The measurement of rate of returns is central to the profitability analysis of educational investments. Literature suggests that the ex-ante approach of measuring the perceptions of the beneficiaries is a reliable indicator of returns to education. The present study estimates the perceived rate of returns to higher education for undergraduate students in UAE. Respondents were asked to provide estimates of future expected earnings with and without higher education. The study indicates that the Emiratis and non-Emirati students differ significantly in the estimates of perceived rate of returns. The findings of this study offer strategic insights on the economic considerations in the higher education enrollment process in the UAE. It also emphasizes the need for better counseling among the Emirati school students regarding the importance of higher education and return to higher education.

Our objective was to examine if a co-curricular activity incorporated with assessment methods affected students’ competence in a course. Natural Sciences (201) was chosen as a candidate course for this study. Students’ grade breakdown was examined and analyzed using SPSS and MINITAB software over four academic years from Fall 2012-13 to Fall 2015-16. The number of failed male students was significantly lower (p<0.05) in Fall semesters when compared with the number of failed male students in Spring semesters. A further analysis was attempted as an approach to understand the reasons for the remarkable elevation of success in the Fall semesters. Hence, a questionnaire was given to 121 students and the data showed that the ‘Science Communicators Program’, metaphorically the Science Festival, played a key role in the students’ achievements. The excellence of performance in the Natural Sciences course was detected during the Fall semesters. Thus, this research paper recommends the accommodation of off-campus co-curricular activities in other courses taught at the university.