Psychologists can bring added dimension to businesses and government, experts say
▶ Growing popularity of study of psychology at university follows trend of non-traditional choices for degrees
The “human factor” that is key to healthy life and success in work is at the heart of a new psychology course at a UAE university.
Canadian University Dubai, where the head of the course said the UAE is an “exciting backdrop” for study, has introduced a bachelor’s degree in psychology.
Dr Stefane Kabene said psychologists would play an important role in helping businesses to evaluate the leadership skills of employees and help with recruitment to ensure employers hire the people with the right skills for the job.
Psychology is also vital to the Government’s vision of a population that is healthy in mind as well as body, he said.
“As a young society with a high expat population and so many different cultural dimensions, the UAE presents an exciting backdrop for the study and practice of psychology,” said Dr Kabene, the programme’s leader.
“It is also a profession where women are very well represented and so holds great potential to strengthen the female workforce.”
He said the Canadian University Dubai curriculum prepares students for becoming clinical psychologists, but also prepares them “in everything from cultural or sports psychology to educational or industrial psychology”.
“Clinical and child psychology are popular all around the world, but especially in the UAE,” said Dr Kabene.
Forensic psychology is also in high demand, while industrial, organisational and business psychology are needed by businesses and other organisations to assess the human factors at work in leadership, management, recruitment and performance assessment roles.
“Psychology is one of the popular specialisations that attracts students who plan to have a career in which understanding the behaviour of humans is a key element,” said Dr Kabene. “Holders of a bachelor’s degree in psychology can pursue their studies to become a social worker, teacher, or a certified psychologist.
Dr Kabene, who has worked in psychology and focused on leadership and management for a quarter of a century, said the UAE is one of the world’s fastest changing societies.
“As such, the need for psychologists to help in the transitions and change acceptance is important.”
The demand for popularity of psychology courses follows part of a trend where pupils are avoiding traditional choices for tertiary study for subjects such as engineering and computer sciences.
With the rise of artificial intelligence, computer science presents many opportunities for students. It is another subject on which the UAE may capitalise.
Shyamala Elango, director of the Dubai education consultancy Inner Universe, said that many students were opting for computer science and related fields.
“Computer science is the biggest option. We find our biggest student numbers there. Accounting and finance is the second biggest area. Engineering is still popular and medicine and law come after that,” said Ms Elango.
“Economics has picked up substantially and this is because people are able to relate the principles of economics with what is happening in the world.”
Ms Elango said that the new popularity of economics was closely tied to political and economic trends across the world.
Ameerah Parvez, a student at Gems Wellington Academy Silicon Oasis, said that with her peers, business, engineering, and science and maths subjects are popular.
“This is being encouraged by the emphasis our learning placed on the rise of technology, and how this may influence one’s career in an ever-changing future,” Ms Parvez said.
Stuart Walker, head of Gems World Academy Dubai, said that cultural issues played a role in determining the subjects youths study.
“Asian parents still want their children to do medicine, law and accounting,” Mr Walker said.
“We work to ensure that the child goes to the right course for them and understand what they’re passionate about.
“You get a lot of parents who just want to ensure their child goes to Harvard or Oxford. Ivy League is all that they are interested in.
“In some cases, those universities are not the best fit for those students. We try to make sure they get to their best choice university.”
Computer science, global politics and psychology are attracting the interest of many students at Gems World Academy Dubai.
Last year, Times Higher
Education found that in Britain, the most popular courses for female undergraduates were those related to medicine, followede by business and administration subjects.
In the study, the most popular courses chosen by male first-year undergraduates were business-related, then engineering.
Behind the UAE’s rapid development are fertile minds and industries prepared for future where technology takes the lead