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Eyewitness Report

Jumeira University, Dubai

iddle East College’s first venture beyond Oman’s
Mborders is Jumeira University (JU, estb. 2012)
Dubai. Last year, the MEC management signed an
agreement with JU, under which it will lend its opera-
tional expertise in delivering undergraduate computer
science and business management education to JU’s
250 women students. Moreover MEC will support JU in
building capacity in student experience, enrollment and
registry, employability, and technology.
Jumeira University College, Dubai, was established 13
years ago as a co-educational institution offering degree
programs in Islamic Studies and other professional dis-
ciplines by Major General Khalifa Bin Dhaen Al Mheiri under a
royal grant. This high-potential university’s campus with
excellent infrastructure is sited in downtown Dubai. possess substantial experience in providing women stu-
During the Covid-19 pandemic JU experienced a dents with culturally rooted higher education in modern
sharp decline in student enrollments. In 2023 it reposi- disciplines such as computer science and business man-
tioned itself as an all-women’s professional education agement. We have set ourselves the target of achieving
university, although its school of Islamic Studies contin- break-even in the current academic year and increas-
ues to welcome male and women students. ing cumulative student enrollment to 1,000 by the end of
“The governments of Oman and Dubai are both deeply August 2027,” says Dr. Mounir Dhibi, a computer science
committed to women’s empowerment and to improv- alumnus of Rennes University (France) and currently pro
ing the female participation in the labour force (FPLF) tem President of JU.
rate, which currently remains below the Asian average. For MEC, this is an inflection-point project that could
At MEC, we have over 700 women students residing on transform the institution into a transnational leader in pro-
our Muscat campus. We are therefore well-qualified and fessional education.

try internship and skilling modules overcome the challenge of provid-
to prepare them for employment ing modern computer sciences,
and/or entrepreneurial initiatives engineering and business manage-
has been retained in MEC and ment education to women students
explains the college’s top-ranking in permitted to avail secular profes-
Oman and its ascending reputation sional education relatively recently.
in the UAE and MENA. With the UAE emirates and Dubai in
For educationists and academics particular emerging as global busi-
readers of this publication it’s perti- ness, finance and commerce hubs,
nent to note that MEC is essentially their enlightened governments are
a highly successful Oman-India joint determined to improve the region’s
venture. Whether this exemplary FLPR (female labour participation
academic institution building and rate) which is a necessary condition
development is organic to the sepa- of rapid economic development, and
rate and distinct Sultanate of Oman improving the workplace and social
or is exportable to the UAE and Arab Raybould: export-ready model status of women citizens.
world nations and perhaps third If the MEC management succeeds
world countries and beyond, will be (see box). in replicating its Oman institution
determined by success of the MEC This endeavor represents a formi- and capacity-building success story
management in adopting modern dable double-barrel challenge. Not in Dubai, it will emerge as a for-
technology and AI to upgrade the only has enrolment at this all-women midable higher education force in
study programmes and success in university sited on a well-furbished the UAE and MENA countries. The
resuscitating the floundering Jumei- high value 15-acre campus in down- auguries are that it will succeed.
rah University, Dubai (estb.2012) of town Dubai plunged to 250 students
which it assumed charge last year currently, the MEC leadership has to With Summiya Yasmeen

120 EDUCATIONWORLD NOVEMBER 2025