Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) Dubai and Gyma Food Industries LLC “Bayara” (Subsidiary of Savola Foods Company) have entered a new industry partnership to give students and graduates of the Manipal Institute of Health & Life Sciences (MIHLS) more direct routes into the UAE’s expanding food sector. The agreement provides students with internship opportunities each academic year, access to available full-time roles, and opportunities to work on real business projects as part of their degree.
The partnership comes as the UAE Food Cluster targets 20,000 new jobs in food-related sectors by 2028, alongside plans to increase the sector’s contribution to GDP from AED30 billion to AED40 billion. Advanced agri- and food processing is among the strategic growth areas identified under the strategy.
Dr. S. Sudhindra, Pro Vice Chancellor, MAHE Dubai, said: “For our Health & Life Sciences students, this partnership creates a much clearer line of sight between what they study and where and how those capabilities can be applied in the food industry. Students preparing to enter the workforce should be building relationships with employers in growth sectors while they are still studying, not meeting them for the first time after graduation. This opportunity gives our Health & Life Sciences students that connection to one of the industries where new career opportunities are being created. At the same time, industry aligned input into relevant course content will help us keep learning aligned with the skills and capabilities employers need. That two-way exchange makes this collaboration particularly valuable for MAHE Dubai.”
Gyma Food Industries LLC “Bayara” will also work with MIHLS faculty to develop case studies and project work reflecting current industry practices and market challenges for students to work on as part of their academic courses. Their senior management will also participate in guest lectures, workshops and industry sessions, contributing key industry perspectives to relevant course content and support field visits to the company’s premises.
Dr. Arif Hussain, Dean, Manipal Institute of Health & Life Sciences, MAHE Dubai, said: “One of the most useful parts of this collaboration is the opportunity for industry to feed directly into what comes back into the classroom. Gyma Food Industries LLC “Bayara” will contribute to relevant course content and bring current business challenges into academic projects. That gives our faculty another way to test whether the curriculum is keeping pace with what is happening in the food industry, while giving students problems to solve that have a genuine commercial context rather than relying only on case studies.”
The agreement will also allow MAHE Dubai and Gyma Food Industries LLC “Bayara” to explore further areas of collaboration around student development, employability, knowledge exchange and industry engagement, creating scope for the relationship to evolve as new opportunities emerge.
About Manipal Academy of Higher Education – Dubai
Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Dubai Campus, is a globally recognized institution committed to academic excellence, research and innovation. Licensed by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MoHESR), the campus delivers programs accredited by the Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA) and has been awarded a five-star rating by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA). MAHE Dubai provides a world class learning environment designed to equip students for success in a dynamic global landscape.
Established in 2000 as the first international branch campus of MAHE, India’s largest private university, the Dubai campus is home to over 3,100 students from 50+ nationalities and supported by a distinguished faculty of 150+. The university offers 50+ programs across disciplines such as Engineering, IT, Business, Design, Architecture, Life Sciences, Public Health, Biotechnology, Media, and Psychology.
Located in Dubai International Academic City, the 750,000 sq. ft. campus features advanced laboratories, specialized studios, innovation hubs, and vibrant student life facilities – fostering academic, creative, and personal growth.
