Dubai’s best and worst performing universities have been revealed in the emirate's latest higher education league table.
The Higher Education Classification, developed by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority, provides a rating of 17 branch campuses of international universities covering the 2019-20 academic period.
The one-to-five star system measures universities based on criteria such as teaching, employability, internationalisation, research, facilities, programme strength, arts and culture and happiness and well-being.
Six universities received the highest five star rating, including Birla Institute of Technology and Science Pilani, Heriot-Watt University, London Business School and City, University of London.
The worst performing institutions with two stars were Islamic Azad University and Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology (SZABIST).
Five achieved a four star rating and four received a three star rating. Last year, only three universities achieved five stars and eight received four stars.
No university received a one star this year. In 2019, SZABIST was the only one to get a one star ranking.
Dr Kevin Dunseath, the director of the City, University of London Dubai campus, said he is pleased about their improvement in this year’s report.
"We are delighted that our rating has gone from four to five stars. We believe this is a recognition to our overall offering in our Dubai centre," he told The National.
“We are pleased that the very high level of our teaching has been recognised and strength of our programme. We are also pleased that our employability rating has been improved.”
The university opened its Dubai campus in 2007 and currently has 258 students.
Dr Dunseath added that the annual report by KHDA will help improve the higher education market in the country and offered students an insight into university standards.
The number of students choosing universities in Dubai’s free zones have gone up from 12,000 in 2008 to more than 30,000 in 2019.
Even though 2020 figures are not available, The National reported previously that more students are opting for local universities for the next academic year as education abroad remains uncertain due to Covid-19 travel restrictions.
Middlesex University Dubai, which had more than 3,500 students as of 2019, also improved from a four star to a five star ranking.
“2020 has both been the dawn of a new decade - and a year which has seen unprecedented times - not only in the world of academia but for the wider world at large," Dr Cedwyn Fernandes, pro vice-chancellor and director of the university said:
“However, this phase will pass. Opportunities will return. Our world will emerge stronger than before.
“We look forward to continuing to build the highest level of excellence as we get ready for a new year of preparing graduates to leave their mark on the world.”
The Heriot-Watt University Dubai maintained their five star rating this year.
Ammar Kaka, Provost and Vice Principal of Heriot-Watt University Dubai, said the rating was “proof” of student and staff confidence in the university despite the challenging times.
“The last year has seen us achieve several milestones – we signed a 10-year lease for a 218,000 sqft new campus in the Dubai Knowledge Park, we added new programmes in line with changing market requirements, we demonstrated teaching excellence even in the light of COVID-19 disruption and made significant progress in driving the employability for our graduates,” he said.
SZABIST was one of the two worst performing universities. It ranked low in a few of the categories, including one star in research, facilities and internationalisation.
However, it has five stars in the employability category, three stars in inclusiveness and arts and culture.
Dr. Hummayoun Naeem, head of campus at SZABIST, said they are aiming for three stars next years after moving up from a one star ranking last year.
"I would say we have improved in the weak areas pointed out last time. We equipped our facility with proper resources and we've implemented green practices at the campus. We've also introduced more qualified guest speakers and we now have a dedicated activities officer. We are going to continue the progress," he said.
He added that the university still lacks in certain areas which has kept them at a low rank. This includes not having access to a adequate sports facilities.
"We are a small university and there are certain areas such as outdoor sports that we don't have. We have to ask other universities to borrow their sports ground," he said.
Meanwhile, Islamic Azad University received a one star in employability, learning environment and happiness and well-being. It performed best in research, with four stars.
Dr Wafi Dawood, chief executive of strategy and planning sector at KHDA, said that the higher education classification (HEC) is “another step forward” in the maturity of Dubai’s private higher education sector.
“Students in Dubai and all over the world can refer to the HEC to identify what they value in higher education, and then to make more confident decisions about their future in Dubai.
“The HEC also gives branch campuses an opportunity to show their strengths. We’re grateful to our university partners for their cooperation in putting the HEC together.”
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Safety 'top priority' for rival hyperloop company
The chief operating officer of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, Andres de Leon, said his company's hyperloop technology is “ready” and safe.
He said the company prioritised safety throughout its development and, last year, Munich Re, one of the world's largest reinsurance companies, announced it was ready to insure their technology.
“Our levitation, propulsion, and vacuum technology have all been developed [...] over several decades and have been deployed and tested at full scale,” he said in a statement to The National.
“Only once the system has been certified and approved will it move people,” he said.
HyperloopTT has begun designing and engineering processes for its Abu Dhabi projects and hopes to break ground soon.
With no delivery date yet announced, Mr de Leon said timelines had to be considered carefully, as government approval, permits, and regulations could create necessary delays.
