ABU DHABI February 18, 2013: The Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT), the UAE's largest higher education institution, is showcasing its technology-based and applied learning by doing educational program at a state-of-the-art stand this week, which is part of the eleventh International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX).

IDEX is held under the patronage of UAE President H.H. Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and will run until February 21 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, with displays from about 150 UAE-based and international companies.

HCT has participated at IDEX since the event's inception and this year's open-plan stand is divided into sections catering for HCT, its commercial and entrepreneurial arm the Center for Applied Excellence in Research & Training (CERT), as well as featuring the Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed Naval College and the Khalifa Bin Zayed Air College.

At the Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed Naval College, HCT offers a Bachelor of Naval Science degree, while at the Khalifa Bin Zayed Air College it provides Air College students with the opportunity to study a Bachelor of Aviation Science for Military Pilots. Both degrees are designed to meet the UAE's need to develop a highly skilled cadre of naval officers and military pilots who are trained in a wide variety of fields relevant to the armed forces.

In conjunction with the Northrop Grumman Corporation and ADASI, HCT will feature in a workshop on February 19 at IDEX, to showcase the third edition of an exciting Innovation Challenge - a student-based competition which calls for the design, testing and flying of an unmanned flying vehicle. The Innovation Challenge will be held in Abu Dhabi on April 23 & 24, 2013 and reinforces the HCT philosophy of learning by doing as part of its curriculum.

In addition, there will also be a number of HCT student ambassadors on hand at the stand to demonstrate how they are integrating technology into their studies, such as the use of mobile tablet technologies in the classroom, proving that the physical space of a classroom can be expanded to the world when students apply various applications and experiential learning tools.

The mobile technologies have been used by about 6,000 HCT Foundations Program students since September 2012. This month, tablet technology is being introduced in Semester Two for all HCT first-year students studying Bachelor of Applied Science programs. It is designed to integrate mobile learning education into HCT curricula and the students' learning experience.

The 200-sq-meter HCT stand will show a number of audio-visual videos and contain information booklets and brochures on the practical and applied, or hands-on, nature of what HCT students undertake in their studies. The stand, which is one of HCT's largest in its participation at IDEX, will incorporate meeting and discussion spaces, as well as having all three sides open for the traffic flow and is designed to have open feeling.

Dr. Tayeb Kamali, Vice Chancellor of the Higher Colleges of Technology, said IDEX 2013 was an excellent venue to showcase the applied, technical and work-relevant nature of HCT's diverse programs.

"The Higher Colleges of Technology have been showcasing their student-oriented and career-focused programs since the start of IDEX, so it is always a special occasion for us to be involved with one of the most important events on the UAE calendar," Dr Kamali said.

"We are pleased to showcase the hands-on learning that our talented students undertake, as well as demonstrate the innovative technologies, practices and learning tools being incorporated into the curriculum so that we meet the needs of the UAE, developing highly skilled graduates with in-demand qualifications," he added.

About Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT)
Founded in 1988 with four colleges, the Higher Colleges of Technology have grown to be the largest of the higher educational institutions in the UAE, gaining a well-respected reputation for innovative learning. More than 18,000 students attend 17 modern men's and women's campuses in the cities of Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah, Fujairah and the western region cities of Madinat Zayed and Ruwais.

HCT offers a wide range of English-taught programs in Applied Communications, Business, Education, Engineering Technology, Computer & Information Science, General Education and Health Sciences.  These programs are all relevant to the UAE's fast growing and evolving economic sectors.  All programs are designed in consultation with business and industry leaders to ensure that the skills students learn are job-relevant and to high standards. They are constantly monitored to ensure they are at the cutting edge of industry standards and technological change. Visit www.hct.ac.ae.  

For more information contact:
Paul Lancaster, HCT Corporate Communications Executive.
Mobile: 050 616 0964
Email: paul.lancaster@hct.ac.ae

© Press Release 2013