4.3.1 Canadian University Dubai — Free Access to Public Educational Resources and Lifelong Learning
Institutional Commitment
Canadian University Dubai (CUD) is committed to promoting lifelong learning and widening access to educational knowledge beyond its enrolled student population.
Recognising that learning should extend beyond formal university education, CUD provides opportunities for members of the public, external researchers, professionals and individuals who are not registered as CUD students to access freely available online educational resources and participate in public learning activities.
These opportunities include publicly accessible educational guides developed by the University's Learning Resource Centre (LRC), online research guidance, selected open-access academic resources and free public educational webinars.
Through these initiatives, CUD seeks to reduce barriers to knowledge, encourage independent learning and support the professional and personal development of the wider community.
1. Free Online Educational Resources Through the Learning Resource Centre
CUD's Learning Resource Centre provides an online platform containing educational guidance and publicly accessible learning materials.
The LRC's online research guides, known as LibGuides, provide structured information to help users discover academic resources, understand research processes and develop independent learning skills.
Members of the general public can access the publicly available LRC educational guides without being enrolled at Canadian University Dubai.
These web-based resources can be consulted remotely and do not require users to visit the university campus.
Publicly Accessible Learning and Research Guides
The LRC provides online educational guidance covering areas such as:
- Identifying and locating academic information.
- Understanding how to search for books, journals and research publications.
- Developing effective academic research strategies.
- Navigating library catalogues and research discovery tools.
- Understanding referencing and academic citation practices.
- Identifying open-access academic information and research resources.
The guides support independent learning and introduce users to research techniques that can be applied in academic, professional and personal development contexts.
Example: How to Access CUD LRC Resources
The Learning Resource Centre maintains a publicly accessible guide titled How to Access CUD LRC Resources.
The guide introduces users to the University's research discovery systems and provides information about locating and identifying scholarly resources.
Its educational content covers topics including library catalogues, electronic journals, online databases and approaches to academic resource discovery.
The guide was updated on 16 June 2025, demonstrating the availability and maintenance of online educational guidance during the reporting year.
Public access: https://lrc.cud.ac.ae/LRCResources
Open-Access Academic Resources and Research Guidance
The LRC website also provides publicly accessible research guides across academic subject areas.
These guides introduce relevant research topics, recommended search terminology, information sources and academic learning resources.
The LRC additionally directs users towards selected open-access scholarly materials and research platforms.
Where resources are designated as open access, members of the public can consult the relevant educational or research content subject to the provider's applicable access conditions.
CUD distinguishes between freely accessible educational guidance and subscription-based electronic resources. Access to licensed academic databases, journal collections and e-books may be restricted to authorised university users.
Public access to LRC research guides: https://lrc.cud.ac.ae/
2. Free Public Webinars and Online Educational Activities
In addition to its online research guidance, CUD provides opportunities for lifelong learning through free educational webinars and virtual learning activities.
These activities enable individuals who are not enrolled at the University to engage with educational discussions, academic expertise and professional knowledge.
Public Educational Webinars
CUD's public webinar activities have addressed subjects including:
- Workplace wellbeing and professional development.
- Crisis communication and organisational management.
- Information systems and auditing.
- Academic and professional knowledge sharing.
- Literary discussions and cultural learning.
Public webinars provide opportunities for participants to learn from academic speakers, invited professionals and subject specialists without the requirement to enrol in a degree programme.
Where events are designated as free and open to the public, eligible external participants may attend without paying a registration fee.
Virtual Lectures and Knowledge Sharing
CUD has also organised virtual lectures and discussions, including literary and cultural learning activities such as CUDReads.
These activities support public engagement with educational topics and extend learning opportunities beyond formal classroom teaching.
Where recordings are released publicly, they provide an additional opportunity for individuals to revisit educational discussions independently.
Participation in these activities is separate from admission to a CUD degree programme.
3. Free Access to Educational Knowledge for Non-Students
CUD's publicly accessible digital learning resources and open educational activities are intended to serve a wider audience beyond the University's enrolled students.
Potential users include:
- Members of the local community interested in independent learning.
- External researchers seeking research guidance.
- School students preparing for higher education.
- Graduates and professionals seeking to develop their knowledge.
- Members of the public interested in academic and cultural subjects.
The free educational resources described on this page do not require formal student enrolment at CUD.
Access Arrangements
| Educational Resource | Intended External Users | Cost | Access Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public LRC research guides | General public and external researchers | Free | Public LRC website |
| LRC resource-access guidance | General public and independent learners | Free | Online LibGuide |
| Publicly identified open-access research resources | General public and researchers | Free, subject to provider terms | Open-access materials identified through LRC guides |
| Public educational webinars | External participants and interested members of the public | Free where designated | Public webinar registration |
| Publicly released educational recordings | General public | Free | University's publicly accessible media channels |
These arrangements provide opportunities for members of the community to access educational knowledge without becoming registered CUD students.
4. Supporting Lifelong Learning and Community Education
CUD recognises that access to educational information contributes to lifelong learning, professional development and broader community participation in knowledge-sharing activities.
By maintaining publicly accessible research guidance and offering free public learning opportunities, the University supports individuals seeking to develop new skills or expand their understanding of academic and professional subjects.
The University's approach promotes:
Independent Learning: Enabling individuals to explore educational topics and develop research skills outside formal degree programmes.
Digital Accessibility: Providing web-based learning guidance that can be accessed remotely.
Community Knowledge Sharing: Offering opportunities for non-students to engage with academic and professional expertise through public learning activities.
Lifelong Education: Encouraging continued learning among graduates, professionals, prospective students and members of the wider community.
These initiatives complement CUD's broader commitment to educational inclusion and public engagement.
5. Contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals
SDG 4 — Quality Education
CUD's provision of free online educational resources and publicly accessible learning activities contributes to lifelong learning opportunities beyond formal tertiary education.
The initiative supports SDG Target 4.3, which promotes equal access to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, while also encouraging broader opportunities for lifelong learning.
SDG 10 — Reduced Inequalities
Making educational guidance and learning resources freely accessible online helps reduce financial barriers to accessing knowledge and supports more inclusive educational participation.
SDG 17 — Partnerships for the Goals
Public educational engagement encourages knowledge sharing among universities, professionals and the wider community.
Institutional Commitment
Canadian University Dubai remains committed to making educational knowledge accessible beyond its enrolled student population.
Through publicly accessible Learning Resource Centre guides, open educational resources and free public learning activities, CUD supports opportunities for independent learning, research development and community education.
These resources demonstrate the University's continuing contribution to lifelong learning and its commitment to sharing academic knowledge with individuals outside formal university programmes.
Responsible Unit: Learning Resource Centre, Canadian University Dubai.
Contact: library@cud.ac.ae
Reporting Period: 2025, including the 2024–25 academic year.