Higher Colleges of Technology

The Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT; Arabic: كليّات التقنيّة العليا) was established in 1988^[1] and is the largest applied, higher education institution in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). During the 2019–2020 academic year, there were 14,246 female and 6,744 male students enrolled at 16 campuses and six academic divisions throughout the country.^[2] More than 67,000 UAE nationals are graduates of the institution.^[1]

Since 1991, HCT has issued 92,226 qualifications, with a total of 67,913 graduates.

The HCT provides post-secondary education through over 70 academic programs in the fields of business, education, engineering technology, computer and information science, applied media and health sciences. Under HCT’s hybrid education model, students can qualify with both academic qualifications and industry-relevant professional qualifications. English is used as the medium of instruction, with faculty recruited from around the world. in the 2019–2020 academic year, HCT employed 1164 faculty members and 948 non-academic staff.

The HCT has formal alliances with a number of international tertiary education and training institutions, and corporate partnerships with local and multinational companies. Some programs have international accreditation: for example, the HCT's Bachelor of Education degree was developed with, and is certified by the University of Melbourne.^[3] As part of it forming international collaborations, the HCT established the Global Applied Education Network (GAEN).^[4]

The CERT (Centre of Excellence for Applied Research and Training) is the commercial arm of the Higher Colleges of Technology, developing and providing education, training and applied technology for public and private sector clients, since 1996.^[5]

The HCT Chancellor is H.E. Nasser Bin Thani Juma Al Hamli, UAE Minister of Human Resources & Emiratization. Dr Tayeb A. Kamali was appointed as the Vice Chancellor in June 2005. Mohammed Omran Al Shamsi was made President of the Higher Colleges in 2013, an appointment that carried Ministerial rank.^[6] On March 17, 2015 Dr Abdullatif Al Shamsi was appointed as HCT Vice Chancellor, by Federal Decree. Dr. Abdullatif Al Shamsi is now the President & CEO of HCT.

There are 16 campuses throughout the country, with separate colleges for male and female students, in the cities of Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah, as well as in the Al Dhafrah region of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. The central administration of the HCT is located in Abu Dhabi and includes the President and CEO's Office, Academic Central Services, and a number of departments which come under the Departments of Academics, Human Resources, General Services, Educational Technologies, Finance, Procurements & Contracts, Strategy & Future and Communications.

In 1985, H.E. Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Chancellor of the United Arab Emirates University, made a commitment to establish a new system of post-secondary education for UAE Nationals that would stress the ideals of productivity, self-determination, and excellence.^[7]

In 1988, Federal Law No 2 established the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT).^[8]

Abu Dhabi Men's campus

Abu Dhabi Men's campus (ADM) opened in 1988 and has modern computer laboratories and technical workshops, and classrooms equipped with learning technology. ADM offers a range of work-relevant programs in Business, Applied Media, Engineering Technology, Health Sciences and Computer Information Science. The current Executive Director of the college is Mr. Taleb Al Hebsi.

ADM is located adjacent to the HCT's Centre of Excellence for Applied Research and Training (CERT).

Abu Dhabi Women's campus

Abu Dhabi Women's campus (ADW) opened in 1988. ADW has five main academic programs, being Business, Applied Media, Education, Health Sciences and Computer Information Science. ADW also seeks to meet the needs of women who were unable to enter college directly after high school by offering a Work Readiness Program that prepares them for careers in private, public or self-owned companies. The wider community is serviced by Continuing Education programs which are open to the entire Abu Dhabi community. The present Executive Director of the college is Mr. Taleb Al Hebsi.

Al Ain Men's campus

Al Ain Men's campus (AAM) opened in 1988 with 61 students and 19 staff.

The college operated from a temporary campus in the Al Ain suburb of Sarooj until 1996 when a purpose built facility was opened on the road to the suburb of Zakher, near Al Ain Zoo. Sports and other recreational facilities were completed in 2001.

The college offers courses in Business, Health sciences, Engineering Technology and Computer & Information Science. In 2006 there were more than 700 students and 90 staff. The current Executive Director is Dr Shawqi Kharbash.

Al Ain Women's campus

Al Ain Women's campus (AAW) opened in 1988, as one of the four original campuses in the HCT system; and offers a wide variety of business and technical courses for Emirati women in Al Ain. The current Executive Director is Dr Shawqi Kharbash.

Dubai Men's campus

Dubai Men's College (DBM) opened in 1989, the Higher Colleges' second year of operation. More than 3000 students have graduated from the college, and it currently enrolls approximately 2000 students and employs some 200 faculty and staff.

