The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, in collaboration with (Quacquarelli Symonds), a leading global organization in university rankings, recently hosted a strategic workshop aimed at enhancing quality and global excellence in the country’s higher education institutions.
Attendees included Dr. Rashid bin Fahd, Chairman of the Dubai University Board, Dr. Isa Al Bastaki, University President, Dr. Samira Abdul Rahman Al Mulla, Director of Higher Education Data and Analysis, along with several academic faculty members from the university.
This workshop is part of the ministry’s efforts to bolster the competitiveness of UAE universities by instilling concepts of quality, data-driven planning, and benchmarking against global best practices.
Key Standard
In his opening remarks, Dr. Isa Al Bastaki emphasized the significance of such workshops in enhancing educational outcomes, especially regarding graduate employability. He stated that quality serves as the fundamental benchmark for the success of institutions aiming for global rankings.
He also highlighted that the university, being a part of the Dubai Chambers, has distinguished itself through strong international partnerships, both academically and with global corporations, thereby enhancing its status on local and international fronts.
Dr. Al Bastaki explained that the university operates under a future-oriented vision aligned with the concepts of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, with educational and research plans that meet the current and future labor market demands. He stressed that a transformational educational leap focused on technology is essential for addressing upcoming challenges.
In her remarks, Dr. Samira Al Mulla noted that global rankings reflect the strengths and weaknesses of universities, motivating educational institutions to enhance their academic programs, research initiatives, infrastructure, and student services. She mentioned that the university’s global ranking significantly influences the decisions of international students and distinguished faculty members when choosing a place for study or work.
Five Benefits
Dr. Ashwin Fernandez, Regional Director of QS, stated that university rankings offer five key advantages for academic institutions: benchmarking to assess performance against leading global institutions, learning to identify areas for improvement, planning to make data-driven strategic decisions, marketing to enhance institutional and academic reputation, and celebrating achievements to recognize progress and inspire further excellence.
Dr. Fernandez also reviewed the QS global ranking methodology, which is based on five main criteria distributed as follows: 50% research output and discoveries, 20% graduate employability and outcomes, 15% engagement and collaboration, 10% learning experience and teaching quality, and 5% environmental and institutional sustainability.