framework for the implementation of a virtual design studio model in ...

8.3.8 Studio
Inside the studio the researcher and the participating tutors followed a
totally different approach as a mixture of cultures was present. The
students were introduced to new ways of working and collaboration.
Teaching the students in the new way was something of a challenge at
first, but as they started to absorb the nature of the work activities went
smoother.
8.3.9 The Adaptability of Change
The UAE society is a cosmopolitan society where 70% of its citizens
come from different parts of the world (see Chapter Two). This
cosmopolitanism made the UAE society adaptable of new customs and
traditions. In his classifications of power indicators Hofstede 321
introduced a new fifth indicator called long-versus-short term orientation
in which he examined the countries according to their adaptability of
change. Hofstede 322 examined the eastern countries in accordance with
this indicator, and classified the Muslim countries.
Many countries with dominant Muslim traditions are still caught in a
definition of Truth that hinders their coping with modernity. Muslim
countries that have temporarily collected enormous riches from their oil
resources have hardly adapted better to the modern world than those
that have remained poor. The oil benefits may have been a liability
rather than an asset.
Yet, this classification seems to be very wide and general as classifying
Muslim countries in total. Although sharing Islam as a tradition, each
Arabic country reserves its own identity derived from within. Many case
studies 323 , 324 , 325 have been conducted in the UAE that show the UAE as
a country which is highly adaptable to change and acceptance of foreign
cultures. This was also obvious in the current research as the students
321 Hofstede G. (2001). op.cit. p 315.
322 Hofstede G. (2001). op.cit. p325.
323 Al-Ali, J. (2008). op.cit. p365-379.
324 Young, B. J. (2005). op.cit 58.
325 Martin, A. (2003) op.cit. p49-54.
179