management. Both courses are effectively delivered to students with

Higher Education Digest May 2022

Westford University College thrives on embracing inclusivity by imparting blended educational practices involving well endowed participation from students and professioals represented by 108 nationalities symbolizing diversity, global footprint and universal acceptance.

navigate their way towards a future that helps them grow in doing what they love. It offers foundation programs for L3, HND, BABM, MBA, DBA, and other professional courses. The 3-year bachelor courses are a unique blend of qualifications from Liverpool John Moore University, which is ranked in the top 50 universities in the UK, along with certification from Canterbury Christ Church University, the UK, and a Higher National Diploma from one of the most renowned awarding bodies, Pearson. The triple crown MBA mainly focuses on professional networking and practitioner training, apart from academic qualifications from reputed universities in Spain and the UK, namely, Cardiff Metropolitan University, UK, UCAM Spain, CCCU, UK, and Girne American University, Cyprus. The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program that WUC offers is accredited from UCAM, Spain. DBA is one of the highest academic degrees tailor-made for practitioners, paving the way for progress in career paths both as a practitioner and a scholar. They also offer online Leadership & Management Development Program in collaboration with the University of California, Los Angeles Extension (UCLA Extension) for today’s industry players. The college’s courses were curated to bridge the gap between industry and academia by focusing on being the region’s leading provider of certified industry-relevant skills.

triple certifications and a WES-recognized degree. Apart from the MBA in Supply Chain, Logistics, and Shipping/ MBA in Healthcare Management, students can also get a Postgraduate Extended Diploma in a subject of their choice from the Cambridge International Qualifications, UK, and a Certificate of Management Professional from the Chartered Management Institute, UK. With so many people opting for management courses and the like, WUC had a variety of courses to help students

Mastering Inclusion Westford University College offers up to 80% scholarships to students that excel in academics and extracurricular activities. With a range of opportunities groomed beyond academics that includes an in-house Toastmasters Club and sports and cultural avenues, the college encourages students with a unique talent to be part of the WUC family. “WUC brings in an international learning experience and organizes international exchange programs and immersion programs. We have students from over 120 countries, and the campus is spread over two beautiful and spacious locations within the city, bringing in

Higher Education Digest May 2022

the best of both worlds to our students in UAE,” says Hanil. Though they may learn locally in UAE, WUC ensures they have an incredible global experience. Equipping Students for the future With students from over 116 countries, Westford University College embraces diversity in a unique way. This diversified component enables learning from people of various backgrounds and upbringings through culturally diverse classroom settings, and social interactions, resulting in greater innovation and collaboration. To maintain this diversity and vibrant student community, Westford makes sure that each country’s respective national and Independence Day are honored through the institute’s communications. Westford University College provides a holistic environment for students to thrive. With the inculcation of technology, career improvement programs, bridging

Higher Education Digest May 2022

academic and personal growth, and committing to broader inclusions, the institute helps students have all the tools needed to step into the real world and face challenges. Its faculty members represent varied backgrounds and disciplines along with extensive expertise allowing students to learn and practice a variety of leadership approaches. As a result, students’ academic engagement, personal motivation, cultural involvement and critical thinking improve immediately making them better scholars, thinkers and citizens. Their initiatives, Day with CEO, We Connect, and We Talk, aim to help them create connections with C-Suite Business Leaders, CEO, and professionals to learn about their success stories, cutting-edge ideas, and leadership styles. “We actively participate in Toastmasters International through our Westford Toastmasters club, which was established to help students develop their public speaking and leadership abilities,” Hanil adds. A

monthly newsletter, international student trips, soft skills training, career development, and business etiquette workshops, programs on corporate competencies and sports management are all available to students who want to engage and develop their holistic approach to their career or life in general. The factor that makes Westford stand out is its approach to the whole education system. By focusing on making students future-ready, be it for the corporate world or to venture into start-ups and explore entrepreneurship, the college helps them achieve these goals through different initiatives like the Youth Business Leadership Program, which is exclusively designed to nurture the leadership skills amongst the youth. Similarly, We Connect with business leaders is another such platform where executive leaders of the industry connect with students through an engaging talk. Additionally, Westford also features an Incubator designed to support entrepreneurial mindset of students. Students Speak Westford currently has over 2000 students enrolled across their undergraduate and postgraduate courses. The diverse composition of the student body, comprised of people from 116 countries, enables students to learn from people from varied origins and upbringings through

Westford University College offer avenues for professional qualifications with reputed universities and awarding bodies around the globe.

