Higher Colleges of Technology
Encyclopedia
The Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) (in Arabic
: ) was established in 1988, and is the largest institution of higher learning in the United Arab Emirates
(UAE) with over 19,000 students. During the 2011 - 2012 academic year there were 12,217 female and 7,298 male students enrolled at 17 campuses and 92 programs throughout the country. More than 50,000 UAE nationals are graduates of the institution.
The HCT provides post-secondary education in Business
, Education
, Engineering Technology, Computer & Information Science
, Applied Communications and Health Sciences.
The HCT places a strong emphasis on an innovative, project-driven
and student-centred
curriculum. English
is used as the medium of instruction, with faculty recruited from around the world.
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
.
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. The Wharton
Center for Family Business and Entrepreneurship Research for the Middle East is based at CERT. The University of Waterloo
, Canada, offers dual degrees in collaboration with HCT through CERT.
The Chancellor of the HCT is His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, also UAE Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research. The Vice Chancellor, appointed in June 2005, is Dr Tayeb A. Kamali.
There are 17 campuses throughout the country, with separate colleges for male and female students. The central administration of the HCT is located in Abu Dhabi
and includes the Vice Chancellor's Office, Office of the Provost (Dr Mark Drummond
), Academic Central Services, Institutional Planning and Development (Dr. Senthil Nathan), Human Resource division (Dr. Rudolph Young), and Central Finance and IT services.
, made a commitment to establish a new system of postsecondary education for UAE Nationals that would stress the ideals of productivity, self-determination and excellence.
In fulfillment of that vision, the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) was established in 1988 by Federal Law No 2 issued by the Late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may his soul rest in peace.
In 1988 four colleges for men and women opened in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, and in the next few years, men’s and women’s colleges were established in Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah. In 1997/1998 the Sharjah colleges for men and women were established in Sharjah’s University City, followed by a women’s college
in Fujairah in 1999/2000 and a men’s college in 2004/2005. Since 2006, new colleges have opened in Madinat Zayed and Ruwais. Additional facility expansion projects in 2006 included the new permanent facilities for Fujairah Men’s College and Ras Al Khaimah Men’s College. In 2009 a new campus of Abu Dhabi Women’s College was opened in Khalifa city.
The Centre of Excellence for Applied Research and Training (CERT) was established in 1995 for the purpose of ensuring cooperation and communication with the Higher Colleges of Technology and the private and public sectors, and organizing training courses in cooperation with major educational institutions worldwide.
CERT presently supervises the HCT’s continuing education system which provides nationals and expatriates with the opportunity to pursue their higher studies through intensive brief course or HCT programs, where they can study by a credit hours basis.
ADMC is located adjacent to the HCT's Centre of Excellence for Applied Research and Training (CERT).
community. The present director of the college is Dr. Jace Hargis.
ADWC’s new Khalifa campus, opened in September 2009, offers educational opportunities to an additional 2,000 students closer to home for those students who live outside of Abu Dhabi
.
Al Ain Men's College (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. Athletics and other recreational facilities were completed in 2001. The campus has attractive gardens and dramatic views of Jebel Hafeet
.
The college offers courses in Business, Engineering Technology and Computer & Information Science. In 2006 there were more than 700 students and 90 staff. The current director is Tim Smith, who is also director of Al Ain Women's College.
AAM recently announced the start of a new Executive MBA degree, the first for the city of Al Ain
.
Dubai Men's College
(DMC) opened in 1989 and offers programs in Business, Computer & Information Science, Applied Communications and Engineering. 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 established at Dubai Academic City and is equipped with state-of-the-art technologies and a wide range of sports, educational and recreational facilities.
DMC offers programs in Applied Communications, Engineering Technology, Business, Health Sciences and Computer & Information Science including degree courses in Business Administration, Computer & Information Science, Engineering Management, Construction Engineering and Communication Technology.
Current director of the college is Dr. Leo Chavez.
