Globally, the MBA numbers are declining. Specialist masters and pre-experience masters are increasingly popular but most business schools still see the MBA as a course they must offer and rankings they must compete in. A survey conducted by AMBA (2016) has concluded that MBA graduates reported that the topics they found most useful were the strategy, business and management, finance and accounting, and leadership skills, while the least useful were IT, economics, operations management, and risk management.

Furthermore, the study states that over 90% of employers in the AMBA survey said they need people with big data skills, familiar with new technologies and with digital marketing in the next 3 years. 89% of employers said they need people able to manage stress.

Standing out among the crowd, the University of Wollongong in Dubai imparts knowledge and fosters global leaders who are committed to success in their professional and personal endeavors. The programs at UOWD will not only help students keep pace with all the emerging trends but, lead the world and industries.

Immersed in the ethos of world-class academic excellence and professionalism, UOWD stands tall as one of the finest universities in the UAE. Established in 1993 by the top-ranking University of Wollongong (UOW) Australia, UOWD has more than 3,500 students and a graduate network of more than 11,250 alumni. The long-lasting reputation of academic excellence, graduate employability, quality integrity, research, innovation and a unique student experience has helped the university carve the niche as one of the prominent institutes in Dubai.

Gateway to an Immersive World

Benefiting from its location, the institution is in the prime site of both local and commuting students. Located in the heart of Dubai, UAE’s biggest and fastest growing business capital, the university provides its students with opportunities to broaden their international perspective and equip them with the skills to become global change-makers. It is an ideal choice for overseas students looking for a high quality internationally recognised degree, close to home.  UOWD also supports the visa process for non-resident students who wish to enroll in a full-time study program.

Backing the university’s unique features is its state-of-the-art facilities. Currently based in Dubai Knowledge Park, UOWD shares a location with several other universities and institutions. It has a regular shuttle bus service running to and from Dubai Internet City Metro station. Other public transport links such as bus services and taxis are also easily accessible from the campus. However, it plans to move to a new dedicated 200,000 square foot campus building, also located in Dubai Knowledge Park by the year 2020. Featuring state-of-the-art facilities housed in a modern architectural design, the new campus will enrich the University’s teaching approach, with flexible, technology-driven curricula that match the skill needs of Dubai Expo 2020 and its legacy.

Imparting Value, Knowledge, and Professional Skills

UOWD’s commitment to offering par exceptional education has resulted in its spectacular growth. Being an international teaching and research institution offering top-notch, quality driven learning programs, the University is committed to:

• making a significant contribution to educational and professional learning;

• enabling high calibre undergraduate and postgraduate students to pursue their educational goals, determine the direction of their lives, and contribute significantly to their profession, community, and society;

• providing an international learning experience, so that students value cultural diversity;

• recruiting academic and administrative staffs, who are of the highest quality, are committed to integrating the need for quality assurance with the need for change, promoting innovation and creating an environment of continuous improvement.

UOWD is truly a dynamic and diverse institution that offers a broad spectrum of programs in Business, Engineering, Information Sciences as well as Humanities, Social Sciences and Health, aiming to develop graduates who are ethical, mobile, technologically literate and ready for multicultural workplaces. Along with enabling graduates to pursue rewarding careers, the programs offered by UOWD are relevant and industry related with a strong focus on encouraging creative and critical thinking, problem-solving and the development of unique leadership skillsets.

All of the programs put forward by UOWD are aligned with national priorities yet tailored to meet the demands and needs of the global employment market.   Supporting these unique programs are the highly respected academics from across the globe who brings with them extensive teaching, research and industry experience. UOWD’s faculty are active researchers and focused on producing outstanding research with outcomes that will benefit the community on a regional and international level. With all this in place, the aid of industry experts the university gets is an additional asset. It helps in integrating the real-world practices with theory ensuring our students are equipped to address complex business problems. Completing the community of UOWD is its more than 11,250 alumni, which includes many high profile graduates in senior positions in public and private sectors across the region. This has given the students easy access to connect with the strong alumni network.

