Latest news with #studyAbroad
Khaleej Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Khaleej Times
UAE: Nearly half of self-funded Emirati students abroad enrolled in just 2 universities
A major policy shift limiting the recognition of academic qualifications earned by Emirati students abroad came under scrutiny at the Federal National Council (FNC) on Tuesday, as members raised concerns about its impact on students and the broader education landscape. In response to a question raised by FNC member Dr Adnan Hamed Al Hammadi, Acting Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Dr Abdulrahman Al Awar, revealed that nearly half of self-funded Emirati students studying overseas are enrolled in just two universities that have exploited students for commercial gain. 'It became clear that 46 per cent of these students are studying in two universities which, unfortunately, exploited these students to obtain academic qualifications commercially,' Dr Al Awar said. 'It is our duty to protect them from such institutions.' The minister emphasised that the recent decision aims to safeguard academic integrity and future employability rather than simply revoke recognition of foreign study. 'The decision was not issued by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research but by the Council for Education, Human Development and Community,' he clarified. 'Its content relates to the governance of study abroad, not a blanket non-recognition of overseas qualifications.' The FNC debate followed a June 2 announcement that degrees obtained from institutions not ranked within the global top 100, 200, or 300 (depending on the country) would no longer be recognised, even for students who had previously obtained initial approvals from the ministry and were already pursuing bachelor's, master's, or doctoral studies. Al Awar defended the move, stating that it serves to redirect students to institutions offering quality education and skill development. 'The government seeks through this decision to support students and enhance the recognition granted to them,' he said. 'There is a percentage of students who are studying in commercial universities, and this is a misdirected investment.' Thousands affected by new policy According to official figures, more than 2,600 students are currently on scholarships from various federal and local entities, while approximately 3,000 are studying abroad at their own expense. The policy affects both groups, but especially the latter, many of whom began their academic journeys based on prior ministry-issued approvals. Dr Al Awar acknowledged these students' ambitions and affirmed the government's respect and support for them: 'The majority are striving to achieve their professional and educational goals, and it is our duty to offer them all support to obtain high competitive opportunities and achieve personal and national goals.' He also noted that 25 per cent of self-funded students are studying in completely unranked universities, and that the ministry and education council follow established standards for accreditation and recognition. Student hardship FNC member Dr Adnan Al Hammadi challenged the timing and communication of the decision, calling it 'sudden' and 'damaging' to students already enrolled and nearing graduation. 'The decision caused harm to students who are studying at their own expense, with prior approvals or official letters from the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research,' he said. 'Who bears the consequences and responsibilities of this decision, the expenses and commitments that were made?' He stressed that more than 800 Emirati students currently study abroad, many of whom received official approval for their university and specialisation, and have already committed years and significant financial resources. 'Is the global ranking adopted by the Ministry based on a private company, or an educational authority accredited in the country?' The FNC member called for immediate suspension of the decision's implementation, at least for current students and those with prior ministry approval, and urged the formation of expert committees to review the classification system. 'We hope the minister will halt the activation of this decision, especially for students studying abroad who received approval from the ministry. The decision should be re-evaluated by specialized committees and academic experts to ensure a transparent and fair classification system that balances academic requirements with the needs of society.' Dr Al Awar assured the FNC that mechanisms are in place to reassess individual cases, including a joint committee chaired by the Education Council and involving the Ministry of Higher Education and other relevant entities. He noted that since the implementation of a digital linkage between the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation and the Ministry of Higher Education two months ago, over 6,000 job applications were reviewed, with around 700 rejected due to degrees from unaccredited institutions. 'The same standards are applied to both citizens and non-citizens if it is proven that an institution relies on commercial motives,' he added. 'There is no leniency in dealing with any person or institution that manipulates the future of educational attainment and the competence required in the state.' The debate underscores a growing tension between the state's efforts to ensure academic excellence and the personal investments made by Emiratis pursuing higher education abroad.
Daily Mail
24-05-2025
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE I went to university on a cruise ship - here are the most annoying things about spending a semester at sea
University is often a time to expand your horizons. And that's certainly the case for students who sign up to the competitive Semester at Sea programme, which sees them spend a term travelling the world on a cruise ship. Twice a year, the MV World Odyssey, a 590 foot/179m ship, transforms into a floating home for students and faculty from all over the globe. But what's it really like to study at sea? MailOnline caught up with former Semester at Sea student, Carli Fogel, to find out. Carli, from Florida, completed Semester at Sea in 2018 and describes the experience as 'the best four months' of her life. She says: 'We left from California and we stopped in Hawaii and then went to Japan, China, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, India, Hong Kong, Mauritius, South Africa, Ghana, Morocco and Portugal.' But, while it might sound like a glamorous way to study, Carli reveals the ship was far from luxurious. She says: 'I shared a room with another girl. The rooms were really small, like crazy small. You just had a tiny window that would look out on the water. 'I definitely got seasick and it was claustrophobic. A bunch of people got a stomach virus and there was a doctor and nurse onboard.' A keen traveller, Carli reveals that she'd been set on doing Semester at Sea since the age of 12 when she met a family friend who had completed the programme. But she wasn't originally sold on the ship element. She explains: 'I'm from Florida, which is the home of cruises, but my parents hate cruises because they don't like relaxing on vacation. 'I never really went on cruises growing up. I only wanted to do this because I wanted to go to the different countries, I didn't want to live on a boat. But then it turned out the boat was the best part. 'Of course the countries were amazing, but the boat was home. You create this community onboard.' While Semester at Sea is running today, Carli explains that today's students won't experience one of her favourite parts of her trip. 'There was no WIFI on the ship when I went which was my favourite part,' says Carli. 'You were really off the grid and you couldn't be on your phone. 'You couldn't be on social media and you had to be really present. Everything you learned, you learned from textbooks. You'd learn something in class and then you'd go on a field trip that matched that learning.' The lack of WIFI meant that Carli and her friends weren't often able to plan their days on land which led to some spontaneous adventures. She reveals: 'Unless you had a field trip booked with the ship, not much was planned. You ended up doing unexpected things that you would never have given yourself time for if you had a planned a trip using the Internet. 'The kids on the ship nowadays are making TikToks which is cute, but to me, it misses the point. When you didn't have access to WIFI, you really got to know people and it was a little utopian society. 'If a group of students didn't like how a course was being taught, they were then able to teach the course themselves. The travel was amazing but the community was very democratic, in a way I don't think I'll ever experience again.' One of Carli's favourite memories from Semester at Sea was when she managed to persuade the ship's crew to turn off the top deck lights for 15 minutes at midnight. 'There were hundreds of students lying on yoga mats on the deck looking at the stars together. It was probably the best moment of my life,' she says. And, despite the challenges of a tiny room and seasickness, Carli says 'everything was so worth it.' 'It really changed my life and where I wanted to live and the work I wanted to do,' she finishes. 'I ended up living in Tel Aviv for four to five years after and then I travelled in Europe a lot. 'I made everlasting friendships that I wouldn't change for the world.