Enrolment at the DWC campus
has increased from fewer than 200 to over 2,200 students in 2006. DWC relocated to a new campus in the Al Quasis area of Dubai
in 1998.
Dr Howard Reed has been Director of Dubai Women's College since 1992. In 2005, he was appointed to the Dubai Education Council, established by then Crown Prince
, now Ruler
of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
to improve the school education sector in Dubai.
.
The Current director is Dr David Pelham who is also the director of Fujairah Women's College.
.
. In 2004 it moved to Digdaga, before moving back to the city to its current campus in 2006. The campus is located in an area of Ras Al Khaimah known as Bererat. It is situated roughly 5 km from the city centre.
As a technical college, its courses focus on preparing its students for the workplace. It offers a Bachelor's Degree in e-Business Management, as well as Higher Diplomas and Diplomas in three subject areas: Mechatronics, Business and Information Technology.
The current director is Dr Robert Moulton who is also the Director of Ras Al Khaimah Women's College.
Located in University City
in Sharjah
, with separate campuses for males and females, the SHCT serve the post-secondary educational needs of the three neighboring emirates of Sharjah, Ajman, and Umm Al Quwain. Current enrolment at the Women’s and Men’s Colleges is 1,900 and 800 respectively (Sept. 2009). The SHCT employ over 300 staff from more than 25 different countries, with the great majority coming from English-speaking world.
The SHCT offer diploma, higher diploma, and bachelors level programs in Applied Communications, Business, Education, Engineering Technology, Health Sciences and Computer & Information Science.
The SHCT has a beautiful campus, with facilities that include well-equipped computer and other dedicated laboratories, an auditorium, a planetarium, and Olympic-size sports facilities.
The current and founding Director of the Sharjah Higher Colleges of Technology is Dr Farid Ohan (2009).
. The Director of the MZ and Ruwais Colleges is Dr Phil Quirke.
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
: ) was established in 1988, and is the largest institution of higher learning in the United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
(UAE) with over 19,000 students. During the 2011 - 2012 academic year there were 12,217 female and 7,298 male students enrolled at 17 campuses and 92 programs throughout the country. More than 50,000 UAE nationals are graduates of the institution.
The HCT provides post-secondary education in Business
Business
A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
, Education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
, Engineering Technology, Computer & Information Science
Information and Computer Science
Information and Computer Science or Computer and Information Science is a field that emphasizes both computing and informatics, upholding the strong association between the fields of information sciences and computer sciences and treating computers as a tool rather than a field.-Computing...
, Applied Communications and Health Sciences.
The HCT places a strong emphasis on an innovative, project-driven
Project-based learning
Project-based learning, or PBL, is the use of in-depth and rigorous classroom projects to facilitate learning and assess student competence . Students use technology and inquiry to respond to a complex issue, problem or challenge...
and student-centred
Student-centred learning
Student-centred learning is an approach to education focusing on the needs of the students, rather than those of others involved in the educational process, such as teachers and administrators...
curriculum. English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
is used as the medium of instruction, with faculty recruited from around the world.
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
Bachelor of Education
A Bachelor of Education is an undergraduate academic degree which qualifies the graduate as a teacher in schools.-North America:...
degree was developed with, and is certified by the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
.
The CERT (Centre of Excellence for Applied Research and Training)
CERT (Centre of Excellence for Applied Research and Training)
The CERT Group of Companies began as the commercial arm of the Higher Colleges of Technology in the United Arab Emirates, and has grown to be the largest private education provider in the Middle East...
is the commercial arm of the Higher Colleges of Technology, developing and providing education, training and applied technology for public and private sector clients. The Wharton
Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
The Wharton School is the business school of the University of Pennsylvania, an Ivy League university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Wharton was the world’s first collegiate business school and the first business school in the United States...
Center for Family Business and Entrepreneurship Research for the Middle East is based at CERT. The University of Waterloo
University of Waterloo
The University of Waterloo is a comprehensive public university in the city of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The school was founded in 1957 by Drs. Gerry Hagey and Ira G. Needles, and has since grown to an institution of more than 30,000 students, faculty, and staff...
