Of ‘international exposure’, place and mobility trajectories: domestic students and international students in the education hub of Dubai

Jill Ahrens, Universiteit Utrecht

Document Type

Article

Source of Publication

Globalisation, Societies and Education

Publication Date

1-1-2024

Abstract

In 2023, the UAE hosted the second largest number of international branch campuses in the world. They cater for ‘local’ Emirati students and the large resident community of ‘expatriates’, but there also is a growing number of international students coming to study in Dubai from abroad. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with students in Dubai, this paper compares the locational and study choices of international and domestic students at international branch campuses. The findings show that the domestic students often opt to study locally due to the more affordable tuition fees and gendered expectations to stay close to their families. Meanwhile for international students, the prestige associated with certain international branch campuses, usually is a decisive factor in motivating them to study in Dubai, alongside concerns for safety and proximity to their country of usual residence. In addition, many international students believe that Dubai’s reputation as a ‘world’ city, which attracts people, goods, and investments from various part of the world, and the transnational education they are engaged in, will enable them to benefit from ‘international exposure’. Both international and domestic students regard the academic credentials they attain in Dubai as potentially paving the way for the realisation of post-study aspirations.

ISSN

1476-7724

Publisher

Informa UK Limited

Disciplines

Education

Keywords

international exposure, branch campuses, transnational education, study choices, academic credentials

Scopus ID

85192077209

Indexed in Scopus

yes

Open Access

no

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