According to a senior UAE academician, the UAE is one of the most important centers of higher education in the area, capable of meeting the demands of the “Fourth Industrial Revolution and Artificial Intelligence.”
Zaki Anwar Nusseibeh, Cultural Adviser to the UAE President and Chancellor of the UAE University, stated the strength of the UAE higher education system resides in its variety in his keynote speech at a conference on ‘Open Scholarships in a Post-Pandemic World.’
“We have institutions in every corner of the globe.” “We have institutions that are technical, specialty, vocational, liberal arts, and research-intensive,” he explained.
“Some are public, while others are private, and some are large while others are small.” Many are the product of international collaboration and inward investment.”
In attendance were Juma Al Majid, founder of the Juma Al Majid Center for Culture and Heritage, and several higher education leaders, academics, researchers, librarian specialists, and students at the 24th international conference on Networked Digital Library of Electronic Theses and Dissertations, held by the UAE University’s pavilion at Expo 2020 in Dubai.
The goal of the meeting was to discuss how to promote open scholarship so that researchers can find and access graduate dissertations and theses.
“Libraries and librarians’ and archivists’ work have played an important role in my life and career. “Reading has always been a source of energy, ideas, and connectedness to the world around me,” Nusseibeh explained.
“Our early career researchers are postgraduate students.” Their dissertations and theses are frequently the most unique, innovative, and creative works they have ever produced. Early career researchers’ first works are the seeds of their future field of specialty. It is new and original material that is difficult to come by and must be utilized if these young people are to build a reputation for themselves in academia.”
Despite the excitement and intensity of early-career research, he was concerned that “most journal and book editors desire to publish the works of experienced, widely cited academics.” As a result, it is difficult for young scholars to publish. As a result, because their work isn’t published, it’s difficult for our established researchers to acquire and use it.”
“Publication is an activity that requires a variety of resources,” the academic expert said. Researchers require financial means to publish their findings, which are scarce in many parts of the world. Alternatively, the researcher’s university may not have a strong presence in European, North American, or Australian higher education centers.”
“Moreover, researchers may not work in English, the primary language of academic publication,” he noted. As a result, early career researchers’ work may not be published due to a lack of such resources. It will be hidden from view by the rest of the world.”
This, according to Nusseibeh, is a vicious spiral that must be broken. Otherwise, the vital work of early-career scholars will be lost. It’s only a passing concern for examiners, and it swiftly fades from view in the library stacks. We must break this vicious cycle and provide direct access to the public to the vital work of young researchers — the ingenious, brave, and imaginative outcomes of their laborious efforts.”
