Dubai universities respond to increased demand for tourism and hospitality, engineering and accounting graduatesDubai, United Arab Emirates - Sunday, August 18th 2013 [ME NewsWire]
Dubai International Academic City (DIAC) has announced this week that its universities will be increasing the number of courses on offer by more than 10% for the 2013/14 Academic Year.
In direct response to industry demand, universities including Amity, Heriot Watt and IMT will add an additional 35 degrees in tourism and hospitality, engineering and accounting to their existing portfolio, bringing the total number of degrees to 355. Of the new courses, 11 will be undergraduate, 17 postgraduate and 7 PHD programmes*.
News of the new programmes follows a record year at Dubai International Academic City, which has seen the likes of the University of Wollongong Dubai, Middlesex University and Amity University significantly increase their presence in Dubai - growth that is, in part, due to increased student numbers (20,000) and student enrolment numbers (26%)[1].
Dr Ayoub Kazim, Managing Director, Dubai International Academic City, said:
“We are delighted to see our universities expanding the number of programmes on offer in 2013/14 - particularly STEM subjects such as engineering, along with tourism and hospitality and accounting. We see this as a sure sign that the higher education sector in the region is responding to the demands of local industry and providing a range of programmes that not only educate local students, but increase their prospects of employment upon graduation.”
Dr Kota Reddy, Chairperson – Department of Engineering, Manipal University said:
“Engineering has emerged as one of the most sought after programmes at Manipal University, Dubai. As a result, we have introduced a new undergraduate programme in Automobile Engineering, as well as two quality Masters level programmes in Digital Electronics & Advanced Communication and Manufacturing Engineering & Technology. We will be adding further engineering streams to our portfolio in the coming academic year, reflecting the increased interest and demand for engineering programmes in the UAE.”
Details of both DIAC and its universities’ developments and performance have been captured in the Education Cluster’s Annual Review 2012. The review provides detailed insight about DIAC’s students - ranging from enrollment trends, student populations and student nationalities through to alumni and graduate data.
It reveals that the majority of students studying at DIAC and DKV in 2012 were residential (79.6%), whilst 20.4% were transnational. 74% of EDC’s residential students were expatriate and 26% were Emirati, demonstrating both the inherent value of the EDC’s higher education offerings for residential students as well as the increased presence of Emirati students attending private higher education institutions.
The Annual Review also details the education related events hosted by Dubai International Academic City throughout 2012/13, including DIAC’s Education Forum and Week of Welcome, along with those it attended, which include GETEX, Going Global, GESS, OBHE and QS APPLE.
Earlier this year, Dubai International Academic City commissioned a Workforce Planning Study[2] with Deloitte which revealed that the UAE is seen as the fourth most attractive education destination in the world for students seeking to pursue their studies abroad, and the most attractive education destination among emerging market economies – beating the likes of China, Singapore and Australia. The report put the spotlight on the fact that there are 64 skills in high demand across a range of sectors in the region including the skills required for entry-level tourism and senior-level telecoms roles. DIAC is now working with its business partners to look at ways of addressing these skills gaps.
- Ends -
Notes to editors:
The total number of new programmes on offer:
Undergraduate: 11 new programmes
Postgraduate: 17 new programmes
PHD: 7 new programmes* (3 of which are subject to approval by KHDA)
TOTAL: 35 new programmes
The total number of degree programmes on offer (including the new additions) is as follows:
Undergraduate: 167 total number of programmes
Postgraduate: 171 total number of programmes
PHD: 17 total number of programmes
TOTAL: 355 total number of degree programmes
About Dubai International Academic City Dubai International Academic City (DIAC) is the world’s only Free Zone dedicated to Higher Education. Established in 2007 as part of TECOM Investments, DIAC aims to develop the region’s talent pool and establish the UAE as a knowledge-based economy. DIAC is the premier destination for Higher Education in the region, located on a fully-appointed 18 million sq ft. campus with state-of-the-art modern facilities. DIAC currently has 21 of the UAE’s 37 International Branch Campuses from 11 countries.
[1] TECOM Investments Education Cluster - Annual Review 2012
[2] The Workforce Planning Study was commissioned by Dubai International Academic City, in conjunction with Deloitte. Dubai International Academic City is part of TECOM Investments’ Education Cluster along with Dubai Knowledge Village.
Contacts
MEDIA
Layla Haroon, Bell Pottinger Middle East
+971 55 636 0425
DIAC
Brendan Vyner, Brand Manager, TECOM Investments Education Cluster
+971 4 360 2960
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