Latest news with #Hult
Business Recorder
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Dubai: the new business school hub for international students
Pakistanis already know that if they want to start a business, Dubai is the place to be, in terms of free zones, tax benefits, access to other regional markets like Saudi Arabia, and the immense networking opportunities. Now experts are saying this journey could start as early as the undergraduate degree stage. Dubai is the place to be 'if you want an entrepreneurial career or a career that has anything to do with tech or innovation,' said Martin Boehm, Executive Vice President and Global Dean of Undergraduate Programs at Hult International Business School, which has campuses around the world and is known for its experiential approach to business education. Education expo in Dubai puts Pakistani universities on global map The emirate 'is becoming more global and an increasingly attractive hub for international students to pursue undergraduate studies,' Boehm told Business Recorder in an exclusive chat. Just last month, Dubai's Knowledge and Human Development Authority said there has been a 29% increase in the number of international students for the 2024-25 academic year compared to the year prior. A total of 42,026 students are enrolled at 41 private higher education institutions – the highest number to date. Of these, 37 are international campuses. Boehm believes this is because Dubai is seen as a tech and business hub ripe with opportunities. 'Dubai is very flexible if you want to start your own business or secure job opportunities. It is quite straightforward to secure necessary work permits, especially if you're already in the country, which obviously would be the case for students.' Ease of getting visas is a crucial aspect of attracting international students, especially as it is getting harder to do so in countries like the US. 'While visa regulation has not changed yet, the entire rhetoric in the market is that the US has become less welcoming for international students,' he noted. What's more, it is not only possible to find opportunities in the Middle East, but Dubai is also fast becoming a gateway to Africa, said Boehm. Until now, Hult in Dubai was catering only to postgraduate students, but it will be launching its undergraduate degree in September. Explaining what makes Hult's degree stand out, Boehm said not only are internships embedded into the program, most of Hult's faculty are accomplished senior executives 'with one foot in the corporate world.' 'So it might well be that in the morning, they're in the boardroom discussing actual challenges with their staff and colleagues, and then in the afternoon they pose a very similar challenge to our students.' Hult believes students learn by being exposed to real-world problems. It partners with companies to challenge students, who get the chance to present their solutions to them. Hult has worked with big names like Dolce & Gabbana, Ferrari and Unilever, and is looking to partner with consulting firm Accenture. Locally, it has worked with Dubai's port authorities. He added that if students are at a university that does not directly put them in touch with businesses, then they should 'make sure they reach out to the corporate world as soon and as much as possible in order to establish a network, and learn as early as possible what it means to work in business firsthand.' Hult also offers semesters abroad at its Boston, London, San Francisco and New York campuses and has 'rotation centers' Shanghai and Singapore for summer programs. The wrong perception While Dubai has international campuses of many reputable universities - the UK's University of Birmingham and Middlesex, and Australia's University of Birmingham - there is often a perception that it is the less academically inclined that attend college in the emirate. However, this is a myth that needs to be busted, according to Boehm. 'For us, the same admissions criteria apply independent of which location you're applying to. There's no question about that. With most of our key competitors, it's exactly the same.' According to him, this perception may have arisen because some universities 'had to be a little bit more pushy or generous with respect to financial aid in order to attract students to study' at first. However, he believes this is no longer the case as the campuses in Dubai are now thriving. And the government is playing its part too, with a 'more rigorous assessment process by the Ministry of Education in order to make sure that all institutions are meeting the same standards'. An 'excellent option for Pakistanis' Business Recorder also spoke to Eileen McAuliffe, Executive Vice President and Managing Director of EMEA at the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. She believes Dubai is an excellent option for students from Pakistan who are seeking globally recognized business education. Echoing Boehm's thoughts, she said Dubai's strategic location as a hub connecting Asia, Africa, and Europe provides 'unparalleled access to global networks and career opportunities.' According to her, many business schools offer programs tailored to the region's economic context while maintaining international standards. On top of this, cultural familiarity and geographic proximity can make for a smoother transition. She also said that the rise of the digital economy is influencing how business education is delivered and structured in the UAE: Schools are emphasizing digital literacy, e-commerce, fintech, and digital entrepreneurship to ensure students can thrive in a tech-driven global marketplace. When asked what Pakistani business schools can learn from Dubai, she said they can 'draw lessons in balancing global aspirations with local realities' by fostering partnerships with international universities, pursuing dual-degree programs, and expanding faculty exchange initiatives, while ensuring curricula reflect the socio-economic needs of Pakistan's diverse population. 'Dubai's success is partly due to close alignment between business schools and the UAE's national vision. Pakistani business schools can increase their influence by aligning more proactively with national development agendas such as Vision 2025, the Digital Pakistan initiative, and regional economic corridors,' she said. 'Business education should not only respond to market demand — it must help shape the future economy.' Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Emerson College Poll shows Trump approval rating at 45 percent, political analysts react
ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) — Emerson College released a poll Wednesday morning that gauged voter perception of President Donald Trump's first 100 days back in office. That poll reflected diminished confidence among voters in the President's job performance compared to prior polling, which has showed a steady decline in approval rating since January. The President's approval rating sits at 45 percent, three points lower than it was in Emerson College's March 3 poll that recapped his first 50 days in office. His disapproval rating climbed two points over the same period to a matching 45 percent. 'The drop in approval has happened more quickly and many of the actions he's taken have been higher in volume and have had bigger term consequences, at least from people's perceptions,' said Virginia Tech professor of political science, Dr. Karen Hult in trying to determine the cause of the approval dip. The poll found that 34 percent of voters believe the President is outperforming expectations, while another 43 percent feel he has underachieved so far. Meanwhile, 48 percent believe Trump is outperforming his first term through this point, while a majority 52 percent see his second term going worse. Democratic Leader Jeffries says Trump's 100 days filled with 'chaos, cruelty and corruption' Liberty University professor of government Aaron S. Van Allen says it is not uncommon for a President to see lower approval ratings in their second term. 'This has been a consistent characterization that we've seen that [Trump is] less popular in his second term than what he has been in his first term,' he said. 'You could look really at any president that has served two terms, and that has pretty much been the case.' On specific issues, the poll found higher approval rates for the administration's policies on immigration (45 percent approval) and higher education (45 percent approval). On the other hand, the administration polled poorly on policies pertaining to the Russia/Ukraine war (52 percent disapproval), tariffs (51 percent disapproval), and the economy (49 percent disapproval). While 49 percent of polled voters believe the President's policies are making the economy worse, just 29 percent believe they are helping it. According to Hult and Van Allen, those perceptions could have a large impact in determining statewide races in Virginia this fall. 'What we do know is really important for Virginia governor's races are nationalized factors but certainly how the economy is perceived to be performing in Virginia as well,' said Hult. 'The economy is going to be that thing that number one plays a role in President Trump's approval and disapproval numbers,' said Van Allen. 'But I also think someone is going to inherit some good or bad baggage in the commonwealth of Virginia as we start looking at the gubernatorial.' Despite the overall drop in approval, the poll found that 94 percent of Trump's November 2024 voters said they would vote for him again if they could go back in time to the fall knowing what they know now. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Political Analysts weigh in on the Virginia Governor's race
ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) — The Virginia Gubernatorial is approaching as the state will select its next Governor this November. One factor has accurately predicted the Governor's race in the commonwealth in 11 of the past 12 elections. Since Jimmy Carter was elected president in 1976, Virginia has picked a governor from the opposite political party of the most recently elected president. There has been just one exception, taking place in 2013 when Democrat Terry McAuliffe was elected one year after Barack Obama was elected to his second term in the White House. 'I think it's probably more than happenstance,' said Virginia Tech professor of political science Dr. Karen Hult. 'I'm not sure if it's a trend but certainly it's a pattern.' So why has this pattern persisted nearly uninterrupted for almost five decades? 'There may often be more of a mobilization among people who are not on the winning side in the presidential race to then go out and really say, 'let's now go and vote for a governor of our party,'' said Hult. Virginia 2025 Poll: Tight race between presumptive gubernatorial candidates Another theory is that voters have time to observe and react to what life is like under the new presidential administration. 'Ultimately, once we see some potential results of what occurs from President Trump's executive orders, we'll see if that is going to be beneficial for one candidate or bad for one specific candidate,' said Liberty University associate professor of Government Aaron S. Van Allen. Both analysts agree the pattern should not be taken as a definitive predictor, but they also agree that the first several months of President Trump's second term will have a direct impact on this race; particularly the impact his policies have on the Virginia economy. 'One thing I'm looking for is what ends up happening in terms of shorter term and longer-term impacts on the Virginia economy,' said Hult, pointing to recent federal and local layoffs. 'Currently the Virginia state legislature is worried about that as well.' No matter the outcome, the race for the Governor's mansion in Virginia will draw national attention as a referendum on the Trump administration and as a tone-setter for more than 30 governor's races to come in 2026. 'I do think that the governor's race in the commonwealth may, come November of [2025], may in fact be a referendum on Trump,' said Van Allen. 'But those remaining 30 plus races in 2026 will definitely be that.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
