New Masters Degree Aims to Support HR Directors and Managers of the Future
Dubai, United Arab Emirates: The development and training of a new layer of human resource directors and managers has a key role to play in achieving Emiratisation goals, according to experts meeting at the British University in Dubai.
Human resource positions are one of the key areas targeted for Emiratisation by the UAE Labour Ministry, as part of the strategic plan to increase the level of UAE national participation in the private sector.
The British University in Dubai (BUiD), the region's first research-based postgraduate university, today announced that it is to launch a dedicated Masters Degree in Human Resource Management for its September 2007 term, pending Ministry of Education accreditation.
The initiative will contribute to the wider Emiratisation process by supporting original research into the field of human resources in the Middle East, as well as equipping HR professionals with a range of skills and knowledge in this area. It is being developed in collaboration with the University of Manchester, UK, and through ongoing dialogue with the Dubai Human Resources Forum.
For BUiD Vice Chancellor Dr. Abdullah M. Alshamsi, the development of a dedicated Masters degree will provide an important platform for professional development in the HR field.
"Effective HR can benefit companies by increasing productivity and morale, as well as enabling people to achieve their full potential. The launch of dedicated educational resources helps provide the framework for further development in the UAE labour market, which is a core part of BUiD's mandate and part of our community responsibility," he declared.
As part of the discussion and discovery phase that is leading to the launch of the new course, BUiD recently hosted a major discussion on the needs of the UAE labour market.
Professor Michael Marchington of Manchester Business School, University of Manchester, addressed a gathering of over 70 HR professionals during a special open lecture, including members of the Dubai Human Resources Forum.
Participants on all sides welcomed the collaboration between the faculty developing the proposed MSc in Human Resource Management and the Dubai Human Resources Forum, agreeing a programme of focus groups and active consultation with professionals to shape the content of the degree.
Registrar David Lock asked for their feedback on the content and delivery of the forthcoming Masters degree in HR.
"With your professional input, the challenges we set for our students can be given a distinctive regional flavour and be made relevant to local needs," he said.
According to Professor Marchington, organisations sometimes think HR is most likely to provide competitive advantage by following the most recent trends and latest thinking in the area.
Unfortunately, far too often, new initiatives have not been thought through in business terms and they end up delivering little or nothing of value. Part of the reason for this failure is that the line managers who are required to implement HR policies are not on board, and even if they are, they lack the time, incentive and skill to ensure that these initiatives gain full leverage.
Given that for most workers in the Middle East, their first line manager is seen as "the organisation", it is argued that HR approaches that focus on the needs of frontline workers could have enormous impact on productivity and employee satisfaction.
Professor Marchington argued that HR professionals, particularly UAE national HR professionals, could play a major role in delivering these benefits.
Representatives of the HR profession were enthusiastic about both the enhanced cooperation between BUiD and the Dubai Human Resources Forum, as well as the opportunities outlined in Professor Marchington's presentation.
"A thoughtful presentation such as this is only the beginning. HR is starting to make great inroads here in Dubai and we should capitalize on this opportunity to improve on its presence in the region," said Martin Jalili, Managing Director, The People Partnership, a leading HR consultancy.
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About the British University in Dubai
The British University in Dubai (BUiD) is the Middle East's first research-based, postgraduate university. The University was established to facilitate access to world-class education, training and research in the Middle East. BUiD aspires to the highest, internationally recognized British standards as reflected in its partnership with the University of Edinburgh, the University of Birmingham, the University of Manchester, Cardiff University and the Cass Business School at City University, London. Each has a five or five-star rating in the UK national Research Assessment Exercise that signifies research of international standard.
The not-for-profit university offers full and part-time Masters Degree programmes and Continuing Professional Development courses in Information Technology, Project Management, the Built Environment, Finance and Banking, Education and IT Management.
All BUiD's current Masters Programmes have received Accreditation Eligibility Status from the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research's Commission for Academic Accreditation.
The founders of the University are the Al Maktoum Foundation, the Dubai Development and Investment Authority, Rolls-Royce, the British Business Group and the National Bank of Dubai. The University is governed by a Council under the chairmanship of Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum.
The Emirates Group, DUCAB, Atkins, Dubai Duty Free, Hyder Consulting, the Emirates Foundation and DUGAS are supporters of the university through financial contributions or the provision of scholarships.
For further enquiries call BUiD on +971.4.391.3633.
Notes for Editors:
Biography:
Mick Marchington is Professor of Human Resource Management at Manchester Business School, University of Manchester, UK. MBS is rated amongst the top 25 business schools globally, and it is particularly well-known for the integration of its research and teaching. Mick Marchington has published widely in a range of journals and books, he is Editor of the Human Resource Management Journal, and his work on HRM has contributed to policy and practice over a number of years. He is also Chief Moderator for the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, and has played a major role in the design of their professional qualifications over the last fifteen years. He is also a Companion of the CIPD.
© Press Release 2007
