Flexible options provided for residential students and those abroad during spring break.
Dubai: Most UAE universities resumed online classes today after spring break, while some residential campuses have introduced hybrid learning and temporary relocation options, ensuring students—whether in hostels or at home—can continue their studies without disruption.
The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research had announced last week an extension of distance learning for two weeks following a one-week early spring break. Authorities also clarified that private schools, nurseries, and universities could request to return to in-person learning based on operational and educational needs.
With international students living on campus and faculty spread across multiple time zones, several universities have implemented flexible frameworks to accommodate the complexity on the ground.
Temporary relocation provision
At Heriot-Watt University Dubai, online learning will continue from March 23 to April 5, with all coursework, assessments, and student services delivered remotely. Prof. Lynne B. Jack, Deputy Vice Principal, noted that the university has also introduced a temporary relocation option for staff planning international travel.
“Currently, the university fully supports remote working arrangements, and we anticipate that some students and staff are participating in learning and work from overseas,” she said.
“Our priority is to maintain flexibility, safeguard well-being, and ensure uninterrupted academic progress for all students.”
Prof. Jack added that the university had adapted its teaching, assessment, and support frameworks to address emerging needs, ensuring that all student services, academic support, and administrative functions remained fully operational remotely—providing “a seamless, consistent experience for our students, regardless of their location.”
International students
At Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, the needs of its international student body have been a top priority throughout the transition. Chancellor Nathalie Martial-Braz noted that the university communicated clearly with students even before spring break, assuring them they would not need to alter travel plans and extending the return deadline to April 5 to allow for a gradual and safe return.
“As an international university, it is essential for us to work alongside the UAE to ensure pedagogical continuity for all our students, particularly our international students,” she said.
“Some students were abroad during spring break, while others remained on campus or connected virtually with Sorbonne Université. Our responsibility is to maintain this academic link regardless of location,” Martial-Braz said.
She added that the university provides a range of support services for students on campus, including psychological wellbeing programs, access to the campus clinic, residence support teams, and academic assistance.
Check-ins and wellbeing activities
At Manipal Academy of Higher Education Dubai, a hybrid learning option had already been in place, according to Dr. Sudhindra Shamanna.
“We had already provided a hybrid learning option until April 15 and continue to follow guidance from the ministry and the Knowledge and Human Development Authority. We stay in regular contact with regulators to ensure that all information comes from authorised sources,” he said.
He said students abroad could continue their studies seamlessly via online platforms, while residential students in hostels receive support through regular check-ins, wellbeing programs, virtual fitness sessions, and student-led engagement initiatives.
“Our goal is to ensure academic continuity while keeping students supported, connected, and comfortable,” he added.
Similarly, at BITS Pilani Dubai Campus, the institute has offered students and faculty the flexibility to remain abroad for the duration of the online learning period, while requesting that they keep the institute updated on their current location.
Prof. Souri Banerjee described the transition as smooth, noting that the campus had leveraged its “strong digital readiness to ensure seamless academic continuity and a superior learning experience.”
No mandatory return
Across institutions, a common message has emerged: students and faculty are not required to return to the UAE while classes remain online, though they are expected to stay in contact with their institutions and follow official advisories.
Dr. Anita Patankar said the university has robust systems in place—including live and recorded lectures, established learning management platforms, and trained faculty—to ensure continuity regardless of where students and staff are located.
“While in-person learning remains important for holistic development, universities fully understand that such decisions must prioritize safety and continuity. The focus across the sector has been clear: to maintain academic quality, student engagement, and learning outcomes. Institutions have adapted seamlessly to distance and hybrid models, ensuring that learning continues without disruption,” Dr. Patankar added.
She clarified that students and faculty are not required to return to the UAE if classes are conducted online. “However, the decision to travel remains a personal choice,” she said.
Krishna Kumar C. Negade, Senior Director of Student Recruitment at Amity University, echoed this, noting that for programmes continuing online, “there is no immediate requirement for faculty or students to return to the UAE.”
He added that flexibility has been built into teaching delivery, attendance, and assessments to accommodate those currently abroad.
“What has become evident over time is that distance learning is no longer viewed as a stop‑gap measure, but as a complementary mode of delivery—most effective when thoughtfully integrated through well-designed blended models,” he said.
Prepared for the long haul
Leaders across the higher education sector remain largely optimistic about the sector’s ability to navigate the extended period of online learning. Dr. Anita Patankar observed that institutions are “far more equipped than before, supported by robust digital infrastructure, trained faculty, and structured online delivery models.”
Drawing on over two decades of experience in UAE higher education, Krishna Kumar C. Negade highlighted the country’s track record of turning disruption into progress—from the 2008 financial crisis to the COVID-19 pandemic and the record rains of April 2024.
“Dubai’s academic hubs now bring together a wide range of leading international universities and continue to grow their student body across multiple nationalities. I’m proud to be part of a system that consistently turns disruption into progress for our students and families,” he said.
Meanwhile, Prof. Lynne B. Jack acknowledged the role of the authorities, praising their “proactive and measured response, timely decision-making, and clear communication,” which has provided reassurance to institutions and enabled universities to “plan effectively and respond with confidence during this period.”
Speaking about students awaiting a return to campus, Nathalie Martial-Braz added: “We look forward to the moment when conditions allow us to welcome all our students back safely. That return will be essential—not only academically but also socially—because universities are places of encounter, dialogue, and shared experience.”
