Making life at university easier

Zayed University's Academic Bridge Programme equips students with English skills prior to entering their degree course. Khulood Al Janahi spoke to its course director

Eighty-three per cent of Zayed University (ZU) students start their university careers with the Academic Bridge Programme.

Formerly called the Readiness Programme, it was started in 1999 for students who do not meet the required level of English proficiency when they enter ZU.

After graduating from schools that use Arabic as the main language of instruction, students find it difficult to cope with studying in English. Bryan Gilroy, director of The Academic Bridge Programme, spoke to Notes about the programme.

What is the Academic Bridge Programme?
It is a 6-level English proficiency programme. It starts at level 3 and ends at level 8; most students start in levels 6 and 7.

Students have to finish it before moving to the degree programme. To do so, they must get a score of 500 points on the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) exam or 5.0 points at the IELTS (International English Language Testing Service) exam.

What is the purpose of the programme?
To raise the level of English in order for it to meet the level of English used in university. It makes it easier for both students and teachers to work depending on expected skills university students should have.

How far does it benefit students?
By the time they finish the programme, students are ready and equally skilled with their colleagues to achieve the best education. They make a lot of personal development during the time they spend in the Bridge programme which means they get to improve their English language skills as well as other soft skills.

What is a student's weakest area that teachers need to focus on?
It is writing. A lot of the development process we try to work on with students is focused on writing skills.

Tell us about the curriculum used for the programme?
We use books that are written by ZU faculty and are specifically made for ZU students to meet their learning demands. The official books are soon to be introduced for all levels.

What happens to a student if she fails a course?
When a student fails a course, she has to repeat it. If she fails twice, she is dismissed; it's a university rule. We have now what is called Readiness+. When a student fails, she gets an adviser for additional support.

Any advice for students on the programme?
The Academic Bridge Programme is not a waste of time as many students think. If a student is planning on a degree, she must be able to understand the material.

Studying the degree programme and the readiness programme at the same time will only make it harder for the student to pull through.

Does the programme offer summer courses?
This summer we are starting to offer summer courses for levels 7 and 8.

Are there any activities organised under the programme?
The British Council is funding a trip to England this year. We are taking students to the UK ... we'll take them to see some examples of community service programmes (at schools and universities).

We want them to see successful experiences and apply them when we come back. After seeing what community service programmes do and how they work, they will be asked to start one.

They will apply what they've experienced on their society and adapt a programme of their own depending on their society's needs.

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