Dubai’s student visa system be more flexible
If Dubai has to emerge as an international educational hub, its visa system has to be more flexible to allow students from all ages to come and study in Dubai, Dr Abdulla Al Karam, chairman of the Board of Directors and director general of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), has said.
In an exclusive interview with Khaleej Times, Dr. Al Karam said: “We need to sort out the student visa system. It should be made more flexible to attract students of different ages. Presently, the student visa system has age limitations and it should be changed.”
For universities in the UAE’s free zones, once a student is accepted, the visa is granted for one year and is renewable till he/she finishes the studies. Also, student visas can be sought only up to the age of 25 years.
Citing the example of the US, Dr. Al Karam pointed out how the American visa system catered to students of different ages. “Dubai’s student visa system should change according to the industry requirements. We have to look at the legislative side by introducing new visa types. We want to make Dubai a destination for education. By the year 2015, we want to attract as many as 50, 000 students to join our colleges,” he emphasised, adding that more universities needed to come in to Dubai.
As of now, there are about 20, 000 students studying in Dubai’s universities and there are some 16 universities in the Dubai Knowledge Village.
The fundamental issue, Dr. Al Karam pointed out, is the need for linkage between education and industry. “Engagement with the industry is necessary. Our role is of a quality assurance body and we need to ensure quality both inside and outside the free zones,” he maintained.
With Dubai Knowledge Village positioning itself as a Human Resources Development and Human Resources Management training provider, Dr. Al Karam said KHDA would regulate the quality of these institutes.
Touching upon the issue of teachers, Dr. Al Karam said it was imperative that the financial and the overall status of teachers be enhanced. “There would be a system in place to audit teachers continuously, where they would be certified and licensed, besides being remunerated in accordance with their performance,” he added. Source
In an exclusive interview with Khaleej Times, Dr. Al Karam said: “We need to sort out the student visa system. It should be made more flexible to attract students of different ages. Presently, the student visa system has age limitations and it should be changed.”
For universities in the UAE’s free zones, once a student is accepted, the visa is granted for one year and is renewable till he/she finishes the studies. Also, student visas can be sought only up to the age of 25 years.
Citing the example of the US, Dr. Al Karam pointed out how the American visa system catered to students of different ages. “Dubai’s student visa system should change according to the industry requirements. We have to look at the legislative side by introducing new visa types. We want to make Dubai a destination for education. By the year 2015, we want to attract as many as 50, 000 students to join our colleges,” he emphasised, adding that more universities needed to come in to Dubai.
As of now, there are about 20, 000 students studying in Dubai’s universities and there are some 16 universities in the Dubai Knowledge Village.
The fundamental issue, Dr. Al Karam pointed out, is the need for linkage between education and industry. “Engagement with the industry is necessary. Our role is of a quality assurance body and we need to ensure quality both inside and outside the free zones,” he maintained.
With Dubai Knowledge Village positioning itself as a Human Resources Development and Human Resources Management training provider, Dr. Al Karam said KHDA would regulate the quality of these institutes.
Touching upon the issue of teachers, Dr. Al Karam said it was imperative that the financial and the overall status of teachers be enhanced. “There would be a system in place to audit teachers continuously, where they would be certified and licensed, besides being remunerated in accordance with their performance,” he added. Source
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