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Higher Education

The Executive Council has delegated authority to ADEC in respect to leading, guiding, influencing and implementing educational initiatives and growth within Abu Dhabi Emirate. ADEC is the approving authority for individuals, institutions, consortia and organisations seeking permission to commence schooling or tertiary activities in Abu Dhabi Emirate. An operating protocol with the Ministry of Higher Education (CAA) requires all applying individuals, institutions, consortia and organisations to gain ADEC’s written approval before progressing through MOHE (CAA) accreditation requirements

Abu Dhabi Education Council seeks to develop an education system and educational provision which is recognized as being amongst the best in the world. Consequently, in higher education, Abu Dhabi government is actively facilitating leading international universities (such as La Sorbonne and NYU) in their efforts to establish in Abu Dhabi in order to provide exemplary educational opportunities for the emirate, UAE and Gulf nations.

Abu Dhabi government, through ADEC and other government agencies, is also providing much needed high quality vocational training opportunities through Griffith University’s nurse education programs and three new vocational education and training institutes (in partnership with TAFE New South Wales and GTZ of Germany) as well as teacher education delivered through the newly established Emirates College of Advanced Education (ECAE).
In order to be acknowledged as a leading high quality higher education environment it is essential that all educational providers operating in Abu Dhabi emirate - or seeking to enter the emirate-meet the standards and practices internationally required for an institution to be considered as consistently and reliably providing students with qualifications of international worth and relevant employment credibility. This means that the higher education environment in Abu Dhabi needs not only to provide accredited offerings (accredited both by the CAA and parent nation authorities - such as the USA’s Middle States Accreditation) but also independently audited quality systems of management, governance and student welfare.
One of the major requirements of the international higher education community in terms of university identity and capacity to produce postgraduate degrees -including doctoral qualifications - is that any institution describing itself as a university should also demonstrate strong investment (and published and internationally attested prowess) in research. Without research outcomes, quality research planning and collaboration with research intensive institutions, the universities of the emirate and UAE will not be competitively ranked against international institutions and the value of degrees issued by non ranked institutions will not be considered as competitive or as highly sought after by prospective employers.
Abu Dhabi government is investing in brand new universities - but strong partnerships with existing world leaders in international higher education are very much a part of developing the capacities and reputations of these new projects.
ADEC’s role in higher education is one of assisting institutions already operating within Abu Dhabi to meet the rapidly rising standards required internationally and to advise potential new entrants to the emirate’s family of tertiary providers of the emirate’s firm requirements in respect to international standards and responsibilities. Whilst worldwide higher education remains a lucrative and attractive business proposition ADEC and the emirate of Abu Dhabi places strong emphasis on ensuring that any qualifications offered in the emirate will be demonstrably of high quality and standing and will be offered in the best interests of our students and the strategic needs of the emirate.

 

The Higher Education Panel comprising ‘ADEC Heads of Department and various Education Experts’- which operated from October 2007 in respect to approving and assessing applications by providers to commence higher education operations in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi has been superseded by the Higher Education Committee. This committee comprises the Executive Director Higher Education; Executive Director Planning and Policy; Executive Director Vocational Education and the Manager of Educational Partnerships and Development.

The Higher Education Committee is responsible for determining the applicability and approval of all applications to ADEC relating to higher and vocational education provision. Reporting its recommendations directly to The Director General, ADEC the Higher Education Committee, as with the Higher Education Panel before it, grants interviews to applicants where necessary and has responsibility for ensuring that proposals and applications made to ADEC (in respect of higher and vocational education operations) meet the specific needs and standards of the emirate and can guarantee leading quality and benefit to prospective students.All applications to commence higher or vocational education operations in Abu Dhabi emirate need to be made on the appropriate application forms and will be initially assessed by the Licensing Department before progressing to the Higher Education Committee.

 

 

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