GCC EDUCATION ECOSYSTEMS: A BRIEF OVERVIEW
Education is among the most important pillars to develop a sustainable environmental, and for economic and social development. As the Gulf Cooperation Countries look to diversify their economy and expand into a wide range of segments, the need for educated and skilled workforce is critical.
Data shows nearly 22 per cent of the population under the age of 24 years is residing in the GCC and the entire region is set to transition into their most productive years soon. A World Economic Forum Report says education and work in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region will determine the livelihoods of over 300 million people and drive growth and development for generations to come.
Home to one of the youngest populations in the world, the GCC nations need to actively align their future goals with education strategy and investment in a future-ready generation.
A recent PwC survey says, “Young people entering the workforce in the MENA region are faced with one of the highest youth unemployment rates globally at around 30 per cent, a rate that has been worsening since 2012, particularly for young women.” Corporates too are questioning if the students passing out have the right skills for employment.
Today, education providers in the GCC states are grappling with fast-paced policy changes, recurring curriculum upgrades, upskilling teachers and advancing research in a web of challenges such as funding, student demands, and the ability to attract and retain top research and teaching talent.
- “Education providers in the six GCC states are grappling with fastpaced policy changes, recurring curriculum upgrades, upskilling teachers and advancing research”
GCC Education Report 2020 takes a look
at the current structure and challenges
faced by the Gulf nations. It also looks at
the public and private players, innovation,
emerging trends, key players and the
future of this sector.
Let us first take a look at the education
spending of the GCC states and how their
overall vision is aligned to this critical human
development index.
United Arab Emirates
In its 2019 Federal budget, the UAE
allocated AED 10.25 billion or 17 per
cent out of AED 60.3 billion to education
development. In 2020, the state increased
that spending to AED 10.4 billion, implying
its continued focus on the sector.
Under its Vision 2021, UAE aims to see
Emirati students rank among the best in the
world. The country has also developed key
performance indicators to realise a ‹First-
Rate Education System.
The UAE Cabinet recently also established
an Education Support Fund to encourage
partnerships with the private sector
and ensure sustainability of educational development programmes. The Ministerial
Development Council is also currently
reviewing a proposal for the preparation
of a federal law on Higher Education,
along with a number of other resolutions,
initiatives and reports related to the
government and the improvement of the
institutions’ performance in various sectors
in the Federal Government.
Saudi Arabia
A fundamental part of Saudi Vision 2030
program, which aims to build a thriving
economy, is to improve the access and
quality of education. Nearly 70 per cent
of the Kingdom’s population is under 30
years old, making education and future job
creation a crucial aspect.
The Kingdom, recognising the importance
of investing in skilled generation, has
allocated 193 billion Riyals or 16 per cent of
its annual budget in 2020.
Traditionally, Saudi has been the biggest
market for education services in the GCC
region especially in the K-12 segment.
Several new private players have been
entering the space in recent times.
Keeping up with the global trends, the
country’s education system is also trying to
move away from theoretical syllabus and
gearing towards meeting the demands of
the modern jobs market. Several community
colleges are being now converted in to
vocational training institutes.
The three chief organisations that oversee
the operations of education market are the
Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Higher
Education, and the Technical and Vocational
Training Corporation.
Oman
The Gulf nation allocated a total of 40
per cent of its annual public spending
to education, healthcare, housing and
social welfare in 2020 Budget. World
Bank data suggest that the country spent
6.8492 per cent of its total GDP on
education in 2017. The exact spending
on education hasn’t been revealed by
the nation. However, National Centre
for Statistics and Information (NCSI)
claimed in 2018 that the Sultanate’s
spending on primary and secondary
education has gone up by 130 per cent
over the last decade amid an increase in
the number of students and teachers.
As the Sultanate undergoes a transitional
period of moving away from an oildependent
economy to diversification,
educational reforms become critical.
Under Oman’s National Strategy for
Education 2040, a National Training Fund
has been established to bridge the skills
gap between education and job market
needs through human capacity-building,
and as part of the government’s policy to
enhance the skills of Omani job-seekers.
