RAS AL KHAIMAH // The emirate’s free zone is trying to clean up its reputation as the “Wild West” by setting tough new standards for educational institutions that operate there.
Seda Mansour, the academies director for one of the emirate’s three free zones, is assigned with making RAK a credible education destination. She said new institutions would have to meet much higher standards, while established ones would have to improve or leave.
RAK Free Trade Zone Authority (RAKFTZA) is home to seven of the emirate’s 14 higher-education institutions, including the Birla Institute of Technology from India and the Swiss university, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL).
In January, Abbassin University from Pakistan was the latest to join under the new system, which will mean abiding by tough standards and annual inspections as of next year.
“We want the institutions to incubate well. Over the next three to five years we will probably move them so they can build a residential campus. We want clients who are long sighted in their aims to stay here,” she said.
Ms Mansour said the only way to attract more high-quality institutions was by raising standards and implementing stricter criteria.
She cited the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KDHA) in Dubai as a model to follow.
“When investors realise the quality is high they will want to be associated with that. The message will bring us the right kind of candidates we might not have had before,” Ms Mansour said. “I’m interested in cleaning things up ... RAK has been known as the Wild West, where you turn up and design your own rules. Some people have been able to do that, if not here, then in other free zones, but that’s changed. You can’t do that now.”
The next challenge will be to inspect the Indian study centres in the emirate, many of which have relocated from Dubai.
Two of these are in the RAKFTZA but there are believed to be many more around RAK. One institution claims to have US and UK accreditation and is owned by an Indian business. Ms Mansour said these fusion systems were “very hard to quality assure”.
She said: “They offer a very cheap product and for some people who live and work here it could be the only way they can get into higher education. We want people to have different economic options but not at the expense of quality.”
Although she is prepared to close the substandard institutions, she fears they will simply move to other less-regulated emirates.
The authority is working closely with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research as well as Dubai’s KHDA. “It’s been really helpful. There’s a lot of good stuff from the KHDA model and we will contextualise this for RAK.”
Prof Vigliotti Franco, head of EPFL in RAK, welcomed the change in policy.
“Raising the academic standards sends a signal: the Government wants to consolidate its efforts around institutions that perform at international level and wants to attract talents with corresponding aspirations and strengths.
“Top-ranked institutions, such as EPFL, are able to attract top graduate talent to RAK and the UAE ... Having other institutions around us that have similar core values and provide high-quality undergraduate education will strengthen the position of RAK and the UAE and will add to our own effect as a graduate-research institution.”
Dr Natasha Ridge, head of research at the Al Qassimi Foundation for Policy Research in RAK agrees.
“We really need better regulation, not only to attract better institutions but to attract the talent to come to them and build capacity in areas like health and education.”
Dr Warren Fox, head of higher education at the KHDA, although had not been in direct talks with RAKFTZA, welcomed the news.
“I think it’s commendable that RAK is looking to improve its quality assurance and we’re happy to work with them.”
mswan@thenational.ae
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Where to submit a sample
Volunteers of all ages can submit DNA samples at centres across Abu Dhabi, including: Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec), Biogenix Labs in Masdar City, NMC Royal Hospital in Khalifa City, NMC Royal Medical Centre, Abu Dhabi, NMC Royal Women's Hospital, Bareen International Hospital, Al Towayya in Al Ain, NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Ain
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Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
The biog
Name: Abeer Al Shahi
Emirate: Sharjah – Khor Fakkan
Education: Master’s degree in special education, preparing for a PhD in philosophy.
Favourite activities: Bungee jumping
Favourite quote: “My people and I will not settle for anything less than first place” – Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid.
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ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
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TRAP
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Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 268hp at 5,600rpm
Torque: 380Nm at 4,800rpm
Transmission: CVT auto
Fuel consumption: 9.5L/100km
On sale: now
Price: from Dh195,000
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Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants
The UN General Assembly President in quotes:
YEMEN: “The developments we have seen are promising. We really hope that the parties are going to respect the agreed ceasefire. I think that the sense of really having the political will to have a peace process is vital. There is a little bit of hope and the role that the UN has played is very important.”
PALESTINE: “There is no easy fix. We need to find the political will and comply with the resolutions that we have agreed upon.”
OMAN: “It is a very important country in our system. They have a very important role to play in terms of the balance and peace process of that particular part of the world, in that their position is neutral. That is why it is very important to have a dialogue with the Omani authorities.”
REFORM OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL: “This is complicated and it requires time. It is dependent on the effort that members want to put into the process. It is a process that has been going on for 25 years. That process is slow but the issue is huge. I really hope we will see some progress during my tenure.”
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What is graphene?
Graphene is extracted from graphite and is made up of pure carbon.
It is 200 times more resistant than steel and five times lighter than aluminum.
It conducts electricity better than any other material at room temperature.
It is thought that graphene could boost the useful life of batteries by 10 per cent.
Graphene can also detect cancer cells in the early stages of the disease.
The material was first discovered when Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov were 'playing' with graphite at the University of Manchester in 2004.
Company%20Profile
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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.