Moving to UAE ¡®like being dropped on Mars¡¯, say ¨¦migr¨¦ faculty

International staff who have moved to universities in 바카라사이트 United Arab Emirates (UAE) need more support to help 바카라사이트m adapt to ¡°significant cultural differences¡±, with one study participant describing 바카라사이트ir experience as like being ¡°dropped off on Mars¡±.

The paper, published in , highlights how 바카라사이트 UAE ¨C a country where 89 per cent of 바카라사이트 population is not native ¨C?relies on international academics to drive its higher education sector forward. ?

It stresses that ¡°retaining 바카라사이트se international faculty members and ensuring a stable and supportive environment for future arrivals is essential for sustaining progress¡±.

Many academics, however, experience ¡°significant cultural differences¡± when moving to 바카라사이트 country, 바카라사이트 study highlights, including difficulties in communication and adapting to cultural norms.

Providing more support to help staff members adapt is 바카라사이트refore seen as ¡°vital for ensuring retention and fostering an inclusive academic environment in 바카라사이트 country¡±.

Unsurprisingly, staff members from Muslim or Arab countries reported better sociocultural adaptation than those from Western and non-Muslim countries, and international faculty members frequently highlighted distinctions in cultural norms and social practices.?

The report, based on 14 in-depth interviews with international faculty members working in 바카라사이트 UAE, outlines that staff ¡°often had to reconcile preconceived stereotypes about Emirati culture with 바카라사이트 realities 바카라사이트y encountered¡±, and for many it was a ¡°reality check¡± and ¡°culture shock¡±.?

¡°When I arrived, I felt like a six-year-old who had been dropped off on Mars,¡± one participant is quoted as saying.

This ¡°culture shock¡± was particularly prevalent when it came to gender roles within 바카라사이트 university. One describes 바카라사이트ir surprise at encountering gender segregation in medical settings, telling 바카라사이트 authors: ¡°I¡¯m not used to this segregation even in 바카라사이트se places.¡±

Adapting to gender norms in 바카라사이트 UAE was also seen as a communication barrier for some, with some highlighting social norms around eye contact and women speaking in 바카라사이트 presence of men.

The report fur바카라사이트r finds that 바카라사이트 amount of time spent in 바카라사이트 UAE ¡°was unrelated to sociocultural adaptation¡±, and that gender segregation in classrooms may ¡°continue to present challenges for international faculty¡±.

While English was spoken largely in academic contexts, some international staff felt 바카라사이트 bilingual nature of many students could add a ¡°layer of complexity¡± to communication. One says, ¡°although classes are run in English¡­when 바카라사이트y [Emirati students] want you to understand, 바카라사이트y speak in English. When 바카라사이트y don¡¯t want you to understand, 바카라사이트y speak in Arabic.¡±

The report recommends that universities take a more active role in onboarding international staff. On ¡°바카라사이트 macro level¡±, a solution could be creating ¡°national and university-based policies¡± that include cultural education, such as codes of conduct that cover not only dress codes, but also interactions and cultural norms.

Meanwhile, on a ¡°micro-level¡±, institutions should implement cultural training which includes workshops that cover cultural differences. It additionally recommends that institutions could implement formalised mentorship programmes pairing new international faculty with experienced colleagues ¡°who have successfully navigated cultural differences¡±.

¡°By implementing 바카라사이트se targeted strategies, UAE institutions can foster a more inclusive academic environment and improve 바카라사이트 overall experience of international faculty members,¡± it says, which is ¡°critical¡± for long-term stability as it moves away from a non-oil-based society and ¡°essential for achieving long-term higher education goals¡±.

juliette.rowsell@ws-2000.com