Title: Transition of higher education system in UAE - an internationalisation perspective

Authors: Julie Vardhan; G. Shahul Hameed

Addresses: Department of Management Studies, Manipal University, Dubai International Academic City, P.O. Box 345050, Dubai ' Department of Management Studies, Manipal University, Dubai International Academic City, P.O. Box 345050, Dubai

Abstract: Higher education system has evolved over generations from students migrating to far off places for learning to the present era of creation of education clusters and education hubs by many countries. This paper explores and analyses the transition of higher education system in United Arab Emirates (UAE) towards internationalisation with the growth of new universities, emergence of diverse programmes, and international collaborations through establishment of branch campuses, making UAE the largest educational hub in the Middle Eastern region. This paper also examines the importance of the reforms initiated by the government and the challenges of the education system to align it with the new economy. The study would be particularly of interest to researchers, academicians in the higher education sector, higher education institutions and policy makers.

Keywords: higher education; internationalisation; transition; United Arab Emirates; UAE; education hubs; quality initiatives; challenges; education clusters; new universities; international collaboration; branch campuses.

DOI: 10.1504/IJACMSD.2012.053393

International Journal of Arab Culture, Management and Sustainable Development, 2012 Vol.2 No.4, pp.292 - 308

Received: 17 Apr 2012
Accepted: 03 Jul 2012
Published online: 29 Jul 2014 *

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