The future of education in the Emirates has no walls or time limits

The President of the University of Dubai, Dr. Issa Al Bastaki, confirmed that the future of education in the Emirates is moving towards an open model without walls or time limits, based on self-learning supported by artificial intelligence, as the student is able to learn from anywhere and at any time, accompanied by an “intelligent agent” that guides him and measures his development, which makes education more flexible, comprehensive and sustainable.

In an interview with Emirates Today, Al Bastaki revealed the concept of the “agile university,” which focuses on qualitative excellence, not quantitative expansion, and transforms knowledge into economic value through applied research and innovation, to contribute to establishing startup companies and developing patents that enhance the knowledge economy and the country’s competitiveness.

In detail, the President of the University of Dubai, Dr. Issa Al Bastaki, said: “The criterion for the progress of universities is no longer measured solely by the quality of teaching or the number of published research, but rather by their ability to transform knowledge into economic value through emerging companies, patents, and products that support the national economy.”

He explained that higher education in the Emirates is going through a new phase in which universities are moving from producing knowledge to employing it in creating the economy, noting that the world’s leading universities are measured today by their ability to produce and market their innovations.

He added that advanced universities are not limited to teaching or conducting research, but rather they graduate companies and transform the results of their research into products that contribute to the local product, stressing that the UAE has achieved progress in the field of innovation, but what is required is to accelerate the commercialization of research so that it becomes a sustainable pillar of economic growth.

Al Bastaki believed that the “Tri-Helix” model, based on the integration of the roles of industry and universities, represents the ideal framework for building effective innovation systems, stressing that the UAE has achieved progress in the Global Innovation Index, especially in the knowledge industry axis, indicating that the ambition exceeds the current numbers, as “innovation is no longer an option, but rather a strategic necessity that is consistent with the state’s vision to diversify the economy away from oil, as knowledge has become the real fuel of the new economy.”

Al Bastaki stressed that the strategic direction of scientific research in the era of technical developments and artificial intelligence must be balanced between basic knowledge, applied solutions, and commercial innovation, to ensure that universities are able to transform research into tangible economic and societal value.

He said: “The vision is practically embodied in dividing research into: 50% basic research to build a knowledge base for future applications, 30% applied research to solve industry and societal problems, and 20% commercial research that leads to patents and startup companies, which links research directly to the labor market and the national economy.”

He pointed out that the University of Dubai worked to align its academic programs with technological transformations, launching advanced specializations that include artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data analysis, technical finance (FinTech), and digital marketing, in addition to the distance learning MBA program, officially approved by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, to allow students to learn flexibly from anywhere.

He stated that the university is committed to applied innovation through local and global research partnerships, including cooperation with the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center to analyze satellite data and develop local artificial intelligence algorithms, in addition to joint laboratories with international companies such as Huawei to develop communications technologies and drones, including improving payload, speed, range, and developing batteries, so that students become part of an integrated learning and research system that combines knowledge, innovation, and practical application.

The President of the University of Dubai stressed that the rapid change in skills and knowledge requires universities to adopt a culture of lifelong learning, which allows the student to constantly develop his skills and keep pace with the requirements of the renewable labor market. He explained that one of the most important tools of this culture is the micro-credentials system, which relies on short courses or specialized training packages aimed at re-training, raising skills, or integrating more than one profession into a single educational experience.

Al Bastaki added: “These credits are cumulative, and can be collected later to obtain academic degrees that are recognized locally and internationally, which makes the learning process more flexible and closely links it to the requirements of the constantly changing labor market.”

Dr. Issa Al Bastaki stressed the importance of bringing university outputs closer to the requirements of the labor market, proposing the “employee shadow” model, which is based on the graduate accompanying an expert employee during a specific period, with the aim of acquiring realistic practical skills day by day, stressing that this method shortens time and enhances the professional readiness of graduates, so that they are able to face the challenges of the work environment efficiently from day one.

He added that micro-credentials represent an effective tool for bridging specialized skills gaps quickly and flexibly, as courses can be designed that bring together academics and industry experts in one classroom, allowing the student a direct applied educational experience linked to the labor market.

Al Bastaki stressed that artificial intelligence will remain a tool to assist humans, not a substitute for him, explaining that the human mind is characterized by creativity, the ability to innovate, and suddenness, while artificial intelligence works according to specific and logical algorithms.

He added: “Therefore, the role of the university professor changes from being a mere transmitter of information to a designer of learning experiences, a research and ethical guide who guides the student towards the optimal use of modern technologies, and enhances his ability to think critically and solve problems.”

He pointed out that the role of the teacher has become more comprehensive, as it requires integrating artificial intelligence into the educational process in a strategic manner, as the teacher uses smart tools to support personal learning, analyze student performance, and design innovative educational activities that stimulate independent thinking and creativity, while maintaining the human dimension and the necessary moral guidance for the new generation of learners.

Al Bastaki explained that modern education is moving towards a model without walls, supported by artificial intelligence, where the student becomes able to learn from anywhere and at any time, with the help of an intelligent agent who guides him and designs his educational experience in accordance with his practical skills and needs, so that education becomes personal, flexible and continuous.

Speaking about the future of education, Al Bastaki said that education will be without walls or time restrictions, explaining: “The student will be able to learn from anywhere and at any time, through smart systems that provide him with a completely self-paced educational experience, and artificial intelligence will become a permanent companion that accompanies him throughout his educational journey, guiding him and evaluating his progress continuously.”

He added that the University of Dubai has established a specialized committee to develop the Intelligent Agent (AI Agent), which will be used to serve students and academic staff members, and support all learning and interaction processes within virtual classrooms, thus enhancing a more flexible and effective educational experience.

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Global classifications…and the pursuit of justice

The President of the University of Dubai, Dr. Issa Al Bastaki, expressed to Emirates Today his reservations about some classification models that combine the roles of “consultation and evaluation” in the same entity, considering that this represents a conflict that affects the objectivity and accuracy of the evaluation.

Al-Bastaki proposed establishing a unified Arab framework for university classification, managed by the ministries of higher education in partnership with neutral international institutions, so that it focuses on the educational and economic impact of universities, rather than formal indicators, while achieving greater transparency and lower cost in the evaluation process, thus enhancing fairness and credibility in comparing universities.