Higher education providers in Dubai’s free zones will have to pass new tests or risk losing their licenses, according to a new board that was set up on Sunday.
The Dubai government has called in overseas experts to see if universities and colleges there are up to mark internationally as well. The University Quality Assurance International Board (UQAIB) will advise the emirate whether a provider should be allowed to open shop or if an existing one should be permitted to continue doing business inside places like Dubai Knowledge Village and Dubai International Financial Centre.
In order to pass the board’s test, an international university will have to show - among other performance reports - that it keeps the same standards in its Dubai branch as its home campus. That should guarantee that a degree awarded by the two campuses are “of the same value,” according to a UQAIB press statement. The UQAIB will send its review to the Knowledge and Human Development Authority, which has the power to license or shut down schools and universities in free zones.
“There is a possibility that some universities will not be licensed or be even de-licensed,” said the UQAIB chair, Dr. Warren Fox.
“As Dubai’s student population is predicted to grow to 90,000 by 2010 (compared with 24,000 in July 2007), a guarantee of the highest-possible standards is obviously crucial,” reads the statement. “The board will ensure that all international higher education institutions in Dubai’s Free Zones are properly accredited in their home country, or conform to international and the Emirate’s standards.”
That conformity excludes UAE accreditation, however. Only the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in Abu Dhabi can award that privilege. Meaning, a university can be licensed by the KHDA - and accredited by authorities in its country of origin - but not accredited within the UAE.
The ministry has in the past complained that many private institutions across the emirates are operating without its accreditation, and will not attest their documents or degrees unless they meet standards set by its Commission for Academic Accreditation.
It is up to individual universities to secure accreditation and not the responsibility of the UQAIB, Dr. Fox pointed out. “If they (higher education providers) want other (credentials), they can approach federal bodies. We’re not doing accreditation; we however want to compliment the ministry,” he said.
Although there are 52 licensed institutions in the UAE, not all their programmes are accredited.
By Faisal Masudi, Staff Reporter
Page last updated 01 January 2020