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Major honours
ARSENAL
BARCELONA
- La Liga - 2013
- Copa del Rey - 2012
- Fifa Club World Cup - 2011
CHELSEA
- Premier League - 2015, 2017
- FA Cup - 2018
- League Cup - 2015
SPAIN
- World Cup - 2010
- European Championship - 2008, 2012
Racecard
2pm Handicap Dh 90,000 1,800m
2.30pm Handicap Dh120,000 1,950m
3pm Handicap Dh105,000 1,600m
3.30pm Jebel Ali Classic Conditions Dh300,000 1,400m
4pm Maiden Dh75,000 1,600m
4.30pm Conditions Dh250,000 1,400m
5pm Maiden Dh75,000 1,600m
5.30pm Handicap Dh85,000 1,000m
The National selections:
2pm Arch Gold
2.30pm Conclusion
3pm Al Battar
3.30pm Golden Jaguar
4pm Al Motayar
4.30pm Tapi Sioux
5pm Leadership
5.30pm Dahawi
PRO BASH
Thursday’s fixtures
6pm: Hyderabad Nawabs v Pakhtoon Warriors
10pm: Lahore Sikandars v Pakhtoon Blasters
Teams
Chennai Knights, Lahore Sikandars, Pakhtoon Blasters, Abu Dhabi Stars, Abu Dhabi Dragons, Pakhtoon Warriors and Hyderabad Nawabs.
Squad rules
All teams consist of 15-player squads that include those contracted in the diamond (3), platinum (2) and gold (2) categories, plus eight free to sign team members.
Tournament rules
The matches are of 25 over-a-side with an 8-over power play in which only two fielders allowed outside the 30-yard circle. Teams play in a single round robin league followed by the semi-finals and final. The league toppers will feature in the semi-final eliminator.
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Lamsa
Founder: Badr Ward
Launched: 2014
Employees: 60
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: EdTech
Funding to date: $15 million
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champioons League semi-final, first leg:
Liverpool 5
Salah (35', 45 1'), Mane (56'), Firmino (61', 68')
Roma 2
Dzeko (81'), Perotti (85' pen)
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
Who are the Sacklers?
The Sackler family is a transatlantic dynasty that owns Purdue Pharma, which manufactures and markets OxyContin, one of the drugs at the centre of America's opioids crisis. The family is well known for their generous philanthropy towards the world's top cultural institutions, including Guggenheim Museum, the National Portrait Gallery, Tate in Britain, Yale University and the Serpentine Gallery, to name a few. Two branches of the family control Purdue Pharma.
Isaac Sackler and Sophie Greenberg were Jewish immigrants who arrived in New York before the First World War. They had three sons. The first, Arthur, died before OxyContin was invented. The second, Mortimer, who died aged 93 in 2010, was a former chief executive of Purdue Pharma. The third, Raymond, died aged 97 in 2017 and was also a former chief executive of Purdue Pharma.
It was Arthur, a psychiatrist and pharmaceutical marketeer, who started the family business dynasty. He and his brothers bought a small company called Purdue Frederick; among their first products were laxatives and prescription earwax remover.
Arthur's branch of the family has not been involved in Purdue for many years and his daughter, Elizabeth, has spoken out against it, saying the company's role in America's drugs crisis is "morally abhorrent".
The lawsuits that were brought by the attorneys general of New York and Massachussetts named eight Sacklers. This includes Kathe, Mortimer, Richard, Jonathan and Ilene Sackler Lefcourt, who are all the children of either Mortimer or Raymond. Then there's Theresa Sackler, who is Mortimer senior's widow; Beverly, Raymond's widow; and David Sackler, Raymond's grandson.
Members of the Sackler family are rarely seen in public.
RESULTS
6.30pm: Longines Conquest Classic Dh150,000 Maiden 1,200m.
Winner: Halima Hatun, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Ismail Mohammed (trainer).
7.05pm: Longines Gents La Grande Classique Dh155,000 Handicap 1,200m.
Winner: Moosir, Dane O’Neill, Doug Watson.
7.40pm: Longines Equestrian Collection Dh150,000 Maiden 1,600m.
Winner: Mazeed, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
8.15pm: Longines Gents Master Collection Dh175,000 Handicap.
Winner: Thegreatcollection, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
8.50pm: Longines Ladies Master Collection Dh225,000 Conditions 1,600m.
Winner: Cosmo Charlie, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
9.25pm: Longines Ladies La Grande Classique Dh155,000 Handicap 1,600m.
Winner: Secret Trade, Tadhg O’Shea, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
10pm: Longines Moon Phase Master Collection Dh170,000 Handicap 2,000m.
Winner:
