Sharjah Ruler Chairs Second SCHESR Meeting To Progress Higher Education

Sharjah’s leadership has advanced its higher education agenda, with new regulations, strategic reviews and institutional milestones emerging from the second meeting of the Sharjah Council for Higher Education and Scientific Research, chaired by His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, alongside the formal opening of the Council’s headquarters and the launch of its dedicated website.

The meeting brought together senior Sharjah figures and academic leaders, including H.H. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, H.H. Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, H.H. Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, and H.H. Sheikha Hoor bint Sultan Al Qasimi, together with presidents and directors of universities, academies and higher education institutions operating across the emirate.

Prev

Next

The Council endorsed regulations for a unified grant and discount programme for higher education and scientific research institutions in Sharjah, aiming to organise financial support, guarantee transparent and fair allocation of study opportunities, and strengthen the long-term stability of the emirate’s higher education system for both students and institutions.

Members examined the executive summary of the proposed regulation and related policy on scholarships and discounts in Sharjah’s higher education institutions, designed to widen access to learning, assist eligible students, and create a structured framework that aligns support schemes with institutional capacities and strategic goals across the sector.

In addition, the Council adopted several decisions intended to reinforce and refine the higher education system in the Emirate of Sharjah, targeting stronger academic and research performance, better use of institutional resources, and closer alignment with future development priorities and broader sustainable development objectives.

The Council reviewed the executive summary of the strategy for higher education and scientific research in Sharjah, which outlines future directions to update academic programmes, improve learning outcomes, and raise the competitiveness of institutions at regional and international levels through more relevant curricula and stronger links with global standards.

Members also considered a general report on the Council’s main activities and achievements during the recent period, together with performance indicators and qualitative initiatives that have helped support and upgrade Sharjah’s higher education system, giving a clearer picture of progress across universities and other academic entities.

The framework of the Sharjah Strategy for Scientific Research and Innovation was discussed in detail, with the Council reviewing its pillars and objectives, which include enhancing the research environment, backing innovation activities, and connecting research outputs to the emirate’s sustainable development priorities and practical economic and social needs.

The Council further examined the Quality Assurance and Governance Report, which addressed ways to strengthen institutional performance, ensure consistent compliance with approved academic standards, and entrench principles of sound governance in higher education institutions, covering oversight processes, accountability mechanisms and internal quality systems.

Sharjah higher education leadership, institutions and appointments

H.H. the Ruler of Sharjah commended the Council members for their efforts and the results achieved so far, pointing out that the Council oversees three modern universities that require continued academic backing modelled on leading international experiences and practices applied at well-established universities worldwide.

H.H. the Ruler of Sharjah voiced particular satisfaction with the graduation of the first cohort from the University of Khorfakkan, stressing that these graduates are promised direct appointment after completing their studies, in recognition of their dedication, and highlighting that Sharjah’s academic institutions span many disciplines, with several joining specialised international organisations, underlining the weight and quality of their programmes.

During the meeting, H.H. the Ruler of Sharjah signed an Emiri Decree appointing Dr Nadia Mahdi Al Hasani, Director of the Academy of Visual Arts at the University of the Arts in Sharjah, as a member of the Sharjah Council for Higher Education and Scientific Research, strengthening the Council’s representation from creative and visual arts education.

Sharjah higher education infrastructure and digital services

On arriving at the Council’s premises, H.H. the Ruler of Sharjah unveiled a commemorative plaque, officially inaugurating the building of the Sharjah Council for Higher Education and Scientific Research, which will serve as the central hub for policy coordination, strategic planning and communication among the emirate’s higher education and research bodies.

H.H. the Ruler of Sharjah then activated the Council’s website using a smart device, formally launching the online platform that offers services for learners, researchers, educational institutions, and the wider scientific research and innovation community, while also presenting key statistics and figures on Sharjah’s academic institutions and their activities.

During the visit, H.H. Sheikh Sultan watched a film documenting the journey of excellence in Sharjah’s academic institutions and their main achievements during the past period, including the number of programmes, specialisations and graduates at each institution, the ongoing development stages, and how these universities contribute to preparing qualified national cadres in many different fields.

The set of decisions, strategic reviews and institutional developments discussed and launched during the meeting underline Sharjah’s structured approach to strengthening higher education and scientific research, combining regulatory frameworks, quality assurance, infrastructure and human capital measures to support universities and students while advancing the emirate’s long-term development priorities.

With inputs from WAM