United Arab Emirates

Figures from the National Human Resources Development and Employment Authority (Tanmia) projected the country’s population to reach 7.56 million by the end of 2010, increasing by 1.9 million people since its 2006 figures. Importantly, Tanmia points out that in comparison to the global population which is predicted to double every 55 years, the UAE’s population is due to double every 8.7 years

This significant population growth, coupled with the UAE’s reputation as the financial hub of the Middle East appears to have encouraged the growth of educational institutions in the country, with a huge influx of foreign-owned institutions gaining a presence.

Western business schools

Over the last five years, several Western business schools have opened campuses in the Middle East including London Business School, Edinburgh Business School, Hult International Business School, and University of Strathclyde Business School. Cass Business School in London also launched its Executive MBA program in a modular format in Dubai in 2007, in partnership with the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).

One of the first foreign-backed business schools to set up in the region was the University of Wollongong, which launched in Dubai in 1994 as an independent institution with special relations with the Australian university of the same name.

Raymi Van Der Spek, vice president (administration) of the University of Wollongong, Dubai explains that, in the Emirate of Dubai in particular there has been a great deal of controversy over less reputable, private business schools offering sub-standard MBA programs.

“A number of institutions came [to the UAE] believing that they will grow significantly. They didn’t, so they closed their doors,” says Van Der Spek. “Un-accredited universities can do that, just close their doors and leave their students stranded.”

MBA accreditation

In fact, this problem became so serious that in 1999 the Dubai Ministry of Education was forced to introduce a stringent accreditation process operated by the Commission for Academic Accreditation.

“The system is quite rigorous, and seems to be based on a US low-level college type model,” explains Professor Roy Batchelor, director of the Dubai Executive MBA Program at Cass.

“This does ensure that institutions with no academic credentials cannot set up as higher education centres in the UAE, which is good, but the system does lead to some rigidities.

“For example faculty in general must have a PhD but cannot teach in areas outside their PhD designation. [This means] a professor with an Economics PhD may not be allowed to teach mathematics, although perfectly competent to do so.”

However, as Van Der Spek points out, at just over ten years old, the UAE’s accreditation system is still in its infancy. Therefore, it is difficult to compare it to accreditation systems in many Western countries, where they have been refined over decades, even centuries.

“In most of these developing GCC countries, the rules [for setting up a business school] are still developing,” Van Der Spek says. “They are trying very hard, and the work they are doing is very admirable, but they have not been able to perfect them yet. In countries like the UK, regulatory frameworks have been set up for hundreds of years, and so it’s unfair to compare the two.”

Buyer beware

So, while authorities are striving to ensure that MBA programs in the Middle East provide adequate training for the region’s future business leaders, the advice for business school applicants is to research their options fully.

“My advice to prospective students would be let the buyer beware,” Batchelor advises. “Do your homework. You’re going to a business school, so your first lesson in business is to make sure your investment is going to pay off.”

Many MBA applicants around the globe attend the QS World MBA Tour, which is designed especially for future students to meet with MBA admissions departments, so that they can discuss their options, and find out exactly what an MBA program at a particular school can get them. The tour regularly visits cities across the Middle East to give MBA applicants the opportunity to meet with representatives from globally renowned business schools.