Universities in UAE focused on change

Universities will have to keep pace with an evolving education market to meet the demands of industries that are creating new jobs, say academic heads in the UAE, as graduates will be required to have several new skill sets to meet the demands of the 21st century.

“We keep a very close eye on what’s happening in the market;

as a university, we want to be responsive to the country’s need for highly skilled people for the future. This is reflected in the way we teach and assess what happens in the classroom. We make sure that what is taught in university will be of use when [the students] go outside into the [world],” said Dr Waqar Ahmad, Abu

Dhabi University’s interim chancellor.

Dr Ahmad added that having a new subject introduced by the university requires getting it approved by the regulatory authorities.

“Another challenge is that you have to make sure your labs and equipment are all in place, and then you also need to hire and train the faculty to run the programme,” he added.

Commenting on the role of traditional subjects such as mathematics and engineering, Dr Ahmad said that such courses would remain a part of the curricula for the foreseeable future, but that it was important for universities to change the ways in which these courses are taught.

“Subjects like mathematics and engineering are always going to be with us, what we have to look at is what we teach them with these subjects and how we do it. We have to make sure that the graduates who are studying these subjects have got skills for lifelong learning. So that means they can learn on the job, be creative, problem solve, work with other people and provide leadership.”

Traditional subjects such as mathematics and science are fundamental,

but the way they are delivered and taught must be in a way that best suit the students once they graduate for the current and future job market, Dr Howari said. “These traditional subjects should be taught in an integrated and interactive fashion involving modern theories of teaching and learning to ensure students are thoroughly educated in their content discipline.

“Maths, science and other such traditional courses are fundamental topics that we cannot do without. They are the foundation for engineering, technology, and innovation,” he added, highlighting the importance and continued relevance for these courses.

Dr Howari also commented on the role of teachers, explaining the need for them to both inspire and motivate their students, which he says will bring the best out of them. “This requires competent and engaged teachers to inspire students to pursue careers in physics, biology, geology, and chemistry education. This will improve student achievements, and produce a better-prepared workforce.”