In 2004, a new campus was inaugurated at Dubai Academic City. It is equipped with a wide range of sports, educational, and recreational facilities. Its current Executive Director is Dr. Aisha Abushelaibi.

DBM offers programs in Applied Media, Engineering Technology, Business, Health Sciences, and Computer Information Science. These programs include degree courses in Business Administration, Computer Information Science, Engineering Management, Construction Engineering, and Communication Technology.

Dubai Women's campus

Dubai Women's campus (DBW) opened in 1989 and offers courses in Business, Computer & Information Science, Health Sciences, Applied Communications, Education and Engineering Technology. Enrolment at the DBW campus has increased from fewer than 200 to over 2,200 students in 2006. DBW relocated to a new campus in the Al Quasis area of Dubai in 1998. The current Executive Director is Dr. Aisha Abushelaibi.

Fujairah Men's campus

Fujairah Men's campus (FJM) opened in 2003 and offers a wide variety of business and technical courses for Emirati men in Fujairah. The current Executive Director is Dr. Abdulla Al Suwaiji.

Fujairah Women's campus

Fujairah Women's campus (FJW) opened in 1999 and offers a wide variety of business and technical courses for Emirati women in Fujairah. The current Executive Director is Dr. Abdulla Al Suwaiji.

Ras Al Khaimah Men's campus

Ras Al Khaimah Men's campus (RKM) opened in 1993. The current Executive Director is Maryam Al Haffeet, who also leads Ras Al Khaimah Women's campus (RKW).

Ras Al Khaimah Women's campus

Ras Al Khaimah Women's campus (RKW) has over 1800 students^[9] and offers a wide variety of business and technical courses for Emirati women in Ras Al Khaimah. The current Executive Director is Maryam Al Haffeet.

The HCT-Sharjah Men's and Women's campuses

The HCT-Sharjah campuses are two of the 16 colleges that compose the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Sharjah Women's campus (SJW) was established in 1997^[10] and the Sharjah Men's campus (SJM) in 1998.^[11]

Located in University City in Sharjah, with separate campuses for males and females, the SJM and SJW serve the post-secondary educational needs of the three neighboring emirates of Sharjah, Ajman, and Umm Al Quwain. Enrollments at the Women's and Men's campuses for the 2019–20 academic year were was 3,197 and 1325 respectively. The HCT-Sharjah campuses employ over 370 faculty and staff from more than 25 different countries.

The HCT-Sharjah campuses offer diploma, higher diploma, and bachelors level programs in Applied Media, Business, Education, Engineering Technology, Health Sciences and Computer Information Science. The colleges have facilities that include well-equipped computer and other dedicated laboratories, an auditorium, a planetarium, and Olympic-size sports facilities.

The current Executive Director of the Sharjah campuses is Dr. Yahya Al Ansaari.^[11]

Madinat Zayed and Ruwais campuses

New campuses were opened in 2007 for both men and women in the Al Dhafrah region of the Abu Dhabi Emirate in the cities of Madinat Zayed and Ruwais. The current Executive Director of the Madinat Zayed and Ruwais campuses is Dr Addel Al Ameri.^[12]

COVID-19 and digital transformation

With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the resultant closure of in-person classes in the UAE, the HCT transformed its education delivery from on-campus learning to 100 per cent online or remote learning. This enabled a continuity of business for the 16 HCT campuses, as well as students to complete their studies in the academic year, including examinations and assessments. This facilitated the on-time graduation of the 2019-2020 student body. Consequently, a new model of educational delivery has been implemented at HCT.

Blockchain and 4IR technologies

HCT has engaged Blockchain technology in its operations, resulting in 155,000 graduate qualifications being available online through HCT’s Blockchain platform. It has also developed a Virtual Reality training platform, which is the first of its kind in UAE higher education institutions. It trains HCT faculty, staff and students in Environment Health & Safety.

HCT's milestones include the following:

• It created a 3D Printed Ventilator Splitter for treating multiple patients with a single ventilator in hospitals’ Intensive Care Units.^[13]
• It launched the UAE’s first Artificial Intelligence Academy, with the National Program for Artificial intelligence ^[14]
• It became the UAE’s first approved university economic free zone with the inauguration of the HCT InnCuVation Spaces.^[15]
• Agreed with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization (MOHRE) to provide training and upskilling for 18,000 Emirati students through the National Training Program.^[16]
• It became the UAE’s first government higher education institution to obtain 100% accreditation of its academic programs, through the UAE's Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA).^[17]

24°30′N 54°30′E / 24.5°N 54.5°E