Job Discussion Forums

[dunteslin]

Regular observers of the RAK education scene would have been gobsmacked to read the article in 'The National' a couple of days ago.
("RAK to improve education image" 'The National' Aug. 14th.)

True, RAK desperately needs to improve its image. After the George Mason fiasco, when a group of Arabs and Indians tried to hijack the name and reputation of a US accredited university, something needed to be done. The follow-on institution, the deceitfully styled 'American University of RAK'--there is nothing remotely 'American' about it--is run by the same gang of Free Zone cowboys. The article was accompanied by a photo of the new 'president' of AURAK. And good heavens; this is the same Indian who was dismissed by GMU for incompetent administration of the RAK campus.

If monitoring of colleges in RAK is going to depend on people with no academic credibility, then the lunatics really have taken over the asylum!

[dunteslin]

By way of an update on the situation, see an article in 'The National' dated 14th. October 2011, headed "Emirati takes over helm at struggling university". They sacked the Indian president of the 'American' university, and sent him back home. Maybe there is a genuine attempt afoot to raise academic standards. But there is still a long, long way to go. Watch this space, but don't hold your breath.

[It's Scary!]

It would be EXCELLENT if hyperlinks were provided!

It's the least that could be done!

[2buckets]

http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/emirati-takes-over-helm-at-struggling-universityhttp://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/emirati-takes-over-helm-at-struggling-university

[willynilly]

I think the article in question has been removed from the website! Makes you wonder! Anyway it was in the newspaper edition on Oct 14th. This University is obviously a failure and this sacking is unlikely to change anything.

[2buckets]

It was there an hour ago, in the wind now.

But wait, heh, heh, heh.....

They can't fool me.

Emirati takes over helm at struggling university
Melanie Swan

Oct 14, 2011
RAS AL KHAIMAH // The president of the struggling American University of Ras Al Khaimah (Aurak) has been replaced with a respected Emirati academic.

Dr Shaukat Mirza was relieved of his position, and left the country last week after just over a year in the job. He took over in June of last year from Dr Sharon Siverts.

Dr Mirza has been replaced by Prof Hassan Hamdan Al Alkim, formerly of UAE University, who has been given the task of reinventing the institution.

For now, Prof Al Alkim will juggle that role with his position as head of the Economic Department of the RAK Government. But that is a challenge he relishes.

"It's a very exciting opportunity," he said on his appointment in August.

Dr Mirza, who was seconded from the RAK Medical and Health Sciences University, is now home in India.

He said yesterday he was unaware of any specific incident that had triggered his dismissal.

Sheikh Saud bin Saqr, Ruler of RAK, has ordered a board of academics to compile standards to make the education system in RAK more uniform and creditable.

Dr Natasha Ridge, the head of research at the Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research, said Prof Alkim was a welcome addition to RAK's educational landscape, which is largely populated by unregulated free-zone universities.

"It'll be a big difference for Aurak having an Emirati," Dr Ridge said. "He really does care and is trying to build relationships with US universities, increase enrolment and raise funds, so that it's a more sustainable institution in the long term. It's a positive step."


The university's short life has been far from easy. Set up as a branch campus of George Mason University in the US, it was forced to close in 2009 after only three years because of a lack of funding.

In June last year, about three quarters of Aurak's staff, including its directors, were made redundant, leaving students and remaining staff uncertain of their future.

Inspectors from the Commission for Academic Accreditation, part of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, visited the university to monitor the situation several times after the dismissals.

Prof Ian Cumbus, who heads the commission, said he no longer had concerns.

"We are not involved in these decisions but nothing has changed from our point of view," he said.

Prof Al Alkim plans to revive the connection with George Mason University, using it and other institutions such as California and Arizona state universities as benchmarks to improve the university's standards and offerings, academically and socially.

He will also look to UAE University, where he was a professor of political science, and its system of grading and attendance monitors.

"We are also doing a comprehensive analysis of our faculty's salary scales," Prof Al Alkim said. "We'd like to close the gap so we can attract high-level academics."

The next step will be to hire a provost, who will be charged with setting up new undergraduate degrees in civil engineering, English translation and accounting. In time, Prof Al Alkim hopes to offer master's degrees.

RAK's private universities still struggle to attract students. Aurak has fewer than 200, with many more drawn to Dubai's 53 institutions and diverse social life.

Next door, the branch campus of the UK's University of Bolton also has about 200.

The emirate's biggest provider of higher education remains the federal Higher Colleges of Technology, which has 2,000 Emirati students - 1,400 women and 600 men.

Prof Al Alkim admits recruitment is a big challenge.

"We are present at the university fairs reaching out to students and are going to upgrade the campus," he said.

"We will be adding facilities like sports facilities and even looking to open a new campus on Emirates Road in time, too, to make this a more appealing place for students."

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[Badar Bin Bada Boom]

International higher education--an ill-conceived notion for RAK altogether, since Dubai is a mere 50 minutes down the expressway. Not many would settle for RAK even if living there.

I know--many people are scared to death by the concept of Dubai traffic, but it's not the end of the world if you find yourself in rush hour there. Besides, even sitting in your car in Dubai is better than being in Ras al Khaimah. Choosing Abu Dhabi I can understand.

[Eisenhorn]

Inquiring minds want to know why Melanie Swan of the National and a staff photographer were in and out of RAK HCT this week....

[2buckets]

Probably threatening them with deportation if they don't shut up.

[hurricane]

still there:

http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/emirati-takes-over-helm-at-struggling-university

[dunteslin]

The real question that needs to be addressed in RAK and its FreeZone is a very basic one of honesty or deceit.

1. Why is the 'American University of RAK' largely staffed and administered by Indians and Arabs? Sure, some of them may have acquired degrees, and in some cases citizenship, in the USA. It is, however, basically an Indian operation trying to pass itself off as something which it clearly is not.

2. The (British) University of Bolton, RAK campus. Google up the staff list. There is not a recognisably British name on the list. Surely someone must have wondered about this. But there again Bolton Uni. is either the bottom, or close to the bottom, of the prestige list of British universities. The RAK attitude seems to be--who cares if we can get away with it and no-one notices.

3. The grandly named 'Royal College of Applied Science and Technology'; not to be confused with the prestigious British institution, the Royal College of Science and Technology. Google up the staff and academic contacts, and everything about this RAK Freezone outfit traces back to India. Which Royalty is patronising this place? If none, then why the name, if there is no intention to deceive or create confusion? They used to have--and may well still have--prominently displayed signs claiming 'international accreditation'. They were advertising medical degrees through the University of the Seychelles, and its 'American Institute of Medicine'. What price accreditation if it comes out of places such as the Seychelles!