Zayed University
Encyclopedia
Zayed University established in 1998, is the newest of the three government sponsored higher educational institutions in the United Arab Emirates
. The other two institutions are the Higher Colleges of Technology
established in 1988 and the United Arab Emirates University
established in 1976. Zayed University was named in honor of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the country's first president and founder.
English
is the medium of instruction except in courses in Arabic and Islamic studies. Because of this, students may need to spend up to two years in an English language preparatory program before entering the bachelor's program. The first two years in the university are in a general education program in University College (Colloquy), providing a broad grounding in the arts, humanities, and social sciences. Students then move into the majors which are housed in the colleges.
Research and outreach are given particular emphasis at ZU. A Research Incentive Fund provides up to US$325,000 in assistance annually to support research and scholarly and creative endeavors, stimulating ideas and interests which benefit faculty, the university and the UAE. ZU is increasingly hosting prestigious international events. In 2006, the Women as Global Leaders Conference, organized by Zayed University, attracted delegates from88 countries and leading women speakers including Queen Rania of Jordan and former president of Ireland, Mary Robinson.
The university offers a number of graduate programs in administration, arts, business, communications, health care and education leadership, and science.
The Zayed University Learning Outcomes, as found in the Zayed University Catalog are:
Once students enter their major program, their courses in the program are outcome-based designed on that major's Learning Outcomes, which prepare students for their future in that field. These major programs are housed within one of the six academic colleges; each college's faculty members have created its major Learning Outcomes aligned with the Zayed University Learning Outcomes.
. This program has the distinction of being the only major program at Zayed University which has achieved full accreditation by an external agency.
and Dubai
, which collectively serve approximately 5,800 male and female students who take classes separately.
to encourage classroom discussion. This caused outrage among Muslim
s, and she was swiftly fired — a summary dismissal from Sheikh Nahyan, without any right to appeal.
In August 2008, Zayed University came under fire for allegedly implementing a divisive pay policy. According to the Abu Dhabi-based newspaper The National, local Emirati staff are to receive a 28% pay award, whereas foreign faculty will only receive 5%.
A salary freeze was imposed at ZU in May 2010. In January 2011, the National reported that Zayed University staff would be getting a 2 percent pay raise retroactive to August 2010, which reportedly would be their first pay raise in three and a half years
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United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
. The other two institutions are the Higher Colleges of Technology
Higher Colleges of Technology
The Higher Colleges of Technology was established in 1988, and is the largest institution of higher learning in the United Arab Emirates with over 19,000 students. During the 2011 - 2012 academic year there were 12,217 female and 7,298 male students enrolled at 17 campuses and 92 programs...
established in 1988 and the United Arab Emirates University
United Arab Emirates University
United Arab Emirates University was established in 1976, and is the oldest of the three government-sponsored institutions of higher learning in the United Arab Emirates compared to the Higher Colleges of Technology and Zayed University...
established in 1976. Zayed University was named in honor of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the country's first president and founder.
Academics
Zayed University is organized academically into six colleges: Arts and Sciences, Business Sciences, Communication and Media Sciences, Education, Information Technology and University College.English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
is the medium of instruction except in courses in Arabic and Islamic studies. Because of this, students may need to spend up to two years in an English language preparatory program before entering the bachelor's program. The first two years in the university are in a general education program in University College (Colloquy), providing a broad grounding in the arts, humanities, and social sciences. Students then move into the majors which are housed in the colleges.
Research and outreach are given particular emphasis at ZU. A Research Incentive Fund provides up to US$325,000 in assistance annually to support research and scholarly and creative endeavors, stimulating ideas and interests which benefit faculty, the university and the UAE. ZU is increasingly hosting prestigious international events. In 2006, the Women as Global Leaders Conference, organized by Zayed University, attracted delegates from88 countries and leading women speakers including Queen Rania of Jordan and former president of Ireland, Mary Robinson.
The university offers a number of graduate programs in administration, arts, business, communications, health care and education leadership, and science.
