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Lists of students for universities signed

ABU DHABI — Shaikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, yesterday signed the lists of approved students for the national universities of UAE.

For the 2007-2008 academic year, 10,785 Emirati students have been admitted at the UAE University, the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) and Zayed University.

The UAE University will open its doors to 2,513 students this autumn, 884 in the male campus and 1,629 in the female one. Out of 6,699 students that will start their studies at HCT in September, 3,320 will be in the male colleges and 3,379 in the female.

Zayed University will have 1,233 new students, 497 in the Abu Dhabi campus and 736 in the Dubai campus. The selection was done by the National Admissions and Placement Office (NAPO), part of the Ministry of Higher Education, which this year received 16,205 applications.

According to Subha Al Shamsi, director of NAPO, in 2007 there was the largest number of candidates to date, although the number of successful students remained similar to the one last year. “In 2006 we received enough funding to allow all the initially rejected applicants to enrol in the university,” said Al Shamsi, adding that she hopes for some extra funding this year as well.

In order to be admitted to one of the national universities, which provide free higher education to UAE nationals, A student must obtain a minimum of 70 per cent in the General Secondary Certificate (GSC) and a Common Educational Proficiency Assessment (CEPA) score of 150. For the UAE University, though, the results must be higher, 75 per cent GSC and CEPA 158.

Hadef bin Jouan Al Dhahiri, vice-chancellor of UAE University, explained that the reason for higher standards requirements is because the university includes more ‘difficult’ faculties. “We are the only governmental higher education institution that provides medicine and science faculties, which demand a greater level of study,” pointed out Al Dhahiri.

During yesterday’s signing ceremony, Shaikh Nahyan also approved the number of students who were awarded with scholarships abroad. This year, scholarships will be awarded to 340 undergraduates and 161 postgraduates.

The minister told Khaleej Times that following student’s complaints, the allowance for scholarships is being revised. “We are in the process of making an investigation into the scholarship allowance, which may soon be improved,” said Shaikh Nahyan. He also confirmed that, from next year new developments will be made in the governmental higher education institutions.

“Zayed University, traditionally for girls, will also have male campuses, initially in Abu Dhabi, then in Dubai. Also, an international campus will be added to Zayed University, which will accept students of any nationality,” revealed Shaikh Nahyan.

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