11,532 Emirati students join local universities

Some 11,532 Emiratis students have bee enrolled at local universities for Fall 2011-2012. Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and scientific research, approved on July 31 the enrollment of the students. Some 5,533 students will join Higher College of Technology (HCT), while 3,737 will enroll in the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) and 2,272 are set to join Zayed University (ZU). "This is the largest group of freshmen students in the history of UAE higher education institutions," said Shaikh Nahyan. "The UAE tops the first ten countries in attracting successful high school students and enrolling them at colleges," he added. Article continues below The Emirati universities provide over 200 majors and scientific programs that cover all knowledge fields and meet the government's strategy of developing the skills of Emiratis. The Ministry of Education has adopted strategy "Education 2020," a series of five-year plans designed to introduce advanced education techniques, improve skills, and focus on the self-learning abilities of students. These universities, alongside leading western universities such as American University, Sorbonne University, New York university provide excellent educational opportunities to prepare Emirati workforce to effectively contribute in the sustainable development of the UAE and remain globally competitive.