, Canada, offers dual degrees in collaboration with HCT through CERT.
The Chancellor of the HCT is His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, also UAE Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research. The Vice Chancellor, appointed in June 2005, is Dr Tayeb A. Kamali.
There are 17 campuses throughout the country, with separate colleges for male and female students. The central administration of the HCT is located in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi , literally Father of Gazelle, is the capital and the second largest city of the United Arab Emirates in terms of population and the largest of the seven member emirates of the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi lies on a T-shaped island jutting into the Persian Gulf from the central western...
and includes the Vice Chancellor's Office, Office of the Provost (Dr Mark Drummond
Marshall Drummond
Dr. Marshall Drummond is the Provost of the Higher Colleges of Technology in the United Arab Emirates. Previously, he was the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges system from January 2004 through July 2007. He left the system office to return to the Los Angeles Community College...
), Academic Central Services, Institutional Planning and Development (Dr. Senthil Nathan), Human Resource division (Dr. Rudolph Young), and Central Finance and IT services.
History
In 1985, HE Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Chancellor of the United Arab Emirates UniversityUnited Arab Emirates University
United Arab Emirates University was established in 1976, and is the oldest of the three government-sponsored institutions of higher learning in the United Arab Emirates compared to the Higher Colleges of Technology and Zayed University...
, made a commitment to establish a new system of postsecondary education for UAE Nationals that would stress the ideals of productivity, self-determination and excellence.
In fulfillment of that vision, the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) was established in 1988 by Federal Law No 2 issued by the Late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may his soul rest in peace.
In 1988 four colleges for men and women opened in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, and in the next few years, men’s and women’s colleges were established in Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah. In 1997/1998 the Sharjah colleges for men and women were established in Sharjah’s University City, followed by a women’s college
in Fujairah in 1999/2000 and a men’s college in 2004/2005. Since 2006, new colleges have opened in Madinat Zayed and Ruwais. Additional facility expansion projects in 2006 included the new permanent facilities for Fujairah Men’s College and Ras Al Khaimah Men’s College. In 2009 a new campus of Abu Dhabi Women’s College was opened in Khalifa city.
The Centre of Excellence for Applied Research and Training (CERT) was established in 1995 for the purpose of ensuring cooperation and communication with the Higher Colleges of Technology and the private and public sectors, and organizing training courses in cooperation with major educational institutions worldwide.
CERT presently supervises the HCT’s continuing education system which provides nationals and expatriates with the opportunity to pursue their higher studies through intensive brief course or HCT programs, where they can study by a credit hours basis.
Abu Dhabi Men's College
Abu Dhabi Men's College (ADMC) opened in 1988 and has modern computer laboratories and technical workshops, and classrooms equipped with learning technology. ADMC offers a range of work-relevant programs in Business, Communication Technology, Engineering Technology, Health Sciences and Computer & Information Science. The current director of the college is Dr Simon Jones.ADMC is located adjacent to the HCT's Centre of Excellence for Applied Research and Training (CERT).
Abu Dhabi Women's College
Abu Dhabi Women's College (ADWC) opened in 1988. ADWC has 5 main teaching departments: Business, Applied Communication, Education, Health Sciences and Computer & Information Science. ADWC 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 DhabiAbu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi , literally Father of Gazelle, is the capital and the second largest city of the United Arab Emirates in terms of population and the largest of the seven member emirates of the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi lies on a T-shaped island jutting into the Persian Gulf from the central western...
community. The present director of the college is Dr. Jace Hargis.
ADWC’s new Khalifa campus, opened in September 2009, offers educational opportunities to an additional 2,000 students closer to home for those students who live outside of Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi , literally Father of Gazelle, is the capital and the second largest city of the United Arab Emirates in terms of population and the largest of the seven member emirates of the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi lies on a T-shaped island jutting into the Persian Gulf from the central western...
