Abu Dhabi: The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MOHESR) conducted several sessions under the ‘Dialogue on the Future of Higher Education in the UAE’ to deliberate on pivotal initiatives and programmes designed to advance the education sector and synchronize its outcomes with the country’s national development goals.
According to Emirates News Agency, the first session took place today at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abu Dhabi, with additional sessions scheduled in Dubai and Sharjah on November 19 and 20. These sessions saw the participation of Dr. Abdulrahman Al Awar, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation, Acting Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Dr. Mohammad Al Mualla, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and other senior officials from the Ministry. Leaders from higher education institutions and relevant local entities were also in attendance.
Dr. Abdulrahman Al Awar emphasized that the dialogue reflects the Ministry
‘s dedication to effective communication with partners to shape the future of higher education in accordance with international best practices. The discussions aim to improve the quality, efficiency, and competitiveness of higher education in the UAE, ensuring its alignment with labor market demands and national development goals.
Dr. Al Awar highlighted that achieving sustainable positive change in higher education necessitates collaborative efforts, knowledge exchange, and contributions from experts and the educational community. The dialogue seeks to assess various recent Ministry-led initiatives, including updates to student admission standards, frameworks for university licensing and academic programmes, the national framework for universities’ classification, and the enhancement of student services.
He further stated that the Ministry is concentrating on four main priorities: enhancing the student journey through streamlined procedures and improved digital services; increasing educational institutions
‘ adaptability by revising licensing and admission criteria; aligning educational outcomes with labor market needs and fostering partnerships with economic sectors; and continuously updating policies and procedures to meet these objectives.
The ‘Dialogue on the Future of Higher Education in the UAE’ includes representatives from all universities and higher education institutions in the country, as well as the Education, Human Development and Community Development Council, the Ministry of Education, the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge, Dubai’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority, and the Sharjah Private Education Authority. The dialogue addressed five key topics: the student journey, the student admission policy, the licensing and accreditation framework for universities and academic programmes, the evaluation framework for universities, the associated risk matrix, and global university rankings.
