UAE launches new system provides easier access to higher education
According to Minister of Human Resources and Emiratization and interim Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Dr. Abdulrahman Al Awar, the application procedure for colleges and scholarship programs in the UAE is poised to become notably more easily accessible.
With the implementation of new systems, NAPO2.0 and Scholarships 2.0 during the past two months, meant to streamline admission processes and remove obstacles previously preventing job seekers from completing higher education.
Method of Instruction
The new structure brings to higher education governance a more flexible, outcome-oriented approach. According to Dr. Al Awar, the new rules change the emphasis from rigorous input-based governance to allowing institutions to produce initiatives more in line with demands of the job market. Maintaining a solid governance structure, the objective is to equip students with the skills and qualifications required for future employment.
"Everyone residing in the UAE will be able to requalify and improve their skills thanks to this adaptability," the minister stated.
Dealing with Modern Problems
Data show notable flaws in the old system. About 67% of job searchers registered on the Nafis platform have only a high school certificate; almost half of recent high school graduates were judged unfit for higher education because of strict admission standards. Under the current policies, these numbers should get quite better.
Although the previous system was meant with noble intentions to guarantee quality in higher education, Dr. Al Awar said it lacked enough chances. The revised method seeks to solve this by changing admission rules and improving initiatives on student upskills.
The new system offers bridging courses to assist those who might have been turned down in the past and takes into account the relevance of students' academic performance to their intended majors. For an unrelated topic, for example, a poor mark will not prevent one from following a favored program.
Senior Executive Shatha Al Aidarous of the ministry underlined, "We do not want any students left behind. We will aggressively follow students who have not gotten offers and pair them with suitable program.
Schools will help this project by guiding students beginning from Grade 11 to make sure they are registered and ready for their intended majors and colleges.
UAE higher education institutions will now be more free to define their own admission policies and timetables. The EmSAT, the standardized admission test, was canceled in reflection of this movement toward empowering colleges to customize their standards to better serve their students.
Dr. Al Awar also revealed changes in university entrance and licensing policies as well as a national classification system for UAE-based institutions. These developments are meant to improve the responsiveness of educational institutions to changing needs in the labor market.
The changed admittance rules are supposed to produce favorable social and financial results. The Ministry wants to improve the workforce of the country by matching educational results with labor market needs and stimulate economic development. This change will be mostly dependent on alliances including important economic sectors.
Furthermore, digital services and simplified processes will enhance the student path, thereby facilitating applicant navigation of the higher education system. Policies and practices shall be always improved to guarantee their efficiency in reaching these objectives.
The launch of Scholarships 2.0 and NAPO2.0 represents a major step toward a more open and adaptable higher education system for the United Arab Emirates . The Ministry wants to build a system that helps people and the larger economy by removing obstacles, helping students from early stages, and matching educational offers with job market demands.