Universities innovate curricula to align with industry needs

What does industry-aligned actually mean in practical curriculum design?

When we talk about industry-aligned education, what we really mean is relevance. It is about ensuring that what students learn in the classroom genuinely prepares them for the professional world they will enter after graduation.

In practice, this means designing academic programmes in close collaboration with employers, industry partners, and professional bodies, and giving students opportunities to work on real challenges, projects, and case studies — not just theoretical models.

How often should academic programmes evolve to stay relevant?

Industries today are evolving at an unprecedented pace. New technologies, roles, and expectations emerge every few years, which is why academic programmes cannot remain static. To stay relevant, curricula should be reviewed regularly, with meaningful updates every two to three years, supported by continuous dialogue with industry. This approach allows universities to remain current while preserving academic depth and rigor.

We are seeing particularly strong employer demand in areas such as artificial intelligence, data analytics, cybersecurity, digital business, and sustainability. The key challenge is balance. Strong theoretical foundations develop critical thinking and adaptability, while applied learning ensures graduates are ready to contribute from day one. Education is most powerful when knowledge and practice meet, producing graduates who are confident, capable, and prepared to lead in a rapidly changing world.

What structured opportunities do you offer to students to engage directly with industry, and how early does this exposure begin?

At Symbiosis Dubai, industry engagement begins from the first year of study. Students participate in structured initiatives such as industry-led workshops, guest lectures, live briefs, site visits, and skill-based micro-projects embedded within courses.

As they progress, this exposure deepens through internships, consulting-style projects, mentorship programmes, and capstone assignments co-designed with industry partners. This staged model ensures students build professional confidence gradually while applying learning in real-world contexts throughout their academic journey.

How does Symbiosis Dubai ensure programmes remain industry-aligned, and how frequently are they reviewed?

Programme relevance is maintained through a formal, bi-annual programme review process involving industry advisory boards, academic experts, alumni inputs, and regulatory frameworks.

Courses are reviewed twice annually at the content and assessment level, with comprehensive programme reviews conducted periodically to reflect industry trends, technological shifts, and employer expectations.

Continuous feedback from industry partners and student outcomes ensure curricula remain current, rigorous, and aligned with both global standards and the UAE’s evolving workforce needs.

The University of Greenwich already has a strong global reputation. What is the long-term vision behind establishing a campus in the UAE, and how does this move fit into the university’s broader international strategy?

The UAE represents a strategically important location for the University of Greenwich’s international growth. Greenwich’s vision is to continue to make the highest quality UK education more accessible in a nation that is a global hub for innovation, business, and talent development, while maintaining the academic standards that define the University of Greenwich.

The UAE is home to several international universities and branch campuses. What will truly distinguish the University of Greenwich in the UAE from other global institutions operating in the region?

What truly sets the University of Greenwich apart is the strength of its academic governance and focus on employability and accessibility. Students in the UAE will study University of Greenwich programmes, assessed and quality assured to the same standards as in the UK. We combine the credibility of a long-established UK university with programmes that are closely aligned to global industry needs.

As the campus prepares to launch, how has Greenwich University mapped the UAE industry demand across sectors to the courses it plans to offer and how often will curricula be reviewed to stay relevant in this job market?

The University of Greenwich programme portfolio is regularly reviewed to ensure it delivers strong student outcomes and remains aligned with evolving global skills needs. While rooted in the UK academic framework, programmes at the University of Greenwich are developed in response to student demand and international labour market trends, reflecting the University’s strong global outlook and reputation. This is evidenced by the University’s diverse international student community, both on campus in the UK and across global partnerships.

What structured opportunities will students have to engage directly with industry and how early in their academic journey will this exposure begin?

Industry engagement is built into the student experience at Ashford University College. Students will benefit from guest lectures from programme-relevant industry professionals, case studies, live industry projects, and opportunities for internships and placements, where applicable.

How will the UAE campus tap into the academic, research, and industry networks of the University of Greenwich’s main campus and what advantages will this offer students studying in the UAE?

Students studying in the UAE will be fully embedded within the University of Greenwich’s global academic community. They will benefit from access to shared digital learning resources and engagement with University of Greenwich staff through visiting academics, known as Link Tutors, who support teaching quality and academic standards.

A key strength of the partnership is the range of international progression and mobility opportunities available to students. Subject to programme requirements, students will have the opportunity to transfer to the University of Greenwich’s UK campus to complete a year of their undergraduate studies through an approved progression arrangement, or to progress to postgraduate study in the UK after completing their programme in the UAE.

