(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Khda's dubai private education landscape 2013 report stated that even though a significant number of emirati students attend federal higher education institutions in dubai there is a new trend where more emiratis are opting to study in private institutions
Enrolment of emirati students into higher education institutions has seen a hike of about 10.1 per cent for the academic year 2013-14. the knowledge and human development authority (khda) dubai private education landscape 2013 report stated that even though a significant number of emirati students attend federal higher education institutions in dubai there is a new trend where more emiratis are opting to study in private institutions. according to some universities that khaleej times spoke to the emiratisation initiative — the government’s effort to pull more emiratis into the private sector — and the shift in the cultural and corporate work landscape in the uae could be the prime reasons for this shift.
The report was released on wednesday and contains details about dubai’s private school system and higher education sector’s growth over the last ten years. the report reflects dubai’s growing population cultural shifts and economic demands.
The 22694 emirati students studying in dubai represent 43.2 per cent of the total higher education student population. the total for 2013 is 10.1 per cent higher than the figure for the last academic year and is equivalent to the year-on-year growth average that has been seen for the last three years.
Dr abdulla al karam director general of khda said: “each year more private schools and universities open their doors with the year-on-year growth rate now approaching 10 per cent. as well as enriching the sector with greater choice and world-class education these new institutions help ensure that dubai reaches its goal of 360000 school places by 2020.”
The private school and higher education sectors in dubai have witnessed further strong growth in student enrolments in 2013-14 and the trend looks set to continue according to the report.
Primarily it is the needs and expectations of dubai’s expatriate population that continue to drive growth of the private school sector. universities face increasing pressure to deliver courses and programmes that meet the needs of the regional job market.
The number of students studying higher education in dubai continues to grow. the total of 52586 students including both full-time and part-time students represents a healthy 9.4 per cent increase from last year’s total which is above the long-term trend of seven per cent year-on-year growth over the last five years.
According to senior vice-president of amity middle east vajahat hussain there has been an increased interest among emirati students to opt for private varsities.
“students have better exposure they get educated in a multi-cultural environment and a better choice of courses. for example several female emirati students have opted to study the forensic sciences courses that we offer. unlike federal universities private universities have a wide range of course offerings” said hussain. shortage of seats in government universities and private varsities also offering a wide range of scholarships for emirati students could also be a reason for an increased interest in private institutions.
Dr karam added: “the city’s higher education sector is also a reflection of the buoyant economy innovative society and the diverse career opportunities it offers graduates. its transparent quality assurance procedures ensure that it continues to attract prestigious branch campuses from around the world as well as a growing number of course programmes to meet dubai’s employment needs.”
Private schools
The total number of students in private schools in dubai in 2013/14 is 243715. this is an increase of 8.3 per cent from that in 2012/13 and is the fourth year in a row of high single digit percentage growth. over the last three years the growth has been relatively stable and on par with dubai’s long-term enrolment growth trend of about 8 per cent per year. future growth in student enrolments is expected to remain.
Dhanusha?khaleejtimes.com
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