UAE Ministry Of Education Unveils Classification Framework For Higher Ed Institutions

The Ministry of Education (MoE) has launched the "National Higher Education Institutions Classification Framework," which has received approval from the UAE Cabinet. This framework aims to rank MoE-licensed higher education institutions (HEIs) based on transparent and fair criteria that align with the UAE's vision and priorities.

Dr. Mohammad Al Mualla, Under-Secretary for Higher Education Academic Affairs at the MoE, highlighted that this new framework is a significant step towards enhancing the UAE's global standing in higher education. He explained that it allows students to choose HEIs that match their interests and academic strengths while motivating universities to boost their competitiveness and attract international students through fair and measurable assessments.

Dr. Al Mualla mentioned, "Working on the development of the framework has spanned six years, in collaboration with relevant entities. Ministry teams have conducted standard comparisons with internationally accredited university ranking systems. Communication with relevant local parties, including local HEIs, was prioritised to ensure alignment with the national vision and priorities. Additionally, the Ministry of Education coordinated with HEIs to complete two trial phases to ensure the framework's flexibility, clarity, and neutrality of standards. Classifications will be updated annually, starting from this year."

The classification system divides MoE-licensed HEIs into two main categories: Research Cluster and Non-research Cluster. The Research Cluster includes institutions offering postgraduate studies alongside bachelor's degrees, while the Non-research Cluster comprises those providing only bachelor's or lower-level studies.

In its initial phase, the National Higher Education Institutions Classification Framework assessed HEIs across four primary pillars: research and innovation (35%), teaching quality and student life (35%), employment and labour market alignment (20%), and international collaboration (10%). The MoE will announce assessment pillars for Non-research Cluster HEIs in Phase Two of the Programme.

Based on these criteria, MoE-licensed HEIs are divided into four groups defined by key performance indicators under each pillar. According to ranking results, institutions such as the American University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates University, Khalifa University, Mohammed bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, and New York University Abu Dhabi were placed in 'Group 1'.

Exclusions from the Framework

The new framework excludes HEIs established within the last five years, those exclusively offering master's and doctoral programmes, or universities with revoked or suspended licences.

The MoE ensures neutrality by gathering data from multiple sources like HEI data, official country entities' data, reliable international bodies' data, as well as surveys from students, employees, employers, and alumni.

Annual Updates and Reviews

This framework provides clear tools for higher education institutions to review and amend their rankings if necessary. The collected data undergoes annual audits and reviews to maintain accuracy.

This initiative marks a crucial advancement in aligning UAE's higher education sector with global standards while fostering an environment of continuous improvement among its institutions.

With inputs from WAM