In the UAE, the University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD) has taken a similar disciplined path to help take students from the classroom to legitimate boardroom influencers.

‘The Edge’ is UOWD’s new career readiness program, a UAE first combining scientific assessment, cutting-edge tools and hands-on mentoring to prepare students for future career paths.

MORE: Explore how ‘The Edge’ can change your world today! 

Free for all newly enrolled first-year students, The Edge uses tools from the world of business, coaching, psychometrics and behavioural science over a 12-month programme to boost student employability in an increasingly competitive job landscape.

The mentors involved in The Edge will bring expert knowledge in fields such as communication coaching, entrepreneurship, personal branding, human behaviour and personal objective setting, and assess their aptitude through scientific techniques, including psychometric testing and personality profiling.

UOWD Chief Operating Officer Andy Phillips says employers are looking for candidates who possess skills that go beyond the academic curriculum, such as critical thinking, problem-solving and soft skills. That’s where The Edge comes into its own.

“We are the first university in the region to introduce an innovative career readiness program that transcends the conventional aspects, such as CV preparation, interview techniques and internship placement, to equip its participants with skills and knowledge to navigate the evolving work environment,” Phillips said

“In addition to helping students find their career path, the unique program involves elements of self-discovery, mentorship and behavioural science – all of which are necessary for personal and professional growth. The Edge integrates into the students’ university timetables and requires an investment of only 30 hours from their side.”

The Edge has been embedded into the fabric of each degree at UOWD, and will be delivered over online sessions, on-campus workshops, coaching groups and webinars.

The program consists of four must-have pillars that are headed by six world-class experts: John Gage, behavioural expert and Founder of Agency People; serial entrepreneur Jon Duschinsky; voice, speech and communications coach Ausar Stewart; Nima Abu Wardeh, journalist and broadcaster of BBC World’s Middle East Business Report, and Oliver Blofeld and James Mullan, Managing Partners of Insight Media.

Speaking on the program, Gage said: “I’m very excited to be involved in The Edge – it’s an excellent program that will help this generation to truly fulfil its potential and give students insights about themselves and their professional lives that most people only realise in their 50’s or 60’s.

A key focus of the program is using scientifically recognised tests, such as the Thomas International Personal Profile Analysis to evaluate whether a student’s choice of degree matches their personality, allowing them to know if they’re on the right career path before they graduate.”

“Results from the pilot phase of the program suggest that students have found the reports very insightful and the discussion with the coaches extremely helpful,” said Gage.

The Edge also deep-dives into important themes, such as equality, diversity, inclusion and bias, empowering students to be their own spokespersons and agents of change and to advocate for themselves in today’s modern business environment.

UOWD is committed to making a significant contribution to the local higher education community by equipping its students with valuable knowledge and insights, reflecting the university’s ongoing pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, industry engagement and student experience.

For more information on The Edge, please click here.

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Where are we going with all this? If you hadn’t figured it out already, golf is hard. It’s why most of us dream of being touring professionals but fit snugly into the weekend warrior category. It also means most of us need gainful employment, something the University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD) is awfully good at helping the region’s higher education community achieve.

And if you like big data analysis and are looking for a bright business future, the UAE’s first international university has some exciting news.

UOWD is set to launch its new Master of Business Analytics program in January. Designed in consultation with SAS, a global leader in analytics, the new UOWD degree aims to help outgoing student graduates develop technical, analytical and decision-making skills that are critical in the modern global business environment.

The premises also house laboratories specialising in chemistry, thermodynamics, manufacturing, physics, robotics, media and communications, cybersecurity, networking and gaming, to name a few.

UOWD’s Master of Business Analytics degree is designed to empower professionals to develop critical thinking skills and to apply these to a modern international business environment. Upon graduation, students will be awarded the Statistical Analysis System (SAS) Business Analytics Joint Certificate and/or the Advanced Business Analytics Joint Certificate, preparing them for career paths ranging from quantitative analysts, hedge fund managers, management consultants to business analysts.

But are there corresponding careers in this strange new world in which we live?

