A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND INNOVATION POLICY IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, WITH A PARTICULAR FOCUS ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Manal N. Dawood

Abstract


This paper critically analyzes the Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) policy in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with a particular focus on its implications for higher education. The study explores how the UAE's STI policy, driven by a shift towards a knowledge-based economy, emphasizes human capital development, economic growth, and global competitiveness. It examines the role of higher education in fostering innovation and entrepreneurship and the alignment of the UAE's policies with global standards, such as those of the OECD. The analysis highlights key challenges, including the need for greater integration of STEM education, the underrepresentation of Emiratis in STEM fields, and the reliance on expatriate talent. Furthermore, the study critiques the STI policy's neoliberal underpinnings, which prioritize economic outcomes over social and cultural considerations, particularly in a collectivist society like the UAE. The paper concludes with suggestions for future policy revisions, emphasizing the need for more inclusive and context-sensitive approaches to innovation and education.

 

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science, technology, knowledge-based economy, human capital development, higher education, neoliberalism, economic growth

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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.46827/ejes.v11i11.5588

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