- The School recorded outstanding academic performance across the Teaching, Research, and Governance categories.
Dubai, UAE – March 2026 – The Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government (MBRSG) has been awarded a 4-Star Overall Rating in the prestigious QS Stars Rating System, recording exceptional performance across multiple categories.
Valid through February 2028, this rating places MBRSG among the region’s foremost institutions of higher education and public administration.
“The QS Stars recognition we have achieved is a powerful affirmation of our mission at the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government to empower the public sector leaders of tomorrow,” said His Excellency Dr. Ali bin Sebaa Al Marri, Executive President of MBRSG. “The School has long been dedicated to offering advanced executive education and training programmes designed to enable leaders across all sectors of public administration to navigate a fast-evolving global landscape, constantly being reshaped by new developments and technological breakthroughs.”
“Achieving a 4-Star overall rating, alongside a 5-Star distinction in Teaching, reinforces our position as a world-class institution in governance education,” H.E. Al Marri added. “I am proud of our faculty, staff, and students whose collective dedication has driven this achievement. Moving forward, we remain committed to deepening our global engagement and advancing our impact in ways that serve not only the UAE but also the wider region and international community.”
MBRSG earned a 5-Star rating in Teaching – the highest possible distinction – scoring 136 out of 150 points, equivalent to 91%. This is underpinned by a remarkable 96.2% student satisfaction rate, a 100% student retention rate, and a 91.9% completion rate, reflecting a deeply student-centred learning environment.
The School also achieved a 4-Star rating in Research, recording 7.4 papers per faculty member and 53 active international research partnerships.
Complementing these academic achievements, MBRSG earned 4-Star ratings in both Good Governance and Facilities.
Another notable accomplishment was the 3-Star rating in both Employability and Programme Strength, with a 96.7% graduate employment rate – one of the highest in the region. Additionally, the overall Employability score indicates an opportunity to formalise employer engagement structures even further.
Furthermore, the School’s degree programmes (Master in Innovation Management – MIM, Master of Public Administration – MPA, and Executive Master of Public Administration – EMPA) reported 100% student satisfaction and 100% employment among graduates, underscoring the practical impact and quality of its flagship offerings.
For his part, Dr. Arthur King, Acting Dean and Director of Academic Affairs at MBRSG, said: “The QS Stars audit has provided us with a clear, holistic, and evidence-based picture of our institutional strengths and the areas where we can achieve even more. Our 4-Star rating in Research and our strong Governance score demonstrate that academic rigour and institutional integrity are deeply embedded in our culture.”
“Our ambitious team is always striving to exceed all expectations, and to that end, we are already working with faculty and stakeholders on targeted initiatives to further elevate our Global Engagement and Social Impact scores,” Dr. King revealed. “I am confident that by 2028, MBRSG will be reporting significant progress toward a 5-Star rating overall.”
Meanwhile, Prof. Immanuel Azaad Moonesar, Professor of Health Policy & Systems Research at MBRSG and QS Project Lead, noted: “The QS Stars results validate the strategic direction we have set for the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government. Our 5-Star Teaching score is the product of years of investment in pedagogy and the student experience, and it reflects the genuine commitment of every faculty member.”
“We intend to build on these accomplishments as we set our roadmap for the years ahead, focusing our efforts and resources on strengthening our diversity, equity, and inclusion framework; expanding global student engagement; deepening our social impact research; and setting resource-smart strategies that align with the UAE’s national vision,” Prof. Moonesar continued. “This is more than a milestone for us; it is a catalyst for what comes next.”
Looking ahead to the 2028 re-audit, the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government has developed a comprehensive 36-month action plan to build on these notable results and target a 5-Star rating. Strategic focus areas in the plan include developing a formal Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policy framework; expanding international student enrolment and global exchange programmes; and formalising community and social impact partnerships.
These initiatives are designed to leverage existing institutional strengths, staff capacity, and the School’s 53 established international research partnerships to ensure progress is both ambitious and resource-efficient.
The Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government is a leading academic institution in Dubai dedicated to developing public sector leaders and advancing evidence-based governance across the Arab world and beyond. With 78.1% of its faculty comprising international scholars and a commitment to research, policy, and professional education, MBRSG serves as a regional hub for public administration excellence.
