The wise leadership in the UAE attaches great importance to higher
education, and despite the fact that the educational process is advanced when
compared to other Arab countries; it is distinguished by the fast- paced development
of this sector year after year. However, the higher education sector in the
State is considered the most versatile and growing sector at the Arab level,
and is in line with the State’s strategy, the “Ministry of Higher Education and
Scientific Research” began with the scholarship policy through linking it with
the needs of the labor market, and focusing on rare scientific disciplines, so
that the number of scholars during (2000-2013) reached (7500) students, and
(2349) students graduated during (2000-2012).
The ministry, through the directions of his Excellency Sheikh “Hamdan
Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan”, motivated the students to enroll in higher education institutions
in the State, through holding workshops that aim to raise the awareness of “12th
grade” students and their parents about registration and admission in the
“higher education institutions”, and get them acquainted with the programs, and
the educational opportunities available for the students in the universities and
local institutes, in addition to the informational about the (CEPA) exam,
admission conditions, and how to fill out the electronic application form for
admission. The student can also choose among a wide range of universities with
their various disciplines, which are rich in highly qualified teachers and
lecturers who are able to develop the students’ skills, in order to meet the
needs of the State for scientifically qualified national cadres.
A recently issued report by the “Knowledge and Human Development
Authority” showed that the percentage of students who enrolled in higher
education institutions in the State during the current academic year has
increased by (9.4%) in comparison with the last academic year, as the number of
higher education students in “Dubai” reached (52,582) male and female students,
who study in (57) educational institutions that offer Bachelor’s and Graduate
programs, as well as vocational programs, (22,694) of them are Emirati
students, while the percentage of the Emirati students who enrolled in the
higher education institutions increased by (1%) in comparison with the last
academic year.
Currently, the private schools sector and higher education are
considered the cornerstone of the economic development, and they play a major
role in enhancing the social links and the national identity in the UAE. This
academic year, in particular, reflects the continued recovery of the broader
economy, as the growing confidence in the local labor market led to the
stability of families and teaching their members in “Dubai”, while “Business Administration”
remains the most popular major among the students in the higher education
institutions, whose percentage reached (41%) of the total number of students,
and this is normal and it reflects the reality of “Dubai” as an environment
where the business sector is booming. The report also indicated that the most
popular six academic disciplines are: “Business Administration” (44%), “Information
Technology” (7%), “Law” (7%), “Humanities” (9%), “Engineering” (9%), and “Media
and Design” (10%), and the number of the available academic programs in the
current academic year reached (291) programs.
08/04/2014