Dubai universities go under the microscope

Ten universities in Dubai’s Free Zones came under review earlier last week when the University Quality Assurance International Board (UQAIB) met for the sixth time.

Six universities had asked for their licences to be renewed, one application for a new university was considered, and three universities were asked to supply UQAIB with more information about their academic programmes and accreditation from their home campuses.

UQAIB’s recommendations go to the Regulation and Compliance Commission (RCC) at the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA). RCC Chief Mohammed Darwish said: “UQAIB’s visits highlight KHDA’s commitment to reviewing the performance of existing universities and the decisions around creating new academic programmes to suit the needs of Dubai.”

Representatives from SZABIST, which has its home campus in Karachi, Pakistan, described to the UQAIB board the steps it had taken since the board had put some of its programmes on probation. Academics from other Dubai-based universities had reviewed the programmes and worked with SZABIST to raise standards. All of the university’s programmes have now been approved.

Dr Warren Fox, UQAIB Chairman and Executive Director of Higher Education at KHDA, said: “We are very pleased with what SZABIST has done, especially because this has been a joint effort with other institutions in Dubai. This really is what UQAIB is about; we are striving to guarantee the standard of higher education in our Free Zones.”

There are 32 higher education institutions in the Dubai Free Zones with around 18,000 students. The 10-member UQAIB board is made up of academics and quality assurance experts from around the world ­Australia, New Zealand, UK, South Africa, USA, Hong Kong, India and Saudi Arabia. They reflect the diversity of Dubai’s education landscape and the UQAIB model is unique to Dubai.

On this visit, one UQAIB member was missing. Professor Roger Field is Vice-Chancellor of Lincoln University in Christchurch, New Zealand, which was affected by the recent earthquake and so he was unable to travel. The Board sent him their very best wishes.
UQAIB will meet again in Dubai in October of this year. For more information about UQAIB please go to www.khda.gov.ae