.
Al Ain Men's College
The college operated from a temporary campus in the Al Ain
Al Ain
Al Ain |Spring]]), also known as the Garden City due to its greenery, is the second largest city in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and the fourth largest city in the United Arab Emirates. With a population of 374,000 , it is located approximately 160 km east of the capital Abu Dhabi and about...
suburb of Sarooj until 1996 when a purpose built facility was opened on the road to the suburb of Zakher, near Al Ain Zoo. Athletics and other recreational facilities were completed in 2001. The campus has attractive gardens and dramatic views of Jebel Hafeet
Jebel Hafeet
Jebel Hafeet is a mountain primarily in the United Arab Emirates on the outskirts of Al Ain in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. The mountain actually straddles part of the border with Oman. The mountain rises 1249 meters and offers an impressive view over the city...
.
The college offers courses in Business, Engineering Technology and Computer & Information Science. In 2006 there were more than 700 students and 90 staff. The current director is Tim Smith, who is also director of Al Ain Women's College.
AAM recently announced the start of a new Executive MBA degree, the first for the city of Al Ain
Al Ain Women's College
Al Ain Women's College opened in 1988 and offers a wide variety of business and technical courses for Emirati women in Al AinAl Ain
Al Ain |Spring]]), also known as the Garden City due to its greenery, is the second largest city in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and the fourth largest city in the United Arab Emirates. With a population of 374,000 , it is located approximately 160 km east of the capital Abu Dhabi and about...
.
Dubai Men's College
Dubai Men's College
Dubai Men’s College , one of the first Higher Colleges of Technology , is a government-funded higher education institution located in Academic City, Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates . HCT, the largest higher education institution in the UAE, was established in 1988 and was designed to educate and...
(DMC) opened in 1989 and offers programs in Business, Computer & Information Science, Applied Communications and Engineering. 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 established at Dubai Academic City and is equipped with state-of-the-art technologies and a wide range of sports, educational and recreational facilities.
DMC offers programs in Applied Communications, Engineering Technology, Business, Health Sciences and Computer & Information Science including degree courses in Business Administration, Computer & Information Science, Engineering Management, Construction Engineering and Communication Technology.
Current director of the college is Dr. Leo Chavez.
Dubai Women's College
Dubai Women's College (DWC) opened in 1989 and offers courses in Business, Computer & Information Science, Health Sciences, Applied Communications, Education and Engineering Technology.Enrolment at the DWC campus
Campus
A campus is traditionally the land on which a college or university and related institutional buildings are situated. Usually a campus includes libraries, lecture halls, residence halls and park-like settings...
has increased from fewer than 200 to over 2,200 students in 2006. DWC relocated to a new campus in the Al Quasis area of Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
in 1998.
Dr Howard Reed has been Director of Dubai Women's College since 1992. In 2005, he was appointed to the Dubai Education Council, established by then Crown Prince
Crown Prince
A crown prince or crown princess is the heir or heiress apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The wife of a crown prince is also titled crown princess....
, now Ruler
Emir
Emir , meaning "commander", "general", or "prince"; also transliterated as Amir, Aamir or Ameer) is a title of high office, used throughout the Muslim world...
of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum , also Sheikh Mohammed, , is the Prime Minister and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates , and absolute monarch of Dubai.-Personal life and education:...
to improve the school education sector in Dubai.
Fujairah Men's College
Fujairah Men's College (FJM) opened in 2003 and offers a wide variety of business and technical courses for Emirati men in FujairahFujairah
Fujairah is one of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates, and the only one on the Gulf of Oman in the country's east instead of Persian Gulf .-History:...
.
The Current director is Dr David Pelham who is also the director of Fujairah Women's College.
Fujairah Women's College
Fujairah Women's College (FJW) in 1999 and offers a wide variety of business and technical courses for Emirati women in FujairahFujairah
Fujairah is one of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates, and the only one on the Gulf of Oman in the country's east instead of Persian Gulf .-History:...
