The development of a sustainable healthcare sector is a strategic priority for the United Arab Emirates (UAE). To support this, the Government of Ras Al Khaimah established higher education merit scholarships to assist talent and create a strong pipeline for the labor market. Despite this aid, many healthcare students are leaving the Emirate for their training and early career development. This policy brief discusses a recent study's findings to understand the individual decisions of students and graduates and unpacks the current systemic barriers.
The findings suggest that scholarship students and graduates are attracted by the professional, social, and economic benefits of studying and completing their internships and residencies in larger emirates. However, the lack of internship and residency opportunities in Ras Al Khaimah creates a systemic limitation for early career graduates to develop professionally. Overall, this study reveals that systemic development through the increase of emirate-based opportunities is vital for the sustainability of the healthcare sector.
Recommended citation: Smith, L., Maluch, J., & Mohsen, R. (2024). Supporting Sustainable Healthcare Education in Ras Al Khaimah: Barriers and Possibilities (Policy Paper No. 75). Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research.