Free-zone degrees now guarantee students government jobs

Degrees from institutions accredited by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority will have the same status as those accredited by Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.

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DUBAI // Degrees earned at the emirate's free zone universities will now guarantee Emirati students a government job.
A new law means that from next month, degrees from institutions accredited by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority will have the same status as those accredited by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.
Dubai's universities are accredited either by the ministry - covering the two federal institutions, Zayed University and the Higher Colleges of Technology, plus 24 private institutions such as the American University of Dubai - or by the KHDA, covering 27 branch campuses of foreign institutions.
While students at ministry accredited universities were guaranteed government jobs, those at KHDA-accredited institutions were not, so many Emiratis were reluctant to study there.
Now there is a wider choice of degrees for UAE nationals.
Dubai has the largest number of branch campuses in the world, offering 400 degrees.
"Now, the students can all be guaranteed employment," said Dr Warren Fox, the head of higher education at the KHDA. "The graduates can work in the public and private sector. The campuses have wanted this for years.
"This is good news for Emiratis. An increasing number of Emirati students are turning to non-federal institutions and now all the campuses are available to them, opening up many more options.
"It erases the question marks and gives them more opportunities for employment as well as giving employers more opportunities of graduates."
Dr Abdulla Karam, the director general of the KHDA, said the number of Emiratis choosing free zone universities had risen steadily since they opened after 2006.
"We are getting nationals to these institutions, even though they have free offers from federal universities. They choose to pay and take the risk on universities that their degrees may not be attested from.
"With 27 branch campuses, the choice of what is available is what they go for."
The campuses are regulated by the KHDA's University Quality Assurance International Board, which meets every year to assess whether institutions maintain the quality of their home campus.
Past graduates will also benefit as they can have degrees attested.
The law, resolution 21, will give the KHDA access to key information, such as student and academic profiles and enrolment numbers, that until now the universities were not obliged to share.
Faiz Ashaq, the head of the Szabist campus in Academic City, a Pakistani institution, said: "We've been quite restricted to Pakistani students until now.
"For someone who hasn't been to Pakistan, they have to trust that it's a recognised degree, but if it's through KHDA, they can easily verify this right here in Dubai."
Since the law was passed in July, Szabist has had several enquiries from international students.
Dr Fox expects it will take time for employers to understand what the changes mean.
"There will be other issues where students take a degree and go to other emirates, so we're looking at how we can share in this process," he said. "This is mainly a Dubai law for those staying and working in Dubai after their graduation.
"There will be some recognition issues that have to be worked out but our primary focus is on contributing to Dubai's knowledge economy and workforce."
Ammar Kakar, the head of campus at Heriot-Watt University, a UK institution in Academic City, said recognition was a concern.
"It's about how this recognition will be viewed in other emirates, especially Abu Dhabi and in other GCC countries," he said. "The more recognition we get, the more successful this will be."
He said the change would certainly help Heriot-Watt recruit Emiratis, who make up less than 10 per cent of its student body.
At the UK's Middlesex university, in Knowledge Village, 70 of its 2,000 students are Emirati.
Prof Raed Awamleh, the head of campus, said government would benefit from a newly available workforce, while universities would benefit from more diverse classes.
"Where there will be the most change is for the young Emirati men and women already in work who want to advance their careers and continue their studies. They now have all these options available to them."
mswan@thenational.ae