The number of Indian students going abroad for higher studies has increased by 68.79 per cent in the past year, according to data provided by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Subhas Sarkar.
As more Indian students are heading abroad for higher studies, Professor Dame Heather McGregor, Provost and Vice Principal, Heriot-Watt University Dubai believes that it is important for Indian students to work on their proficiency in the English language, learn to handle conflicts in respectful manner and develop good communication skills.
Dubai is an upcoming destination for international students. Has the number of Indian students increased post pandemic?
Yes, indeed, there has been an increase in the number of Indian students choosing to come to Dubai for their higher education. There are several reasons for this: Dubai is one of the most sophisticated and cosmopolitan cities in the world with residents from more than 180 different countries, it is the safest country in the world with a negligible crime rate, has a sizeable Indian population (meaning cultural assimilation for Indian students is easy) and is only a short flight away from home.
At Heriot-Watt University Dubai, we have a student population of just over 4,000, and roughly half hold an Indian passport, and this number is growing every year. Post pandemic (and given the incredible benefits it offers), global student mobility has made a complete comeback. For students, it gives them a chance to become more aware globally, become more adaptable and enhance their language and communication skills. It allows them to learn about work and life in an international market and promotes personal development, all of which endows students with the attributes employers look for in candidates.
Which courses have been more popular among Indian students?
Business, engineering, and IT-related fields have always been popular amongst Indian students. However, with the pace of digital and technological transformation, we are seeing more and more students choosing to enrol in programmes such as Artificial Intelligence, Data Sciences and Digital Marketing.
With renewable energy and sustainability goals jumping to the top of global agendas, our programmes in sustainable engineering are also popular. Other programmes that find favour with Indian students are International Business Management with specialisations in Marketing, HR Management, and Finance, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Business Psychology, Construction, Interior Architecture and Design and Robotics and Renewable Energy Engineering.
Are there any particular areas which you would advise Indian students to work on, before applying to your university?
The greatest predictor of whether people will succeed in our university, on any of our campuses, is the strength of their English language capabilities. Therefore, I would strongly encourage Indian students to practice operating their whole lives, 24 hours a day, in English, because that will be needed when you study with us.
In addition, there are some skills which always stand everyone in good stead for the whole of their lives. Good communication skills would be at the top of that list. No matter what your role is, or which field you work in, communication skills are always an asset and can set you apart from the rest. The other is emotional intelligence or the ability to recognise the emotions of those around you and adapt yourself to the situation accordingly.
Finally, being able to handle conflict in a respectful and open manner. In many Asian cultures, it is considered a sign of disrespect to disagree, but many great ideas and relationships are often born out of constructive conflict. My advice, therefore, to Indian students would be to practice disagreeing respectfully and properly addressing issues as they arise.
What is HWUD’s roadmap for Indian admissions, new courses and programmes, enrollment figures, growth curve, expansion plans?
India is a key market for us, and our university has experienced significant enrolments from India. Heriot-Watt University Dubai witnessed a YoY growth of 26 per cent from India during the academic year 2022/23. We have dedicated India-based recruitment and admissions staff, whom parents and students can meet in order to further discuss their higher education journey.
Additionally, we work closely with strategic industry partners such as Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), whom we are collaborating with to co-design content that meets global upskilling needs.
As part of our future roadmap, we are currently evaluating plans to introduce select postgraduate programmes with industry placements. We will continue to strengthen our collaboration with industry and academia and leverage our unique Go Global Student experience, our inter-campus transfer programme, available only for Heriot-Watt students which enables them to study abroad for a semester, a year, or even longer.
In terms of new courses, we are always refining our curriculum and programmes in line with the changing requirements of the workplace. For example, our programmes in Data Sciences and Artificial Intelligence were introduced owing to the tech transformation underway in all industries.
Are there any special programmes or scholarships in place to attract Indian students?
The University recognises the substantial investment students will make towards their education. To help ease this financial burden, we offer several types of scholarships to deserving students. The Future Made for Success Scholarship, for example, offered a discount of AED 6,000 to any student, (foundation, undergraduate, or postgraduate) who applied and paid the tuition fee deposit by May 31 2023 for September 2023 intake. The 30 per cent Club GCC and Edinburgh Business School are offering a scholarship to an exceptional entrepreneurial woman of up to 50 per cent on tuition fees for the MBA programme. We also offer alumni scholarships, sports scholarships and more.
What are the visa requirements for Indian students looking for study visas? Also, what is the current scenario for post study work visa in Dubai?
A student can stay in the UAE for studying, either under the sponsorship of his/her parent, who should be a resident of the UAE or under the sponsorship of the university where he/she is studying. Our visa services team facilitates the process to assist students with their visas. A student visa is given for a duration of one year, at a time, renewable for a similar period upon proof of continuation of a study issued by the educational institute where the student is studying.
