British University in Dubai receives strong demand for region's first Doctorate degree in education

Following the programme launch in May, BUiD has received more than 100 applications and selected the top 16 candidates for the September 2009 intake.

Dr Abdullah Alshamsi, Vice-Chancellor, BUiD, said:

"There has been a growth in the number of applicants for Education degrees over the last few years and remains among our top programmes at BUiD. We are very proud to be the first University in the UAE to offer the Ed.D degree."

"We are confident, based on our extensive course offerings, international partners, and dedicated professors, that we will provide our students with the learning required to influence and advance our country's knowledge economy," added Alshamsi.

For the UAE, higher-level education remains a key priority in government policy and an important issue for economic diversification, and private and public sector development.

The Educational Doctorate attracts high achieving participants from the UAE and throughout the region interested in topics that include teaching, learning, management, policy, special education and others.

By the end of the programme, students will have demonstrated the ability to perform innovative research in an area of professional relevance through the completion of a major research project and the publication of a thesis.

BUiD's Ed. D combines taught modules and a research thesis, resulting in recognition of both an Ed.D and Ph.D degree.

UAE national, Tarifa Al Zaabi, who is part of BUiD's 2009 intake for the Educational Doctorate, and Dean of Student Services at the Higher College of Technology in Sharjah, said: "This is the first time the UAE offers such a course, and to have an Educational Doctorate is very important as it provides me with the right skills to help improve the education service we provide to Emirati students."

"BUiD degrees are affiliated with UK programmes offering a quality education here in UAE, which is recognized both locally and internationally making the credentials for this degree very high," she added.

Neda Behmardi, also part of the first group of students taking the Educational Doctorate at BUiD, believes that taking the degree in the UAE has provided her with the opportunity that she has been waiting for: "For a while I wanted to pursue a Doctorate in Education and I knew my chance had come when I found out BUiD started the first accredited Educational Doctorate in the UAE," Behmardi said.

"Knowing I will be living in the country for a while, I am so happy to be pursuing my degree in a UAE-based university. With an Educational Doctorate, I can have contact with policy makers and work toward researching areas for the future of the educational system in the UAE and be part of the think tank of the educational programs of action. With the degree, I would also want to be able to teach students on the BA and MA levels to have the right leadership skills to be the future educators since the UAE is on the right track to become a world-class destination for learning," she added.

BUiD's establishment of doctoral level programmes has further established its position as a high-quality research-led university. BUiD offers international competitive level of research-informed education and is the local partner of leading UK-based universities which include the University of Edinburgh, the University of Birmingham, the University of Manchester, Cardiff University and the Cass Business School at City University, London.