Post on 11-Apr-2023
International Higher Education in Ras Al KhaimahBETWEEN COMMERCIALIZATION, REGULATION AND
INNOVATION
LEE RENSIMER MAY 17, 2015 LRENSIMER@GMAIL.COM
The “Student Surge”
Demographic growth
High inbound migration
Increased participation of women in higher education
Drive towards knowledge and services economy
Education hub
38.4%
45.6%
33.7%
5-year enrollment rate increases between 2009-2013
(MoHESR 2013/14 Higher Education Factbook)
Lee Rensimer lrensimer@gmail.com
Increasing provision and access
State
National flagship
Technical Colleges
Market
Local
International
Lee Rensimer lrensimer@gmail.com
Institutions in Ras Al Khaimah
11
13
2
Total: 25
Degree Programs
Federal: 1
Semi-public: 3
Total: 4
Ministry of Higher Education
RAKFTZ: 5
RAKIA: 5
RAK IDO: 2
Total: 12
Total for both: 16
Free Zones
Degree programs: 29
Lee Rensimer lrensimer@gmail.com
Institutions in Ras Al KhaimahHigher Colleges of Technology (HCT)
Men’s College: 524Women’s College: 1887
American University of Ras Al Khaimah (AURAK): 400
Ras Al Khaimah Medical and Health Sciences University (RAK MHSU): 967
Ittihad University: 50 (closing)
• Federal institutions: 2,411
• Semi-publics: 1,617
4,028
Lee Rensimer lrensimer@gmail.com
Institutions in Ras Al Khaimah
International Institutions:Branch campuses and degree
franchises (approx. 1,900-2,100 students)
Lee Rensimer lrensimer@gmail.com
Who studies in Ras Al Khaimah?• Not a closed system
• Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MoHESR) has excellent data on its accredited institutions, but not on free zones
Lee Rensimer lrensimer@gmail.com
Students: who, why and how
Enrollment
Personal connections
Convenience
Affordability
Lee Rensimer lrensimer@gmail.com
Comparative AdvantagesFl
exib
ility • Part-time,
evenings and weekends
• Offer single programs
• Can start small and build up
Mo
bili
ty • EPFL
• Middle East University FZE
• University of Bolton
Rel
evan
ce t
o e
mp
loym
ent • Internships
• Professional training
Lee Rensimer lrensimer@gmail.com
Commercialization
Mixed quality • Focus on credentials over skills
• Courses frequently taught by adjunct teaching staff without postgraduate qualifications
• Quality typically overseen by degree provider (outside of the United Arab Emirates)
Lee Rensimer lrensimer@gmail.com
Commercialization
Duplicate programsCalicut
University
Wisdom Business School
Atlas International
College
Middle East University FZE
University of Wolverhampton
Cornerstone College of
International Studies
Westford School of Management
Lee Rensimer lrensimer@gmail.com
Commercialization
Instability
“I didn’t choose this university. It chose me.”
-A student who transferred after her program of two years shut down
Lee Rensimer lrensimer@gmail.com
Commercialization
Instability
Duplicate programs
Accreditation issues
Misleading commercial practices
Mixed quality
Lee Rensimer lrensimer@gmail.com
Regulation
How can Ras Al Khaimah improve the quality, accountability, and transparency of its international providers without decreasing access (i.e. raising costs or reducing number of providers?)
Lee Rensimer lrensimer@gmail.com
Quality & AccountabilityQuality not same as prestige – it can be assured at all levels in a differentiated system
Elite Universities
Middle-tier
Institutions
Colleges and vocational training institutes
• Broadening criteria for licensing
• Ras Al Khaimah-based regulatory agency for quality assurance
• Improving monitoring and communication of policy changes
Lee Rensimer lrensimer@gmail.com