The answer, according to a study published by ReportLinker, a professional search engine for economic and industry statistics, is an emphatic yes. ReportLinker estimate the global big data analytics market is expected to grow from US$12.8 billion in 2020 to US$23.5 billion by 2025, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 13 per cent.

The growing focus on digital transformation, as well as the increasing investment and demand for analytics in the current COVID-19 environment, are all expected to contribute to the uptake of business analytics by organisations of all sizes, especially since remote monitoring and enhanced safety protocols have become a significant part of the new normal.

“As organisations globally continue to invest in big data and artificial intelligence initiatives, the role of business analysts will become increasingly crucial,” said Professor Mohamed Salem, President of UOWD.

“The demand for qualified data scientists, data engineers, management consultants and quantitative analysts will also surge as they help analyse data, manage financial risk and help businesses make decisions that support their strategic growth.”

The new degree begins January 10 and students will be able to attend their classes in person at UOWD’s new ‘Campus of the Future’, where 100 percent in-class learning will be back in full.

UOWD opened the doors of its new state-of-the-art campus at Dubai Knowledge Park in August. The 200,000 square foot ‘Campus of the Future’ features modern architectural design that combines traditional and innovative learning spaces.

The campus includes dedicated learning and meeting rooms, small classrooms that can accommodate up to 40 students, large classrooms for up to 80 students, an exhibition space, a recruitment lounge, a student lounge, an ultramodern auditorium and a café. The premises also house laboratories specialising in chemistry, thermodynamics, manufacturing, physics, robotics, media and communications, cybersecurity, networking and gaming, to name a few.

Professor Mohamed Salem continued: “UOWD has a 27-year history of academic excellence in the UAE and is a leader in the regional tertiary education landscape. Our new campus embodies UOWD’s commitment to offering students the most advanced learning journey in the region, and reflects our passion for innovation in the field of higher education.

“As the world shifts towards blended learning and the digitalisation of the conventional education model, the launch of our new campus is particularly timely – incorporating traditional and modern teaching elements that are critical for today’s students to excel.”

If you are still to be convinced, consider one last piece of data: University of Wollongong (UOW) ranks among the leading one percent of universities in the world for the quality of its graduates and is a top 10 Australian university.

For further information on the program, please click here.

To enquire now, please click here.

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IN PARTNERSHIP: Engineers are the ultimate problem solvers, critical thinkers tasked with turning impossible dreams into brilliant reality for the betterment of the world. With a unique combination of mathematics, science, research, prototype development, design, maintenance and production, they literally keep the world functional. Indeed, they continually change the course of history.

Engineers design, manufacture and maintain almost everything – from computers, medical devices, spacecraft, cars, aeroplanes, trains and boats to corkscrews, buildings and chemical reactors. Human kind’s greatest achievement, sending a man to the moon, would not have been possible without an engineer.

In the UAE, society has benefitted incredibly from this ingenuity. Think our world-class infrastructure, futuristic skyscrapers or even the fact we can continue to inhabit a part of the world that is otherwise unfavourable with its extreme temperatures and lack of natural resources.

There is a vital link between a country’s engineering capacity and its economic development which makes engineers so critical to the UAE’s future development, not to mention the rest of the world.

Such era-defining people are moulded in schools that encourage learning, innovation and collaboration. Established in 1993, the University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD) is one such institution where the spirit of innovation, creativity and practical learning brings engineers, and transformational ideas, to life.

In the course of 12 years since the UOWD Engineering and Information Sciences department launched its first engineering program, the university has graduated 857 engineers and prepared them to aid the growth and development of the UAE and beyond.

Today, in a world looking forward to the new normal created by the global coronavirus pandemic, the challenges for innovators will be even more critical.   

“Considering that the world of work is evolving at an incredible pace with the integration of AI (Artificial Intelligence), machine learning and other Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies, it is critical to equip our graduates with skills to tackle the challenges of the 21st century,” said Professor Khalid Hussain, Dean, Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences.

“At UOWD, our specialisations include mechanical, civil, telecommunications, electrical and computer engineering. Fundamental to our approach is continued pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, industry engagement and student experience.”

