Everyone takes a bachelor's degree. But do you need to study further for better career opportunities? Manal Esmail does a quick campus survey to find out

Where and when do undergraduates want to draw the line between their academic and career lives? A master's degree and a PhD are beginning to take on new meanings for students.

Notes spoke to students and officials at the American University of Sharjah (AUS), the American University in Dubai (AUD) and the University of Wollongong Dubai (UOWD) about the significance of academic aspirations in relation to career goals. Twenty randomly selected students from AUS and 10 graduates from other universities in the UAE were interviewed.

Seventy per cent of the students expressed their desire to advance their education, saying it would considerably help in the future attainment of a stable, well-paying career.

"Nowadays nearly everybody has a bachelor's degree and there is great competition over job opportunities in the market," said engineering student Ahmad Al Mousa. "That's why a master's degree would give me a better chance of finding a job of my interest and standards."

No more degrees
Meanwhile, 20 per cent of the students and 40 per cent of the graduates said they were not considering furthering their education at this point. The remaining 10 per cent of students said they were as yet unsure of what they aspire for in the future.

Hassan Oneissi, a computer engineering graduate from AUS currently working in the IT department of a bank, emphasised the significance of real work experience.

"I didn't pursue a masters degree because after I had finally graduated I had this feeling that I was sick of being confined within the walls of a classroom and being taught what is right," he said.

"Now it's time for me to incorporate what I've learned in the real world and decide for myself. Around 20 years of education is enough. Even if I have the opportunity, I don't think I'll pursue it because I believe at this point in my life, experience is what matters above all."

Real Work
Many students also expressed their thirst for real experience before making any final decisions about furthering their education.

"Right now I think it's enough to get my bachelor's degree. However if I change my decision in the future, I prefer to get job experience first and then apply for my masters," said business student Inas Al Beitouni.

"That is because it will be much more helpful for me to face real-life situations first, and then relate my studies and abilities that I have achieved, to my career."

Design student Ayesha Al Mawed also expressed her desire to hold off on advancing her education for the moment.

"I'm not thinking of furthering my education now," she said. "I would definitely like to get work experience first and then decide whether I want to continue studying or not."

Many students subscribe to the idea of first obtaining job experience before pursuing an advanced degree. And most university officials recommend it, too.

"Work experience before beginning an advanced degree means you will have a better, more practical grounding in the subject; and you will be able to translate the new concepts that you learn into reality," said Sue Hunter, career services manager at AUD.

Carol Houser, director of community relations at the School of Business and Management in AUS, added: "If a professor told you something, how would you know whether it's true or not?" she asked.

"A student does not know if what they are being taught is valid until they acquire experience in the workplace, which they can then relate to their educational background and therefore make their masters degree more effective and useful."

A requirement
According to Maysun Nimr, manager, AUS Career Advicing and Placement Services, some universities ask for job experience as a pre-requisite in an advanced degree.

"For certain universities, like many in the US, work experience is necessary because they want students to apply their knowledge in a career or work perspective," she said.

"This will allow students to value their knowledge in a different way and provide their pursuit for further education within a framework of the experience they have."

Options abroad

  • Most students were unanimous on one score: If given the opportunity to do so, they will pursue an advanced degree abroad.
  • "Obtaining a higher education is a large investment in both time and money so I would want to make it worthwhile," said Israa Zayed, a design student.
  • "By fulfilling this aspiration abroad not only would I have the opportunity for a high standard education, but also the chance to expand my cultural dimensions and experiences."
  • According to Anna Helsing, UOWD career advisor studying abroad does not necessarily mean "better" education.
  • "Obviously universities abroad tend to have a much longer track record of educating students compared to those in the UAE and people sometimes feel more secure with this," she said.
  • "But universities here in the UAE can also show impressive track records in educational standards and graduate employment and it could be argued that students, having been educated here, are familiar with the UAE/MENA culture and work environment and therefore better placed to make a smooth transition into the workplace."
  • The decision finally rests with the student.

The Advantages

  • Career advisor Anna Helsing of UOWD noted the importance of pursuing a further education. n "Some of the advantages include furthering your career after a certain stage or developing more specialist knowledge in a certain field that is of interest to you," she said.
  • "Generally a PhD is necessary for research jobs and higher education teaching positions. Some simply do further study because they enjoy learning.
  • "A masters in business (MBAs) seems to be the greatest in demand in the UAE; however furthering one's education in any field would make a significant difference."
  • Dr Mahboub Hashem, chair of the mass communication department, AUS, cited some of the differences in career opportunities available to those with a bachelor's degree and those with a masters degree.
  • "Generally, pursuing advanced education means higher salaries and higher positions in a firm," he said.
  • "For example, for a journalist it may mean the distinction between being a reporter or an editor-in-chief; for a graduate in public relations it may mean being a local or regional director in a PR firm.
  • "Advanced degrees simply provide a graduate with more possibilities."
    M. Esmail
    The writer is a student of the American University of Sharjah