Dubai, April 18th, 2011. Since its inception, the American University in Dubai (AUD) has committed itself to providing a world-class education that prepares students academically, personally and professionally for successful careers in their chosen fields. Education is a field that constitutes a national priority, not only in the UAE, but worldwide.
 
As part of a strategic initiative aimed at expanding its graduate offerings, AUD has developed and is now preparing to launch a Master of Education (M.Ed.) program in the 2011-2012 academic year. Based on a thorough needs assessment, this program is conceived with two target audiences in mind: practicing elementary and secondary school teachers, whose undergraduate degree may or may not be in education, and university graduates with no prior teaching experience who wish to pursue a graduate degree in education with the intention of teaching at the primary or secondary school level.
 
Program requirements vary slightly depending on which of these two groups a candidate falls within.
 
As with other AUD degree programs, it is expected that diversity will characterize students seeking admission to the M.Ed. These will include U.A.E. nationals and expatriates, native speakers of English and non-native speakers, individuals who will live permanently in the U.A.E., those who are here for a short stay, and those who seek residency of a considerable length.
 
The M.Ed. program has been designed to meet the needs of these various groups. As courses are taught in English, students may enroll in the university’s Intensive English Language Program prior to commencing graduate study.
 
In order to ensure that the degree is offered to an international standard, the curriculum is aligned with the standards of the Interstate New Teachers Assessment and Support Consortium (INTASC), based in the U.S.
 
AUD’s M.Ed. has been accredited by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and is offered under the umbrella of AUD’s accreditation by the Commission on Colleges (COC) of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) in the U.S.
 
Dr. Jihad S. Nader, AUD’s Provost/Chief Academic Officer, views the introduction of the M.Ed. program as “the most recent expression and a tangible embodiment of AUD’s ongoing endeavor to fulfill its mission - with special emphasis on ‘the advancement of society,’ which is an integral part of AUD’s mission.” Dr. Nader adds, “The M.Ed. program will make a significant contribution to the enhancement of primary and secondary education in the UAE by providing existing and prospective teachers with a high level of preparation in education as an academic discipline and a profession. In this manner, the M.Ed. program will feed into the UAE’s policies that consider enhancement of quality and effectiveness in the primary and secondary education system as a strategic priority and a cornerstone of social development.”