50 YEARS
OF EDUCATION IN THE UAE KHALEEJ TIMES | ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT
Nisthula Nagarajan
T
he UAE is an education pioneer in the Arab world. It has embraced and acknowledged the important role it plays in stabilising a nation. From rustic schools with minimum infrastructure to technologically-advanced classrooms fitted with smart boards, education in the UAE has come a long way. In 2021, education is seen as the tool by which future generations can guide and transform society. One of these change-makers is Ascentria, a multi-award-winning institute committed to preparing Indian curriculum students for highly competitive Indian entrance exams for premier engineering and medical colleges. Its students have gained admission to top colleges across the globe every year since its inception. Ascentria achieved this by cus-
Key to unlocking holistic progress In the midst of its Golden Jubilee year, the UAE is also celebrating the massive achievement of providing a world-class education to its residents and citizens for fifty years tomising its programmes for Gulf students, providing pastoral care, emphasising every student’s progress, personalised doubt sessions, and focussing on the achievement of students’ goal. With sprawling university campuses, and continuously updated courses, an increased focus on technology and a more concentration on student well-being, growth in the education sector has matched the rapid pace of the UAE’s development. At the World Government Summit in 2017, His Highness Sheikh
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai said: “The first priority is education, second is education, and third is education. ” Aligned with this and the national vision of developing futureready Emirati talent, Emirates Institute for Banking and Financial Studies offers world-class training to Emirati students to ensure continuous professional development in critical areas of banking and finance. Its bachelor and diploma programmes have
High quality 3 layer filtered face cover made from soft, comfortable, and breathable fabric. The preventive facemask is washable and good for everyday use.
www.muhh.me
been introduced to address the need for local expertise within the financial services sector. A key tool for achieving Vision 2021 is the National Strategy for Innovation launched in 2014 by Sheikh Mohammed, which aims to make the UAE one of the most innovative countries in the world by stimulating innovation in key sectors, one of them being education. The strategy will establish innovation labs in schools and universities as part of a drive to equip students with targeted skills such as critical thinking, problemsolving, creativity, perseverance and an ability to adapt. Today, the quality of the UAE’s higher education ranks among the top 20 globally. The UAE is home to a number of top-ranking global universities and offers both on-campus and off-campus degree options. Sally Jeffery, Global Education and Skills Network Leader at PwC, said: “Higher education has seen interesting shifts, both globally and in the region. Students are shifting towards destinations that not only offer quality education, but more attractive employment and residency options as well. The UAE’s latest student visa reforms and inflow of reputable higher education institutions are steps in the right direction.” In this regard, the London American City College (LACC), known for providing the best American and European Education to students from around the world, has produced thousands of future business leaders and star managers. Touted as one of the
best student-preferred business education providers in the Middle East region, LACC has achieved over 90 per cent employability rate with more than 10,000 alumni around the world. With every graduating class, students’ knowledge, skills, adaptability and sensitivity become nimbler. The future is here, with many classrooms becoming an amalgam of both traditional teaching ethics and values with modern technology learning tools and delivery methods. As the world passes through a phase of a relatively uncertain future, UAE education institutions, adapted quickly both with technology and affordability. Murdoch University Dubai has recently announced a significant adjustment to its course fees for 2021 in response to the ongoing financial burden caused by the pandemic. The uni-
versity will reduce its course fees for the Dubai campus for both new and returning students across all undergraduate and postgraduate programmes for its May and September 2021 intakes, while maintaining its highquality standard of education. There is a principled effort to develop the education ecosystem in the UAE, from the establishment of the first university in 1976, United Arab Emirates University in Al Ain, to today, where there are more than 65 reputed local and international universities in the country. What we see today in the UAE is an extremely matured educational ecosystem. Fast progressing into a knowledge-based economy, this is only going to grow further, thus establishing UAE as the hub of higher education in the region. — nisthula@khaleejtimes.com
SEPTEMBER 2021
SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS CHOOSE MDX DUBAI FOR QUALITY AND AFFORDABILITY ADMISSIONS@MDX.AC.AE +971 (0)4 367 8100 +971 54 444 1260 @MIDDLESEXDUBAI
“GEMS Modern Academy has been associated with Ascentria since April 2015. We are pleased with the quality of support that is provided to our students. Ascentria faculty members are friendly yet professional and deliver the course content with utmost care and profi ciency. Parents and students John Gomes have often praised their sincerity, dedication Vice Principal GEMS Modern Academy and commitment.”
