DUBAI — Expatriate students may soon be able to work part or full time while pursuing their college studies, following the approval of a recommendation by His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
According to Wam, Shaikh Mohammed approved on Sunday a number of recommendations by the Demographic Structure Committee, which is tasked with finding ways to handle the country’s demographic imbalance.
“A special system would set work hours for students willing to work part time or full time to fulfil the needs of the local labour market,” the news agency reported. Presently, expatriate students, on a university-sponsored visa, are not allowed to take up employment.
Interior Minister Lt-Gen Shaikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who chairs the Demographic Structure Committee, said the government was making serious efforts to find solutions to the problem and strike a balance between the comprehensive boom in the country and the national principles and interests of the UAE.
Shaikh Saif lauded Shaikh Mohammed’s efforts and innovative initiatives aimed at boosting national interests and removing obstacles to sustainable development, among which is the demographic imbalance.
Educators and academic authorities have welcomed the step, saying it would help attract more overseas students and provide practical experience as well.
Dr Ayoub Kazim, Executive Director of the emirate’s two academic hubs — Dubai Knowledge Village (DKV) and Dubai International Academic City — said: “This is a great initiative, but we would have to wait and see how it is implemented.” University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD) views this as a beneficial move for employers and students.
“We have been advocating this for a while and this is a great step. Most of our students want to work part time and it would also help them to learn time management,” said Jay Jayatilaka, Marketing Manager at UOWD, stressing that the college strongly supported the move.
Professor Raed Awamleh, Director of Middlesex University Dubai, noted that this would definitely encourage international students to come to Dubai to pursue their studies.
“It will also help students gain practical experience while studying,” he added. Gaelle Nkuipon Cameroon, a student of UOWD, welcomed the move, saying: “For transnational students like me, it is excellent news as it will help me earn some money while studying.
Preeti Kannan