Literature review - Assignment PDF

Running head: LITERATURE REVIEW
Literature Review for a market entry project in higher education in Fujairah
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author note:

1
LITERATURE REVIEWInvesting in Higher education in the United Arab Emirates
UAE is an attractive educational investment option. Almost a century ago, UAE has
understood the importance of public education in stabilizing the economic, cultural and religious
norms in the society and hence, has put significant effort in developing the education sector
(Alhebsi, Pettaway & Waller, 2015). Wilkins (2010) highlighted in his paper that an education
hub has been established in the Middle East in the last decade. Many of the universities and
colleges have been set up in collaboration with the international universities. It has been found
that UAE has the largest number of international branch campuses, with more than 40 providers
at the end of 2009. Over the years, the higher education sector in the UAE has become highly
competitive. Hence, it has created opportunities for local and global investments. Kirk (2010)
highlighted that as there are many education providers that follow the international curriculum, it
creates a situation where international investment is easier. It creates a collaboration and often
leads to student exchange programs which are lucrative for the UAE students.
Investing in higher education in the northern emirates (Fujairah and Ras Al khaimah)
Northern emirates (Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah) have been experiencing development
in the education sectors. According to a report by the government of the UAE, in the northern
UAE and Sharjah, the number of private schools increased from 159 in 2015-16 to 204 in 2016-
17 (Export.gov, 2018). In Ras Al Khaimah, there is a preference for public schools. There is 85
public schools and 33 private schools and in 2014, 89% of the students attended the public
schools for elementary and higher education (Ridge, Kippels & ElAsad, 2015). There are 16
higher education institutes. However, there is scope for investing in both the public and private

2
LITERATURE REVIEWschools in Ras Al Khaimah to increase number of students, especially in the private schools that
offer international standard curriculum. In the Fujairah region also, there is a dominance of the
public schools, and those are mainly for the Emirati people and some Arab people (Export.gov,
2018). However, the few private schools pay attention to the expatriate population, especially
from Indian subcontinent and thus offer Indian Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)
syllabus. Thus, the higher education sector of Fujairah and other northern emirates have scope
for local and international investment.
Student interest in higher education in the UAE vs studying abroad
Although the education sector in the UAE is quite developed, yet a large number of
students aim to go abroad for higher studies. There are some challenges in the higher education
in the UAE. Sebihi (2014) pointed out in his paper that the higher education sector faces quite a
few significant challenges such as, lack of speed in the scientific and technical studies, forced
upon by the developed countries; lack of alignment of the graduates with the current labor
market; lack of match in the course syllabus and curriculum with the frequently and rapidly
evolving job sector, and poor quality of existing government database. Thus, the students in the
UAE have the preference for going out of the country for higher education. This view is
supported by (Baburajan, 2011). It has been found that work opportunity is much better in
abroad than in UAE. As the local environment in the UAE cannot absorb the students
immediately, the students are seeking higher education elsewhere. Lefrere (2007) highlighted
that UK is one of the favorite destinations for higher studies for the UAE students, followed by