A stocktake of the big five personality traits of UAE university students

This research investigates the learning strategies of UAE University (UAEU) students. This research introduces a theoretical pedagogical framework made of the Big Five (BF) personality traits and attempts to explain their importance on learning using a survey research. A random sample of UAEU students resulted in having 179 responses. This research has theoretical as well professional contributions and contentions. At the theoretical level, we have seen how the BF personality traits have assisted in identifying the cognitive and the behavioral learning capabilities of UAEU students. The findings suggested that agreeableness, extraversion, openness, and conscientiousness respectively were the most important strategies adopted by UAEU students. Neuroticism scored the lowest mean average and hence, UAEU students negated being of a highly neurotic nature. This could be attributed to personal as well as to cultural reasons as highlighted in this research. Many of the enhancements could be achieved by designing programs aiming at enhancing student's learning capabilities and strategies. However, it is the cultural aspects that are more difficult to unveil and to address. Cultural issues require the cooperation and collaboration of the university and the community that surrounds learning in general and the family more specifically. Thus, the research outcomes would be of great importance to researchers, professionals and policymakers interested in addressing learning strategies of students. For example, professionals could capitalize on many of the suggestions in this research (i.e., enriching the lives of students in campus, endorse liking and trusting of others, etc.) to design and offer training programs and workshops aimed at students in universities and elsewhere. Policymakers could consider many of the suggestion made in this research to devise effective policies to enhance student learning strategies.