Beyond their studies, students will join the University of Greenwich’s global alumni and industry networks, opening doors to international career opportunities.

How are technology, simulations and experiential learning changing how students learn?

Technology can transform learning from an experience defined by passive absorption of content to one that involves ideation and problem-solving. We have invested in state-of-the-art infrastructure and in highly-skilled faculty to ensure that students can learn through simulations, digital twins, and immersive labs, and have seen remarkable results from this endeavour.

These technologies encourage students to test ideas in a safe and realistic environment long before they enter industry. Whether it’s modelling energy systems, supply chains, or even financial markets, students learn better when they can get hands-on training and brainstorm solutions through experiential learning.

Research also shows that the appropriate use of simulation applications can reduce students’ anxiety during the educational process and improve learning environments.

Experiential learning and technology have changed how students learn for the better, not only in terms of the technical competencies they build, but this also sharpens judgement, and enhances exploration and collaboration among cohorts.

How does Heriot-Watt University Dubai ensure innovation in teaching doesn’t compromise academic rigour?

Innovation and rigour need not be mutually exclusive; they can be partners. At Heriot-Watt University, every new teaching method is anchored to clear learning outcomes, robust assessment, and external benchmarking.

We design our curriculum in accordance with the latest industry standards and accreditation guidelines, ensuring that our students build subject expertise in their respective programmes.

We also incorporate continuous evaluation by professional bodies and external examiners as well as industry advisory boards in order to maintain accountability and relevance throughout our portfolio. Faculty training is conducted at regular intervals, with an emphasis on fostering critical thinking and creativity among students.

Ultimately, our focus on blending innovation with a strong governance structure enables us to preserve academic integrity while equipping students with skills that meet the highest expectations globally.

How critical are early clinical exposure, internships, and hospital rotations outside the formal curriculum in shaping a student’s confidence and specialty choice and how do you create opportunities for the same?

At GMU, early clinical exposure, internships, and hospital rotations beyond the formal curriculum are not optional add-ons — they are essential components of professional development. These experiences shape confidence, refine specialty choices, and prepare students for the realities of modern medical practice.

By leveraging its integrated curriculum, hospital partnerships, and mentorship culture, GMU creates meaningful opportunities that empower our culturally diverse students from more than 100 different nationalities to make informed, confident decisions about their future in medicine, both within the UAE and internationally.

GMU is the only private medical university in the country with its own network of teaching hospitals, clinics, laboratories, pharmacies etc. This Academic Health System, integrating academia and research with healthcare has enhanced our student’s experiential learning.

GMU facilitates elective rotations, observerships, and short-term internships during breaks, allowing students to explore specialties of interest within the UAE in our own network or outside and, in many cases, internationally. Faculty mentors and preceptors guide students in identifying suitable clinical opportunities. In addition, GMU encourages students to take initiative by engaging in research projects, clinical audits, and community health programmes.

How are technology, simulations and experiential learning changing how students study medicine?

At Gulf Medical University, technology, simulation, and experiential learning are reshaping medical education into a competency-driven, patient-centered, and career-focused process. These tools allow students to learn medicine through practice, reflection, and real-world application rather than memorisation alone.

To judge whether a programme truly delivers career outcomes, students should evaluate clinical readiness, graduate success, accreditation quality, mentorship, and adaptability to future healthcare needs. When these elements align — as they do at GMU — technology becomes not just an educational add-on, but a powerful enabler of confident, competent, and globally relevant medical professionals.

With executives increasingly seeking flexible, modular and industry-linked learning, how do you balance depth and rigour, especially when designing executive education programmes?

DeMont has developed its executive education strategy around the belief that flexibility and rigour should complement each other, not compete. Recognising that today’s executives increasingly seek modular, industry-linked learning, we have designed our professional programmes as stackable pathways that allow busy leaders to engage at their own pace while progressing towards demanding qualifications.

Each module is built on a well-defined set of competencies and developed with active input from industry partners, ensuring relevance without compromising academic depth. Whether delivered online, in hybrid mode, or on campus, every course adheres to consistent assessment standards and places strong emphasis on applied learning.

Continuous quality assurance, employer feedback, and learner input are central to keeping our programmes both challenging and engaging. The result is an executive education model that is structurally flexible and perfectly aligned with the evolving demands of top leadership roles.