Dubai has launched an unprecedented first-year degree in planning and future foresight of municipal-related work in a major leap towards redefining higher education in the country. The six-month hybrid course, which was introduced by Dubai Municipality in partnership with the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) Dubai, seeks to fill the gap between theory and practice.
The innovative programme allows the participants to confront the burning issues in the workplace and find viable solutions that are practical and can be applied in the immediate future. The graduates will also receive a globally recognized academic certificate and have the choice to proceed to complete a full master’s degree based on the credits obtained.
Participants in the six-month programme are awarded an accredited and internationally recognized academic certificate upon completion of the programme, said Dr. Yousef Al Assaf, president of RIT Dubai. In case they want to proceed with their studies, they may take a master’s, and the credits obtained during the programme will be transferred to the master’s.
The New Era of Higher Education
Dr. Al Assaf said the programme embodies the new way of learning in the future—quicker, adaptable, and without a doubt, more directly related to the needs of the industry. In this busy world, individuals are not interested in taking years to study something that is just theoretical when they can learn and implement the same in months. “It’s not only about education. It is all about seeing tomorrow, thinking about the possibilities of what is to come, and coming up with new answers to keep up with the change.
What the Programme Offers
The degree of micro-master comprises qualitative and quantitative foresight techniques, such as scenario planning, strategic road mapping, environmental scanning, and vision-building. There will also be practical capstone projects, which are aimed at solving practical municipal and sustainability problems in the world with the assistance of international foresight professionals.
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The global leaders in the field of urban governance and foresight will teach courses with a focus on the critical issues of the cities of the future, such as climate change, food security, net zero by 2050, and sustainable urban design. Dr. Al Assaf said that these challenges are not something that can be fulfilled in isolation. They need us to think and act as one toward the same vision of the future.
Building a Future-Ready Dubai
The project will be in line with the vision of Dubai to institutionalize future foresight skills among municipal leadership. It is intended to guide professionals on how to foresee change, deal with uncertainty, and develop adaptive strategies that could sustain urban, environmental, and economic growth goals of Dubai.
Change is not a luxury but a responsibility, according to Marwan Ahmed bin Ghalita, the Director General of Dubai Municipality. It empowers local leadership and makes our teams dynamic, visionary, and prepared to operate according to the new global trends.
As Dubai remains dedicated to innovation and sustainability, this micro-master’s will be a revolutionary move in higher learning in the future, a qualification that enables the professionals of the present to create intelligent, resilient cities of tomorrow.