Education is a field that constitutes a national priority, not only in the UAE, but worldwide

Dubai, July 3rd, 2011. Since its inception, the American University in Dubai (AUD) has committed itself to providing a world-class education that prepares students academically, personally and professionally for successful careers in their chosen fields. Education is a field that constitutes a national priority, not only in the UAE, but worldwide.

As part of a strategic initiative aimed at expanding its graduate offerings, AUD has developed and is now preparing to launch a Master of Education (M.Ed.) program in the 2011-2012 academic year. Based on a thorough needs assessment, this program is conceived with two target audiences in mind: practicing elementary and secondary school teachers, whose undergraduate degree may or may not be in education, and university graduates with no prior teaching experience who wish to pursue a graduate degree in education with the intention of teaching at the primary or secondary school level.

Program requirements vary slightly depending on which of these two groups a candidate falls within.

As with other AUD degree programs, it is expected that diversity will characterize students seeking admission to the M.Ed. These will include U.A.E. nationals and expatriates, native speakers of English and non-native speakers, individuals who will live permanently in the U.A.E., those who are here for a short stay, and those who seek residency of a considerable length.

The M.Ed. program has been designed to meet the needs of these various groups. As courses are taught in English, students may enroll in the university's Intensive English Language Program prior to commencing graduate study.

In order to ensure that the degree is offered to an international standard, the curriculum is aligned with the standards of the Interstate New Teachers Assessment and Support Consortium (INTASC), based in the U.S.

AUD's M.Ed. has been accredited by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and is offered under the umbrella of AUD's accreditation by the Commission on Colleges (COC) of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) in the U.S.

Dr. Jihad S. Nader, AUD's Provost and Chief Academic Officer, views the introduction of the M.Ed. program as "the most recent expression and a tangible embodiment of AUD's ongoing endeavor to fulfill its mission - with special emphasis on 'the advancement of society,' which is an integral part of AUD's mission." Dr. Nader adds, "The M.Ed. program will make a significant contribution to the enhancement of primary and secondary education in the UAE by providing existing and prospective teachers with a high level of preparation in education as an academic discipline and a profession. In this manner, the M.Ed. program will feed into the UAE's policies that consider enhancement of quality and effectiveness in the primary and secondary education system as a strategic priority and a cornerstone of social development."

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About AUD
The American University in Dubai (AUD) is a private, non-sectarian institution of higher learning founded in 1995. It serves UAE nationals and international students who seek world-class career-oriented education. AUD, as an international institution of higher education, encourages global understanding by providing an atmosphere of cultural diversity and opportunities for an international education.

  • AUD is accredited by the Commission on Colleges (COC) of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) to award Bachelor's and Master's degrees.   

  • AUD is officially licensed by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of the United Arab Emirates. The Ministry has accredited the university's programs in Architecture, Business Administration (both undergraduate and graduate), Communication and Information Studies, Engineering, Information Technology, Visual Communication and Interior Design, in addition to a Certificate in Middle Eastern Studies program.

  • AUD holds an Agent's License issued by the District of Columbia Education Licensure Commission (Washington, DC, USA), and is approved to operate by the State of Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission (NPEC).

  • AUD has received specialized accreditation for its Bachelor's of Business Administration (B.B.A.), and Master's of Business Administration (M.B.A.) degree programs in business through the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE). The university's undergraduate concentrations in Marketing Communications and Advertising (Creative) have been accredited by the International Advertising Association (IAA) in New York.

  • All programs (i.e., Civil, Computer, and Electrical Engineering) of AUD's School of Engineering are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. The Bachelor of Information Technology (B.I.T.) program is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET.

For more information, please visit www.aud.edu.

For more information, please contact:
Ms. Rim Ibrahim
Marketing Communications Coordinator
American University in Dubai
T. +971 4 3183 139
E. ribrahim@aud.edu

© Press Release 2011