The British University in Dubai (BUiD), the Middle East’s first research-based, postgraduate university, is promoting its approach to teaching that encourages innovation at a leading education exhibition.

BUiD executives emphasised that all its students are taught an in-depth approach to learning involving critical inquiry and expert analysis at Getex 2009, which opened today (April 15) at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, and run until April 18.

“Getex offers BUiD an excellent opportunity to promote our research-based post graduate study,” said Dr Abdullah Alshamsi, vice chancellor, BUiD.

“We want to emphasise that real learning is advanced by doing, and our practical programmes in business, informatics, education, and engineering, are encouraging innovation among leaders,” he added.

To promote the benefits of research-based education and its valuable contribution to the region’s knowledge economy, BUiD has partnered with iStyle, Apple’s premium reseller, in a month-long campaign launched at Getex 2009.

As part of this campaign, BUiD representatives will also be meeting with students and conducting a survey aiming to understand the opinion of the local community on the importance of research for the development of the UAE as a Nation.

BUiD’s research-based programmes allow students to act as researchers by undertaking original and credible research assignments and providing a final dissertation or thesis, under the supervision of a personal tutor.

This may be scientific, a documentary, ethnographic or action-research critical analysis of data, based on strong theoretical foundations.

While taught modules of research-based programmes give students a strong theoretical foundation, the assignments and dissertation help them to acquire research skills, understand different research methodologies and apply them to real environments by transferring knowledge and research expertise to their own areas of responsibility.

In addition to developing research skills and theoretical knowledge, BUiD students also acquire strong presentation and communication skills, Dr Alshamsi said.

They acquire these skills by working closely with faculty members who combine experience and expertise in their field of teaching.

As the only university to offer programmes that are research-based, one of BUiD’s key missions is to encourage its students to gain confidence to publish articles in Journals and present their findings at leading global conferences. – TradeArabia News Service