A quick tour of Dubai International Academic City and some other Dubai free zones will reveal a host of international university branch campuses. Their presence in Dubai’s Free Zones is a contribution of Dubai, KHDA and Dr. Warren Fox, KHDA’s Chief of higher education. As well as encouraging qualified international universities to establish campuses in the emirate, Dr Fox ensures that their programmes cater to the needs of the labour market and Dubai’s strategic plan.
“This is actually one of our biggest challenges – improving the alignment of academic programmes in the Free Zones with Dubai’s economic needs,” he said. Dr Fox became the first chair of the University Quality Assurance International Board (UQAIB), a 12 member panel of international experts who ensure that programmes offered by branch universities in Dubai meet the standards of their home campuses and hold international accreditation.
“This is the first equivalency model in the world that has been established for international branch campuses,” he said. “It helps universities and colleges, but also lets students and their families know that they are attending reputable institutions with high quality programmes.”
Dr. Fox plans to create a higher education landscape that will offer Emirati, expatriate and international students a wide range of choices for starting or continuing their university studies. “We would like to expand access so that students need look no further than Dubai for all the qualifications their careers here require.”
His growth plans for the sector include encouraging a hub with more research-based postgraduate programmes to fuel Dubai’s knowledge economy. “The work we’re doing here is having an impact not only in Dubai, but worldwide,” he said. “It’s very rewarding to work in such an exciting, multicultural setting; it’s a good time to be part of all this.”
Dr. Fox is Chief of the Higher Education for the Dubai Knowledge and Human Development Authority in the United Arab Emirates. Previously he was Executive Director of the Office of Higher Education, Policy & Planning, for the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of the United Arab Emirates. He also serves on the School Board for the American Community School.
Previously, he served as Visiting Scholar, University of California at Berkeley, with the Center for Studies in Higher Education, focusing on higher education administration and policy, and best practices for accountability.
He was the longest serving Executive Director of California’s planning and coordinating agency for higher education - the California Postsecondary Education Commission. The Commission is responsible to the executive and legislative branches for updating the state-wide plan for higher education and for recommendations on budget, capital outlay, academic programs, and other issues. He also served as convener of the California Education Roundtable composed of California’s university system leaders.
He is a past President of SHEEO (the State Higher Education Executive Officers national association), and former Chair of the National Postsecondary Education Cooperative for the U.S. Department of Education and NCES. He is also a former Chairman of the National Forum of System Chief Academic Officers and former member of the WICHE Executive Committee.
Dr. Fox received his B.A. in Political Science from the University of California at Berkeley, and his Ph.D. from the University of Southern California School of Policy Planning and Development.
A quick tour of Dubai International Academic City and some other Dubai free zones will reveal a host of international university branch campuses. Their presence in Dubai’s Free Zones is a contribution of Dubai, KHDA and Dr. Warren Fox, KHDA’s Chief of higher education. As well as encouraging qualified international universities to establish campuses in the emirate, Dr Fox ensures that their programmes cater to the needs of the labour market and Dubai’s strategic plan.
“This is actually one of our biggest challenges – improving the alignment of academic programmes in the Free Zones with Dubai’s economic needs,” he said. Dr Fox became the first chair of the University Quality Assurance International Board (UQAIB), a 12 member panel of international experts who ensure that programmes offered by branch universities in Dubai meet the standards of their home campuses and hold international accreditation.
“This is the first equivalency model in the world that has been established for international branch campuses,” he said. “It helps universities and colleges, but also lets students and their families know that they are attending reputable institutions with high quality programmes.”
Dr Fox plans to create a higher education landscape that will offer Emirati, expatriate and international students a wide range of choices for starting or continuing their university studies. “We would like to expand access so that students need look no further than Dubai for all the qualifications their careers here require.”
His growth plans for the sector include encouraging a hub with more research-based postgraduate programmes to fuel Dubai’s knowledge economy. “The work we’re doing here is having an impact not only in Dubai, but worldwide,” he said. “It’s very rewarding to work in such an exciting, multicultural setting; it’s a good time to be part of all this.”
Dr. Fox is Chief of the Higher Education for the Dubai Knowledge and Human Development Authority in the United Arab Emirates. Previously he was Executive Director of the Office of Higher Education, Policy & Planning, for the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of the United Arab Emirates. He also serves on the School Board for the American Community School.
Previously, he served as Visiting Scholar, University of California at Berkeley, with the Center for Studies in Higher Education, focusing on higher education administration and policy, and best practices for accountability.
He was the longest serving Executive Director of California’s planning and coordinating agency for higher education - the California Postsecondary Education Commission. The Commission is responsible to the executive and legislative branches for updating the state-wide plan for higher education and for recommendations on budget, capital outlay, academic programs, and other issues. He also served as convener of the California Education Roundtable composed of California’s university system leaders.
He is a past President of SHEEO (the State Higher Education Executive Officers national association), and former Chair of the National Postsecondary Education Cooperative for the U.S. Department of Education and NCES. He is also a former Chairman of the National Forum of System Chief Academic Officers and former member of the WICHE Executive Committee.
Dr. Fox received his B.A. in Political Science from the University of California at Berkeley, and his Ph.D. from the University of Southern California School of Policy Planning and Development.