Dr. Balamurugan Balusamy, Dean, School of Engineering & IT, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Dubai, has shared his perspectives on the changing landscape of engineering education in the September 2026 edition of Education Middle East magazine.
The article, titled “The New Blueprint for Engineering Education,” examines how universities across the GCC are rethinking engineering curricula, faculty engagement and infrastructure as artificial intelligence, sustainability requirements and evolving industry expectations reshape the profession.
Speaking to Education Middle East, Dr. Balamurugan highlighted one of the key challenges facing universities today - the pace at which industry continues to evolve compared with traditional academic structures.
“Industry moves faster than academia can always follow, and that gap is really the central challenge here.”
He explained that one of MAHE Dubai’s approaches to addressing this challenge is to bring industry practitioners directly into the teaching and learning environment. While integrating industry professionals into academia is not always straightforward, Dr. Balamurugan noted that doing so can help create a more balanced learning ecosystem for students.
His comments reflect the wider focus of MAHE Dubai’s School of Engineering & IT on strengthening the connection between academic learning and real-world industry requirements. Through industry engagement, emerging technology initiatives and future-focused learning environments, the School continues to prepare students for engineering careers that are increasingly influenced by AI, digital transformation, sustainability and multidisciplinary problem-solving.
The Education Middle East article also brings together perspectives from academic leaders representing several universities across the region, contributing to a broader conversation about how higher education institutions can ensure engineering graduates remain relevant in a rapidly changing professional landscape.