Higher Education Digest May 2022

culturally diverse classroom and social interactions, resulting in improved innovation and collaboration. Tarisha Mahesh Sukharani shares, “I am grateful to Westford University College and Cardiff Metropolitan University for assisting me in pursuing my ambition of earning an MBA. After conducting extensive research, I decided to study with Westford, and it has proven to be the finest decision I have made so far. The staff and administration are great in teaching, supporting,

Higher Education Digest May 2022

or resolving any issues and guiding you academically and non-academically. WUC genuinely cares about its students and their careers. They assure and are committed to ensuring that students reach their goals to the highest possible standard. Choosing Westford to enhance your education is the ideal option.” “I completed my UCAM - MBA in Supply Chain, Shipping, and Logistics Management from Westford University. I would like to thank all my professors,

Westford offers its students hands-on learning experience in the classroom guided by subject matter experts with a unique blend of academic and industry experience.

mentors, management, and Westford’s exceptional support team for assisting me in achieving my goals with the highest grades. I am confident this will propel my career to the next level,” says Dileeban Rajaratnam. Ariba Abdul opines, “Joining Westford was the finest decision I’ve ever made, and it’s been a fantastic experience. My confidence has grown because of the learning environment, professors, and team members. I can’t wait to see what the future holds at WUC.” “The time I spent at Westford was enjoyable. It inspired and enriched my scholastic career, allowing me to communicate better, learn more, and emerge stronger. Every class was rewarding, as all the faculty members are supportive, knowledgeable, and patient. With my degree, I believe I will have many opportunities to achieve my professional goals and develop an outstanding career after graduating,” Joash George shares. Maintaining Resilience Through the lens of the COVID-19 pandemic, Westford, like all educational institutions, saw a shift away from lectures to a more engaging environment with online learning equipped with enhanced tools and software. “Strengthening the student community has proved to become the most challenging task business schools face, making it more difficult than ever before,” says Hanil. He adds, “The pandemic came to be an opportunity for many to reskill and upskill. We wish to emphasize our commitment to inclusion for every person without exception, take accountability for the cultures we create, how the leaders we create and think of humanity.” Westford University College hopes to include more substantive co-curricular programs and expect to be bold and take the initiative towards using new technology to create more accessible, flexible, and personalized modes of education. Distance learning is one concept that the institute has embraced as it is an opted choice of study for international students. “As schools are reopening, we have welcomed our students back on campus happily; however, we still have integrated technology in our teaching methods and offer students a hybrid and blended style of education,” Hanil shares.

Higher Education Digest May 2022

ACADEMIC VIEW

Scope of Pursuing Dispute Resolution Courses 66

Mark Byrne (Dean) and Nadia Bhatti (Head of Law & Professional Studies) Independent College, Dublin, Ireland

Dean of Independent College, Mark J. Byrne, (Msc IS) has a wealth of professional and academic experience and qualifications based on a long-term successful record of achievement in Higher Education, academic, professional leadership and management. He has been instrumental in the development, accreditation and growth of there MA in Dispute Resolution and is deeply committed to developing excellence, innovation, and student engagement across all Independent College Level Undergraduate Level 8 & Post Graduate Level 9 QQI internationally accredited courses. Nadia has an LLB degree from Trinity College Dublin, possesses a wealth of experience in the delivery of academic law programmes combined with extensive business professional practice experience in the law.

