Presentation1

Editor's Notes

1. This is a presentation regarding the rational behind the United Arab Emirates (UAE) adopting a policy of state-funded higher education.Around 40 years ago, the United Arab Emirates had a chance to re-create its education system as desired, and chose to include state-funded higher education for all citizens.
2. The presentation will address the historical background of the educational system, a description of the current policies, and discussion on the current state. The conclusion will be that the decision was sound, and while it may be a while before the education system of the UAE is where the gov't desires it to be, the original inclusion of state-funded higher education has helped the UAE move further towards its goal for an educated and qualified nation than it otherwise would have been.
3. The United Arab Emirates is located along the Gulf of Oman to the north, Qatar to the west, Saudi Arabia to the southwest, and Oman to the east. It is a convenient stopping point directly between Europe and Asia, and historically has been a key trading point.Due to its importance along the trade route, the UAE was under the British rule and protection until the British could no longer afford the military costs (Williams, 2011). In the late 1970s,The British’s decided to withdraw from their treaty, which spurred the Emirates to unite and become an independent nation (Gjorv, 2007).
4. There are seven emirates, which are: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Umm Al Quwain, and Ajman. The largest by far is Abu Dhabi, followed by Dubai. Abu Dhabi claims around ten percent of the world’s oil reserves, and outputs 94 percent of the oil from the UAE (Gjorv, 2007).  It is these oil reserves that gave the country a major resource boost, enabling the government to design plans and policies for their nation, knowing the funding was available to do as needed (ElNemr, 2007).
5. Previous to this oil boom,The United Arab Emirates had a very modest and underdeveloped educational structure.The majority of the students that attended school were male, and often families sent the oldest son for an education while the other children helped at home.Classes were primarily held at the local mosque, or at the closest one available (Student, 2008).
6. Education became a little more formalized in the early 1900s with the pearling trade and Arabian influences, but it was in 1971, with the discovery and demand for oil, that the economy vastly improved, and a great deal of value was placed on education (UNESCO, 2011).
7. Many nations had or have leaders interested in power and control. Rather than aiding their country to become skilled and moving forward in a quickly-modernizing world, the corrupt leaders choose instead to keep their people uneducated and therefore powerless. There is an amount of fear that comes with giving a nation the power of knowledge, and too many countries are held back by this. Rather than falling into such a shortsighted manner of thinking, the UAE focused instead on cultivating a well-informed society with internationally recognized economic capabilities.
8. While I am only speculating, it seems the United Arab Emirates government learned from its economic rise and fall with the pearling industry. Therefore, With an impressive regard for the future of the nation and citizens, the new president knew that if the young country was to be independently strong and modernized, they would have to focus largely on education, so that society can function based on many areas and industries, rather than relying solely on the market for a good they provide. The world may not always have a demand for oil, and the U.A.E. needs more to offer if the oil market declines (Kerpelman, 2005). As is stated by the U.A.E.’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority, “Predictions are very difficult - be ready for the future” (CHEA).
9. Additionally:Aspects of regulations and laws that are pertinent to the topic of higher education and its importance include:The availability of education for every citizen.Making primary education, which consists of the first nine years, compulsory Having every level of education free for U.A.E. nationals (UNESCO, pg. 3-4)
10. Previous methods in the classroom were based on rote learning, unmodernized information resulting in closed-minded nationals, and very little discipline in the classroom. For the sake of the country’s sustainability, new methods have been employed that will focus on preparing students for the workplace, such as critical thinking, open-mindedness, technological competence, and languages (El Nemr, 2007).
11. In the book Comparative Education, it is claimed, “teachers are not only instruments of policy but are agents of the policymaking process as well” (Fossum, 2007, pp. 273). There is an inclusion of teachers and communities in the UAE policy making forums that is unfortunately not commonplace, and SIT professor Sora Friedman articulated sentiments perfectly when she stated that “this demonstrates that Emiratis really do value the profession of education and really do see teachers as professionals in their roles” (moodle, 2012).
12. Even with the progress that has been made, the United Arab Emirates is still facing issues that will not be solved quickly.With the introduction of oil wealth and a new, booming economy, the country quickly became desirable to foreigners looking to profit in the new, rising society. Within a very short amount of time, the U.A.E. came to depend on these qualified, foreign workers who could help strengthen the country’s economy (Casey, 2012).
13. This diagram is facitious ; however, because of the lack of qualified national workers, the country could not and cannot afford to limit the influx of internationals and the skills they bring (Casey, 2012).
14. When looking at the U.A.E.’s education system via the textbook Comparative Education, it seems to function both as fitness-for-purpose and transformative potential. These are opposing concepts, but the purpose of education is to prepare students for their role in the global economy (fitness-for-purpose), and the country would like to see “positive changes in individual and societal conditions” (transformation) (Kubow, pg. 148). At the moment, there is still apparent class structure, and a student’s choice of university, public or private, often reflects their social class. The public institutions are free, and private universities are not.
15. The UAE is responding with “Emiratization”, or the promoting of Emiratis above expatriates due to citizenship rather than skill. In the public universities, this results in a lesser-quality education. Therefore, many wealthy students are opting to study at private international universities, which are knows for a “better” education (Al Kaabi, 2005).
16. While Emiratis are eager to play a larger role in their country’s economy, the government has not let population numbers deter the welcome of foreign companies or private universities. In response to the United Kingdom’s college, Brighton College, opening a branch in Abu Dhabi, the Sheik stated…
17. Additionally, private universities provide another option for higher education while the UAE governmental institutions strive to keep up with enrollment demands without sacrificing quality. At the same INSEAD conference, it was mentioned that the UAE has about 500 scientists and engineers in a population of nearly one million, and need to have closer to 4,300 (Williams, 2011). In nation with so much demand for qualified workers, it makes sense to strive to educate as many citizens as possible with the best means available. A third example of the attractiveness of allowing private institutions and branch campuses to develop in-country is that many private universities also offer courses, degrees, and international accreditations that are not yet available in UAE schools (Nicks-McCaleb, 2005).
18. The country has done a great job, enrolling over 35,000 students and awarding above 6,500 degrees every year, along with sending hundreds of students overseas (Gjorv, 2007). The issue to be faced at this point funding, for the sake of opportunity and quality (OHEOO, 2007).
19. While a forerunner for education in the Arab countries, the UAE now needs to focus on two areas to remain competitive in the world market:highly trained workers Research, both theoretical and applied (OHEOO, 2007).
20. A focus is on Opportunity and Quality of education. The government of the UAE does not collect income tax, … social services are funded by oil revenues and other government investments, [and] in less wealthy areas of the country, resources are under great pressure (Nicks-McCaleb, 2005, pg. 322).
21. There has been motion towards new sources of revenue, including mining and petrochemicals (Saadi, 2012). A source of funding that has hasn’t been mentioned is philanthropy. There is a long running culture of philanthropy in the Arab culture to support education which has been diminishing. The government would like to revive such charity (Sabry, 2009).
22. The government has shown foresight in realizing trends in university funding, enrollment, and quality before it is upon them, enabling them to prepare solutions ahead of time. Nicks-McCaleb noted in her International Education Journal article that there is “no single strategy, solution, or formula [which] provides consistent, good quality education on a global basis” (Cuban, at al., 2001; OECD, 2001, as cited in Nicks-McCaleb, 2005, pg 323) but the UAE government seems to be very proactive in researching options and putting solutions into effect.
23. In lieu of the progress that has been made in education in the last 40 years, and the dire need to increase opportunity and quality for the sake of the economy, the Sheikh and government of the UAE used great foresight in including Higher Education in the realm of state-funded education.