The UOWD’s programs in Engineering and Information Sciences are designed to prepare curious young minds for global careers as Engineering Managers, Project Managers, Plant Managers, Security Specialists, Systems Analysts, Network Managers and Internet Architects, Video Game Developers, Cloud Architects, Cyber Security Specialists, Network Engineers, Structural Engineers, Mechanical Engineers, Data Scientists, Quantity Surveyors, Construction Engineers.

Engineering and Information Sciences Programs at UOWD:

• Bachelor of Computer Science
• Bachelor of Computer Science: Digital Systems Security
• Bachelor of Computer Science: Multimedia and Game Development
• Bachelor of Information Technology: Management Information Systems
• Bachelor of Engineering (majors in Electrical, Telecommunication, Computer, Civil and Mechanical Engineering)
• Master of Information Technology Management (MITM)
• Master of Engineering Management (MEM)

The UOWD’s Engineering and Information Sciences department gives priority to learning which combines theoretical knowledge with practical experience.

This is brought about through a dynamic curriculum which includes a rich bouquet of electives under every topic. Students are required to go through real-life situations by spending 12 weeks within an industry which gives them invaluable experience of linking theoretical knowledge with real-world situations.

“Such interactions also give students the opportunity to display their knowledge and skills which, if considered exemplary, could turn an internship into future employment in the same organisation,” said Professor Hussain.

WHY SHOULD I STUDY ENGINEERING AT UOWD?
A study by Harvard Business Review in 2018 found CEO’s with an engineering background were increasing in number across Fortune 500 companies.

At UOWD, engineering programs are aligned with national priorities – think the rescheduled (until next year) Expo 2020 and its legacy – yet are tailored to meet the demands of a global employment market. With the support of industry experts, it integrates real-world practices with existing theories thus ensuring its students are equipped to quickly address complex business problems.

With most of its faculties being research-active, UOWD supports their effort to encourage students by funding research grants. UOWD’s Bachelor of Engineering program thus prepares students for successful careers in industry, particularly the sectors dealing with infrastructures, energy, information technology and telecommunication.

UOWD has a job placement rate of 77 percent for undergraduate students and 85 percent of postgraduate students within six months of graduation. UOW is in the QS Top 50 under 50 ranking and top one percent ranking for graduate quality.

ESTEEMED FACULTIES
UOWD’s faculty members have played a prominent role in the journey of its establishment and growth. UOW Australia is a member of the Group of Eight (Go8) Deans of Engineering and Associates. This is in recognition of its having one of Australia’s best engineering teaching faculty who contribute regularly to international research discussions on the developments and directions of their respective fields. This gives students in Dubai the opportunity to engage in real-world case studies and research topics enabling them to excel in their careers.

“The staff of this university teach with the philosophy that students ought to apply theoretical knowledge to real-life situations thus ensuring the outcome helps them learn better,’ said Professor Hussain.

“With the faculty being of engineers, computer scientists and information technologists, students benefit the most by developing their capability to investigate and create smart systems that can solve society’s challenges among others, with respect to new energy resources, smart health systems and prosthesis, extended water supply and resources, and establishing smart cities infrastructure which reflects sustainability trends.”

EYEING THE FUTURE 
The faculty at UOWD has ambitious plans including expansion for both undergraduate and postgraduate programs in Engineering. Plans to introduce programs such as Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, and Advanced Computing for Professional are underway, while a new PhD program in Engineering, Computer Science and IT “is also on the anvil”.

PROFESSIONAL BODY ACCREDITATIONS
The Bachelor of Information Technology in Management Information Systems and the Bachelor of Computer Science program, including the two majors in Digital Systems Security and Multimedia and Game Development, are accredited by the Australian Computer Society (ACS).

