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1,200 refused admission over HCT money crunch

DUBAI - Dr Sulaiman Al Jassim , Director of Community Relations and Manpower Development for the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT), said on Wednesday that around 1,200 students have been refused admission to the HCT institutions in the country due to financial constraints.

“Shaikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and Chancellor of the HCT, has approved admission for 5,644 new students this year. Of these, 180 students will this year be funded by the Dubai Government. With the new admission, HCT’s total student strength will reach 15,000 this September,” said Dr Al Jassim.

He presented the admission details while highlighting the new developments and projects as well as academic programmes for the new academic year 2004-2005 which is already completed.

The Dubai Men’s College which shifts to its new campus in Al Ruwaiyyah from September he disclosed is constructed on an area of 402,000 square metres of land and built at a cost of Dh110 million. This year, the Fujairah Men’s College will be opened and the Ras Al Khaimah Men’s College will move to a new premises, he pointed out.

Dr Jasim announced that the new programmes which were approved by the an academic council have been designed to meet the UAE job market requirement. The new programmes include: Bachelor of Education (BEd.) in English Language Teaching in Schools programme, available at women’s colleges in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah and Sharjah; the Bachelor of Education (BEd.) Educational Technology, available at women’s colleges in Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah; Diploma in Web Development and the Higher Diploma in Electrical Engineering, available at men’s colleges in Al Ain and Abu Dhabi.

In addition, the Higher Diploma in Electronics Engineering will be available in Al Ain, Dubai and Abu Dhabi colleges; the Diploma in Municipal Services Engineering Technology in Abu Dhabi; and the Higher Diploma in Paramedical Studies and Emergency Services available at men’s and women’s colleges in Dubai.

Dr Jasim added that the HCT had signed a number of agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with institutions of higher education in UAE and other countries. He added that the HCT will organise its annual conference on August 28 and the Electronic Education Conference will be held from September 5 -7 at Abu Dhabi Men’s College.

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