Next phase of education will depend more on local capability and meaningful outcomes Last updated: May 14, 2026 | 12:36 A university’s strength lies not only in the standing of its partners, but in the depth of its own academic community, the flexibility of its teaching model, and the clarity of its sense of purpose. Gulf News Archives As schools and universities in the UAE reopen, the moment offers a useful reminder. The real test of a higher education system is not only the calibre of the institutions linked to it, but its ability to sustain learning, support students, and adapt when conditions become less predictable. That is a timely point for the Gulf. Across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, governments have spent years investing in higher education to raise quality, widen access, and strengthen their position in the global knowledge economy. International partnerships have been central to that effort.…