Canadian University Dubai — Women's Access Schemes
Our Commitment
Canadian University Dubai is committed to gender equity in higher education. To increase women's participation in academic, extracurricular, and leadership spaces, the University operates specific women's access schemes. These schemes provide targeted mentoring, scholarships, and other provisions to ensure that female students can enroll, thrive, and graduate on an equal footing with their male peers.
Mentoring and Leadership Access Schemes
CUD provides dedicated mentoring and professional development schemes to advance women's participation in entrepreneurship, STEM, and student governance.
| Scheme Name | Description | Target Group | Impact on Women's Participation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CUD Incubator Women's Mentorship Scheme | The Incubator actively involves female faculty and entrepreneurial women as mentors and role models to guide female students in transforming their ideas into action. | Female students interested in entrepreneurship | Provides visible role models and practical guidance to help women launch startups and projects. |
| Student Governance Leadership Scheme | CUD encourages all students to participate in the Student Council. In recent years, women have held the top leadership roles, including two consecutive terms by the first female Student Council President, Shaima Al Hai. | All female students | Demonstrates institutional support for women in top decision-making roles and encourages other female students to lead. |
| #SheForShe Peer Support Scheme | A student-led campaign (inspired by HeForShe) facilitated by faculty, where male and female students collaborate to promote women supporting women's ambitions and breaking down negative stereotypes. | All students | Fosters a campus culture of mutual respect and actively encourages female solidarity. |
Financial and Academic Access Schemes
To ensure financial limitations do not disproportionately affect women, CUD applies its scholarships and academic support equally to all genders, with specific provisions to support women's retention.
| Scheme Name | Description | Target Group |
|---|---|---|
| Gender-Neutral Scholarship Scheme | All CUD scholarships (including the Academic Excellence Scholarship and Financial Hardship Scholarship) are open to women on the exact same criteria as men, ensuring equal financial access. | All female applicants and students |
| Inclusive Academic Advising Scheme | The Student Success Centre provides academic advising and tutoring to all students, with a focus on supporting first-generation and minority female students to ensure high completion rates. | All female students |
Inclusive Campus Environment Schemes
CUD recognizes that increasing women's participation requires a supportive physical and cultural environment.
- Cultural & Religious Accommodations: The campus provides separate prayer rooms for female and male students.
- Safe Housing & Security: Campus safety and housing policies are designed with women’s comfort and privacy in mind.
- Equal Admissions Access: The admissions process is 100% gender-neutral, with no quotas or discriminatory criteria.
Alignment with National and Global Goals
These women's access schemes align with SDG 5 (Gender Equality), particularly UN Target 5.5 (ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making) and Target 5.1 (end all forms of discrimination against women). By providing targeted mentoring, ensuring equal scholarships, and fostering a supportive campus culture, CUD actively increases women's participation in higher education.
For more information, contact the Student Affairs Office at studentaffairs@cud.ac.ae.