Public and private universities in the UAE are being given more autonomy on their admission process, with the Ministry of Education encouraging special focus on subject-specific high school grades under revised guidelines.
It comes after the Emirates Standardised Test, known as Emsat, was scrapped earlier this month.
The new guidelines, being introduced this week, focus on widening the access to higher education so that more high school graduates are able to study at universities, and to give the institutions more flexibility in the admission criteria.
“These guidelines are for all universities, whether it's government or private. We are giving the universities the flexibility to follow these or to come up with their own admission criteria," highlighted Dr Mohammad Al Mualla, undersecretary of the Ministry of Higher Education (MoE) and Scientific Research in UAE.
“Our guidelines encourage universities to use high school grades as a sufficient measure of a student's ability in a relevant subject, and not to depend on the overall grade.” This puts the focus on high school grades for the subject the student wishes to pursue. For example, if a student aims to study physics at university, they would be assessed on their high school scores in physics.
The ministry will focus on four priorities: streamlined procedures and enhanced digital services; improving educational institutions' flexibility by updating licensing and admission criteria; aligning educational outcomes with labour market needs and leveraging partnerships with economic sectors.
Bridging courses on offer
Under the new system, universities can offer various pathways to improve their admission eligibility. “It is now the responsibility of the university to evaluate the applicant and decide what remedial or bridging classes the student needs,” added Dr Al Mualla.
This allows universities to offer students, who do not meet the criteria for a bachelor’s course, options like bridging courses, which is a short-term programme that targets areas a student needs to improve, or diploma programmes.
“We want every (high school) graduate to have the opportunity to access higher education in the UAE.”
Dr Al Mualla explained that Emsat, which was previously mandatory for Emiratis in grade 12 in public and private schools and non-Emiratis in private schools affiliated with MoE, was “designed for the above average student”.
But, by cancelling Emsat, universities have more “flexibility” to choose what works for them. They can either use high school grades, or choose a standardised examination or create their placement test. Dr Al Mualla is hopeful the move will eventually widen the “access to higher education” to more students, thus improving their “chances of employment”.
Stats show gaps in access to higher education
According to the stats shared by the Ministry of Education, 50 per cent of grade 12 students were ineligible to apply for a bachelor's programme, with the ministry’s policies blamed for limiting the access.
Sixty-seven per cent of jobseekers registered on Nafis, established in 2021 to drive the nation's Emiratisation strategy, are high school graduates or had not even graduated from high school.
The decision to change the policy stemmed from this issue, explained Dr Hassan Almheiri, acting assistant undersecretary for Higher Education and Scientific Research Regulation and Governance Sector.
“This is where we changed some of our policies to find a better way to provide further flexibility and accessibility for students to go into higher education and have the opportunity to upskill themselves for the job market.”
He added that the Emsat was cancelled as “it was not doing the purpose”.
“It had a different purpose earlier, but we needed to think about it differently by providing flexibility to the universities to allow the students to be admitted through other criteria.”
Dr Almheiri added that there's still a lot of work to be done, with the Ministry of Education and universities, with counselling plans for students. “This is a step that we need to provide,” he said.
Widening options for students
Students who do not meet the initial entry criteria for a bachelor's programme will now have more options. “They may enter a diploma or higher diploma programme and then progress into that pathway,” Dr Almheriri added, or sign up for bridging courses.
The new policy has already come into effect, with universities asked to implement new admission plans – based on the programmes they are offering – for the next batch starting in the spring or fall.
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Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
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The years Ramadan fell in May
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
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