DUBAI — Dubai International Academic City (DIAC) announced that 54 new programs would be offered by its academic partners during the 2015/16 academic year, underlining its ability to adapt to the changing needs of industry, government and academia. In all, 29 new undergraduate, 23 new post graduate, and 2 new PhD and doctorate degrees will be made available to students in the academic year that begins in September. Taking into consideration certificate and diploma courses, the total number of programs on offer will exceed 450.
The new programs are spread across several disciplines, assuring greater diversity and supporting the government's aim of establishing Dubai as an international destination for higher education. All programs offered by DIAC universities are linked to the demands of industry, the government, and community, ensuring that students develop the necessary skills that contribute to economic prosperity.
Recognizing the need to move in sync with the changing hiring needs of the public and private sectors, some of the new and diverse programmes on offer in 2015/16 include: Bachelor of chemical engineering at Heriot Watt University; bachelor of design – interior design at Manipal University; bachelor of games development at SAE Institute; and an MSc in media management at Middlesex University Dubai.
A significant inclusion in this year's list of programs is The British University in Dubai's (BUiD) Masters in Islamic Finance, the first of its kind offered by BUiD. Such a degree is a direct response to the growing influence of Islamic Finance in society. According to Thomson Reuters, the Global Islamic Economy is expected to almost double in value to $3.73 trillion by 2019, from $2 trillion in 2013.
Professor Abdullah Alshamsi, Vice-Chancellor, The British University in Dubai (BUiD) said: “The British University in Dubai's strategic goals are aligned with those of the UAE government's vision and aspirations. To support Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum's initiative of establishing Dubai as a hub for Islamic Finance, BUiD has restructured its MSc Finance program with a specialization in Islamic Finance. The program has been designed to help professionals gain the knowledge and skills needed to make a career move from conventional finance to Islamic finance. I believe Dubai's strong leadership, strategic location, deep cultural roots and the right human capital will definitely enable Dubai to become a Global Capital for Islamic Finance.”
Commenting on the new variety of programs being offered, Dr. Ayoub Kazim, Managing Director of DIAC, said: “By responding to the needs of industry, we can ensure that the range of new programs available at DIAC will provide students with the right skills when entering the workforce. The multitude of programs on offer, covering different industries and specializations, provides a solid platform from which students can launch their careers from. This will in turn support the UAE's development and underpin economic growth.
In this rapidly evolving world, it is critical we remain steadfast in our commitment to providing opportunities to bring together industry experts, government, and academia to discuss ways to support the UAE through education, training and knowledge development.
All of these new programs and initiatives support the UAE leadership's vision to build a knowledge-based economy that supports and promotes diversity. I thank all of our academic partners for remaining committed to meeting the employment demands of the work place.”
Professor Ammar Kaka, head of campus & executive dean, Heriot-Watt University Dubai, said: “STEM related subjects at Heriot-Watt University Dubai Campus are designed to help with the long-term development of the UAE and the region's increasing focus on engineering as a means to developing a stronger and more sustainable economy.
The chemical engineering program at Heriot-Watt Dubai Campus aims to graduate professionally recognized chartered engineers that can secure jobs in a variety of critical sectors to the region and the emirate such as the petroleum, utilities, and process industries.”
All of the new programs, along with all previously existing degrees, will be offered for the upcoming September 2015/16 academic year. Dubai International Academic City (DIAC) is the world's largest Free Zone dedicated to Higher Education. Established in 2007, as part of TECOM Investments — a member of Dubai Holding — DIAC aims to develop the region's talent pool and help establish the UAE as a knowledge-based economy through the provision of multi-tiered academic institutions that are internationally accredited.
DIAC is located on a fully-appointed 18 million sq. ft. campus with state-of-the-art facilities. It is home to a large number of universities from 10 countries, including Amity University, Heriot-Watt University, Michigan State University, University of Wollongong, BITS Pilani, Hult International Business School, Murdoch University, and Manchester Business School, to name a few. — SG
