Talent Beyond Borders

Written by Bahar AlAwadhi and Sarah AlMulla

Exploring the career pathways available to the local talent pool and some of its limitations.

“To make this work, we must believe in people. Human beings – their ideas, innovations, dreams, and connections – are the capital of the future.” – His Highness Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum

Our leader believes that with its people as the main resource, we can lead the country through change and accelerate its growth. The UAE has been a hub for attracting talent to the country and is now campaigning for this even more actively through various schemes such as attractive visa options and law amendments on citizenship rights. A diverse workforce and foreign investors would strengthen the country, but there is also a clear need to build and develop local talent to meet changing industry demands. This is even more relevant since the COVID-19 pandemic where there has been an urgent need for agility, openness to change, and uncertainty.

Being an educational hub for talent requires broadening academic horizons and reducing the limitations on educational opportunities. While the UAE has a reputation for higher studies both locally and from neighboring regions, the academic programmes offered are limited in choice and variety. Another limitation, particularly for the Emirati youth, is the criteria for accreditation set by the Ministry of Education on universities in the country and globally. The accredited universities are accepted more widely, particularly by the government sector, and employees with these degrees benefit from increased salaries, study leaves, and scholarships. The degrees that are not accredited do not allow for these provisions and can become a deterrent for students, even though the universities may otherwise be highly recognized in other parts of the world.

In order to explore this further, we have conducted a study to understand the students’ perspectives and challenges they may face due to the accreditation requirements within the UAE. A survey was designed around career preferences, student criteria for selecting majors, and their experience in relation to the Ministry of Education (MoE) accreditations. The survey was completed by 62 individuals, including 49 Emiratis and 12 expatriates, from which 41 of the respondents were female and 20 were male.

The data revealed that around 60% of the respondents considered the major to be their main priority when selecting a university.  However, over 50% percent of the respondents mentioned that there isn’t enough variety of accredited undergraduate or postgraduate degrees within the country and 45% of the respondents were forced to choose a career that was not their preference due to the lack of accreditation. From the respondents that did choose to study in an unaccredited university, it was revealed that 70% of the Emiratis and 50% of the expatriates were later impacted by the lack of employment opportunities and benefits.

Respondents were also asked to state their highest career preference some of which were very niche programmes such as Organizational Psychology, Child Psychology, Criminology, and Nanotechnology Science, which are either not available within the UAE or only offered in unaccredited universities in the country. Many of these specializations were chosen by the Emirati population in the study who appear to be impacted to some degree by the accreditation criteria. While Emiratis are predominantly seen in fields such as engineering, medicine, and entrepreneurship, there is still a gap for the niche roles listed in the study and these are roles that are either relatively unheard of or secured by expatriates, thereby limiting the emerging Emirati talent in these untapped fields.

Another limitation found from the survey results is that distance learning through global universities is also not accredited, even though it may be the most attractive and flexible option for those who cannot study abroad or may not find that programme available locally. Over 50% of the respondents mentioned that they cannot study abroad and will need to study online, change their major, or not study at all.

Based on the different responses that were identified, the study suggests that the MoE accreditation criteria does play a part in how some youth choose their major which can then impact their future careers. As a nation, we have to be as flexible as possible to nurture talent and respond to changing needs. While it is economically beneficial to continue attracting talent from across the world, it is just as important to cultivate the existing local talent who will play a pivotal role in what this country will look like in the decades to come. Investing in this talent can be done by breaking barriers to education and exposing the youth to new fields and opportunities. We need to expand the variety of degrees available in the country and provide more flexibility in the mode of study to recognize global distance learning programmes as a viable option, particularly with the successful advent of distance learning in local academic institutes. To be a successful educational hub, we need to expand the reach and upskill the local talent based on international market criteria.

Every individual has their own unique talents and skills that they can bring to the country. As Sheikh Mohammad said, to make this work we need to believe in the potential of our people to build the country. With the right opportunities and greater access to education, the local talent can lead the way in securing the UAE’s future in this global age.