UOWD’s Bachelor of Engineering degree, offering majors in Electrical, Telecommunication, Computer, Mechanical and Civil Engineering, has been professionally accredited by the Institute of Engineers Australia (IEAust), also known as Engineers Australia. Through the Washington Accord, courses accredited by Engineers Australia are recognised by equivalent professional Engineering authorities in the USA, UK, Japan, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa and other countries

NEW CAMPUS
The University of Wollongong Dubai currently shares a campus with several other universities and institutions but will soon move into a new, dedicated, 200,000 square foot campus building, also located in Dubai Knowledge Park.

The ultramodern facilities will enrich the UOWD’s teaching approach with flexible, technology-driven curricula matching the skill needs of Dubai Expo 2020 (rescheduled for 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic) and its legacy.

The premises house major laboratories dedicated to power and circuits systems, chemistry, thermodynamic, fluid and heat transfer, hydraulics, manufacturing, physics, robotics, geotechnics, concrete, media and communications, cybersecurity, networking and gaming.

The heart of the campus will belong to the UOWD library with collaborative learning spaces, traditional quiet reading and study zones, meeting rooms of varied sizes, as well as a student lounge designed as an informal learning space.

The campus will also include modern classrooms, an exhibition space, a recruitment lounge, a state-of-the-art auditorium and a café.

CHANGE YOUR LIFE TODAY
As the highest-ranked Australian university in the UAE with a track record of excellence spanning close to three decades, the UOWD currently boasts a roll of more than 3,500 students from 108 nationalities and a global community of 152,000 alumni. It is an ideal choice for overseas students looking for an internationally accredited degree close to home. UOWD also supports the visa process for non-resident students who wish to enrol in a full-time study program.

For more information on studying at UOWD and linking to this powerful network of global change-makers, visit: uowd.ac.ae

The post University of Wollongong in Dubai engineering a brighter future appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The University of Wollongong in Dubai offers high calibre undergraduate and postgraduate business degrees to prepare future leaders for positive contributions to their chosen profession, community and society.

IN PARTNERSHIP: More than 90 percent of employers surveyed by the AMBA (Association of MBAs) in 2016 said they would need employees emboldened with big data skills in the ensuing three years, graduates energised by new technologies and savvy in the art of digital marketing. The survey also critically found 89 percent of employers highlighted new leaders able to effectively manage stress as highly attractive.

Fast-forward to the new normal slowly emerging from the on-going global COVID-19 pandemic and employability and enriched career progression is set to become even more closely linked to quality, internationally accredited and recognised university education.

Step forward the University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD). Immersed in the ethos of world-class academic excellence and professionalism, UOWD stands tall as one of the finest business schools in the UAE.

Getty Images

Established in 1993, Dubai’s oldest private and most prestigious and accredited University offers 44 degrees across 10 industry sectors taught by a cohort of highly qualified academic staff, each holding PhD degrees and recognised as leaders in their fields of expertise. UOWD’s faculty members are active researchers, involved in research activities across 100 different fields.

UOWD is a dynamic and diverse institution offering a broad spectrum of programs in Business, Engineering, Information Sciences as well as Humanities, Social Sciences and Health.

All of the programs are aligned with UAE priorities yet tailored to meet the demands and needs of the global employment market.

The strong global and industry ties established by the UOWD’s faculty means access to industry experts, allowing the university to integrate real-world practices with theory, ensuring students are equipped to address complex business problems. Graduates have gone on to contribute to some of the world’s most trusted brands including Microsoft, GE, IBM, Deloitte, FedEx, 3M, Adidas, Amazon, Emirates, Etisalat, ADCB and Pepsico.

WHY UOWD?
The University of Wollongong (UOW) is consistently ranked in the top one percent of universities in the world for the quality of graduates, a position it maintained in the 2020 QS Graduate Employability Rankings. That means UOWD graduates are highly sought-after candidates, a double whammy given all degrees are linked to industry demand and global workforce planning requirements.

The UOWD has strong job placement rates for undergraduate students (77 percent) and postgraduate students (85 percent) within six months of graduation

“Our programs in Business are designed to prepare you for global careers,” said Professor Payyazhi Jayashree, Dean, Faculty of Business.

