Canadian University Dubai — Women's Likelihood of Graduating
Our Commitment
Canadian University Dubai is committed to ensuring that female students not only enroll but successfully complete their degrees. The University actively tracks women's likelihood of graduating and has implemented targeted support schemes to eliminate barriers to completion. Our data shows that women at CUD graduate at rates equal to or higher than their male peers.
Tracking Women's Graduation Rates
CUD systematically tracks graduation rates by gender as part of its institutional research and quality assurance processes.
| Metric | Women | Men | Total | % Women |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Completers (2023) | 1,155 | 1,045 | 2,200 | 52.5% |
| Graduating Cohort (2023) | 230 | 195 | 425 | 54% |
The data confirms that female students are highly likely to graduate, representing a slight majority of CUD's graduating cohorts.
Support Schemes to Improve Women's Likelihood of Graduating
To ensure this high completion rate, CUD provides dedicated support schemes that address the academic, financial, and social barriers women may face.
1. Mentorship and Career Completion Schemes
These schemes provide role models and professional guidance, keeping female students engaged and motivated to complete their studies.
| Scheme Name | Partner/Provider | Impact on Graduation Likelihood |
|---|---|---|
| Women@Dior Mentorship | Christian Dior | High-potential female students are paired with professional women mentors for a year. Provides career guidance, confidence, and networking, keeping students focused on their post-graduation goals. |
| The LINK Mentoring Initiative | UAE Non-Profit | Female faculty mentor young women (including CUD students) to build leadership capacity, career confidence, and personal growth. |
| CUD Incubator Mentorship | CUD Business Incubator | Actively involves female faculty and entrepreneurial women as role models to guide female students in transforming ideas into action, reducing dropout risk for student-entrepreneurs. |
2. Academic and STEM Support Schemes
CUD provides targeted academic support to ensure women thrive in rigorous fields, particularly where they are historically underrepresented.
- Mechatronics Ladies Team: CUD actively supports female engineering students through competition teams. The all-female team won first place in the UAE IEEE Engineering Design contest in 2022 and 2023.
- Peer Mentorship in STEM: Senior female engineering majors (like Ezza Mirza, IEEE Society Secretary) actively mentor junior women for national competitions, building confidence and technical skills.
- Academic Advising: The Student Success Centre provides targeted tutoring and academic advising to ensure female students, including first-generation students, have the support needed to pass their courses and graduate.
3. Financial Completion Schemes
- Gender-Neutral Scholarships: All CUD scholarships (including Academic Excellence and Financial Hardship) are open to women on the exact same criteria as men, ensuring that financial limitations do not force female students to drop out.
4. Social and Peer Support Schemes
- #SheForShe Campaign: A student-led initiative where male and female students collaborate to promote women supporting women's ambitions, breaking down negative stereotypes, and fostering a supportive campus culture.
- Student Council Leadership: Women have held the top student government roles (including consecutive terms by the first female President, Shaima Al Hai), demonstrating an inclusive environment where women feel safe, heard, and empowered to stay and graduate.
How CUD Ensures Success
By combining tracking (to identify any gaps) with targeted support schemes (mentorship, STEM peer support, financial aid, and leadership opportunities), CUD creates an ecosystem where women are not just admitted, but are fully supported to reach graduation.
Alignment with National and Global Goals
These initiatives align with SDG 5 (Gender Equality), particularly UN Target 5.1 (end all forms of discrimination against women) and Target 5.5 (ensure women’s full and effective participation). By actively tracking and improving women's likelihood of graduating, CUD contributes to a highly educated and empowered female workforce in the UAE.
For more information, contact the Office of Institutional Research and Planning at ir@cud.ac.ae.