Dubai: The UAE is seen as the fourth most attractive education destination in the world for students seeking to pursue their studies abroad, according to a study conducted by Dubai International Academic City (DIAC), in conjunction with Deloitte.
The survey also found that the UAE was also the most attractive education destination among emerging market economies, beating countries like China, Singapore and Australia.
Over 2,400 students across 17 countries in the Middle East and Africa region and Asia were surveyed to garner insights on how students and businesses perceive the education landscape in the region, and to uncover how well the UAE’s current education programmes are serving the needs of industry.
“The study will be hugely helpful to students and universities already based in the UAE and those considering opening up a campus here, as well as potential employers. It will also assist DIAC, and government entities, as we collectively seek to develop the country’s ‘knowledge economy’ and refine future workforce planning,” said Ayoub Kazim, Managing Director of Tecom Investments’ Education Cluster (which includes DIAC and Dubai Knowledge Village)
The UAE was also recognised for its strength in science, finance, economics and management, despite the analysis of recruitment in the region which revealed that hiring in some sectors, particularly in banking and finance, remained muted in 2012 — suggesting an oversupply in the workforce. By contrast, a third of recruiters are struggling to recruit at junior levels within the legal industry, which suggests an undersupply in the workforce.
According to the corporates surveyed within the study, there are 64 skills in high demand across a range of sectors including the skills required for entry-level tourism and senior-level telecom roles. There is potential to address some of the skill gaps identified by creating bespoke academic programmes and collaborating with existing academic partners to offer courses within the UAE or in the students’ home countries.
