The UAE has become one of the most popular and sought after destinations for education in the MENA region. The country’s vision has been to transform itself into a knowledge base economy and the education industry’s rapid progress in the last few years is a testament to the government’s commitment to that vision (FindAMasters, 2018). At present, there is no dearth of good business schools offering a variety of programs that suit the needs of the students in the region. Owing to its strategic location and highly developed infrastructure, the UAE attracts students from all around the region who wish to pursue their higher education with a global perspective. Although there are a variety of reasons to study in UAE, one of the most important aspect that is unique to this place is the cultural diversity in the classrooms and the opportunity to interact with people from all parts of the world.
As the region consists majorly of expatriates from different countries; the classroom is a melting pot of innovative ideas and fresh perspectives. Cultural diversity has become an integral part of the MBA program in the UAE. It helps the students in networking with their peers from different cultural backgrounds and understand the importance of considering the point of view of others (Deveau, 2012). It is evident from the literature on the topic of diversity that decision making is dependent on race, culture, gender, nationality etc. These attributes help shape a person’s personality and leadership style. Therefore, the understanding of how people from different cultures approach decision making helps students understand their own biases and prejudices. This understanding of different cultures is instrumental in shaping their own careers and succeeding in a professional environment (Baer, 2016). It is not just the individuals who benefits from cultural diversity, but even the organisations rely heavily on individuals with diverse skill sets, experiences and cultural backgrounds for problem solving and decision making.
Whether students enrol in a one year MBA in UAE or a regular one, the idea is to develop skills and knowledge that will help them in becoming effective managers and leaders. It is evident that leadership is deeply rooted in understanding of the behaviors and motivation of others, therefore awareness of how culture affects people’s behavior and expectations helps in developing a sound leadership approach. Cultural diversity in the classroom creates skills, knowledge and abilities that acts as a stepping stone for breaking away from the ethnocentric viewpoint that one might hold.
As recognized by quite a few researchers, cross cultural leadership is one of the many challenges that organizations face today. The moot point here is whether diversity needs to be “tolerated or celebrated”(May, 2015). It is important to shun the idea that diversity needs to be managed to keep conflict at bay and to look at it as an advantage that needs to be leveraged from. Therefore, it is essential for MBA students in the UAE to appreciate the value of diversity and use it as a platform for personal and professional development.
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Bibliography
1. Baer, R., 2016. Why Diversity Matters in the B-School Classroom. [Online] Available at: https://www.mba.com/global/the-gmat-blog-hub/ask-the-expert/2016/september/why-diversity-matters-in-the-b-school-classroom.aspx [Accessed 18 06 2018].
2. Deveau, D., 2012. MBA programs leveraging Cultural Diversity to Enhance Scholastic Experience. [Online] Available at: http://business.financialpost.com/executive/business-education/mba-programs-leveraging-cultural-diversity-to-enhance-scholastic-experience [Accessed 18 06 2018].
3. FindAMasters, 2018. Masters Study in the United Arab Emirates - A Guide for 2018. [Online] Available at: https://www.findamasters.com/study-abroad/asia/masters-study-in-united-arab-emirates.aspx [Accessed 18 06 2018].
4. May, T., 2015. Cultural Intelligence (CQ): the Answer to the Diversity Challenge. [Online] Available at: https://tpcleadership.com/ae/blog-post/cultural-intelligence/ [Accessed 18 06 2018].
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