UAE | Education
UAE students warned to check credentials
Prospective students should carefully consider the accreditation of the institute, says Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan.
- By Siham Al Najmi, Staff Reporter
- Published: 23:30 August 31, 2008
- Pupils at the Indian High School in Dubai. More than 500,000 pupils returned to school across the UAE on Sunday.
- Image Credit: Arshad Ali/Gulf News
Dubai: Prospective university students in the UAE should carefully consider the accreditation of the institute they plan to attend due to varying standards of excellence, Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, said in an exclusive interview with Gulf News.
Click here to see the list of MOHE recognised institutions and programs
"An unaccredited institution is not the responsibility of the commission or the government," Shaikh Nahyan said. "It is the student's responsibility to know better about the institution she/he decides to invest time and resources in. I think parents and students can make an informed decision by taking into account accreditation details."
No chance of being misled
He pointed out how students can easily find information on the institution they are considering. "If students go to the site of the [accreditation] commission, they can check which institutes are accredited," he said. "There is no chance of being misled."
Shaikh Nahyan also pointed out the variation in quality on campuses in the UAE, with top universities gaining proper recognition. "Those who seek accreditation from the accreditation commission go through a very rigorous evaluation and review [process]," he said. "Those who get the nod of the accreditation committee are guaranteed to offer quality programmes. But there are still those who are not particular about getting accreditation and it is a global issue."
His comments came as hundreds of thousands of students returned to classes across the UAE yesterday.
Shaikh Nahyan stressed the need for educational facilities to be flexible in the courses they offer students. "In this age, changes in market requirements are rapid," he said.
"In most professions in the world, it is not enough to simply possess a university degree, there is a constant need to learn and adapt. The interdisciplinary approach in most programmes offered at universities is helpful in preparing students to enroll in the workforce."
Meanwhile, Hanif Hassan, Minister of Education, said that 1,200 new teachers have been appointed to schools nationwide. And he said that a new initiative that will be announced in the coming days will focus on improving the academic qualifications of educators.
Share this article
Related Articles
-
A learned approach to growth
A learned approach to growth
-
Cars at a standstill as schools start
Cars at a standstill on first day of academic year in the emirates
-
There's a spring in their step
There's a spring in their step
-
Back-to-school preparations in UAE
Are UAE residents looking forward to the new school year?
-
500,000 pupils return to classrooms
500,000 pupils in public and private schools return to classrooms
-
Parents complain about cost of books
Schools warned after parents complain about cost of school books
-
New safety regulations for school buses
School transportation in Dubai to follow new regulations
-
List of MOHE recognised institutions and programs
List of MOHE recognised institutions and programs
More from UAE Education
More from UAE
Popular in UAE
-
Your pictures
Readers' pictures
A Selection of the best Gulf News reader pictures this week
Latest news
- Universities celebrate UAE National Day
- Brothers' triple success
- Reviving age-old craftsmanship
- Youth reconnect with history
- 24% jump in Emirati students in US
- Fatima: UAE's women are exercising full rights
- Emirates Palace gears up for festivities
- Emerging writers to get networking opportunities
- Ministry of Health sacks employees for forgery
- Al Ain's oryx may hold key to breeding
- Please don't use two parking spaces
- Large crowds join in Eid festivities
- 'Education is a long-term investment'
- Scottish businessman awarded honorary doctorate in engineering
- Giving money is not enough
Community Reports
-
Please don't use two parking spaces
Thoughtless drivers means other motorists are losing out in a city where places to leave cars are often hard to find
-
School buses must do safe drop-offs
Some bus drivers let students off at the wrong side of the road
-
Munching on a health hazard
Residents must be careful about consuming snacks and sandwiches prepared along the roadside as they attract dirt and bacteria
-
Faded signage fails to guide visitors
Reader seeks better upkeep of signboards in green areas