Outcomes-Based Academic Program Model
Zayed University had adopted an outcomes-based academic program model. The Colloquy and undergraduate programs at Zayed University are outcome-based and designed on the Zayed University Learning Outcomes. These six outcomes were created by faculty members at Zayed University as a means of developing the necessary skills to prepare students for continuous lifelong learning and future success in the world.The Zayed University Learning Outcomes, as found in the Zayed University Catalog are:
- 1) Language: ZU graduates will be able to communicate effectively in English and Modern Standard Arabic, using the academic and professional conventions of these languages appropriately.
- 2)Information Technology: ZU graduates will be able to use current information technology to enhance productivity and effectiveness.
- 3)Critical Thinking and Quantitative Reasoning: ZU graduates will be able to use both critical and quantitative
- processes to solve problems and to develop informed opinions.
- 4)Information Literacy: ZU graduates will be able to find, evaluate and use appropriate information from multiple sources to respond to a variety of needs.
- 5)Global Awareness: ZU graduates will be able to understand and value their own and other cultures, perceiving and reacting to differences from an informed and socially responsible point of view.
- 6)Leadership: ZU graduates will be able to undertake leadership roles and responsibilities, interacting effectively with others to accomplish shared goals. (p. 9-10)
Once students enter their major program, their courses in the program are outcome-based designed on that major's Learning Outcomes, which prepare students for their future in that field. These major programs are housed within one of the six academic colleges; each college's faculty members have created its major Learning Outcomes aligned with the Zayed University Learning Outcomes.
Accreditation
On June 30, 2008, it was announced that Zayed University had been granted accreditation by the U.S.-based Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. In 2006, the College of Communication and Media Sciences had its Public Relations and Advertising major accredited by the International Advertising AssociationInternational Advertising Association
The International Advertising Association is a marketing communications organization founded in 1938. The IAA is an international organization with a global network including 4,000 members and 56 Chapters, within 76 countries.The focus of the IAA is to:...
. This program has the distinction of being the only major program at Zayed University which has achieved full accreditation by an external agency.
Student Population
Zayed University has two campuses in the emirates of Abu DhabiAbu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi , literally Father of Gazelle, is the capital and the second largest city of the United Arab Emirates in terms of population and the largest of the seven member emirates of the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi lies on a T-shaped island jutting into the Persian Gulf from the central western...
and Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
, which collectively serve approximately 5,800 male and female students who take classes separately.
Campuses
The Dubai Campus moved to a new purpose-built location in September 2006. The new Abu Dhabi campus will be moving to a new campus in Khalifa City and is scheduled to open on July 31, 2011 in time for the fall 2011 semester. This new site was built at a cost of AED 3 billion and will have 3 main campus areas, 28 buildings, a sports complex, a residential building and a convention center all of which cover a total area of 18.8 hectares.Controversies
In February 2006, Zayed University was at the heart of a major international controversy when one of its faculty members — Claudia Kiburz — distributed photocopies of a portrayal of the ProphetMuhammad
Muhammad |ligature]] at U+FDF4 ;Arabic pronunciation varies regionally; the first vowel ranges from ~~; the second and the last vowel: ~~~. There are dialects which have no stress. In Egypt, it is pronounced not in religious contexts...
to encourage classroom discussion. This caused outrage among Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
s, and she was swiftly fired — a summary dismissal from Sheikh Nahyan, without any right to appeal.
In August 2008, Zayed University came under fire for allegedly implementing a divisive pay policy. According to the Abu Dhabi-based newspaper The National, local Emirati staff are to receive a 28% pay award, whereas foreign faculty will only receive 5%.
A salary freeze was imposed at ZU in May 2010. In January 2011, the National reported that Zayed University staff would be getting a 2 percent pay raise retroactive to August 2010, which reportedly would be their first pay raise in three and a half years
Awards
Zayed University was named one of the Top Ten Great Places/Companies to Work in for 2011.External links
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