Strategies and Public Policy Models of Effective Human Capital, Talents and Workforce Development
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Strategies and Public Policy Models of Effective Human Capital, Talents and Workforce Development: An Investigation into the Effectiveness of Different Scholarship Programmes in the United Arab Emirates, UAE Zayed Hassan Al Afifi A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Applied Social Sciences and Humanities London Metropolitan University For the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) February 2016 Main Supervisors: Dr Amer Hosin & Dr Pat Gray Contents List of Figures 7 List of Tables 8 Acknowledgements 10 Abstract 12 Chapter 1: Introduction and Background 1.1 Introduction 15 1.2 Research objectives: primary questions 16 1.3 Rationale 17 1.4 The geographic and demographic context 17 1.5 Main contribution of current research work 21 1.6 Public policy strategy and education in the UAE 22 1.7 The main characteristics of the UAE job market 24 1.8 Education and innovation 29 1.9 Leadership and governance 29 1.10 Salaries and cost of living 30 1.11 Employment legislation 31 1.12 The UAE as a multi-cultural and melting-pot 33 1.13 Nationals and expatriates workforce in the UAE 34 1.14 Education systems 40 1.15 Conclusion 41 Chapter 2: Literature Review: Human Capital Development, the Characteristics of Higher Education in the UAE and the University Scholarship Schemes for UAE Nationals 2.1 Introduction 43 2.2 The present research and knowledge-base economy of the Middle East 43 2.3 The notion of human capital development 44 2.4 The human capital context: the UAE’s workforce situation 53 1 2.5 Challenges facing the UAE economy 55 2.6 Higher education in the Emirates 56 2.7 Development and structure of higher education in the UAE 61 2.8 Supply and demand for higher education in the UAE 62 2.9 Quality of higher education in the UAE 66 2.10 Strategy for meeting labour market requirements and the role of Higher Education in the UAE 68 2.11 Key issues for UAE higher education 69 2.12 Funding and access for UAE citizens 70 2.13 Participation of males in higher education 72 2.14 Revisiting human capital development in the UAE 73 2.15 The success of scholarships programmes 76 2.16 The nature and framework of the Foreign Scholarship Programmes In selected organisations in the UAE 77 Chapter 3: Nature and Framework of the Foreign Scholarship Programme in Selected Organisations of the UAE, with Reference to Workforce Development Strategies 3.1 Introduction 81 3.2 Scholarship funding, financial and other support 82 3.3 Ministry of Presidential Affairs scholarships 83 3.4 Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) scholarships 84 3.5 Presidential Scholarship programme 86 3.6 Dubai Police higher education foreign scholarships 86 3.7 Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) 87 3.8 Abu Dhabi National Oil Company Scholarship Programme (ADNOC) 88 3.9 Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research programme 89 3.10 Data tables and analysis: preliminary results 90 2 Chapter 4: Methodology used to Evaluate the Effectiveness of the Scholarship Programme in the UAE 4.1 Introduction 101 4.2 Measuring effectiveness of the scholarship programme: sample and procedures 102 4.3 Approach to assessment and methodology 104 4.4 Evaluation limitations and challenges of data collection 105 4.5 Evaluation methodology 106 4.6 Organisational and institutional effects 106 4.7 Private economic outcomes 107 4.8 Labour market effects 107 4.9 Innovation 108 4.10 Knowledge, skills and ‘know-how’ transfers 109 4.11 Wider development impacts 109 4.12 Measuring net impacts: attribution and counterfactual 110 4.13 Detailed methodology, limitations and reporting conventions 111 4.14 Survey instrument and data management 113 4.15 Sample selection and interview procedures 113 4.16 Interview design and implementation 114 4.17 Limitations 115 4.18 Conclusion 116 Chapter 5: Results 5.1 Introduction 118 5.2 Response rate 119 5.3 Reporting conventions 119 5.4 Main Results 119 5.4.1 Outcomes of descriptive data 120 5.4.2 Gender 120 3 5.4.3 Country of residence 120 5.4.4 Qualifications 120 5.4.5 Achievement of original enrolment 121 5.5 Scholarship’s contribution to individual career development 122 5.5.1 Category of employment pre-scholarship 123 5.5.2 Returning to work 124 5.5.3 Reintegration experience 131 5.5.4 Current employment 134 5.5.5 Promotions 137 5.5.6 Chance of promotions with current employer 138 5.5.7 New skills and knowledge 140 5.5.8 Technical skills 140 5.5.9 Analytical and critical skills 141 5.5.10 Management skills 143 5.5.11 Communication skills 144 5.5.12 Cross-cultural understanding 145 5.5.13 Supportiveness for diversity in the workplace 146 5.5.14 Planning skills 148 5.5.15 Collaboration/teamwork skills 149 5.5.16 Opportunities outside the public