In recent times, visa regulations in the UAE have been further relaxed. Foreign university students can now sponsor their families as long as they can afford suitable housing. Outstanding students of foreign universities may be granted a Golden visa – which is a long-term residence visa – for a period of 10 years without a sponsor. All of this means that Indian students planning to study in the UAE can now plan a long-term future in the country.
Are international students allowed to work part-time in Dubai? If yes, what kind of opportunities are available on-campus for students?
Yes, international students pursuing higher education in the country are permitted to work part-time, after receiving a work permit from the UAE’s Labour Department. In recent times, teenagers between the ages of 15-18 can undertake part-time internships or work in private companies, provided they have a permit from the government.
How is HWUD able to help students get placed, especially at a time when layoffs have been frequently happening globally?
We are fortunate to be based in one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. Our Careers and Graduate Futures department works closely with students to equip them with the skills and confidence needed to be successful in their transition into employment after they leave HWUD. Our team of career consultants meets students individually, discusses their CVs and job applications, teaches them interview techniques and helps with planning their careers.
We host workshops around soft skills and employability skills specifically to help students identify soft skills needed to stand out from the crowd, and then acquire those. On the other side of things, we work with local and global industry and connect students with potential employers to secure internship placements, job shadowing, or an actual graduate job at the end of their study programme. In recent times, we have successfully placed students with L’Oréal, Pfizer, The Giving Movement, BMW, Bentley to name a few.
Our Careers Fair runs once a semester, where students get the opportunity to meet with potential employers to talk about the industry and roles available to them. It is designed to help students get a better understanding of what is on offer. We also run a recruitment fair once a year in June where potential employers come in, interview and recruit our students. And we have networking events with companies – for example, a masterclass where a company comes in and talks about what they do, or what they look for when hiring, or weekly drop-in sessions with employers where students can discuss the company, what it’s like to work there and any future opportunities. We strongly encourage all students to come along to all of our events, get to know who the recruiters are and understand a little bit more about the companies and industries.
Last but definitely not the least, we have the Watt Inclusion programme, which is intended specifically for our students of determination to support them into employment. We work with several companies that provide guaranteed internships for these students to help them build confidence, support their transition into employment and progress in their careers.
Why are more international universities heading towards Dubai now?
According to the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), the educational quality assurance and regulatory authority of the Government of Dubai, the city is currently home to 34 international higher education institutions that provide more than 600 programmes, with one in four students coming from outside the UAE (28%). Dubai is one of the fastest growing higher education hubs in the world, attracting students from over 130 countries, from West Africa to the CIS States to South Asia and China. There are several reasons for this.
The city offers an excellent quality of life for students and staff. It is also home to many schools, which means there exists a large potential pool of students to recruit from. There is tremendous diversity in programme choices offered by international universities, combined with the ability to deliver high-quality education.
Dubai is centrally located, making it easy for students and staff when they wish to travel home. The government is strong and stable, and existing laws make it relatively easy for an international university wishing to set up a campus here. Student accommodation costs are also low, compared to some other parts of the world. Finally, the low crime rate and strong commitment to law and order and women’s safety makes Dubai an extremely attractive location for universities looking to set up new campuses.
Considering that the UGC is now inviting foreign universities to set up campuses in India, is your varsity planning to take this step?
We are fully engaged with our campuses in Scotland, Dubai and Malaysia and currently have no plans to expand further. But who knows what the future will hold.
UGC has started the Common University Entrance Test (CUET). Do you think the introduction of another entrance exam is a good step? Also, will your varsity ever decide to start considering the CUET test score (or even JEE, NEET score etc.) as eligibility criteria for Indian students
In the UK, entrance examinations have been introduced for certain subjects – for example, medicine – and I can see that where university seats are scarce, it is another tool to help those whose job it is to allocate those seats. However, we have no current plans either to introduce an entrance exam or to use other people’s entrance exams to assist us with the allocation of places.
Be it the introduction of four-year UG programmes or CUET, a lot of changes have been brought in the education system, especially since NEP 2020. Do you think that India is on the right track to improving its education system, which was heavily theory-based in the past?
Whilst I cannot comment specifically on the Indian education system, in general it is essential for education to be a mix of both theory and practice-based learning. Life is a constant reminder that theories are interesting, but reality is more complicated. I would always encourage universities to deliver a mix of theory and practice, since a mix permits students to apply and consolidate their learning and pick up skills that can be applied straightaway in the workplace.
In our university, for example, the curriculum is designed with a strong focus on experiential learning, project work and working in the environment. Our Robotics Lab exemplifies our learning-by-doing approach, offering facilities for electronics, electrical power, computing, embedded systems, communications, robotics and mechanical prototyping. Similarly, our Psychology Lab allows students to undertake experiments and practise-based learning.