Higher Education Digest May 2022

Dispute conflict resolution refers to the practice of settling disputes and disagreements, often of a legal nature, in the most amicable way possible

isputes arising across the globe are driven by a number of factors including politics, religion, ethnicity, commercial and cultural differences. Besides, conflicts are damaging, expensive, and time consuming. In fact, long-term and highly interdependent relationships between organisations is prone to a variety of disputes over the respective parties' rights and obligations. To navigate these often complicated scenarios, both government and non-government organizations need skilled professionals who are trained to resolve such issues. A wider scope of being a professional mediator is explained for better understanding of the aspirants. Academic roadmap and career roles: A master’s degree from an accredited conflict resolution program for this enriching subject can lead one to a rewarding and lucrative career in the private, public

and government sectors. If you want to work in dispute resolution applying techniques and processes within court, across government sectors and within the private sector, look for a program that is professionally-focused and innovative. It should expose students to new perspectives and deep analyses, ensuring high-quality teaching and learning experiences. There are many exciting opportunities for those with a background in conflict resolution at all career levels. At both national as well as regional levels, these individuals might facilitate political settlements between two or more parties using compromises, governance structures, and national systems of justice to achieve or maintain peace. After graduation, students must be self-motivated to research organizations for possible employment, develop networks into these organizations, and hone their pitches for the employment application process. To gain an edge over others, graduates must

Higher Education Digest May 2022

As long as communication has not irretrievably broken down between the parties at dispute, mediation should be considered as a more efficient method of achieving an outcome

68 work closely with professors, career services, and career coaches to help them achieve their professional aspirations. Institutes specializing in business and legal courses like Independent College are enabling learners to identify, develop, and apply analytical creative problem solving and research skills via master courses in dispute resolution. Ways to resolve a dispute: Dispute conflict resolution refers to the practice of settling disputes and disagreements, often of a legal nature, in the most amicable way possible. It includes all dispute resolution methods and approaches from early resolution through to formal tribunal or court processes. Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) is the procedure for settling disputes without litigation, such as mediation, conciliation, arbitration and adjudication. Litigation is formal, and usually a public process that helps resolve disputes in a courtroom setting with a judge or judge and jury. There are often strict rules, which the government imposes, that dictate the conduct of how the process will be carried out. Due to these

Higher Education Digest May 2022

challenges ADR is growing in popularity because it is typically cheaper and faster than entering into litigation and resorting to the courts. Importance of mediation: As long as communication has not irretrievably broken down between the parties at dispute, mediation should be considered as a more efficient method of achieving an outcome. It also helps organisations maintain confidentiality and preserve the reputation of the individuals or businesses involved. Examining both sides of arguments in order to reach an amicable and logical solution, are the main prerogatives of those working in dispute resolution. Bottomline: When conflict is resolved effectively, it leads to many benefits, such as accomplishing goals and strengthening relationships. Beside a fruitful career, earning your degree in this subject can lead to better leadership skills, greater job opportunities and beneficial relationships with coworkers.

Higher Education Digest October 2021

Higher Education Digest April 2022

INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE

Regional Trends in Career Counselling 70

Paridhi Khaitan, Managing Director, ProTeen

Paridhi heads the ProTeen business with a focus on its global product vision, go-to-marketing strategy and B2C and B2B2C revenue channels. Paridhi has led the spin-out of the ProTeen research and product development initiative inside the UNIDEL group to build a company that is changing the way young adults make academic and career choices. Paridhi has a decade of experience spanning software product development, marketing and strategy across diverse sectors like Information Technology, Manufacturing, Automotive and Retail. Before joining ProTeen, Paridhi worked with global organizations like Infosys and Cummins. Paridhi holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science Engineering from Institute of Technology & Management (ITM) and an MBA in Marketing from Symbiosis Centre for Management & HR Development.

