DIAC Leading Education Service Provider According to UNESCO Report on Universities in Arab Countries
January 6, 2010
Dubai International Academic City (DIAC), the dedicated higher education free zone and a member of TECOM Investments, is one of the region’s leading education service providers hosting over 58 per cent of the foreign branch universities in the Arab world, according to the ‘Guide to Universities in the Arab Countries’ issued by the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Education in the Arab States – Beirut.
According to the report, which covered 22 countries in the Arab world, the UAE hosts the maximum number of foreign universities. Of the 15.4 per cent of the universities based in the UAE, 6.4 per cent operate under Dubai International Academic City. Amongst the GCC countries, DIAC and Dubai Knowledge Village host 23 per cent of the total number of universities.
Dr Ayoub Kazim, Executive Director, Dubai International Academic City and Dubai Knowledge Village, said: “DIAC is committed to developing the education sector and offering the region innovative academic choices. By offering leading education infrastructure to our academic partners, we aim to contribute to the advancement of the human capital of the UAE and the region through the development of quality graduates.
“We have experienced consistently high demand from overseas institutions for setting up their campuses in DIAC. However, we aim to create a proper balance of institutions based on their standing and the quality of programmes they offer. A stringent 34-point selection criteria and a discerning screening process ensure only quality institutions enter the cluster. Even after an institution becomes part of our cluster, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) periodically reviews its progress to guarantee its operations remain aligned with the mother campus.”
A regional base for premier international higher education institutions, Dubai International Academic City is the world’s first dedicated tertiary education cluster development. DIAC partners enjoy special privileges including 100 per cent foreign ownership, tax-free status, full repatriation of profits and seamless visa issuance procedures for students, faculty and the staff.
Heriot-Watt University, one of the UK's leading universities for business and industry, set up base in the education cluster in 2005 offering a range of courses both at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Prof Brian G. D. Smart, Executive Dean and Head of Heriot-Watt University Dubai Campus, said: “HWUDC is pleased to report a growth of 30 per cent in student numbers, reaching almost 1,400 students for the academic year beginning September 2009. This reflects the demand for our comprehensive range of internationally - accepted degree courses offered at realistic fee levels. Indications that we will reach our January intake numbers and the support from our home campus in Edinburgh to introduce even more courses for the next academic year fills us with confidence for 2010 and beyond."
Dubai International Academic City currently hosts 32 institutions from 13 different countries including the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, India, France, Singapore, Belgium, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, Lebanon and the UAE. Some of the important names include the Michigan State University, Manchester Business School, University of Exeter, Heriot-Watt University, Hult International Business School, and the Manipal University.
Every year, around 3,500 students pass out of Dubai International Academic City. Approximately 12,000 students are currently enrolled into the various programmes offered at the campuses within DIAC.
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About Dubai International Academic City:
Dubai International Academic City (DIAC), a member of TECOM Investments, located in the Dubai Academic City is the world’s only Free Zone dedicated to higher education. A regional base for premier international higher education institutions, DIAC is the world’s first dedicated tertiary cluster development. Spread across an area of approximately 20 million square foot, the DIAC campus provides an environment of vitality and inspiration for students and faculty. DIAC partners also enjoy special privileges like 100% foreign ownership, 100% freedom from taxes, 100% repatriation of profits and effortless visa issuance procedures for students, faculty and staff. There are currently international universities of higher learning in Dubai Knowledge Village and Dubai International Academic City from diverse regions including the U.S, Australia, India, Pakistan, Iran, France, Russia, Belgium, U.K and Canada operating out of DIAC, catering to over 12,000 students. These institutions offer programmes that range in duration from one year to four years. Major academic programmes on offer include; engineering, computer science, finance, media, education, fashion and design, biotechnology, environmental studies, quality management and business management programmes.
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