UAE’s vision a blueprint for education: Expert
dubai — There is no doubt campus investment is changing when it comes to the higher education scene in the UAE — and that is in large part to the vision of the UAE leadership.
Speaking to Khaleej Times, Mathew Boice, Vice President for Ellucian in Middle East & Africa, said the government’s “articulate vision for the economy” is like a “blue print for education”.
“Education is one of the key focuses for His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister
What we’re doing is providing institutions with technology so they can match up to the higher education standards in other parts of the world.” of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and that is great. It is driving some fantastic changes in the sector.”
A provider of technology services for higher education, Ellucian works with more than 80 universities across the Middle East.
Mathew Boice, vice-president, Ellucian
Its main aim is to promote campus modernisation to support new ways of learning.
“What we’re doing is providing institutions with technology so they can match up to the higher education standards in other parts of the world.”
He said that students today have “very high expectations”, especially in the UAE.
“Schools here are of such a high standard. We are seeing students in K12, who have had a tabletbased education, move on to universities.
“Their expectation is of a tablet world and they are perplexed when things don’t work in that way,” he said.
To respond to this successfully, Boice said “we have to allow students to interact with their peers and educators through their own devices”. “We have to organise a business process that is seamless, where students can check grades, pay fees, basically do whatever university-related actions through a mobile device.”
Where we are seeing “fantastic investment in the physical infrastructure” of universities, Boice said technological modernisation should now take a front seat. “We are moving so far up the value chain now in regards to education, we just need to continue on that path.”
kelly@khaleejtimes.com
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