.
Ras Al Khaimah Men's College
Ras Al Khaimah Men's College (RKM) opened in 1993. The college was originally located in Ras Al Khaimah city on the site presently occupied by George Mason UniversityGeorge Mason University
George Mason University is a public university based in unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, United States, south of and adjacent to the city of Fairfax. Additional campuses are located nearby in Arlington County, Prince William County, and Loudoun County...
. In 2004 it moved to Digdaga, before moving back to the city to its current campus in 2006. The campus is located in an area of Ras Al Khaimah known as Bererat. It is situated roughly 5 km from the city centre.
As a technical college, its courses focus on preparing its students for the workplace. It offers a Bachelor's Degree in e-Business Management, as well as Higher Diplomas and Diplomas in three subject areas: Mechatronics, Business and Information Technology.
The current director is Dr Robert Moulton who is also the Director of Ras Al Khaimah Women's College.
Ras Al Khaimah Women's College
Ras Al Khaimah Women's College (RKWC) has approximately 1200 students and offers a wide variety of business and technical courses for Emirati women in Ras Al Khaimah.The Sharjah Higher Colleges of Technology
The Sharjah Higher Colleges of Technology (SHCT) are two of the sixteen colleges that comprise the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Sharjah Women’s College was established in 1997 and the Sharjah Men’s College in 1998.Located in University City
University City of Sharjah
Sharjah University City is an educational district of higher learning in the city of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates located close to the Sharjah International Airport. It contains the American University of Sharjah, the Higher Colleges of Technology and the University of Sharjah...
in Sharjah
Sharjah (city)
Sharjah is the third largest and most populous city in the United Arab Emirates. It is located along the southern coast of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula.Sharjah is the seat of government of the emirate of Sharjah...
, with separate campuses for males and females, the SHCT serve the post-secondary educational needs of the three neighboring emirates of Sharjah, Ajman, and Umm Al Quwain. Current enrolment at the Women’s and Men’s Colleges is 1,900 and 800 respectively (Sept. 2009). The SHCT employ over 300 staff from more than 25 different countries, with the great majority coming from English-speaking world.
The SHCT offer diploma, higher diploma, and bachelors level programs in Applied Communications, Business, Education, Engineering Technology, Health Sciences and Computer & Information Science.
The SHCT has a beautiful campus, with facilities that include well-equipped computer and other dedicated laboratories, an auditorium, a planetarium, and Olympic-size sports facilities.
The current and founding Director of the Sharjah Higher Colleges of Technology is Dr Farid Ohan (2009).
Madinat Zayed & Ruwais Colleges
New campus were opened in 2007 for both men and women in the western area of Abu Dhabi Emirate at Madinat Zayed and RuwaisRuwais
Al Ruwais is a town located some 240 kilometers west of Abu Dhabi city. The Ruwais industrial and housing complex has been developed by ADNOC as a major contributor to the national economy and represents a series of multi-million-dollar investments by the company...
. The Director of the MZ and Ruwais Colleges is Dr Phil Quirke.
HCT's flagship conferences
HCT's flagship conferences include:- Education Without Borders (a biennial international student conference).
- Festival of Thinkers (a unique conference of interactions between young scholars and Nobel Laureates and World Thinkers).
- Global Entrepreneurship 2010 Conference (E2010).
- EWB Regional Forum for University Leaders (held in several continents).
External links
- Higher Colleges of Technology official website
- Higher Colleges of Technology official Arabic website
- HCT News
- Careers at HCT
- HCT Foundation
- CERT
- Abu Dhabi Industry Award
- Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) on Edarabia.com
Colleges
- Abu Dhabi Men's College website
- Abu Dhabi Women's College website
- Al Ain Men's College website
- Al Ain Women's College website
- Dubai Men's College website
- Dubai Women's College website
- Ras Al Khaimah Colleges website
- Fujairah Colleges website
- Madinat Zayed Colleges website
- Sharjah Colleges website