Dubai: The number of students studying in Dubai International Academic City (DIAC) rose 20 per cent compared with the previous year.
In the 2014-2015 academic year, the total number of students studying in DIAC reached 24,065, with Heriot-Watt reaching the largest student population (4,778), followed by the University of Wollongong Dubai (3,363).
Students from 145 countries have chosen to study in DIAC, while UAE nationals now account for more than 10 per cent of the entire student population. Over the past three years, there has been a 129 per cent increase in students from Russia, a 45 per cent rise in Bahraini students enrolling, a 60 per cent rise in the number of Chinese students, and a 50 per cent increase in Filipino students that now study in UAE.
These increases can be directly attributed to a series of student recruitment and sourcing initiatives organised by DIAC in the last two years.
Compared to the 2013-2014 academic year, the number of students taking masters degrees this year increased 20 per cent and the number of students studying for doctorate degrees rose 12 per cent.
Students are increasingly seeking higher education options to enhance their skill sets and establish a career path due to the significant competition they experience as they enter the working world.
Commenting a day ahead of the Gulf Education and Training Exhibition (Getex) which opens on Wednesday (today) in Dubai, Dr Ayoub Kazim, Managing Director of DIAC, said, “The population of Dubai has increased significantly in recent years, along with rapid economic growth. As a result, we have witnessed a substantial growth in the number of international students choosing to study at one of our institutions due to the quality of training and prevalence of internationally recognised higher education options on offer here.”
Kazim said Dubai is continuing to attract international operators to establish a regional presence in Dubai thanks to the ease of market entry, absence of bureaucracy, and positive demographic and socioeconomic indicators.