Michigan State University in Dubai will hold the first free international and multi-disciplinary higher education conference of its kind in the region Jan. 28-29, which will take place at Dubai International Academic City.
The two-day “Dubai International Conference in Higher Education: Succeeding in the Pursuit of Quality” will bring together academics from around the world to discuss the key issues facing the education sector in the Middle East, said Tessa Dunseath, executive director of MSU in Dubai.
“This conference offers an exciting opportunity for international educators to share knowledge, ideas and expertise as we strive constantly for greater quality in teaching and learning, in research, in leadership and management, in administration and in community outreach,” she said.
The conference is focused on three tracks: maintaining excellence through innovation; ensuring quality in learning and teaching; and demonstrating excellence in research and outreach, Dunseath said. It will feature panel discussions, workshops, poster sessions and academic papers.
In addition to international academic institutions, many of the leading UAE-based universities have confirmed their participation at the conference, including the American University in Dubai, she said.
MSU faculty members will serve as keynote speakers and panellists: Jeff Riedinger, dean of International Studies and Programs; Donald Heller, dean of the College of Education; Eric Freedman, associate professor of journalism; Michael Rip, founding director of the Program in Public Health in the College of Human Medicine; and Reza Nassiri, associate dean in the College of Osteopathic Medicine. Also in attendance will be delegates from Austria, India, Iran, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Finland, Australia, Kuwait and Poland.
“The UAE's higher education sector has been characterized by rapid growth over the decades and it is the right time to host a multi-disciplinary higher education conference on this scale,” said Ayoub Kazim, managing director of TECOM Investments Education Cluster. “It is an opportunity not just for those already involved in the higher education sector, but for those seeking to be involved, to familiarize themselves with the latest research and practices.”
MSU in Dubai will introduce two new master’s degree programs in the coming academic year: judicial administration and speech and communicative disorders. The university currently offers master’s programs in law, public health and human resources and labor relations.