Bahrain
In Bahrain, the education sector has largely
benefitted from an expansion system where
the rising number of school, universities and
institutes target improving the quality across
all levels. Unlike its other GCC counterparts,
Bahrain doesn’t spend much on education.
In 2017, the country spent 2.3272 per cent
of total GDP on education, as per World
Bank data.
Despite this, Bahrain has a high literacy
rate of 95.7 per cent and also the highest
female literacy rate of 93.5 per cent in the
Arabian Peninsula. However, the country
faces a gender disparity at the K-12 level
along with a mismatch between job market
requirements and skills offered.
Investment in education sector has been
steadily rising in this country with a growing
demand for private systems. Last decade
saw many private and foreign players
enter the domain from nursery level to
postgraduate study including British
University of Bahrain and the American
University of Bahrain.
Bahrain is looking to do more to create and
nurture a culture of innovative research
that could, in turn, create new employment
opportunities for the Kingdom’s residents in
a variety of enterprises.
Kuwait
New Kuwait 2035 plan prioritises education
reform and revitalisation as an important
policy pillar. In 2018-19, the country
allocated KD 2.2 billion to its Ministry of
Education, up 22 per cent from the KD 1.8
billion in 2017-18. Education spending
accounted for 11 per cent of the total annual
budget of KD 20 billion in 2019.
Kuwait has adopted a two-pronged policy
to reform education system: firstly, by
introducing changes at public sector to
improve national standards of teaching
and student assessment; and secondly,
allowing privatisation in education sector
to meet the increasing demand for high
quality education.
According to a Ken research study,
Kuwait’s education market is expected
to cross KD 917 million by 2022 as
more private players enter the space
with increasing tie-ups between the
government universities. This shall be an
emerging trend in Kuwait’s K-12, higher
education and e-learning markets.
There is also a focus on enhancing
vocational skills in Kuwaitis, who
are expected to replace the expat
workforce. As a result, training and
technical institutions are witnessing
tremendous expansion.
GCC EDUCATION MARKET STILL A Magnet for Investors?
Middle East education market is expected to grow with a Compound
annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10 per cent from 2018 to 2023, with
Saudi Arabia anticipated to have the highest share, followed by the
UAE. The private education segment is expected to occupy the top
position in Middle East education market.
A study by Boston Consulting Group
(BCG), says the GCC K-12 private education
market will touch $26 billion by 2023,
offering excellent investment opportunities.
Some of the key factors that make the
region’s K-12 opportunity highly attractive
are favourable government regulatory
environments, affordability of quality
education and thriving local and expat
populations.
Across the GCC, the private education
market is becoming a magnet for investors,
and rightly so, as it is expected to double
over the next five years.
Despite the fact that strong growth has been
predicted across the region, investors must
fine-tune their strategies to account for the
shifting circumstances before committing to
an investment opportunity.
With several emerging factors such as
penetration of internet and digital setups,
rise of working executives, the online
education or e-learning markets expected
to expand at a CAGR of 15.2 per cent from
2016 to 2023.
The UAE is expected to lead the online
edumarket with a large presence of private
players i.e. 65 per cent in the Middle-East.
Saudi Arabia will also show a rapid growth
due to governmental initiatives in education
sector to improve the quality of education
by adopting online education and e-learning.
MAINTAINING Education Standards: The GCC Solution
Emphasising on education quality, standards and proper
accreditation can be the key in retaining talent in within the GCC
market. A recent study by McKinsey points out that attracting and
retaining the best people will be one of the key drivers for economy
and business growth in 2020.
The overall demand for education remains
healthy in the entire GCC region. But
maintaining standard is becoming a critical
issue for all the nations.
Some of the challenges faced by the
industry are shortage of skilled teachers,
which is expected to worsen with higher
number of new schools opening in 2020,
increased cost of operations, and bridging
the gap between recent graduates and job
skills required by the market.
Apart from regular school and universitylevel
accreditation, GCC countries are
coming up with their own ways to maintain
the standard of education.
