ABSTRACT

This study empirically examines different factors that influence students to select universities in the UAE. The primary data were collected based on a survey of students at two public universities – United Arab Emirates University and Zayed University, as well as three private universities – New York University, Abu Dhabi University, and Alain University. The data were analyzed using an ANOVA test, an exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) using SPSS and Smart PLS software. This study found high reliability and validity of the scale under five dimensions, which determine the student’s choice of the university. The findings show that several factors, such as the academic reputation, grants and funding, location and proximity, facilities and services, promotional and marketing channels, drive students’ choices for studying at universities in UAE. This finding will help the administrators of private and public universities in the UAE, in particular, and other regional and international universities, in general, address the growing competition among the institutions of higher education. It will also help policymakers to design effective policies and strategies to make the UAE an international education hub.

摘要

本研究实证检验了影响学生选择阿联酋大学的不同因素。主要数据是根据对两所公立大学（阿拉伯联合酋长国大学和扎耶德大学）以及三所私立大学（纽约大学、阿布扎比大学和阿兰大学）的学生进行的调查收集的。使用 SPSS 和 Smart PLS 软件使用方差分析检验、探索性因素分析 (EFA) 和验证性因素分析 (CFA) 对数据进行分析。本研究发现该量表在决定学生大学选择的五个维度下具有较高的信度和效度。调查结果表明，几个因素，如学术声誉、赠款和资金、位置和距离、设施和服务、促销和营销渠道，推动学生选择在阿联酋的大学学习。这一发现将有助于阿联酋私立和公立大学的管理者，尤其是其他地区和国际大学的管理者，解决高等教育机构之间日益激烈的竞争问题。它还将帮助决策者设计有效的政策和战略，使阿联酋成为国际教育中心。