Newswise — Dr. Raj Parikh, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Education Company (EDRAK), which is responsible for development of higher education in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, and Eileen T. Kennedy, DSc, RD, dean of the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University, jointly announced the matriculation of the first class of students beginning a Master of Nutrition degree based in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates.
"We are delighted to welcome our first students to Ras Al Khaimah and expect their education will lead them toward careers that fulfill the school's mission to improve the nutritional well-being of persons worldwide," said Kennedy. "This new program has been created with an emphasis on the needs of populations in the Gulf and the broader region and to standards equal to those at our Boston campus," she added.
The one-year program offers a degree identical in stature to the master's degrees earned at The Friedman School in the United States and is taught by the same faculty. Instruction is provided through a "hybrid" learning model, a combination of ten-day residency sessions held three times over the course of one year and computer-facilitated lectures and participation when students work from home in between the residencies in RAK.
"This hybrid learning model is the perfect opportunity for me to gain more formal and rigorous nutrition education from a top nutrition school, while continuing my full-time work on micronutrient supplementation programs in Kyrgyzstan," said student Elizabeth Lundeen, program manager for the Swiss Red Cross in Kyrgyzstan.
The Friedman School's Lynne Ausman, DSc, RD, the Saqr Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi Professor in International Nutrition, is in Ras Al Khaimah teaching the new students. "Countries in the Gulf, Middle East and North Africa have the same nutrition-related chronic diseases as in the US. There are individuals living with food insecurity and malnutrition while many others are suffering from obesity and co-morbidities of diabetes and heart disease. The solutions are complex, but economics, behavior modification, and nutrition are key components to addressing chronic disease. Our master's program provides a strong foundation in nutrition and nutritional biochemistry as well as important policy components including food policy fundamentals and monitoring and evaluation of nutrition programs," said Ausman.
Graduates of the program are expected to work in government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), in the rapidly expanding corporate service sectors, and with international organizations including the United Nation's agencies and regional development organizations.
The partnership between The Friedman School and EDRAK is a unique collaboration that is the result of the selection of The Friedman School by Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi. The Crown Prince chose The Friedman School to aid in fulfilling his vision that RAK be the regional hub for education and health care.
"We are very excited about bringing a world-class program in nutrition to Ras Al Khaimah. We hope to serve students, not only from the United Arab Emirates, but from the entire region. It is wonderful to see students from various health-related fields participating in the program," said Parikh.
Dr. Ausman and fellow faculty member Paul Giguere, EdD, the lead designer of the hybrid learning system, will host open houses in the Emirates, demonstrate the computer-facilitated learning module, and answer questions about the program and career opportunities. Persons interested in attending an open house may learn more and respond at http://nutrition.tufts.edu/1174562918741/Nutrition-Page-nl2w_1204020052270.html.
The Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University is the only independent school of nutrition in the United States. The school's centers, which focus on questions relating to famine, hunger, poverty, and communications, are renowned for the application of scientific research to national and international policy. The School's web site is http://nutrition.tufts.edu
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