sector 150 5.5.17 Achieving career goals 152 5.5.18 Opportunities for employment overseas 153 5.5.19 Increased salary or personal income 155 5.6 Personal outcomes 156 5.6.1 Motivation to work 157 5.6.2 Confidence in abilities 158 5.6.3 Career ambitions 160 5.6.4 Interest in work 162 5.6.5 Work satisfaction 163 4 5.6.6 Personal empowerment 165 5.6.7 Linkages between the UAE, foreign universities and local region 168 5.6.8 Social group during scholarship 168 5.6.9 Personal links developed 169 5.6.10 Personal links maintained 171 5.6.11 Return travel to country of scholarship award 173 5.6.12 Benefits of links 173 5.6.13 Links with formal foreign entities or organisations 173 5.7 Improved institutional effectiveness 174 5.8 Valuing alumni in the public sector – the managers’ perspective 174 5.9 Scholarship graduates’ contribution to institutions 176 5.9.1 Relevance of skills and knowledge 176 5.9.2 Utilisation of skills and knowledge 177 5.9.3 Skills transfer 184 5.10 Most significant change as a result of scholarship 190 5.11 Computation of rate of returns 191 5.11.1 Data for the computation of rates and returns to Education on scholarship 191 Chapter 6: Discussion of Main Findings 6.1 Introduction 194 6.2 Skills and knowledge 195 6.3 Opportunities outside the public sector 195 6.4 Personal outcomes 195 6.5 Linkages between the UAE, foreign countries and within the region 196 6.6 Improving institutional effectiveness 196 6.7 Contribution to the UAE’s development 197 5 Chapter 7: Concluding Remarks and Policy Implications 7.1 Conclusion 207 7.2 Limitations and direction for future research 215 Bibliography and References 218 Appendices A-L 231 Appendix A Evaluation design – a copy of blank questionnaire 231 Appendix B Sample of completed questionnaire by a participant 242 Appendix C Sample II of completed questionnaire 257 Appendix D Sample of completed qualitative interview guide 271 Appendix E Participant information form 274 Appendix F Participant consent from 277 Appendix G Debriefing sheet for participant 278 Appendix H Volunteer participation interview letter 280 Appendix I Collaborating organization approval 282 Appendix J Additional summary for participants 283 Appendix K Abbreviation list 287 Appendix L List of Tables showing different categories of field of study in 289 Different countries. Appendix M Contingency Tables showing comparison of results before 311 2006 and after 2006. 6 List of Figures 1.1 Percentage of Working population 19 1.2 Crude oil price 30 1.3 GCC economic growth 30 1.4 Employment by sector 31 1.5 Employment by country 31 1.6 Attraction of expatriates 32 1.7 Retention rate of expatriates 32 3.1 Scholarship in the subject of Biology 92 3.2 Scholarship in the subject of Botany 92 3.3 Scholarship in the subject of Engineering 93 3.4 Scholarship in the subject of Accounts & Finance 93 3.5 Scholarship in the subject of Management 94 3.6 Scholarship in the subject of Computer Studies 94 3.7 Scholarship in the subject of Humanities 95 3.8 Scholarship in the subject of Science 95 3.9 Scholarship in the subject of Political Science 95 3.10 Scholarship in the subject of Education & Training 96 3.11 Scholarship in the subject of Tourism & Hospitality 96 3.12 Scholarship in the subject of Law 96 3.13 Scholarship in the subject of Media 97 3.14 Description of percentage of scholarship in different fields of Study from 2001–12 98 3.15 Percentage of bachelor, master and doctoral scholarships 2001–12 99 7 List of Tables 2.1 Illiteracy rate in UAE 57 2.2 Higher education institute by type and sector, 2010–11 60 2.3 Higher education students by nationality, sector and gender, 2010–11 60 2.4 Higher education graduates by nationality, sector and gender, 2010–11 61 3.1 Percentage of scholarship in each category between 2001–12 91 3.2 Percentage of scholarship in each category between 2001–12 91 3.3 Summary of the percentage of scholarship in different fields of Study from 2001–12 97 3.4 Scholarships offered for bachelor, master and doctoral studies 2001–12 98 3.5 Allocation of scholarships for bachelor, master and doctoral studies 99 3.6 Percentage of scholarships for bachelor, master and doctoral Programme offered between 2001–12 100 5.1 Achievement of original enrolment 121 5.2 Return to former workplace 125 5.3 Return to former workplace (re-coded) 126 5.4 Level of position on return 128 5.5 Timing of return to work 129 5.6 Timing of return to work 130 5.7 Reintegration experience (re-coded) 132 5.8 Still work for same employer (by gender) 134 5.9 Still work for same employer (by period) 135 5.10 Promotions since scholarship 137 5.11 Technical skills 141 5.12 Analytical and critical skills 142 5.13 Management skills 143 5.14 Communication skills 144 8 5.15 Cross-cultural understanding 145 5.16 Supportiveness for diversity 147 5.17 Planning skills 148 5.18 Employment with other organisations 151 5.19 Chance of achieving