Future Of Higher Education Dialogues Series Launched By MoHESR In UAE

The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research has held its first ‘Future of Higher Education Dialogues’ session under the Customer Councils initiative, bringing together about 200 representatives from higher education institutions and TVET providers to examine the new Federal Decree-Law on Higher Education and Scientific Research and its expected impact on the UAE’s tertiary education landscape.

Participants discussed how the law introduces a clearer and more flexible regulatory framework that supports innovation and raises the quality of teaching and research. They also assessed how the legislation is designed to keep pace with global developments, including technological change, while supporting a higher education system that responds better to national labour market needs.

In his remarks, Dr. Abdulrahman Al Awar, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation and Acting Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, said that the Federal Decree-Law on Higher Education and Scientific Research marks a qualitative shift for the UAE system, by viewing higher education institutions as partners in shaping and advancing the sector and by supporting efforts to strengthen its global competitiveness.

Dr. Al Awar explained that the law moves the system away from a focus on inputs and procedures towards an outcomes-based approach. This model places greater attention on graduate skills, research results and institutional performance, supporting closer alignment between programmes and current and future labour market requirements across the UAE economy.

The dialogue session outlined several main pillars of the decree-law, including unified national frameworks for licensing, accreditation, classification and quality assurance. These frameworks are intended to create consistent standards for all higher education providers in the country, while allowing sufficient flexibility for institutions to innovate in programme design and delivery.

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Participants also reviewed how the decree-law regulates digital, online and blended learning, in line with global best practices. This aspect aims to ensure that new learning modes meet quality expectations, while enabling institutions to expand access, integrate technology effectively and remain competitive and attractive at regional and international levels.

Higher education data integration and decision-making

A key focus of the discussion was the role of data integration and exchange between higher education institutions and the Ministry. The decree-law treats data as a core component for improving transparency, supporting evidence-based planning and enabling timely decisions based on accurate, reliable and up-to-date information from across the sector.

The session highlighted how better data sharing can streamline and accelerate administrative procedures for institutions. It can also help universities and colleges analyse their own performance more effectively, plan new programmes and improvement initiatives and provide students and other stakeholders with real-time information that supports informed choices about study options and career pathways.

Higher education stakeholder engagement and implementation

Dr. Al Awar stressed that the decree-law also strengthens institutional integration between the Ministry and local authorities responsible for regulating higher education. This integration is intended to secure coordinated efforts, unified regulatory frameworks and consistent standards across all emirates, while respecting the roles of federal and local entities.

Dr. Al Awar noted that the ‘Future of Higher Education Dialogues’ initiative, launched in Dubai and due to move to other emirates in the coming days, reflects the Ministry’s commitment to continuous engagement with higher education institutions to support smooth implementation of the decree-law and achievement of its stated objectives across the system.

Dr. Al Awar stated: "The issuance of the decree-law followed a comprehensive review and evaluation of previous experiences, extensive engagement with stakeholder feedback across the system, benchmarking against international best practices and anticipation of future challenges and opportunities," Dr. Al Awar said.

The dialogue session included open discussions and interactive exchanges, where representatives of higher education and TVET institutions asked detailed questions about the new law and its implementation mechanisms. Ministry officials responded to these queries and clarified how the various provisions will be applied in practice and how institutions can prepare for the coming changes.

This session forms part of the wider Customer Councils initiative, which reflects the Ministry’s institutional partnership approach and commitment to constructive dialogue with higher education institutions and other stakeholders, with the aim of building a higher education system that is more efficient, adaptable and competitive, and better able to prepare students for the future labour market and support the UAE’s sustainable development ambitions.

With inputs from WAM