Abu Dhabi: Universities will have to keep pace with an evolving education market to meet the demands of industries that are creating new jobs say academic heads in the UAE, as graduates will be required to have several new skill sets to meet the demands of the 21st century.
“We keep a very close eye on what’s happening in the market, as a university we want to be responsive to the country’s need for highly skilled people for the future. This is reflected in our provision and the way we teach and assess what happens in the classroom, we make sure that what is taught in the university will be the kind of things the students are going to need and use when they are going outside the classroom,” said Dr Waqar Ahmad, Abu Dhabi University’s interim chancellor.
Dr Ahmad added that among the challenges of having a new subject introduced by the university is getting it approved by the regulatory authorities.
“We could say that machine learning is going to be a big thing for the future and we want to create a new programme for that. The next step would be to convince the government authorities that this is an important area for the future of the country and its economy.
“Another challenge is that you have to make sure your labs and equipment are also all in place, and then you also need to hire and train the faculty to run the programme,” he added.
Commenting on the role of traditional subjects such as mathematics and engineering, Dr Ahmad said that such courses would remain a part of the curricula for the foreseeable future, but that it was important for universities to change the ways in which these courses are taught.
“Subjects like mathematics and engineering are always going to be with us, what we have to look at is what we teach them with these subjects and how we do it. We have to make sure that the graduates who are studying these subjects have got skills for life long learning. So that means they can learn on the job, they can be creative, they can problem solve, they can work with other people and provide leadership.”
Dr Fares Howari, dean of college of Natural and Health Sciences at Zayed University, which has campuses in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai, also said that traditional subjects like mathematics and science were fundamental, but that the way they are delivered and taught for students must be done in a way that best suit the students once they graduate for the current and future job market.
“These traditional subjects should be taught in an integrated and interactive fashion involving modern theories of teaching and learning to ensure students are thoroughly educated in their content discipline.
“Maths, science and other such traditional courses are fundamental topics that we cannot do without. They are the foundation for engineering, technology, and innovation,” he added, highlighting the importance and continued relevance for these courses.
Dr Howar also commented on the role of teachers, explaining the need for them to both inspire and motivate their students, which he says will bring the best out of them.
“This requires competent and engaged teachers to inspire students to pursue careers in physics, biology, geology, and chemistry education. This will improve student achievements, and produce a better-prepared workforce.
“Academic knowledge, skills, and dispositions for teachers to develop strong content mastery research capabilities, and a deep understanding of learners… is a must,” he added.