The UAE, for instance, is focusing on
a new federal law on Higher Education
to adjudge the improvement of the
institutions’ performance. The Ministerial
Development Council, which is reviewing
the proposal, is targeting to develop
the legislative frameworks for higher
education institutions which enhances their
performance and quality. The proposed law
will give local entities regulating education
sector “the flexibility to implement their
role, in such a way as to achieve the
desired complementarity in roles and
requirements and to enhance coordination
between federal and local authorities
responsible for higher education.”
It further aims to improve educational
systems to keep up with societal changes
and exponential technologies and to
enhance its quality and competitiveness.
The law also aims to encourage
scientific research, ensure institute’s
effective governance and management in
accordance with quality criteria of systems
and programmes. It also stresses on the
importance of applying uniform criteria
for academic degrees classification and
requirements for obtaining them.
Similarly, Saudi is focusing on providing fair
and high-quality educational opportunities
from an early age, and on internationalising
children’s education. The Kingdom’s
latest policies include ensuring equitable
and comprehensive provision of quality
education, improving the quality of
teaching and learning, increasing funding
for education and innovating its use. The
country’s Education Evaluation Commission
has prioritised national tests, in line
with international exams, to standardise
education in line with the rest of the world.
These tests will also provide an accurate
evaluation of the teaching standards and
students’ learning capacity, critical to
determining strengths and weaknesses in
the curricula. Gulf countries are trying to
address the issue of producing skilled labour
by increasing the number of vocational
training ceneres and nationalisation drives of
individual governments to increase the share
of locals in the private sector.
TOP RANKING INSTITUTES
- King Abdulaziz University (KAU), Saudi Arabia
- King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), Saudi Arabia
- American University in the Middle East, Kuwait
- Khalifa University of Science and Technology, United Arab Emirates
- United Arab Emirates University, UAE
- King Saud University (KSU), Saudi Arabia
- King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Saudi Arabia
- American University of Sharjah, UAE
- Sultan Qaboos University, Oman
- King Khalid University, Saudi Arabia
- Umm Al-Qura University, Saudi Arabia
- Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University (IAU) (formerly UNIVERSITY OF DAMMAM), Saudi Arabia
- American University in Dubai, UAE
- University of Sharjah, UAE
- Zayed University, UAE
- Abu Dhabi University, UAE
- Ajman University, UAE
- King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia
- University of Bahrain, Bahrain
- Kuwait University, Kuwait
RISE OF AI EDUCATION
With every passing day, artificial intelligence or AI is becoming an
important aspect in every facet of our lives. Stanford University’s
recent study shows more and more students are enrolling in
introductory AI and machine learning classes. LinkedIn’s 2020
Emerging Jobs Report also puts ‘Artificial Intelligence Specialist’ as
the top ranking emerging job, with 74 per cent annual growth over the
past four years.
As AI and machine learning become more
popular, the need for dedicated courses in
school and colleges will only increase. Skills
unique to the AI-related roles are Machine
Learning, Deep Learning, TensorFlow,
Python and Natural Language Processing.
“Artificial Intelligence and Machine
Learning have both become synonymous
with innovation, and our data shows that’s
more than just buzz,” says LinkedIn.
“Hiring growth for this role has grown 74
per cent annually in the past 4 years and
encompasses a few different titles within
the space that all have a very specific set of
skills despite being spread across industries,
including artificial intelligence and machine
learning engineer,” it adds.
Preparing its next generation for the future,
Abu Dhabi launched the world’s first
graduate-level AI university.
The Mohamed bin Zayed University of
Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) in Abu
Dhabi, is a research-based academic
institution that offers specialised degree
programmes for local and international
students in the field of Artificial
Intelligence. The university aims to
support the advancement of scientific
research, development, transfer, and
use of Artificial Intelligence through
the introduction of MSc and Ph.D.
programmes that allow students to fulfill
their intellectual potential in a state-of-theart
environment.
Named after His Highness Sheikh
Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown
Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme
Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, the
AI university will introduce a new model
of academia and research to the field of
Artificial Intelligence. The establishment
promises to provide students and faculty
members with access to some of the
world›s most advanced AI systems in
existence.