Higher Education Digest May 2022

While promising talent is abundant nationwide, awareness for unconventional roles is only restricted to a few major cities and towns

areer counselling has come a long way since its origin in 19th century America. Where this profession once exclusively focused on job placement advice, today, career guidance is doled out by counsellors using a complex blended model of subject matter expertise backed by predictive science. Technology has fueled this transformation, creating what we now refer to as a ‘phygital’ experience, aka fusing digital applications with physical in-person career counselling services. This evolution perfectly complements the ever-changing world of work, allowing students to explore both conventional and unconventional employment opportunities. While promising talent is abundant nationwide, awareness for unconventional roles is only restricted to a few major cities and towns. Most students from tier 2 & 3 cities are unaware of the plethora of options the 21st-century landscape offers and end up subscribing to conventional career choices. Data backs up this troubling trend, with a report showing almost 93% of Indian students were aware of only 7 career options. This lack of knowledge is also widely prevalent among the students’ immediate milieu — parents or relatives who have an immense influence on these students’ career choices. Young adults are mostly coaxed into traditional

professions like engineering, medicine, teaching, etc., without their interests and aptitudes being considered. Government employment statistics also point to a skill mismatch between the youth of India and available careers. According to a 2020 Niti Aayog report, 90% of the labour force are engaged in informal employment, while much of the existing workforce suffer from poor education, insufficient skill development, and a complete lack of awareness about new-age career options. Unfortunately, a handful of tier 2 & 3 cities offer effective career counselling services with trained counsellors. Even where they exist, they are limited in number and restricted in the range of services they can offer. The career counselling gap exists, and it is wide. Spreading awareness of career counselling among tier 2 & 3 regions across India The most effective way to combat this lack of knowledge is by increasing students’ accessibility to career counselling services. And students, too, are demanding this change. A 2021 IC3 Institute Student Quest Survey showed that around 82% of students consider that career counselling is imperative. In the current context of pandemic-led employment changes, the need to counsel students from regional areas

Higher Education Digest May 2022

services. Big-name counsellors and educational institutions partnering with local counsellors will help make career guidance a reality for every student. Such an approach can also draw upon the strengths of each partner, thereby leveraging existing infrastructure, knowledge banks, and operational efficiencies. Context- and regional-specific service models: Studies show that adopting contextual cues and localizing career guidance have a better impact than simply using universal acultural designs. These insights indicate a need for career counselling services in regional languages to bridge the language barrier. Widening access through innovative methods: India already has a high digital penetration rate, and the Eighth Edition of India Skills Report (2021) estimates uninterrupted internet access for more than a billion Indians by 2030. This makes the phygital approach a particularly efficient career counselling strategy, especially in tier 2 & 3 cities. Digital counselling combined with physical guidance can greatly extend accessibility to career counselling and increase its awareness among students and parents.

is more crucial than ever. The key is to take cognizance of the fact that career counselling is the bridge between education and work and is vitally relevant while choosing a career. Spreading hyperlocal awareness in tier 2 & 3 cities across India should thus include: Active local partnerships: Presently, over 93% of schools around India, particularly in tier 2 & 3 cities, lack immediate access to high-quality career counselling

Higher Education Digest May 2022

Predicted impact on the edtech sector The edtech sector is expected to grow to US$ 4 billion by 2025, driven by increasing demand for non-academic courses from tier 2 & 3 cities. Bridging the career counselling gap in these non-metro regions will magnify this projected growth twofold. This impact will not be limited to valuation increase for the edtech sector but will also lead to higher exposure to 21st-century careers for students and their parents. Instead of settling for a traditional job, students will have the freedom to capitalise on modern employment opportunities and make informed career decisions. As more regionalised partnerships and career counselling centres emerge, it will forge an interconnected network of career guidance experts who can unite to build a supportive career counselling ecosystem for India’s youth. The ensuing skilled and knowledgeable talent pool of young workers will be wider than ever before and will have a positive ripple effect on the economy as well. In a world where careers are constantly evolving, high-quality career counselling is the only reliable basis for the uncertain future. To impact students positively in this ever-changing job landscape, we need to support the youth across India’s grassroots. And our aim should be that in the immediate future, every student across India gets equitable access to this crucial guidance.

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