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A Degree of Distinction: Is University Based Corporate Higher Education in the UAE a Bridge or a Bridge Too Far?. Chet Jablonski Office of Graduate Studies Zayed University. Higher Education – then and now.
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A Degree of Distinction: Is University Based Corporate Higher Education in the UAEa Bridgeora Bridge Too Far? Chet Jablonski Office of Graduate Studies Zayed University ECU2011
Higher Education – then and now The purpose of higher education, rooted in a liberal arts tradition that stresses individual growth, appears to have significantly shifted towards a straight forward preparation for work. • What factors are responsible? • What are the relevant tensions? • What is the state of play of post-graduate education in the U.A.E.? • What are the opportunities/issues for university based corporate education the U.A.E.? ECU2011
Professional Master’s Programs • Educational credential creep (high school-baccalaureate-graduate) for career entry • Grad educational reform develops professional master’s programs • offer alternative post-baccalaureate opportunities for graduates not preparing for doctoral studies • provide theory/practice aligned to corporate needs (corporate-university partnerships) ECU2011
Master’s Education Reform Drivers and the Corporatization of Higher Education Global belt tightening reduces state support for higher education Students “vote with their feet” to seek higher education linked to career advancement Higher education institutions adapt to the new market by developing professional master’s programs and corporate partnerships to maintain enrollment ECU2011
Professional Master’s delivered Corporate Education… everybody wins, that’s good, isn’t it? • Universities develop new programs, enrollment and income • Businesses have option to outsource development of needed “brainpower” • Customized accredited programs to tailor theoretical/practical curriculum • University delivered corporate education harnesses higher education expertise meet client needs ECU2011
University Based Corporate Education Delivery… different perspectives • Global Council for Corporate Universities: traditional universities (TU’s) fail to understand that business has learning needs of its own and therefore cannot deliver a quality corporate education (CE) product • Academics (some): TU based CE has enslaved them to a profit-driven non-academic job training agenda • University Administrators (some): inclusion of CE in the academic model demonstrates service to the community … and grows enrollment/revenue ECU2011
Abu Dhabi Education Council’s (ADEC) Strategic Plan Priorities for Higher Education • Raise the quality of Abu Dhabi’s higher education system to internationally recognized levels; • Align higher education with Abu Dhabi’s social, cultural, and economic needs; • Build and maintain a research eco-system to drive an innovation-based economy; • Provide all qualified students with affordable access to higher education. ECU2011
Opportunities for University Based Corporate Ed in the UAE • Consistent with ADEC objectives • Accredited & Bona fide academic credential offered • Tailored curriculum bridges gaps related to application of knowledge at corporate site • Appropriate blend of theoretical/practical • Mixed delivery modes minimize work disruption • Cost effective ECU2011
Opportunities for Accredited Master’s Level Corporate Ed. in the UAE • Private universities and colleges (33; *103) • Federal universities (3; *16) • UAEU; HCT; ZU • Government or public/private operated specialist institutions (3; *7) • Dubai Police Academy; Emirates Aviation College; Police College Abu Dhabi *business/policy/management/ leadership/entrepreneurism related professional master’s ECU2011
Opportunities for Accredited Business/Management Master’s Level Professional Ed at ZU • EMBA (11th cohort now in progress) • MSIB (Master of Science in International Business) • MSFIN (Master of Science in Finance) • Special National Bank of Abu Dhabi cohort • EMHCA (Exec. Master’s in HealthCare Management) • EMPA (Exec. Master’s in Public Administration) ECU2011
Guidelines for Successful University/Corporate Partnerships • understand mutual expectations and goals • commitment (senior manager support/involvement & designated representatives) • program flexibility/accommodation on both sides to tailor program material & assessments • feedback loop via steering committee to ensure open communication & continuing relevance • validation via academic credential ECU2011
Seize the Opportunity! ECU2011
epilog… a word of caution Don’t neglect humanities – “graduate work in the humanities trains “humanists in a style of pedagogy that privileges individual attention, personal contact, the close reading of texts, the fostering of oral expression, the respect of diversity and difference, and the articulation of competing views through argument” These are [excellent] strategies for management (Seth Lerer, Dean of Arts UC San Diego) ECU2011