Quality higher education is the foundation of a knowledge society: where does the UAE stand?

Abstract

Since 1997, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has invested in higher education and its expansion as part of its commitment to building a knowledge-based society. Though the UAE has prioritised quality higher education, it still faces challenges in producing graduates who are capable of actively participating in building its knowledge base. The literature reveals a clear mismatch between the qualities of university graduates and continually changing labour market needs. Along with demographic challenges, cultural and institutional factors impede progress. This paper discusses these challenges and offers policy recommendations designed to support the UAE in its goal of Emiratisising its workforce and creating a knowledge-based society.

Gateway cities for transnational higher education? Doha, Dubai and Ras al‐Khaimah as regional amplifiers in networks of the ‘global knowledge‐based economy’

“…Favoured by international university rankings (Hazelkorn, 2018), Western(ized) forms of higher education and degrees signal prestige, international mobility and career opportunities (Siltaoja et al., 2019). Although research indicates that the quality of offshore campus graduates can be suboptimal (Ashour, 2020), labour markets in the Gulf give strong preference to people with Western degrees (Noori & Anderson, 2013).…”

Population growth and its impact on retirement age in the UAE

“…They were more likely to develop complexities related to old age diseases when staying at home. The introduction of modern technology with digitalized living lifestyles that connect most aging people to the internet is a crème de la crème strategy of averting social problems associated with early retirement (Ashour, 2020). More than 30 percent of aging workers would retire at the age of 50 if favorable conditions were guaranteed.…”

The PISA performance gap between national and expatriate students in the United Arab Emirates

“…Currently, the nation’s public sector accounts for 20% of the public purse and is where the majority of Emirati nationals are employed; in parallel, the private sector more often employs expatriates, given a perceived skills shortage in the national population. It has been a concern that public school reforms are not attaining the employment goals needed for greater nationalization of the private sector (Alsahi, 2020; Ashour, 2020). Reforms will have important effects as the nation also diversifies and pivots from a dependence on natural resources towards intellectual capital responsible for a large share of economic growth (Amirat and Zaidi, 2020; Lange et al, 2018).…”