ZAYED UNIVERSITY IS A NATIONAL AND REGIONAL LEADER IN EDUCATIONAL INNOVATION

Founded in 1998 and proudly bearing the name of the Founder of the Nation, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, this flagship institution is the modern embodiment of the Founding Father’s ambitions for higher education in the United Arab Emirates.

DESCRIBE THE ONGOING TRANSFORMATION AT ZAYED UNIVERSITY.

Our new approach to our undergraduate degrees is designed to ensure that our students graduate with a skill set that meets the demands of the labor market. We believe that a purely discipline-focused approach to education is no longer appropriate given the challenges we face in the 21st century. Employers need employees who possess the ability to examine problems from various angles and generate effective solutions to address them, and national economies need leaders, entrepreneurs, and thinkers. Our undergraduate degree programs have been transformed to ensure they are providing our students with the best possible preparation for not just their first jobs, but also for their entire careers.

WHAT DOES THE BS IN BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION PROGRAM INVOLVE?

In line with the transformation at Zayed University, our Business Transformation program meets the needs of the job market and national development agenda n the region, investing in new technology and infrastructure, and providing students with opportunities to gain practical work experience through internships, industry partnerships, and handson learning experiences. We teach our students technical elements such as market dynamics, and operational expertise in areas such as organisational planning, that are typical in traditional degrees. However, we equally focus on transversal skills such as critical and innovative thinking, leadership, and management. And we develop that throughout the 4 years, rooting the learning in interdisciplinary curricula and methods, that not only help our students learn how to learn, but they do so in a highly engaging way. We believe that graduates can genuinely comprehend the requirements of the private sector and proactively anticipate future workplace challenges only by combining their knowledge and skills.

WHY HAVE YOU INTRODUCED THIS NEW PROGRAM?

While business has always required an interdisciplinary approach, we introduced the program in response to the rapidly changing business landscape and the need to prepare our students for the challenges of the future. We recognized that traditional educational models are no longer sufficient to meet the demands of the modern workplace. The primary objective of our program is to equip our students with the necessary skills and knowledge that enable them to thrive in the highly competitive job market. Given the pivotal role of the private sector in the future development of the UAE and its integral contribution to the realization of the 2071 Centennial Plan, our curriculum has been meticulously designed to ensure that our graduates possess the requisite proficiencies to actively participate and excel in this context.

HOW IS YOUR PROGRAM DIFFERENT FROM OTHER UNIVERSITIES?

One of the key differentiators of our program is our general education program, which is the most comprehensive skillsbased course in the UAE and provides our students with the foundational skills they need to succeed in their careers. The program is intentionally designed to provide the intellectual skills, social skills, self-development skills, and digital skills which employers demand. These skills are then tested and integrated throughout the rest of the degree program, resulting in graduates who not only have an in-depth understanding of their subject matter but also a breadth of skills that make them an asset to the workforce.

HOW DOES YOUR PROGRAM INCORPORATE TECHNOLOGY INTO THE CURRICULUM?

We use an online learning platform that is designed to ensure that students are active participants in the learning process as well as to increase engagement. On a practical level, it helps lecturers to maintain students’ attention during class time and reduces the chances of students becoming bored or disengaged. An interactive online platform, coupled with carefully constructed learning plans, can encourage students to remain active throughout the learning encounter. Interactive polls, breakout sessions, and focus activities such as concept mapping, jigsaws, and debating are orchestrated to ensure that students apply what they have learned from their reading in a flipped-classroom environment.

In addition, continuous coursework throughout the semester ensures all students follow the progression of the class

HOW DO YOU PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH PRACTICAL WORK EXPERIENCE?

We provide students with practical work experience through, industry partnerships, and hands-on learning opportunities that are structured and integrated with the curricula, this is in addition to traditional internships in later years. We believe that practical experience is an essential part of the learning process and helps students apply the knowledge they have gained in the classroom to real-world situations. We work closely with industry partners to provide students with access to a range of opportunities across a variety of industries. Our innovative Partner Challenge program provides students with an opportunity to apply their knowledge outside the classroom to a real-world challenge, from the first year, proposed by an industry partner, with blue-chip companies like Accenture, Coca-Cola, CNBC, and Goldman Sachs among those involved.

WHAT IS THE BEST ADVICE FOR STUDENTS LOOKING FOR A BUSINESS CAREER?

My best advice for students looking for a business career is to focus on developing a range of skills that are in high demand in the job market, including critical thinking, problemsolving, and communication skills. And perhaps the most important one is for them to learn how to learn, to take charge of their learning experience, and build agility across the use of frameworks and lenses form different specialisms, Even if technology advances and new industries develop, these skills will remain essential going forward. It is also important to stay up-todate with the latest trends and technologies in the industry and to be adaptable and willing to learn new skills. Finally, I would advise students to seek out practical work experience, either through internships or other opportunities, to gain handson experience and make valuable industry connections.

WHAT IS THE UNIVERSITY’S PLAN FOR 2023?

This Fall will see us welcome our largest cohort of students yet and our first cohort will begin their third year, in which they start their specializations and concentrations. This is when they start to gain a truly indepth understanding of their subject and get a better grasp of the type of career they may pursue. Across the University, this is an enormously exciting time as we continue to roll out the transformation and we’ll soon be expanding and enhancing our research offering as well to focus more on applied research, to become a leader in and contribute to the development of new knowledge and ideas at an exciting time for the UAE. n

Zayed University is committed to promoting sustainability and environmental stewardship through a range of initiatives and programs. By implementing sustainable practices across its campuses and offering sustainability-focused courses and programs, Zayed University is helping to create a more sustainable future for the UAE and the world.