The Middle East is fast becoming a key part of top business school recruitment strategies. Rich in oil and natural gas, home to man-made beaches and curious architecture – the Middle East is a unique region culturally, historically and physically. With somewhat unclear boundaries, this region, situated between the Far East and the Near East, encompasses the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Fast becoming known for its business prowess, investment banking opportunities and entrepreneurial spirit, the UAE has recorded one of the highest population growth rates in the world over the past two decades. Figures from the National Human Resources Development and Employment Authority (Tanmia) projected the country's population to reach 7.56 million by the end of 2010, increasing by 1.9 million people since its 2006 figures. Importantly, Tanmia points out that in comparison to the global population which is predicted to double every 55 years, the UAE's population is due to double every 8.7 years. This significant population growth, coupled with the UAE's reputation as the financial hub of the Middle East appears to have encouraged the growth of educational institutions in the country, with a huge influx of foreign owned institutions gaining a presence. Over the last five years, several Western business schools have opened campuses in the Middle East including London Business School, Edinburgh Business School, Hult International Business School, and University of Strathclyde Business School. Cass Business School in London also launched its Executive MBA program in a modular format in Dubai in 2007, in partnership with the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). However, in the emirate of Dubai in particular, there has been a great deal of controversy over less reputable, private business schools offering sub-standard MBA programs. One of the first foreign-backed business schools to set up in the region was the University of Wollongong, which launched in Dubai in 1994 as an independent institution with special relations with the Australian university of the same name. “A number of institutions came [to the UAE] believing that they will grow significantly. They didn't, so they closed their doors,” says Raymi Van Der Spek, Vice President (administration) of the University of Wollongong, Dubai. “Un-accredited universities can do that, just close their doors and leave their students stranded.” In fact, this problem became quite serious, so much so that, in 1999 the Ministry of Education were forced to introduce a stringent accreditation process operated by the Commission for Academic Accreditation. “The system is quite rigorous, and seems to be based on a US low-level college type model,” explains Professor Roy Batchelor, Director of the Dubai Executive MBA Programme, Cass Business School, London.” This does ensure that institutions with no academic credentials cannot set up as higher education centres in the UAE, which is good, but the system does lead to some rigidities. “For example faculty in general must have a PhD, and cannot teach in areas outside their PhD designation. So although it is desirable for practitioners to run classes for business students, the possibility for this is very limited. And a professor with an Economics PhD may not be allowed to teach mathematics, although perfectly competent to do so.” However, as Van Der Spek points out, at just over 10 years old, the UAE's accreditation system is still in its' infancy. Therefore, it is difficult to compare it to accreditation systems in many Western countries, where they have been refined over decades, even centuries. “In most of these developing GCC countries, the rules [for the setting up of a business school] are still developing,” Van Der Spek says. “They are trying very hard, and the work they are doing is very admirable, but they have not been able to perfect them yet. In countries like the UK, regulatory frameworks [for business schools] have been set up for hundreds of years, and so it's unfair to compare the two.” So, while authorities are striving to ensure that MBA programs in the Middle East provide adequate training for the region's future business leaders, the advice for business school applicants is to research their options fully. “My advice to prospective students would be buyer beware,” Bachelor advises. “Do your homework. You're going to a business school, so your first lesson in business is to make sure your investment is going to pay off.”
