His Excellency Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, on the occasion of the 43rd UAE National Day, affirmed that the higher education and scientific research system in the State derives its strength and the sustainability of its success and giving from the strength and sustainability of the Spirit of the Union. His Excellency also stressed that all the achievements and creations of UAE students, researchers, and scientists were not possible without the support of the nation and leaders, headed by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and their brothers the Rulers of the Emirates. These successes are increasing, and the international standing of the UAE is magnified, thanks to God Almighty for preserving the Emirati people, its leaders, and cadres. He also highlighted one of the State’s achievements: The first anniversary of winning the bid to host Expo 2020 UAE, which was celebrated a few days ago (November 27th), ensuring that UAE students, researchers, and educational institutions will leave unforgettable marks in this exhibition, in which the minds will continue to build the future in three dimensions; sustainability, mobility, and opportunities.
The Ministry announced in its annual reports several achievements during the year, including the achievement of its objectives and strategy; mainly of building a solid base and the creation of an infrastructure that meets the needs of all sectors of the national human resources that are necessary to contribute to the comprehensive and sustainable development in the State, and this is achieved through deliberate policies and mechanisms by all the concerned departments of the Ministry, which carry out the tasks entrusted to them in accordance with the highest international competitive standards.
These achievements also include the formation of the Coordinating Council for Higher Education, in order to achieve coordination and integration between the institutions of higher education, to work on compatibility of strategic plans for universities with the national agenda of the State, enhance communication and dialogue between the public and private universities, and upgrade the quality and efficiency of the higher education system outputs to match the needs of the UAE labor market, as the private higher education institutions accredited by the Ministry, almost 80 institutions, provide 797 programs in disciplines covering all sectors of the State in the various scientific degrees . As for the scholarship path, the Ministry has developed the scholarship system in order to provide an integrated and comprehensive system that unites the efforts, utilize the resources, and achieve the desired goal of the scholarship. So the purpose of establishment of the “National Committee for the Coordination of Scholarships” was to direct the scholarship system and scholarships, develop regulatory frameworks, and ensure the integration and coordination between the scholarship authorities in the State, as well as establish the National Portal of Scholarships and the national base of unified information for students on scholarships.
The Ministry also coordinated with the local authorities, to sign agreements with many countries for the purpose of exchange of scientific achievements and research methods and studies according to the prestigious international standards, and it has recently signed cooperation agreements and memoranda of understanding with Greece, Malaysia, Russia, Australia, and South Korea, to provide all opportunities related to the performance of higher education and scientific research. On the local cooperation path, and out of the Ministry’s keenness to play its role with regard to Emiratization and employment, the Ministry has patronized and participated in several exhibitions, such as Universities Fair – Al Gharbia 2014, Abu Dhabi Men’s College Employment Expo, “GETEX 2014” for education, “GITEX 2014” for technology”, “Gulf Educational Supplies & Solutions” exhibition.
In activation of the strategic axis of vocational guidance and counseling, and for the dissemination of the work culture among segments of society, and advancing the discussion on employment and Emiratization in a positive and productive direction in order to achieve sustainability and economic competitiveness, the Ministry has sought cooperation with ABSHER, in order to contribute to the implementation of the campaign (The Private Sector … More Than Just a Job), targeting the national universities for the implementation of the campaign, which are: UAE University, Zayed University, Higher Colleges of Technology, and Khalifa University, and approximately 55000 students benefit from these universities, seeking to change the concept of working in the private sector and encourage students to work in the institutions of this sector through the provision of a positive concept of its institutions and employment opportunities, its advantages and role in building the country’s economy, and its success stories.
The Ministry organized a workshop, in coordination with the Ministry of Presidential Affairs, on September 29th, 2014, to which it invited the private higher education institutions, in order to promote the participation of national cadres in the labor market, and shed light on this program (The Private Sector … More Than Just a Job).
ABSHER is an initiative by his Highness the President of the State, to be an umbrella strategy to combine the efforts and unite the energies to the development of a strategic framework to promote the participation of nationals in the labor market upon an integrated and clear vision that supports the principles of the UAE Vision 2021, and embodies the declaration of his Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, that the year 2013 is for Emiratization.
The Ministry aims to raise the e-readiness to include all its services, and convert it into smart services. The Ministry also pays special attention to special needs persons, as it had created those services through an electronic communication service to enquire about and receive services through a specialist in sign language.
