Abu Dhabi: It is of utmost importance that the UAE’s colleges and universities — government–funded and private alike — offer the highest quality academic programmes, programmes that are recognised both within the country and internationally for their excellence, Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, told the Federal National Council on Tuesday.
Shaikh Nahayn said efforts have been made to ensure that these colleges and universities operate at international standards of quality.
The Commission for Academic Accreditation spares no effort to refine standards and procedures to ensure that institutions and programmes meet high standards of quality which reflects a consensus within the international higher education community about the essential characteristics of institutions that achieve a level of excellence and continuously improve, he said.
Shaikh Nahyan assured members of the House that the ministry’s effort is meant to ensure that licensed institutions and accredited programmes provide the high quality of higher education that our students expect and deserve, that graduates have the skills required by the job market.
Shaikh Nahyan was answering a question from Musabah Al Katbi, a member from Sharjah, about whether post-graduates studying abroad can be exempt from class attendance requirements in the event of any political unrest or natural disasters in certain Arab or foreign countries.
Shaikh Nahyan said the ministry looks into these issues and decides on a case by case basis.
The minister, however, asserted that students are expected to regularly attend classes for a minimum specified number of days for all courses in which they are enrolled and to complete all required work in such courses.
“The Accreditation Commission recognises degrees if students meet at least one third of the minimum attendance required by their universities. For instance if the minimum attendance required is three years for the doctorate of philosophy, the commission will recognise the degree if the student attends at least a year.”
