Abstract:

Due to the impact of globalization on economics, technology and information, the Emirate of Dubai [UAE] is emerging as a major center for trade and re-export business in the region of south west Asia. Oil income dependence is shrinking to less than 25% of the total emirate income. This situation is expanding to the rest of the emirates of the UAE. As a result, new technologies are being introduced and adopted to this region in many fields of engineering. Many experts are sought to deal with both technical specializations and business matters such as marketing, communication and international standards, on the same time. Unfortunately, many universities in the region are still offering classical familiar syllabi adopted at many other universities elsewhere, which some are considered to be very prestige, but might find no application fields in this region. Most of these syllabi cover many science courses, which the student finds no or limited interaction with regional practical applications.
The competition in information technology, which is developing at higher pace in the region due to the “new economy”, makes engineering a less favorable choice for young students. Also, due to the long syllabi programs, which some might reach up to 200 Credit Hours, student integrity towards specifically system design and modular analysis is eliminated. Many of the utilized industries are varying with time, which means it would be difficult to instill a fresh graduate engineer with the needed technology-base knowledge. This has been envisaged by ABET engineering criterion (EC2000) focusing on learning abilities rather curriculum content, signifying a shift from program input to program output.

Keywords:

Engineering programs, Globalization, Syllabi, Dubai.