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Michigan State University (MSU) Dubai, one of the world’s top 100
universities and the first major not-for-profit US research university
to open an international university presence in the UAE, has been
awarded an academic license by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education &
Scientific Research (UAE Federal Commission for Academic Accreditation,
CAA). Although not a requirement for the university, as a TECOM and KHDA
licensed institution, MSU Dubai applied for the license as part of its
long term commitment to the UAE and to demonstrate the high academic
standards attained.
MSU ensures that the same academic standards are applied at the
university’s two campuses by teaching exactly the same curriculum in the
US and in Dubai, and by having MSU faculty teach at both campuses.
Whilst the university’s standards of teaching, research, and community
outreach are recognized internationally, MSU is also required by the US
National Accreditation Board (the North Central Higher Learning
Commission) to deliver the same curriculum in Dubai as in Michigan. Part
of this quality assurance process involved a visit to Dubai by The North
Central Higher Learning Commission, to ensure compliance with US
national higher education standards.
Dr Brendan Mullan, Executive Director of MSU Dubai, comments: “At MSU,
we value and take very seriously our obligation to meet all
international, national, and local quality assurance, licensing and
accreditation standards, which is why in the UAE we are licensed both by
the Knowledge & Human Development Authority in Dubai and the UAE Federal
Commission for Academic Accreditation. Our programs are already
recognised and accredited in the US and internationally, and our aim is
to ensure compliance with local standards and to support the outstanding
work of the CAA, which focuses on creating educational excellence in the
higher education sector in the UAE and ensuring compliance with
international standards. MSU will not compromise on its academic
standards at our Dubai campus. We are here to offer a genuine US
standard educational experience, where faculty and student quality is
the overriding objective.”
“We have set our academic standards very high, consistent with the US
campus,” adds Dr Ali Dr Ali Bhayani, Chief Operating Officer at MSU
Dubai. “MSU Dubai doubled its student population in our second enrolment
(in 2009) but consistent with our commitment to high academic standards,
we also denied admission to more than 30 per cent of the students who
applied.”
