DUBAI - A number of Emirati students are seeking to pursue higher education in British universities to whet their English language skills and study programmes not available in the UAE.
Students, who visited the British Council’s annual Education UK Exhibition (EDUKEX) which ended in Dubai on Tuesday, stressed the need to raise their language skills. Statistics also reveal a steady growth in the number of nationals looking for a British education.
“I want to study in the UK because I want to improve my English. Besides, a UK degree is internationally recognised and the universities there have quality,” said Matwa Shamisi, an Emirati student.
“There is a difference between learning the language in the UAE and in Britain since here, English is taught as a second language by mostly Arab tutors, whereas in the UK, it is the language of communication. I would really like to study in the UK also because of the wide range of study choices available,” said Othaiba Tamimi, another local student. Echoing similar opinions, Fatma Al Rawars, another Emirati student, said she was looking for colleges that offered a good BA Literature course.
Khalid Al Awadi, branch Manager at the Emirates Islamic Bank, who has completed his Master’s degree from the University of Wollongong in Dubai, said he is looking to complete a Ph.D in Marketing. “No university here offers PhD in Marketing and that is why I would like to study in the UK,” he added.
Education exhibitors and British Council officials conceded that the number of Emirati applicants to UK colleges is steadily increasing. “There are a lot of Emiratis coming to enquire about undergraduate courses in Law, Bioscience and Architecture,” said Luis Ananguren, International Officer from the University of Kent.
Nearly a thousand Emiratis were pursuing higher education in Britain in 2006-07 - an increase of 6 per cent compared to the previous year, according to UK Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).
“Applications to the UK have increased this year,” said Alison Devine, British Council’s regional manager, Education, UK, Middle East and the council’s deputy director, UAE.
“Over 40 per cent of the 2,200 students from the UAE in the UK are Emiratis. They are studying in the UK because of the whole life experience they get. British education helps broaden horizons and enrich life. Employers in the UAE are also looking for people with international experience. We see a lot of interest in postgraduate studies in Education,” said Devine, adding this is a reflection of the UAE government’s interest to overhaul education.
Statistics also revealed a higher percentage of Emirati men students, 75 per cent at undergraduate level and 65 per cent at postgraduate level, studying in the UK.Over 50 UK institutions were present at the three-day annual exhibition that opened in Abu Dhabi on Sunday and ended in Dubai.
Preeti Kannan