50 YEARS OF EDUCATION IN THE UAE
KHALEEJ TIMES ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT
CREATING THE WIN-WIN FORMULA BOND WITH THE BEST
From customising study programmes for students to ensuring a level playing field, Ascentria has come a long way to being one of the most preferred test centres in the UAE. Alka Malik, Managing Director, speaks to Khaleej Times Please give a background on Ascentria and what it specialises in? Ascentria is a multi-award-winning institute committed to preparing Indian curriculum students, across grades 9 to12, for highly competitive Indian entrance examinations for admissions to the premier engineering and medical colleges, through the JEE and NEET examinations for engineering and medical courses. We have, in collaboration with some of the leading schools of Dubai for over seven years, trained their students by offering a customised learning experience, to gain entrance to their preferred graduate institutions. What is unique to Ascentria as a test preparation centre? Ascentria is the International centre for PACE — one of the top 10 Pan-India brands. Our students use the well-researched, comprehensive PACE study material, All India Test Series that benchmark the students with their Indian counterparts, PACE online portal, and STEPapp – the revolutionary gamified learning app. In addition, and most importantly, they are taught by hand-picked faculty from PACE, all located in the UAE. We have customised our programmes for Gulf students, as cookie-cutting the Indian model would not work for students here. Our pastoral care, emphasis on ev-
LACC produces the best of students from across the globe Alka Malik, Managing Director of Ascentria
ery student’s progress, personalised doubt sessions, and focus on achievement of students’ goals, provide them the winning streak. Please tell us about the shifting academic trends you have observed in students in the UAE over the years, and especially during the pandemic? Ascentria has completely changed the landscape, offering Gulf students, for the very first time, a level playing field with students in India. Our students have gained admission to top colleges every year since inception, such as Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), including IIT Bombay and IIT Madras, All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), and also other universities internationally, inspiring confidence in Gulf students to achieve similar success. They have also consistently been UAE board toppers, school and subject toppers. In 2020, our student was the UAE JEE topper, with 100 per cent of our JEE Advanced students succeeding — no mean feat! Even in February 2021, our students have been top scorers in the JEE Main exam. The pandemic has shifted the focus of parents and students towards good colleges in India, due to the strong academic offerings at a fraction of price internationally.
How have you changed your delivery model to suit the pandemic while keeping quality of education the same? We were the first educational institute to migrate to online classes, as early as March 2020. We have received praise from innumerable parents and students regarding the quality of our virtual classes and online testing, proving that excellent teaching can be imparted and absorbed in all formats! We believe online teaching is here to stay, in some form. We shall henceforth offer options of physical, online and hybrid classes. We have invested in an integrated and robust, Ascentria-branded learning management system. This provides discussion boards with teachers, class recordings, multiple test modes, etc., which would greatly enhance the learning experience. What are you looking forward to for Ascentria and education in the UAE in the future? We are expanding our footprint and are in active discussions with educational institutions across the Gulf to complement the success that we have achieved in the UAE. Meanwhile, we will continue supporting our students in achievement of all their goals and aspirations, adopting the best methods suited for their learning experiences.
FEE REDUCTION FOR MAY AND SEPTEMBER INTAKES The new structure will be applicable for all current and new students at the Australian University Murdoch University Dubai has recently announced a significant adjustment to its course fees for 2021 in response to the ongoing financial burden of the Covid-19 pandemic on many of their students and families. The university will reduce their course fees for the Dubai campus for both new
and returning students across all undergraduate and postgraduate programmes for their May and September 2021 intakes. “Murdoch University has always been and remains committed to supporting the needs and aspirations of our students and their educational goals and making a high-quality international university experience as accessible as possible,” Dr James Trotter, Dean And Academic President of Murdoch University Dubai, said. Dr Trotter is confident this
Your International Education Starts in Dubai Be career-ready with an affordable, Australian-accredited degree from Murdoch University Dubai Explore limitless career opportunities with our double majors in all undergraduate programs Start University in May and September with O Levels or Year 11 results with our Foundation Studies program Invest in your career in 2021 with our MBA, Graduate Certificate and Master of Education, and Master of Information Technology Learn more about our reduced fees, and generous scholarships and bursaries available for our May and September intakes
Applications open for May and September 2021 +971 4 574 9800 | info@murdochuniversitydubai.com Permitted by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority. The academic qualifications granted by this institution and certified by KHDA shall be recognised in the Emirate of Dubai by all public and private entitiesfor all purposes. CRICOS 00125J
news will be warmly welcomed by both the university’s students in the UAE and internationally. “It means our students, both current and future, will be able to pursue their dreams of a globally recognised, high-quality Australian education at our new Dubai Knowledge Park campus. We are confident our revised prices make us the best value-for-money university in Dubai,” Dr Trotter explained. According to Mark Brown, General Manager of the Dubai campus, “Reducing our prices does not mean a compromise on the Murdoch University student learning experience or a reduction in quality. Our students can expect the same high-quality learning experience that we have so proudly delivered in Dubai since 2008.” Murdoch University Dubai continues to offer a range of generous Academic Merit Scholarships ranging from 15 to 40 per cent and has also introduced a new 50 per cent scholarship for their preuniversity Foundation Program, which facilitates a seamless transition from high school to higher education. It is also an exciting pathway programme for mature individuals who couldn’t access or complete a formal university education in the past. There is also something special for postgraduate (PG) students. “We are very much aware of the financial challenges for our PG students, many of whom pay for their education themselves while working,” added Brown. “To assist them, we have reduced the fees for all our master’s courses as well as introduced a guaranteed 20 per cent scholarship for our MBA programme”. Under the revised fee structure, all undergraduate programmes (double majors available) are priced at Dh155,000 for the entire course, Master of Education and Master of Information Technology is Dh75,000, MBA is for Dh89,000 with a guaranteed 20 per cent scholarship, the postgraduate certificates in business and education will be Dh25,000 each and the foundation and diploma pathways programmes will be Dh44,100 and Dh51,500 respectively with a guaranteed 50 per cent scholarship each. Applications are open for May and September 2021. For more information about the new fees and the university’s available programmes, contact the Student Enrolment team at dubai.marketing@murdoch.edu.au or call +971 4 574 9800.
