A Guiding Vision for MSU Dubai

Michigan State University is committed to establishing a strong academic presence in Dubai International Academic City. We will build programs and establish a presence that reflects our historic institutional values of quality, inclusiveness, and connectivity to people and communities.

Core Goals of MSU Dubai

	Academic Excellence Offer high quality academic programs which meet standards comparable to those the University has established for its East Lansing campus
	Academic Quality  Offer degree, certificate and other academic programs of instruction which are of value to Dubai and the wider region, and which preserve core MSU admission, degree and quality standards
	Advancing Knowledge Conduct research in Dubai which mutually benefits growth of knowledge-based economies, sustains societies and enhances the quality of life in Dubai and in the State of Michigan
	Sustainability Manage MSU’s presence in Dubai in a way that ensures that it is a self-supporting and quality enterprise
	Inclusiveness Be respectful and inclusive not only of MSU’s institutional values but of the many cultures found in Dubai and the region

The commitment to these core goals is based on agreements reached between Michigan State University and partners in Dubai that:

	MSU will maintain full control over its instructional, research and outreach/engagement academic programs in Dubai
	MSU will preserve its institutional values and integrity
	MSU will engage in research in Dubai and the region as a part of its presence there
	Programs in Dubai will be self-supporting from Dubai tuition, from grants and contracts, and from corporate and other support in Dubai and the wider region.  Like the larger University, MSU Dubai is a not-for-profit venture with revenue applied to meeting costs and reinvestment to improve the quality of Michigan State University programs

The University’s Dubai initiative is both a service and an opportunity for MSU’s academic units. It is consistent with one of the principles of a world grant institution that international partnerships should provide mutual benefit.  MSU Dubai will expand our institutional ability to internationalize the experience of all students and provide benefit to other clientele, whether in Michigan or in Dubai and the region.

Success in Dubai needs preservation of core MSU goals and values, use of best practices, and effective linkages and partnerships with others in the public, not-for-profit and private sectors in Dubai.  A key factor is consistency with the East Lansing campus’ quality and reputation.  Dubai wants and expects our best, and our reputation in the region is dependent on that delivery.   As we engage and assign faculty and staff, develop and implement courses and curricula, conduct research, implement administrative policies and procedures and take other actions, we should ask in each instance if:

	Core Values and Goals for MSU Dubai will be advanced by an action or policy, and
	Best practices will be implemented

Policy and administrative decisions, personnel actions, budget planning, course and curricular planning and other actions should be assessed in light of these.

Key Enabling Objectives and Best Practices
	Engage a faculty and staff who are committed to innovative, high quality student-centered teaching and accountability for student learning outcomes
	Incorporate active learning models into courses and degree and certificate programs; effectively use technology in the classroom as well as distance learning
	Design and deliver curricula which incorporate unique learning opportunities available in Dubai and the region
	Provide student affairs and advising support to help assure student success and build a sense of community among students, faculty, and staff with the MSU East Lansing campus
	Identify research and outreach/engagement priorities and obtain needed support
	Be innovative in programs, procedures and policies not only to benefit MSU Dubai and the region,  but to offer potential synergies for and applications on the main MSU campus
	Recognize when East Lansing campus practices and procedures might be adapted in the interest of efficiency and effectiveness when applied to MSU Dubai
	Behave collaboratively, systemically and in mutually supportive ways across faculties, units and degree programs, and in the design and use of facilities
	Establish partnerships and linkages with other universities and with the public, private and not-for-profit sectors in Dubai to strengthen MSU’s Dubai programs and to benefit Dubai, MSU and the State of Michigan more broadly
	Over time, adjust the mix of programs offered at MSU Dubai to reflect clientele needs, our capacity to deliver high quality programs and our ability to effectively manage them