Zayed University

Zayed University
Established	1998
Type	Public
President	Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan
Provost	Dan Johnson
Location	Dubai & Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Website	www.zu.ac.ae

Zayed University (ZU), 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.

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 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 30 June 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 Association. 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 Dhabi and Dubai, 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 31 July 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 Prophet to encourage classroom discussion. This caused outrage among Muslims, 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

• University website
• Middle States Commission on Higher Education