Dubai Graduates of certain private universities are facing gloomy days ahead – with some expressing shock – after discovering that their newly-earned degrees are not good enough to land them jobs in the federal government or qualify them for post-graduate studies.
This after the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MoHESR) in Abu Dhabi has confirmed that graduates of universities that are not recognised by the ministry's Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA) will neither be employed in the federal government sector nor admitted to take post-graduate studies in state-run universities.
"Yes, for federal government jobs, it is necessary to get a CAA attestation stamp on a degree," a statement from the CAA said.
Those who want to work in the UAE or study in a state-run university are required to prove that their qualifications are genuine and are from a reputed institute.
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A MoHESR stamp usually takes care of that formality.
At present, there are 24,000 graduates in Dubai – mostly from private universities – who are seeking jobs or working toward post-graduate degrees.
International universities that have campuses in free zones such as Dubai Knowledge Village are usually not accredited by MoHESR. Instead, they are licensed by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) in Dubai.
Under current rules, it is common for a private university to be licensed by the KHDA.
While a university may be accredited in its home country, it stays unaccredited in the UAE.
According to Dr Warren Fox, Chairman, University Quality Assurance International Board at KHDA, it is up to individual universities to secure accreditation in the UAE.
"If they want other credentials, they can approach federal bodies. We're not doing accreditation. However, we want to complement the ministry," he said.
While some universities declined to comment, others denied allegations that their graduates are facing problems.
"These are rumours. Unfortunately, there's a lot of confusion surrounding these issues in the UAE," said an official at the Mahatma Gandhi University, which has an off-campus centre at Dubai Knowledge Village.
Unaccredited Freezone institutions
- Cambridge College International in Dubai
- European University College Brussels Dubai Regional Branch
- Hult International Business School Dubai
- Islamic Azad University - Dubai Campus
- Middlesex University Dubai
- SAE Institute Dubai
- ENGECON Dubai - Russian University in Dubai
- Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology Dubai Campus
- MAHE, Manipal-Dubai Campus
- French Fashion University Esmond International
- Heriot-Watt University Dubai Campus
- Mahatma Gandhi University
Your comments
Thanks to XPRESS I now know about such universities, and I was about to go to Mahatma Gandhi University. XPRESS is always great and very informative.
Anonymous, UAE - Sharjah
Posted: April 07, 2008, 00:17
Accreditation is a must for universities. I was born and brought up here; what is the use of a diploma if your degree is not accredited. I have completed my courses through Mahatma Gandhi University to find out that it is not accredited.
Anonymous, UAE - Ras Al Khaimah
Posted: March 31, 2008, 11:50
ese matters should be taken seriously... even I was planning for an undergraduate from one of the universities mentioned in the list.
Anonymous, UAE - Dubai
Posted: March 31, 2008, 10:30