The courses currently on offer at
MBZUAI are:
- PhD in Computer Vision
- PhD in Machine Learning
- MSc in Computer Vision
- MSc in Machine Learning
In less than two weeks after the university’s launch was announced, MBZUAI received over 3,200 applications. All admitted students will get full scholarship, along with benefits such as a monthly allowance, health insurance and accommodation. There will also be partnerships with international and local firms to secure internships and help in jobs searches.
The university will open for students from September 2020. The launch of the world’s first AI university has caught international media attention, with many calling it a “milestone”. This future-ready approach of the UAE government has made sure that both the people of Emirates and GCC region as a whole are ready for tomorrow.
UNIVERSITY OF STRATHCLYDE
Founded in 1948, Strathclyde Business
School is a socially progressive academic
organisation within a leading international
technological university. We are currently
ranked in top 95 European Business School
2019 by Financial Times.
Strathclyde Business School is one of an
elite group of business schools which hold
triple international accreditation (AMBA,
EQUIS and AACSB), and the Strathclyde
MBA programme is also accredited by
the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and
Scientific Research (CAA).
Throughout the course of its history,
Strathclyde Business School’s pioneering
and innovative outlook has led to a number
of firsts including being the first UK B-school
to offer a one year full-time MBA programme
in 1966, and the first to offer a part-time
MBA programme at its international centres
(launched in South-East Asia in 1988).
The Strathclyde Executive MBA is offered
at seven international centres; Dubai,
Oman, Bahrain, Singapore, Malaysia,
Greece and Switzerland and is taught part
time over two years. With the exception
of the mode of study, it is identical to the
full-time MBA in the UK – the same entry
criteria, programme content, assessment
and core learning materials, and it is
taught by the same Strathclyde academics
who teach in Glasgow.
Teaching and learning is highly experiential
and based on collaboration and teamwork.
Through class discussions, presentations
and group assignments, students share
their varied work experiences, knowledge,
understanding and skills.”
A particular strength of the programme is
strategic management with three interrelated
courses that culminate in a three-day
Strategic Consulting in Practice workshop,
where students undertake a real-life strategy
assignment for a client. There are also
options for international study.
With a wide range of specialist departments
in the business school, Strathclyde offers
over 20 different electives, and students can
opt to take elective subjects at the Summer
School in Glasgow or at any of the school’s
international centres.
The Strathclyde MBA is a generalist MBA
and students can expect to graduate with
a broad understanding of the fundamentals
of business and management issues,
advanced management skills and
techniques, self-awareness as a manager
and leader and with increased confidence
in all areas of business.
A FUTURE FOR EDUCATORS: HOW TO RETAIN TALENT
As universities across the GCC move ahead with the times, one of
the main challenges they face is equipping the teachers to meet the
challenges of the new curriculum.
A research conducted by the Knowledge
and Human Development Authority (KHDA)
revealed that almost half of school staff in
Dubai admit they are only ‘just getting by’
while one in five pupils do not feel satisfied.
The survey took into account views of over
13,522 staff members, from principals and
teachers to assistants and support staff,
across 181 schools.
The survey further found that 43 per cent
of adults in schools were just getting by or
just functionin›, with five per cent conceding
they were struggling. There was an age
divide, with older members of staff, in the
55 and over group, happier than those aged
24 to 54.
The challenges faced by the teachers include
lack of adequate opportunities to learn,
grow and develop professionally. Similar
issues were also found at higher education
level, where educators grapple with career
progress and other challenges. Schools
and universities are coming up with their
own methods to cope with these issues.
Murdoch University Dubai, located at the
heart of the Dubai International
Academic City, claims to
constantly reinvent itself,
implementing a continuous cycle
of professional development for
the teaching staff, to keep up
with the changing times.
A large cohort of the university’s
teaching staff are completing
the Learning and Teaching
Certificate, which leads to
fellowship status with Advance
HE in the UK. The university
is also offering full-tuition
scholarships for PhD studies
(for full-time teaching staff).
The varsity also has a continuous cycle of
professional development for teaching staff.
The Murdoch Dubai Learning and Teaching
Committee, composed of teaching staff from
Dubai, provides support and workshops
available to all teaching staff.
