Postgraduate information event reveals changing preferences of employed students

Dubai, January 12, 2010: The demand for masters programs in the UAE has grown dramatically over the years, according to the findings of the University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD), which recently held postgraduate information evenings in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

The region's changing job landscape has put Quality Management and International Business among the more desired master's degrees in the region.

As the UAE and the entire region aspire for global quality standards, there are increasing job opportunities for young men and women to work in quality departments to drive organizations towards excellence. UAE nationals particularly see an important role for quality management, beside human resources management.

"Since its origin as 'Total Quality Management' in the late 1960s, Quality Management has become a central part of every organisation. UOWD was a 'first mover' in this area through our Master of Quality Management (MQM) degree, which was developed with the strong support of the Dubai Quality Group," said Professor Rob Whelan, President of UOWD.

"UOWD is the only university in the region that offers this degree program, educating participants in all aspects of quality management - focusing on international standards (ISO 9000) and the documentation, implementation and maintenance of quality systems in the context of overall organisational performance and therefore the enhancement of business competitiveness," Whelan added.

"The UAE's 2030 Strategic Plan and the efforts of the Middle East Quality Association (MEQA) indicate that quality management will become a core value of every organisation," said Dr. Abdel Moneim Ahmed, Director of Master of Quality Management, UOWD. "More recently, the launch of the Sheikh Khalifa Quality Award has further enhanced the importance of quality management. Organisations like MEQA will ensure that the Middle East region will evolve its own quality parameters dictated by local business needs."

Noora Al Mazrouee, an Emarati woman currently working with an international bank in Dubai, has just completed her first semester in MQM at UOWD, and feels the postgraduate masters degree will help her to land a job in the quality department of any government organisation.

"As part of the UAE government's strategy, every government company will be required to have a quality department," says Noora. "It makes sense to get this degree from a prestigious international university. I am confident this will boost my market value."

Noor Abulhoul, another Emirati student of MQM, says the degree has a focus on a field that promises immense scope. "The whole country is focused on achieving excellence in every field," says Noor. "Our leaders, especially Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, are putting great emphasis on quality management. Learning quality management from an international perspective will enable me to apply global best practices at workplace." 

The Master in International Business (MIB) is another program that is gaining popularity, and a growing number of students are opting to study it in the multicultural environment of the UAE.

"As a UAE University with a strong connection to a leading Australian University, UOWD has a natural advantage in offering the highest quality Masters in International Business. UOWD's MIB connects students to a ready-made international network and our students can elect to complete part of their MIB as intensive study with one of our international partner organisations," says Prof. Rob Whelan.

Saikrishna Raghukumar, an Indian student who has come to Dubai to do his master in International Business, says: "I wanted to study international business in a multicultural environment. I foresee great opportunities to hone my sales and marketing skills, and get an international exposure through this program."

UOWD highlighted a total of nine masters programs at the information evenings, including the Master of Science in Logistics and the Master of Applied Finance and Banking.

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