Motivation of Emirati males and females to study at higher education in the United Arab Emirates

Abstract

This article reports on a study into the motivation of young Emirati undergraduate students for studying in a higher education institution in the United Arab Emirates. The participants were male and female undergraduate students in their first or second year of studying. The aim of the study was to examine their motivation using a framework that recognized the unique sociocultural context of the UAE. Data were analysed according to an adapted framework encompassing both Self-Determination Theory and Personal Investment theory. SDT was chosen due to its focus on different types of extrinsic motivation, and PI theory was chosen for its non-culture specific applicability. A major finding of the research is that an examination of motivation according to dichotomous relationships of intrinsic vs. extrinsic, collectivist vs. individualistic, self as individual vs. self as part of society are over simplistic in this specific context. A more useful paradigm is one in which the individual is influenced by personal and professional goals, as well as social and familial expectations. Unexpectedly, use of language (Arabic or English) did not influence the results. These findings will provide teachers and university administration with a better understanding of their students, and will replace certain stereotypes that teachers may have about their students and their motivation for studying.

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“…Previous studies (Al-Fattal, 2010;Al Hallak, Ayoubi, Moscardini anda Loutfi, 2019;Tin, Ismail, Othman and Sulaiman, 2012;Engin and McKeown, 2017;Henry, 2012;Hossler, Braxton, and Coopersmith, 1989;Hoyt and Brown, 2003;Kim and Gasman, 2011;Kusumawati, 2013;Maniu and Maniu, 2014;Migin, Falahat, Yajid and Khatibi, 2015;Obermeit, 2012;Shah, Sid Nair and Bennett, 2013;Pritchard et al 2018, Pawar et al 2019Singh, 2019;Busher and James, 2019;Nghia, 2019) have investigated the process of students' university choice thoroughly and some have identified a number of factors that affect the students' university choice decision. However, most of these studies have been conducted in the developed countries such as the United States of America, Britain, Australia and Germany.…”

Birinci Sınıf Üniversite Öğrencilerinin Eleştirel Düşünme ve Yaşamboyu Öğrenme Becerileri Arasındaki İlişki

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Lessons from The Gulf: Female Indigenous Emirati Students’ Persistence and Success at University

“…Findlow also argued that there was an incongruity between society's desire to educate women and the realities of employment opportunities for them after completing university. Three years later, Engin and McKeown (2016) raised similar concerns: "Are female students able to participate in the workforce as fully as they talk about?" (p. 13).…”