Saudi Arabia too is pushing for improving
the quality of teaching and learning,
increasing funding for education and
innovating its use. In July 2019, the
Kingdom introduced a teacher certification
license along with a new salary structure
which is obtainable if an individual passes
certain criterion as well as the exam for
the license. This system aims to raise the
standards of the country’s educational
system and uplift teachers who are at the
core of the education system.
The shortage of teachers in the region is
among the highest in the world. Studies say
international schools in the UAE will need
over 14,000 teachers over the next three
years while Saudi needs 183,600 teachers
by 2030. Lack of qualified educators will
pose further problems.
THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER MIDDLE EAST CENTRE
The University of Manchester launched
the Middle East Centre and the flagship
Manchester Global part-time MBA
programme, at Dubai Knowledge Park,
United Arab Emirates, in 2006. Today,
the Middle East Centre is the largest
and fastest growing in the University’s
international network of centres in key
cities around the world, comprising
Dubai, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore
and Manchester.
Since 2006, the centre has supported
over 2,700 part-time MBA students – all
highly qualified and experienced working
professionals - and developed a community
of 2,700 alumni across the region,
creating professional networking and other
opportunities in collaboration with the
wider business community to help enrich
the learning experience. The centre has
graduated around 1,700 MBA students.
The University of Manchester was the
winner of the ‘Best MBA Program’ award
at the inaugural Forbes Middle East Higher
Education Awards 2019, and was awarded
a 5-star overall rating in the Knowledge
& Human Development Authority’s
new classification of higher education
institutions in Dubai.
The University also continues to move
higher in a range of recent ranking
announcements, confirming its status as
one of the world’s top universities, focusing
on the quality of teaching, research
and social responsibility. The QS World
University Ranking now lists Manchester as
the world’s 27th best university and among
the very top global institutions.
In the Middle East, the University has
managed a flexible and dynamic portfolio
of learning programmes that is reviewed
regularly and the university is committed
to creating access to world-class blended
learning opportunities designed to meet
the needs of working professionals. In
2020, the centre will launch new part-time
Masters programmes in Real Estate, and
Educational Leadership in Practice.
The Middle East Centre works in a range
of collaborations with professional bodies
and industry groups in the region and
has forged close partnerships with a
range of leading public and private sector
organisations through the University’s
Strategic Talent Partnership programme.
SORBONNE UNIVERSITY ABU DHABI
With stunning architecture and a rich
history dating back to the 13th century,
Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi is a
multidisciplinary university that attracts
high-calibre students from the UAE and
around the world.
SUAD offers world-class, globally
recognised and UAE accredited French
degrees that cover a spectrum of
disciplines specialising in sciences,
humanities, languages, law and
economics degrees to address local and
global job market demands.
To date, we have educated over 2000
graduates from more than 90 countries,
while developing a reputation for academic
excellence and innovation.
To ensure quality, we maintain small
classes, enabling us to tailor our teaching
methods to individual styles of learning.
We also bring our faculty from Sorbonne
University in Paris, guaranteeing the same
excellent teaching standards as our parent
institution. In addition, our admissions
process is highly selective, ensuring that
individual talent benefits from collective
excellence.
We offer Foundation Year programmes in
Intensive French and Sciences, in addition
to 5 executive education programmes,
10 undergraduate and 12 postgraduate
degree programmes. Programmes are
offered in French, English and Arabic.
A number of scholarships, preferential rates
and corporate discounts on tuition fees are
available to UAE citizens, residents of the
UAE and international students.
Newly appointed Vice Chancellor,
Professor Silvia Serrano said, “I am
honoured and delighted to join Sorbonne
University Abu Dhabi as Executive
Director, and look forward to supporting
the scientific and academic advancement
of Abu Dhabi, the UAE, the Gulf region and
the Arab world.”
She added, “I feel proud to take on the
tasks of managing a university that is
distinguished by its leading reputation and
academic standing. Sorbonne University
Abu Dhabi’s ability to offer varied areas
of specialisations that serve sustainable
development and the national economy
of the UAE and the rest of the world is
unparalleled, and I will continue my efforts
to achieve success for the university
and create tremendous opportunities for
students to obtain a quality education.”