Zayed Unviersity students and staff express their dissatisfaction

Abu Dhabi: Wrongful terminations, administrative incompetence and low entrance requirements are some of the complaints dogging a major federal university in the UAE.

After a series of these concerns about Zayed University (ZU) were posted online through an independent website, glassdoor.com, a number of students and staff members have also stated that they have noticed a decline in the university’s administrative and educational standards.

One person who claims to be a current employee at ZU, accuses the institution of “creating fear” among employees to make them submit to orders.

“Look at those faculty members whose contracts were terminated or whose renewal applications received unjustifiable negative recommendations,” the complainant adds.

Other users say that faculty members lack a significant role in decision making, and are saddled with gruelling course-loads. The majority of responders state that they would not recommend the university to a friend.

An Abu Dhabi-based Emirati student who spoke to Gulf News on condition of anonymity said that a number of illustrious professors had left the university recently, which had increased the student-teacher ratio in classes.

“I am devastated at the fallen standards of ZU and I feel as if my senior year of education has been compromised due to administrative shortcomings. Our professors appear overworked and we are not given as many opportunities as before to display our work,” she said.

The majority of complaints have been posted after July 2013. But in September last year, a new Provost started his term. According to an internal report obtained by Gulf News, almost all of the university’s financial problems have been resolved by March 2014.

There are also certain positive aspects that are highlighted in the online comments, including the professionalism of faculty members, the humility of many pupils and better perks than provided by institutions in the US.