Education
From The Report: Abu Dhabi 2015
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The development of a knowledge-based economy and a highly skilled and productive workforce are key priorities of Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030. To this end the government continues to invest significantly in education, with 21% of federal spending under the UAE’s $38.11bn draft budget for 2014-16 going towards public and higher education. Meanwhile private schools have played an increasingly important role in recent years as their number rose from 181 to 185 between 2010/11 and 2012/13. Moving forward, partnerships with the private sector are helping to match university programmes with high-growth sectors, while several new Ministry of Education teacher-training programmes are expected to have an impact on the emirate’s human resources development and job creation strategies.

This chapter contains interviews with Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research; and Amal Al Qubaisi, Director-General, Abu Dhabi Education Council.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Outcome-oriented reforms position the emirate for excellence
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The development of a knowledge-based economy and skilled workforce are critical components of Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030, the emirate’s long-term development plan, as evidenced by the strong growth in the education sector over the past decade. Government spending on education remains high, guided by mid-and long-term strategies targeting innovation, career development and outcomes in the kindergarten-to-grade-12 (K-12), vocational education and training, and higher education segments. At the…

Analysis

Raising the bar: More school inspections help the emirate to better balance quality and quantity
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As the emirate’s growing population leads to an expansion of private kindergarten-to-grade-12 (K-12) schools, education authorities have focused on maintaining a careful balance between supporting new growth and preserving a high calibre of education. Although private K-12 school inspections have been undertaken since 2008, the government’s Irtiqa’a (“Raising the Bar”) initiative in 2011-12 expanded these checks to include public schools. Although early inspections indicated much room for…

Interview

A higher level of education: OBG talks to Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research
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Interview:Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, How do you assess efforts to raise post-secondary graduation rates among Emiratis? What is being done to increase female participation? SHEIKH HAMDAN BIN MUBARAK AL NAHYAN: The first university in the UAE opened its doors in 1977 and there are now 106 institutes in the state, with just under 77,000 students enrolled in private schools and over 41,000 in state universities. Just over half of the student body is women. Students receive university…

Analysis

Standardisation of qualifications and licensing across the board
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Quality assurance is paramount to Abu Dhabi’s education strategy, as evidenced by recent initiatives unveiled by the National Qualifications Authority (NQA), the federal body that has been active in implementing the Qualifications Framework for the Emirates (QFE mirates) handbook, which lays out education qualifications at all levels in the UAE. Plans to roll out new licensing procedures for teachers were recently announced, part of a concerted effort to improve vocational training for nationals…

Interview

Amal Al Qubaisi, Director-General, Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC): Interview
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Interview:Amal Al Qubaisi What impact have inspections of private schools had on the quality of academic services? AMAL AL QUBAISI: When ADEC established its inspection service, Irtiqa’a, it aimed to evaluate the extent to which schools contribute to the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030, and to assess the performance of schools against international standards. The initiative sets standards for schools so that operators and principals are clearly aware of the levels of performance required.…

Analysis

Private partnerships and a new focus on research spur post-secondary education
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Although the emirate’s post-secondary education sector has already witnessed unprecedented growth in the past decade, universities in Abu Dhabi are still looking to increase student numbers, particularly in the postgraduate segment. The government’s focus on research and innovation has fostered strong expansion of postgraduate programmes and enrolment in recent years, with both Emirati and international students attracted by government and corporate funding, prestigious international branch campuses…