Promoting Entrepreneurial Excellence

UOWD, one of Dubai’s oldest private and most prestigious and accredited University are very much on the move. The business programs offered by this university help students to stay at pace with the changing world and outperform at every stage and show boundless confidence. The Master of Business Administration, a flagship program of the University, has improved with years. It is the first program at UOWD that features blended learning methods. This program is delivered in a condensed mode, with subjects being delivered over 3 weekends each semester. The core subjects are designed to engage students with industry leaders and networking opportunities.  Additionally, all the subjects offered at the university will give students the opportunity to engage in study trips abroad, real-time Master Classes, and conference activities with senior executives and knowledge experts.

In addition to this, it also offers several other Business Programs including the Master of Business (with 6 specializations), Master of Quality Management, Master of Science (Logistics & Supply Chain Management) and the Master of Applied Finance (with 3 specializations). On undergraduate level, the university offers the Bachelor of Business Administration and the BCom degree programs (with 6 specializations). The program BCom in Accountancy is also accredited by professional bodies such as ACCA, CIMA and CPA Australia.

Apart from these, the university organizes several forums, seminars and guest lectures throughout the year, inviting industry experts to do a presentation on a topic of interest related to the industry and program, keeping in mind the potential students, public, alumni. It also encourages students to attend numerous fairs and exhibitions, locally and internationally (including schools) and even host open days in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah throughout the year.

Spearheaded by Prof. Payyazhi Jayashree, the Acting Dean for the Faculty of Business, UOWD is continuously evolving and has further extended its offerings. She has pursued collaborations with high-ranked global Business Schools to strengthen their global interconnectedness, which is fundamental to growth and innovation. Under her sheer guidance, UOWD is now collaborating with Munich Business Academy, with an objective for Master of Business (Innovation and Entrepreneurship) and Master of Business (International Business) students to participate in a boot-camp conducted by highly successful start-ups in Germany.

Aid at Every Step

The prime focus on being the wellbeing of students, UOWD leaves no stones unturned to offer unparalleled opportunities that help its students to launch an impactful career. This university provides a range of scholarships offering financial support to new and continuing students, at the commencement of each semester. Assistance for new and continuing students at undergraduate and postgraduate level ranges from 15% to 50% of tuition fee costs. However, these Scholarships are not transferable to the University of Wollongong in Australia. All Scholarships are subjected to fulfilling certain terms and conditions.

The following are the scholarship schemes provided by UOWD:

• Academic Merit Scholarships
• Sports Scholarships – Adam Gilchrist Sports Award

Adam Gilchrist Sports Awards

Named after Australian cricketer and University of Wollongong ambassador, Mr Adam Gilchrist AM, this award is an annual title. It is bestowed on two recipients, at either undergraduate or postgraduate level, in the autumn semester. It offers the recipients a 50% bursary on their tuition fees for the duration of their studies (subject to maintaining specified academic standards, sporting participation and enrolment criteria). Applicants for the Adam Gilchrist Sports Award must be a current and selected representative member of a sport (individual or team) in which UOWD fields an official team and/or competes on a regular basis. These include football, basketball (Men’s and Women’s), volleyball, table tennis and cricket. You must participate at the emirate/state, national or international level and the sport must be sanctioned, authorised and/or controlled by a representative body (an association, federation, or committee) at a state, national or international level.

Financial Aid

The University of Wollongong in Dubai offers financial aid to undergraduate students in the autumn and spring semesters of every academic year. This financial assistance from the university is intended to help students who have limited financial resources to fund their higher education. Financial aid is available for new students and it covers proportion tuition fees only, for each semester of one academic year

The University always benchmarks its offerings against other institutions. More than half of the graduates of UOWD have secured their first job within the first six months of completing their degrees. It is consistently ranked in the top 1% of universities in the world for the quality of our graduates in the 2019 QS Graduate Employability Rankings meaning that our graduates are highly sought-after candidates.