International Higher Education in Ras Al Khaimah: Between Commercialization, Regulation and...

International Higher Education in Ras Al KhaimahBETWEEN COMMERCIALIZATION, REGULATION AND

INNOVATION

LEE RENSIMER MAY 17, 2015 [email protected]

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 [email protected]

Increasing provision and access

State

National flagship

Technical Colleges

Market

Local

International


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


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


Institutions in Ras Al Khaimah

International Institutions:Branch campuses and degree

franchises (approx. 1,900-2,100 students)


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


Students: who, why and how

Enrollment

Personal connections

Convenience

Affordability


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


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)


Commercialization

Misleading commercial practices


Commercialization

Accreditation issues


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


Commercialization

Duplicate programs

“One Place Many Solutions”


Commercialization

Instability

“I didn’t choose this university. It chose me.”

-A student who transferred after her program of two years shut down


Commercialization

Instability

Duplicate programs

Accreditation issues

Misleading commercial practices

Mixed quality


Regulation: Licensing

RAKIA

RAK FTZ

RAK IDO

RAK Academic

Zone


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?)


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


Regulation: TransparencyImproving data collection

Website

Regulating advertisements

Invest in training and resources for Ras Al Khaimah secondary school teachers and guidance counselors


International Higher Education in Ras Al Khaimah: Between Commercialization, Regulation and...

Documents

Transcript of International Higher Education in Ras Al Khaimah: Between Commercialization, Regulation and...