Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research responded to questions by members of the Federal National Council on Tuesday June 17^th, on opening branches of governmental higher education institutions in the southern areas of the city of Al Ain, and a permanent system to unify holidays between universities and schools.

The Minister emphasized that there is coordination with the Ministry of Education to unify the student’s holidays, and a circular was sent to all higher education institutions in the public and private sectors to conform to the designated holidays for each academic year, the educational institutions thereafter complied its academic status for each year accordingly.

He added in reply to a question on Ali Eisa Al Nuaimi, a Federal National Council Member, on a permanent system to unify holidays between universities and schools, that the Ministerial Council for Services has recently recommended the unification of holidays in public education schools and higher education institutions, and first semester break was extended to become three weeks, and the second semester break two wee and the formation of a permanent professional team from institutions of higher education, the Ministry of Education, the Abu Dhabi Education Council to identify controls for the beginning of the school year and vacation days.

On the other hand, his Excellency added that the city embraces the city of Al Ain holds the first State University, the UAE University, in addition to two branches of the Higher Colleges of Technology Men’s and Women’s Colleges, in addition to other governmental institutes.

This came in response to a question by the Board Member Salem Mohammed Al Amri on opening branches of institutions of higher education in the southern areas of the city of Al Ain.

His Excellency added that the UAE University and Higher Colleges of Technology accept students from across the UAE and provides them with the all that is needed, so students in these areas which are closer to the Al Ain city in terms of distance, can take advantage of this.