Universities need more male Emirati students

Abu Dhabi: Academics from key institutions in the UAE on Wednesday expressed concern at the shortage of male Emirati students and Emirati professors at universities.

The officials were speaking at a higher education round table meeting titled "New Models for Higher Education Partnerships in the UAE" which was attended by Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and sponsored by law firm Latham & Watkins.

Grade 12 students who are not adequately prepared for university level education were also among the challenges to higher education that they outlined.

"A fairly large number of young Emirati males don't even complete high school. It's an issue that really needs attention," said Dr Warren Fox, executive director for higher education at the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA).

"A fair amount of young Emirati males drop out of secondary school by the tenth grade and very few go on to college."

Of that number Fox said a fair number of males that graduate from high school choose not to go to college and don't apply to either federal or private universities.

He said it was important to make sure that all the potential of Emiratis is developed so that they may take their "rightful place in the economy of the future".

However, something that the UAE should be very proud of is the large number of women who choose to go to university.

"But several young women who go to college do need to take a foundation year or remedial year in English to get up to the level of skills so they can enroll in college level classes. So even there, there is a challenge."

Demographics

The chief executive of the Emirates Foundation in Abu Dhabi Dr Peter Cleaves said if one looked at the demographics of the professorial staffs in UAE universities who are Emriati, most of them are in their forties or early fifties.

"And you have a gap now as the economy has improved and job opportunities with good salaries have become possible for young people have increased."

He explained that as the UAE has developed, young adults aspire to have a good lifestyle and will naturally take incentives that come their way.

University of Wollongong in Dubai president Professor Rob Whelan said a good solution to the problem was to take on adjunct professors. "We have identified, through our industry partners, Emiratis who are working in senior management positions who're intellectuals and have an interest in education."

He said the students get the benefit of these professionals' experience and also they're role models. "And students see that intellectual pursuits or a general education is valuable."