Higher education strategy takes new turn

Needs of the labour market have to be included while devising higher education programmes, writes Abdullah Al Shaiba

It has become important for nations which seek prosperity and stability to establish, and maintain clear, transparent and achievable strategies for its development programmes.

The UAE has decided to follow that path under the new leadership of President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Recently, the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MHE) announced its strategic plan for higher education programmes and scientific research activities in the country.

The strategic plan is an essential part of the comprehensive national strategy announced a few months ago by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

The strategy was based upon the key roles the MHE performs which are:

• The MHE is responsible for the general planning of higher education and scientific research in the country;
• It will continue its mission as a coordinator between universities and colleges nationwide;
• It supervises the issues and affairs of private universities and colleges;
• It supervises international scholarships for UAE nationals;
• The MHE organises the activities of scientific research.

Achieving a balance
The major goal of the strategic plan issued by the MHE is to establish, maintain, and broaden the prospective balance between the local labour market and the outcomes of higher education institutions.

The plan should complete the overall goals of the UAE strategy which has been established by the current cabinet and approved by Shaikh Khalifa.

Partnership with labour market
The strategy of the MHE focuses on improving the entire higher education system in the UAE to be one of the best systems worldwide according to international standards and practices adopted in accordance with the local identity and circumstances.

The MHE also aims to play an important role in creating the new knowledge-based economy in the UAE through establishing a new strategic partnership between higher education institutions and the labour market in order to participate in the comprehensive national development programmes.

Therefore, the participation of both the private market and business community is fundamental in the area of providing the necessary sponsorship for the students via internal or external scholarships programmes.

It is important to indicate that the MHE has already implemented some parts of its strategy with the Ministry of Education; particularly in the project of Future Schools, which aims to improve UAE national students' educational levels during the general education stages in order to decrease the need for "foundation programmes or foundation years" in public higher education institutions.

The MHE will also develop the scientific research activities in the UAE in order to create a knowledge society.

The ministry will continue developing its system in both higher education and scientific research in order to support the decision-making process and to link the higher education and scientific research with the actual needs of the society.

The national strategy in general, and the strategy of the MHE in particular, no doubt, establishes a new era in the contemporary history of the UAE.

However, it is important to keep the strategy steady even when people who are responsible for its implementation have changed.

The strategy
The general aspects of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MHE) strategy are:

• Develop the quality performance of the ministry with full coordination with the relevant federal and local institutions.
  
• Offer the appropriate alternatives to replace the current academic programmes that aim to improve the students' competencies in universities and colleges. This the MHE will coordinate with the Ministry of Education.
  
• Develop the potential of private universities and colleges in coordination with the local education councils.
  
• Coordinate with the Ministry of Education to face the challenge of the increase in the drop-out rates among male students in general education and to raise their participation in higher education institutions.
  
• Coordinate with Ministry of Labour in the area of improving the mission of higher education in order to meet the requirements of the society.
  
• Coordinate with the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Society Development in spreading awareness of the national identity and heritage of the UAE.
  
• Establish the appropriate initiatives to prepare and qualify UAE national manpower in order to increase their recruitment opportunities in the private market.
  
• Develop and support the efforts of the Commission of Academic Accreditation (CAA) which supervises the private higher education institutions.

The writer is a UAE-based academic and thinker