The list includes 29 higher institutes including those which have already been licensed but whose academic programmes are still under the accreditation process.
Under the directives of Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, the Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA) periodically publishes the list of institutions working in the domain of higher education to help students choose accordingly and avoid enrolling in institutes not recognised by the ministry.
Prof. Badr Aboul Ela, Commissioner at the CAA, told Gulf News yesterday students who enroll in these institutes have a guarantee that their certificates are valid and accredited by the education ministry.
"The list is to reassure students about the institute they enroll in, to make sure it is licensed, its programmes accredited and that its certificates will be suitable to find an employment after graduation."
He added many institutes already licensed have submitted a list of new programmes to the ministry in addition to the ongoing ones whose accreditation is under process.
Prof. Aboul Ela said this process takes place in two stages. The first stage is aimed at ensuring the institute has a clear vision and objectives, adequate infrastructures and premises, the necessary resources to deliver the programmes.
It also includes an evaluation of the structure of the academic programme and whether it is tailored to suit the main objectives of the institute.
It also evaluates the faculty and teaching staff who have to satisfy the qualification requirements needed to appropriately delivery the curricula.
"The licensing process can take a period of at least a year and a half. We also make sure that the institute has a mechanism for assessing its quality and effectiveness of the academic programme and also all the administrative requirements to support that programme." He said every three years the institutes have to undergo the process.
"Many institutes have failed to reach the required standards or they declined to take the licence as the process is very thorough." As far as accreditation of academic programmes is concerned, the process takes from three to six months and is carried out by a team of experts.
"All the new programmes have to get accreditation before being offered to the students. Those programmes which were started before the establishment of the commission, are in the process of being accredited or have got one already. During this process, it is the Institute's duty to inform the students."
He said once the curricula obtain full accreditation, they are re-evaluated every five years. Prof. Abou Ela said the ministry has recently released a list of requirements to get a licence and accreditation regardless of the mode of delivery.
"These requirements focus on the quality of education and programmes rather than the mode of delivery." The guide is available at the ministry.
Institutes licenced by the MHE* Abu Dhabi University * Al Khawarizmi Institute* American University in Dubai* American University in Sharjah* Ajman University of Science and Technology* Computer Centre * Dubai College for Islamic and Arabic Studies * Dubai Medical College for Girls * Dubai Police Academy* Dubai Pharmacy College * Dubai University College for Applied Studies * Emirates Academy of Hospital Management * Etisalat College of Engineering * Emirates Institute for Banking and Financial Studies* University of Sharjah * University of Wollongong in Dubai
*A list of the academic programmes offered by these institutes and already accredited by the ministry is available with the commission for academic accreditation.
Institutes already licenced but whose academic programmes are still under accreditation* The American College in Dubai* Al Ghurair University * Emirates Aviation College * Gulf Cooperation University* Gulf Medical College* Ittihad University* Khalifa bin Zayed College* Skyline College * Sharjah College * Technical Studies Institute
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