Flexible education can only be a good thing for the UAE



My father was bright and motivated enough to take full advantage of the educational opportunities that began to become available to Emirati citizens in the 1970s. After receiving his bachelor's in Cairo and working for a few years in Abu Dhabi, he and my mother received scholarships from the government to hone their English-language skills and pursue their master's in the US.

The provisions of the scholarship ensured they could bring the entire family along.

We were all whisked away to California, where I was to get my first taste of the American education system at the elementary level, while my parents received a more concentrated dose pursuing their theses.

Some of my recollections of American schools include creative art classes, taking care of the classroom hamster and smiley stickers next to my name on the board. All were a world away when I returned to a private school in Sharjah, replaced by dull science classes, taking care to avoid corporal punishment and scowling teachers placing your name on a detention board.

So when my father scooped up the whole family once again in pursuit of his PhD, in England this time, I thought I had been rescued.

Wishful thinking.

The scowling teachers, their physical discipline and their drab teaching styles were still present, only changing in appearance.

My father didn’t have it much better at the doctorate level, where his graduation was delayed a whole year by one board member who did not like his dissertation.

When he did finally receive his PhD in journalism, his first order of business on returning was to write an article negatively comparing the British education system with the American – an opinion I wholeheartedly shared after my secondary education experience.

To make certain that future students were aware of what they were signing up for, the Ministry of Higher Education displayed my father’s article in their offices for an extended period of time, no doubt influencing a few decisions.

Being his eldest son, I had no say in the matter, and would have picked a return to the far West even if I did.

The ability to delay choosing an emphasis of study until the end of the second year, the more diverse curriculum and the easier access to professors convinced not only me but also an increasing number of British students to choose the US higher education model of the UK’s.

Another aspect that still attracts me to the US model is the presence of mature (as in returning) students, such as myself, on campuses across the states.

A wider age range in the class brings added depth in diversity and experience that can only benefit the students.

Many working Emiratis are now returning to receive their diplomas, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees at public universities based on the US system. As opposed to many nations which are flooded with degree holders who are increasingly unemployed and overqualified, UAE citizens are encouraged to and rewarded for receiving additional education.

Furthermore, UAE public and private universities based on the American system are increasingly attracting students from around the world and turning the country into a regional educational hub.

A system with greater choices and more flexibility has and will continue to improve and expand education in the region.

Thamer Al Subaihi is a reporter at The National and a returning Emirati who grew up largely in the US

tsubaihi@thenational.ae

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Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Developer: Treyarch, Raven Software
Publisher:  Activision
Console: PlayStation 4 & 5, Windows, Xbox One & Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5

The specs
 
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
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The Bio

Hometown: Bogota, Colombia
Favourite place to relax in UAE: the desert around Al Mleiha in Sharjah or the eastern mangroves in Abu Dhabi
The one book everyone should read: 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It will make your mind fly
Favourite documentary: Chasing Coral by Jeff Orlowski. It's a good reality check about one of the most valued ecosystems for humanity

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
Based: Dubai, UAE
 
Sector: Entertainment 
 
Number of staff: 210 
 
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)

Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits

Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine

Storage: 128/256/512GB

Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4

Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR 4, full-HD @ 25/30/60fps

Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID

Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight

In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter

Price: From Dh2,099

Moon Music

Artist: Coldplay

Label: Parlophone/Atlantic

Number of tracks: 10

Rating: 3/5

MATCH INFO

Brescia 1 (Skrinia og, 76)

Inter Milan 2 (Martinez 33, Lukaku 63)

 

How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

SPECS

Engine: Two-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 235hp
Torque: 350Nm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Price: From Dh167,500 ($45,000)
On sale: Now

If you go...

Fly from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai in Thailand, via Bangkok, before taking a five-hour bus ride across the Laos border to Huay Xai. The land border crossing at Huay Xai is a well-trodden route, meaning entry is swift, though travellers should be aware of visa requirements for both countries.

Flights from Dubai start at Dh4,000 return with Emirates, while Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi start at Dh2,000. Local buses can be booked in Chiang Mai from around Dh50

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Leaderboard

63 - Mike Lorenzo-Vera (FRA)

64 - Rory McIlroy (NIR)

66 - Jon Rahm (ESP)

67 - Tom Lewis (ENG), Tommy Fleetwood (ENG)

68 - Rafael Cabrera-Bello (ESP), Marcus Kinhult (SWE)

69 - Justin Rose (ENG), Thomas Detry (BEL), Francesco Molinari (ITA), Danny Willett (ENG), Li Haotong (CHN), Matthias Schwab (AUT)

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4