Known for providing the best American and European Education to students from around the world, The London American City College (LACC) has produced thousands of future business leaders and star managers, quite capable of solving the intricate problems of the local industries and the global corporations. LACC is the only private higher educational institution in the UAE, accredited by the Accreditation Service for International Schools, Colleges, and Universities (ASIC) with the status of a Premier Institution and the European Council for Business Education (ECBE). LACC is the number one premier sector university college run by distinguished professors of international repute. Students at LACC can earn World Education Services (WES)-approved, worldclass original American and European bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees by just spending 10 per cent of the cost of studying the same degree programmes in the US and Europe by staying anywhere in the world. The graduates of LACC have a clear edge over the graduates of the other universities in all aspects of their career growth. With many flexible learning options merged with real industry case studies and top -class online learning systems, LACC is committed to providing the best quality business education to the student community of the world with innovative management techniques and the latest real-life examples. Touted as one of the best student-preferred business education providers in the Middle East region, LACC has achieved over 90 per cent employability rate with more than 10,000 Alumni around the world. Students from 45 nationalities
THE COURSE EMIRATIS CAN BANK ON The EIBFS is a regional leader in the world of banking and finance Since 1983, the Emirates Institute for Banking and Financial Studies (EIBFS) has been offering worldclass training to Emirati students to ensure continuous professional development in critical areas of banking and finance. Offering Commission for Academic Accreditation and Ministry of Education accredited academic programmes at Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah campus, EIBFS’s 2021 academic programmes include four major programmes: • BSc in Banking & Finance: Specialised courses on fintech, data analytics, cybersecurity and quality management — adding 120 credit hours | CIMA Accredit • BSc in Banking & Finance with Accounting and Specialization: Presenting modules on corporate accounting, public accounting, governmental accounting and non-profit accounting — adding 120 credit hours | CIMA Accredit • Banking Diploma: The firstever programme offers in-depth modules on banking products and operations, offering 60 credit hours • Islamic Banking Diploma: Offering theoretical and practical knowledge of Islamic banking principles and operations The bachelor and diploma programmes have been introduced in response to the growing demand for finance professionals in the banking sector and to address the need to develop local expertise in the areas within the financial services sector. Aligned with the national vision of developing futureready Emirati talent, the 2021 agenda focuses on skilling new joiners, upskilling the current staff, and re-skilling the staff in frontend retail banking roles. For more information, visit www.eibfs.ae or email: academics@eibfs.com
Dr Kaup Mohammed, Dean & MD, and Dr Paulson Mathew Chunkapura, President & CEO, LACC with Dr Michael Grandillo, President, Madonna University are part of LACC, which means the learning environment at all the branches of LACC are international. For maintaining a superior scholastic standard in teaching and excellence in research in business education, the LACC has won European Gold Award
and BIZZ Award for a number of times. London American City College has been the partner college of the Madonna University, Michigan, USA (one the best American universities as per the US news and world report for all the years) for the last 19 years. Madonna University is accredited by the American Higher Learning Commission and ACBSP (Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs) and recognised by CHEA. The institute is committed to improving the all-round personality of all its students by encouraging them to actively participate in extracurricular activities. The graduates and postgraduates are very successful in the global workplace because it not only provides excellent business education but also equips students to tremendously improve their skills.