The UAE-funded college in Scottish city Dundee offering more than just a qualification

It is nearly 20 years since Al Maktoum College of Higher Education opened its doors in Dundee, Scotland’s fourth-largest city.

Offering subjects including Arabic, business, finance, management, and Middle Eastern and Islamic studies, it has taught thousands in the decades since it opened.

But while it is proud of those achievements, the college was set up to be more than a place in which people studied to obtain qualifications.

Much of its funding comes from the Al Maktoum Foundation, with the college established on the initiative of the late Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid, the former Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, who died in March.

“We’re not here just simply to offer educational programmes,” said Abi Abubaker, head of college and vice chancellor.

“It’s what else we can do to make sure that the vision of our founder, our patron, [is] achieved. And that is to build links between communities, between people of different cultures.

“I’m proud to say that the college became very much involved in within the community and it’s very widely recognised within the city of Dundee and beyond as a place where people come to discuss issues like cultural engagement, like interfaith issues.

“People want to know about Islam, for example, or the Middle East, this is the place to come to,” Mr Abubaker said.

He said the college had been instrumental in building links between the UAE and the UK, and between the cities of Dundee and Dubai.

Indeed, Dundee is the only UK sister city of Dubai.

Dr Abi Abubaker is the head of college and vice chancellor. Photo: Al Maktoum College of Higher Education

Mr Abubaker, who has been with the college since its inception, said it had worked to build links with the local council, interfaith organisations and the Scottish government, while also establishing cultural programmes with institutions around the world.

It also co-teaches a highly regarded master of science degree in Islamic finance with the University of Dundee.

He says student numbers have tripled in the past five years, with people from more than 40 countries among those studying at the college in the past term.

This year, a master of philosophy degree in The Middle East in a Global Context will be launched in collaboration with Trinity College Dublin.

“Honestly, we have students from all walks of life. Young, old, Muslims, non-Muslims, of no religion at all. We promote diversity and we celebrate diversity. Actually, our tagline is Discover Diversity in Dundee.

“And, really, this is how we see ourselves,” Mr Abubaker said.

“A place that’s open to all people, all walks of life, as long as they have a genuine interest in learning, in education, and that they share our views of a multicultural open, diverse society.”

The college’s role and importance perhaps could not be highlighted better by a recent development, in which it was granted funding to research refugee resettlement.

Dundee is the fourth largest city in Scotland and home to the Al Maktoum College of Higher Education. Alamy

This month it will begin its project on financial inclusivity for Muslim refugees and entrepreneurs coming to settle in Scotland.

“This is a very interesting time for the college and its wider engagement with the local authorities, with the government, and being seen as an institution that may assist decision makers in areas of competence for us here at the college,” Mr Abubaker said.

While the initial funding application was based on a project for Syrian refugees, the expected rise in Afghan asylum seekers means the project could not have been more timely, he said.

Moving forwards, the college wants to continue to expand.

Mr Abubaker says there was a clear vision to become a university college within 10 years, and eventually be able to apply for degree-awarding powers.

“It’s a big ambition, it’s a big plan. But we can see it happen. We have started to build the building blocks that will get us to that end.

“It is very feasible that we may get there even sooner than we’re hoping, if all our plans come to fruition.”

Mr Abubaker has lived in Scotland for four decades, and joined the college initially as a volunteer.

He said he was most proud of seeing how much it had grown.

“The sense of establishing something from scratch, the sense that you are building a legacy. This is absolutely priceless, to see where we were, how we started, the various stages that we progressed through and the challenges that we faced, to where we are now.

“And, indeed, then you think ‘OK, now we have a very interesting vision for the future’ and you can actually see that vision starting to become realised,” Mr Abubaker said.

“There isn’t anything for me as satisfying as that, the knowledge that you will be leaving behind a legacy that future generations will benefit from, that hopefully you provided a space for people to study and prosper and develop themselves, and something that the community could be proud of as well.

“So that, for me, is the main reflection that I have over the last 20 years.”

GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

'Jurassic%20World%20Dominion'

%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Colin%20Trevorrow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStars%3A%20Sam%20Neill%2C%20Laura%20Dern%2C%20Jeff%20Goldblum%2C%20Bryce%20Dallas%20Howard%2C%20Chris%20Pratt%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

MATCH INFO

Leeds United 0

Brighton 1 (Maupay 17')

Man of the match: Ben White (Brighton)

From Europe to the Middle East, economic success brings wealth - and lifestyle diseases

A rise in obesity figures and the need for more public spending is a familiar trend in the developing world as western lifestyles are adopted.

One in five deaths around the world is now caused by bad diet, with obesity the fastest growing global risk. A high body mass index is also the top cause of metabolic diseases relating to death and disability in Kuwait, Qatar and Oman – and second on the list in Bahrain.

In Britain, heart disease, lung cancer and Alzheimer’s remain among the leading causes of death, and people there are spending more time suffering from health problems.

The UK is expected to spend $421.4 billion on healthcare by 2040, up from $239.3 billion in 2014.

And development assistance for health is talking about the financial aid given to governments to support social, environmental development of developing countries.

KLOPP%20AT%20LIVERPOOL

%3Cp%3EYears%3A%20October%202015%20-%20June%202024%3Cbr%3ETotal%20games%3A%20491%3Cbr%3EWin%20percentage%3A%2060.9%25%3Cbr%3EMajor%20trophies%3A%206%20(Premier%20League%20x%201%2C%20Champions%20League%20x%201%2C%20FA%20Cup%20x%201%2C%20League%20Cup%20x%202%2C%20Fifa%20Club%20World%20Cup%20x1)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

Joker: Folie a Deux

Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson

Director: Todd Phillips

Rating: 2/5

Emergency phone numbers in the UAE

Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing

Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111

Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre

Emirates airline – 600555555

Etihad Airways – 600555666

Ambulance – 998

Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries

HEADLINE HERE

I would recommend writing out the text in the body
And then copy into this box
It can be as long as you link
But I recommend you use the bullet point function (see red square)
Or try to keep the word count down
Be wary of other embeds lengthy fact boxes could crash into
That's about it

COMPANY PROFILE

Name: HyperSpace

Started: 2020

Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: Entertainment

Number of staff: 210

Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo

Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 6-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km

Price: Dh133,900

On sale: now

Full Party in the Park line-up

2pm – Andreah

3pm – Supernovas

4.30pm – The Boxtones

5.30pm – Lighthouse Family

7pm – Step On DJs

8pm – Richard Ashcroft

9.30pm – Chris Wright

10pm – Fatboy Slim

11pm – Hollaphonic

Our commentary on Brexit

Alistair Burt: Despite Brexit, Britain can remain a world power
Con Coughlin: Choice of the British people will be vindicated

The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index

Mazen Abukhater, principal and actuary at global consultancy Mercer, Middle East, says the company’s Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index - which benchmarks 34 pension schemes across the globe to assess their adequacy, sustainability and integrity - included Saudi Arabia for the first time this year to offer a glimpse into the region.

The index highlighted fundamental issues for all 34 countries, such as a rapid ageing population and a low growth / low interest environment putting pressure on expected returns. It also highlighted the increasing popularity around the world of defined contribution schemes.

“Average life expectancy has been increasing by about three years every 10 years. Someone born in 1947 is expected to live until 85 whereas someone born in 2007 is expected to live to 103,” Mr Abukhater told the Mena Pensions Conference.

“Are our systems equipped to handle these kind of life expectancies in the future? If so many people retire at 60, they are going to be in retirement for 43 years – so we need to adapt our retirement age to our changing life expectancy.”

Saudi Arabia came in the middle of Mercer’s ranking with a score of 58.9. The report said the country's index could be raised by improving the minimum level of support for the poorest aged individuals and increasing the labour force participation rate at older ages as life expectancies rise.

Mr Abukhater said the challenges of an ageing population, increased life expectancy and some individuals relying solely on their government for financial support in their retirement years will put the system under strain.

“To relieve that pressure, governments need to consider whether it is time to switch to a defined contribution scheme so that individuals can supplement their own future with the help of government support,” he said.