K MENA How Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) Dubai Strengthened Career Capabilities Through Kaplan Professional Programs
How Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) Dubai Strengthened Career Capabilities Through Kaplan Professional Programs
Higher education institutions and business schools across the Middle East are embedding globally recognized certifications into their academic curricula to equip students with job-ready expertise in management accounting, financial decision-making, and regional tax compliance.
This case study explores how Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) Dubai partnered with Kaplan Professional MENA to deliver training programs across three distinct disciplines: Digital Marketing, UAE Value Added Tax (VAT) & Corporate Income Tax (CIT), and the Financial and Managerial Accounting Associate (FMAA) certification.
Background
With the fast-moving expansion of the GCC business ecosystem, universities require agile learning pathways that allow learners to specialize in specific high-demand domains. Rather than relying solely on generalized academic theory, MAHE Dubai recognized the value of offering specialized, focused training modules aligned with distinct career trajectories:
- Financial Management: Foundational qualifications like IMA’s FMAA establish operational accounting and reporting skills for finance candidates.
- Regional Taxation: Specialized modules in UAE VAT and Corporate Income Tax provide targeted compliance skills tailored for tax and legal professionals.
- Commercial Growth: Modern Digital Marketing programs equip marketing and business strategy cohorts with execution-focused digital growth tools.
Leveraging decades of global and regional training expertise, Kaplan partnered with MAHE Dubai to design and deliver these distinct learning streams for their respective cohorts.
The Challenge
To meet diverse industry demands, MAHE Dubai needed to offer focused, standalone capabilities that address specific market skill gaps.
The university aimed to:
- Provide Focused Financial Literacy: Offer accounting and business students a clear pathway to earn the entry-level FMAA credential to validate fundamental financial management skills.
- Deliver Dedicated Regional Tax Training: Provide finance, accounting, and business cohorts with practical, localized knowledge of Federal Tax Authority (FTA) regulations for UAE VAT and Corporate Income Tax.
- Build Specialized Digital Growth Competencies: Equip marketing and commercial students with hands-on skills in campaign strategy, performance analytics, and digital channel management.
- Enhance Career Employability: Deliver targeted, industry-recognized learning tracks that elevate graduates’ value within their specific target job markets.
The Solution
Kaplan collaborated with MAHE Dubai to structure three independent professional training streams, allowing participants to enroll in the specific program aligned with their field of study or professional goals:
- Flexible Blended Delivery: Each track was delivered through a mix of interactive in-person workshops and live online sessions structured around participants’ schedules.
- Domain-Specific Course Materials: Official study kits, diagnostic topic assessments, and real-world case studies customized for each specialization.
- Expert Regional Practitioners: Dedicated subject matter experts led each stream, bringing practical industry insight to the classroom.
- Independent Learning Tracks:
- Financial and Managerial Accounting Associate (FMAA): A focused track on core accounting principles, financial statement analysis, and internal operational controls.
- UAE VAT & CIT Diplomas: A specialized technical module covering FTA compliance, registration mechanics, tax calculation models, and corporate filing processes.
- Digital Marketing Program: A practical track covering SEO, performance marketing, content strategy, social media campaigns, and analytics tracking.
The Impact
Kaplan’s specialized training streams delivered immediate, measurable value across MAHE Dubai’s cohorts by building practical, discipline-specific skills and reinforcing professional confidence. By keeping each track focused, participants gained deep, actionable expertise directly applicable to their chosen fields. Demonstrating the exceptional quality and practical relevance of the training, Kaplan’s courses earned an outstanding overall average satisfaction rating of 97%, with delegates consistently highlighting the clarity of faculty instruction, the quality of study materials, and the real-world applicability of the concepts. Ultimately, the partnership enabled MAHE Dubai to strengthen its reputation as a forward-thinking higher education leader capable of delivering targeted, high-impact career pathways that turn academic learners into job-ready professionals.
Looking to empower your academic institution or corporate workforce with specialized training? Connect with our team at connect@kaplan.com.