DUBAI - Representatives of more than 25 American universities were in Dubai on Wednesday to woo locals as well as expatriates to pursue under-graduate and post-graduate courses in the United States, as part of the Linden US University Fairs in the region.
“We visited seven international schools and three universities in Dubai and Sharjah to make a presentation on the programmes on offer.
“We want to try and go to public schools and universities and make presentations when we come back to the UAE in April next year. International schools have a lot of exposure to American and British universities,” said Kathleen Harrington, Executive Director of Linden Educational Services, which assists American universities in their efforts to enrol international students.
The number of Emirati students in the US decreased by 9.5 per cent, with only 885 students in 2005-06, she said.
This statistics was revealed by the Open Doors report published by the Institute of International Education - a not-for-profit educational and cultural exchange organisation in the United States. However, the number of Arab students from the Middle East seeking education in the US is steadily rising, noted Harringtom.
The Middle East, on the whole, recorded a 25.4 per cent increase with a total of 22,321 Arab students travelling to US for education.
According to Brad Miller, Director of Graduate Admissions at the University of Denver, “The numbers have increased over the years since 9/11.
‘However, we do feel the need to attract more Arab students.”
He added that students from the UAE were extremely keen on studying MBA and Engineering.
Shaima Ali Azarbar, a local student from Dubai National School, said she wanted to study in the US because of the exposure the American education system provides.
“I am looking for a good university to study engineering. I want to study abroad because of the exposure,” she said.
Arman Kami, an Iranian student from Al Ghurair University (AGU), said, “After four years of studies, I have realised that students who graduated from the US had a stronger academic background.
“Many people working here are successful because of their Western education. I am also hoping to study in the States.”
The American education fair is expected to come back to the UAE in April and October next year.
Preeti Kannan