“From trading floors at the NY Stock Exchange to the start-up spaces in Silicon Valley, your business degree is a key to opening doors for myriad potential career paths such as Chief Financial Officer, CEO, HR Consultant, Recruitment Specialists, Investment Banker, Accountant, Public Relations Manager, Marketing Manager and many more.”

UOWD is continuously evolving, highlighted by recent collaborations with high-ranked global business schools to strengthen its global interconnectedness. UOWD is now aligned with the Munich Business Academy, with an objective for Master of Business (Innovation and Entrepreneurship) and Master of Business (International Business) students to participate in a boot-camp conducted by highly successful start-ups in Germany.

Indeed, all the subjects offered at the UOWD offer students the opportunity to engage in study trips abroad, real-time ‘Masterclasses’, and conference activities with senior executives and knowledge experts.

GLOBAL EXECUTIVE MASTER OF LUXURY MANAGEMENT
Launched recently in partnership with top Italian business school MIP Politecnico di Milano, the Global Executive Master of Luxury Management is one of the UOWD’s flagship programs.

The dual degree, which incorporates international study tours to luxury shopping capitals Milan, Paris and Geneva, is designed to empower professionals to evolve as luxury brand managers, fashion retail buyers, branding and PR specialists, creative directors, brand ambassadors and visual merchandising executives.

Professor Mohammed Salem, President of UOWD, said: “As a centre of tourism and a major luxury shopping destination, Dubai is considered one of the major hubs for young working professionals seeking to enter the luxury brand management field. Furthermore, the GCC market for luxury products and experiences is growing exponentially with high spending per capita and an informed target market that has the purchasing power to afford luxury goods.

“UOWD’s GEMLux program bridges the gap between luxury goods and business management. It is also a big draw for people who wish to deepen their knowledge of luxury management, and enhance their creative and managerial skills in the luxury goods and services sector.”

The Master of Business Administration is the first program at UOWD that features blended learning methods. Delivered in a condensed mode, with subjects being delivered over three weekends each semester, the core subjects are designed to engage students with industry leaders and networking opportunities.

The UOWD also offers several other Business Programs including the Master of Business (with six specialisations), Master of Quality Management, Master of Science (Logistics) and Master of Applied Finance (with three specialisations).

On the undergraduate level, the university offers Bachelor of Business Administration and the BCom degree programs (with six specialisations).

With a 27-year track record, the UOWD offers internationally-recognised degrees that are accredited by the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA), Australia’s independent national quality assurance and regulatory agency for higher education, the Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the UAE Ministry of Education – Higher Education Affairs, and licensed by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA). Several of the UOWD’s degree courses are formally recognised by international professional organisations including AACSB, ACCA, CIMA, CPA Australia, EFQM, CILT, CIM, CIPD, CIPS and AHRI.

NEW CAMPUS
The University of Wollongong in Dubai currently shares a campus with several other universities and institutions but will soon move into a new, dedicated, 200,000 square foot campus building, also located in Dubai Knowledge Park.

The ultramodern facilities will enrich the UOWD’s teaching approach with flexible, technology-driven curricula matching the skill needs of Dubai Expo 2020, rescheduled for 2021, and its legacy.

The premises house major laboratories dedicated to power and circuits systems, chemistry, thermodynamic, fluid and heat transfer, hydraulics, manufacturing, physics, robotics, geotechnics, concrete, media and communications, cybersecurity, networking and gaming.

The heart of the campus will belong to the UOWD library with collaborative learning spaces, traditional quiet reading and study zones, meeting rooms of varied sizes, as well as a student lounge designed as an informal learning space.

The campus will also include modern classrooms, an exhibition space, a recruitment lounge, a state-of-the-art auditorium and a café.

CHANGE YOUR LIFE TODAY
As the highest-ranked Australian university in the UAE, the UOWD currently boasts a roll of more than 3,500 students from 108 nationalities and a global community of 152,000 alumni. It is an ideal choice for overseas students looking for an internationally accredited degree close to home. UOWD also supports the visa process for non-resident students who wish to enrol in a full-time study program.

For more information on studying at UOWD and linking to this powerful network of global change-makers, visit: uowdubai.ac.ae

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