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UAE: An attractive education destination and model of success

Complete with relaxed student visa regulations, students in the UAE have the advantage of indulging in world-class education taught by internationally accredited faculty amid state-of-the-art facilities and future-ready curricula

There are several countries across the globe that have been long acknowledged for its deep roots in education, however, the UAE, despite being a young country, is fast-growing as an ideal destination for students. In addition to high standards of living and easy access to leisure outlets and global cuisines, the country embraces diversity, tolerance and offers a peaceful secure environment for both men and women, an aspect that is now a privilege in today's world.
The UAE, under the leadership of its visionary founders, has made great strides in the economic, political and industrial arena, standing tall as a model of success. Besides gaining global acknowledgement for its progressive nature, education has remained one of the country's top priorities. The Father of the Nation, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, had once said: "The real asset of any advanced nation is its people, especially the educated ones, and the prosperity and success of the people are measured by the standard of their education."

This has served as the foundation for future leaders to build on. Starting from a simple blackboard and classroom with studies centred on teachings of the Quran, the UAE broadened its horizons post-independence to include syllabuses from around the globe, giving students a wholesome and engaging base for knowledge in one destination.

In 2019, the UAE allocated Dh10.146 billion (16.8 per cent) of its federal budget towards the education sector, demonstrating its commitment to a knowledge-based economy aligned with the UAE Vision 2021.
A GLOBAL NETWORK
Higher education institutions in the UAE are divided into public, private and global partnership categories, and Dubai alone is home to over 70 colleges and universities, each offering internationally accredited degree programmes and diplomas. Establishments, evaluations and the impact of knowledge and teaching modes are overlooked by the Ministry of Education, which further introduced the Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA) raise the quality of education in the region.

To date, the UAE is home to a number of international campuses, each representing their respective universities and an impressive line-up of intensive programmes focused on business, finance, science, humanities, law, communication and technology, among many others.
Students enrolled in respective courses, not only have the opportunity to access the same high quality level of education as in its origin, but can also spend part of their academic year as a transfer student to experience life in a foreign environment.

According to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2020, UAE universities are rated high among the world's best, with some placed in the top 500, namely UAE University, Khalifa University, University of Sharjah and the American University of Sharjah. UAE University further ranked 49th in the Asia University Rankings 2019, making it a force to reckon with.

Each university in the UAE is aligned with the country's national vision to develop and nurture future-ready individuals that can adapt well to the evolving demands of the country. Students are given the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills in a real-world environment through internships - either on campus or through tie-ups with globally-renowned organisations. This further helps them gain experience that can enhance their prospects of securing a full-time job. The UAE recently eased visa regulations, in order to give students ample time to pursue their dreams and ambitions, which adds to its attractiveness.
FUTURE FORWARD
With the unexpected pandemic that took over the globe few months ago, schools and universities across the UAE were quick to implement e-learning platforms in order to prevent disruption in education. This involved immediate training of faculty and operating reliable digital programmes, which have been positively received by students and their families.

The smooth transition has helped students connect better with their peers, have the ability to revisit lectures, submit assignments on time, partake in exams and overall adapt to digital norms, which is a key skill in today's tech-savvy world.

Regular public and private universities aside, the UAE has a number of vocational institutions targeted at working professionals. These too have undertaken a digital route to help individuals enrich their abilities and improve skills while remotely working from home.