Manipal Institute of Liberal Arts Partners with Wacom to Equip Dubai's Next Generation of Creative Talent

Dubai, United Arab Emirates – April 29, 2026: Manipal Institute of Liberal Arts (MILA), part of Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) Dubai, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Wacom Europe GmbH, the EMEA representative of global digital technology company Wacom Company, Ltd., to join the Wacom Education Program, a collaboration designed to strengthen the integration of professional creative technology into higher education.

Through the agreement, MILA will introduce Wacom's industry-leading digital pen tablet and display technology into its creative courses while working towards achieving Wacom Certified School and Wacom Experience School status — recognitions awarded to institutions that integrate professional tools, industry-standard software and industry engagement into their academic programmes.

The agreement will help support the industry readiness of students in MILA's BSc Animation and BA in Media & Communication programmes, which aim to equip students with the required skills to pursue careers in dynamic entertainment and multimedia sectors. By deploying the innovative technology, students will be able to enhance their proficiency in areas including storyboarding, character design, graphic design, matte painting, and related creative capabilities.

Dr. Sudhindra Shamanna, Pro Vice Chancellor – Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) Dubai, commented, "Creative industries today are shaped by digital workflows — from animation and game design to product design and digital illustration. Our partnership with Wacom allows students to engage directly with the tools professionals use across these sectors. By embedding these technologies into the learning environment, we are ensuring that creative education evolves alongside the industries it serves."

Dubai's creative industries continue to expand rapidly as part of the emirate's diversification strategy. According to the Dubai Creative Economy Impact Report, the sector generated AED 21.96 billion in economic value in 2022 and supports more than 175,000 jobs across the emirate. Demand for digitally skilled designers, artists and creative technologists is expected to grow further as the region invests in media, gaming and digital content production.

"The creative industries in the UAE are evolving at pace, and the talent coming through institutions like MAHE Dubai will shape what that sector looks like in the years ahead. Across the world, Wacom technology sits at the centre of how designers, illustrators and digital artists create. Collaborating with institutions like MAHE Dubai helps ensure students develop their creative voice using the same tools and workflows they will encounter in professional studios and creative agencies," said Heidi Wang, Managing Director, Wacom Europe GmbH.

The partnership places MAHE Dubai within Wacom's global network of educational institutions and will see the university listed on Wacom's Education Program directory. It also creates opportunities for collaboration on future initiatives aimed at strengthening the link between creative education and professional practice.

Students will benefit from hands-on access to the latest generation of Wacom Cintiq devices – the same digital pen technologies widely used across the design, animation, gaming and digital media industries. In addition, a dedicated student purchase programme will provide supported pricing for Wacom devices through a customised eStore platform.