| Higher Colleges of Technology | |
|---|---|
| كليّات التقنيّة العليا | |
| Established | 1988 |
| Type | Public |
| Chancellor | HE Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan |
| Provost | Dr. Marshall Drummond |
| Vice-Chancellor | Dr. Tayeb A. Kamali |
| Academic staff | 1050 |
| Admin. staff | 950 |
| Students | 19,515 |
| Location | 17 geographically separate campuses located in the emirates of Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Dubai, Fujairah, Madinat Zayed, Ras Al Khaimah, Ruwais, and Sharjah, United Arab Emirates |
| Colours | White, Red, Green and Black |
| Mascot | Falcon |
| Website | http://www.hct.ac.ae/ |
The Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) (in Arabic: كليّات التقنيّة العليا) was established in 1988[1], 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.[2] More than 50,000 UAE nationals are graduates of the institution[3].
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.[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.[5] The Wharton Center for Family Business and Entrepreneurship Research for the Middle East is based at CERT.[6] The University of Waterloo, Canada, offers dual degrees in collaboration with HCT through CERT.[7]
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.
In 1985, HE Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Chancellor of the United Arab Emirates 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.[8]
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.[9]
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.[10]
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 Osimon bin Jones.
ADMC is located adjacent to the HCT's Centre of Excellence for Applied Research and Training (CERT).
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 Dhabi 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.[11]
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[12]
Al Ain Women's College opened in 1988 and offers a wide variety of business and technical courses for Emirati women in 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.
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 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.
Fujairah Men's College (FJM) opened in 2003 and offers a wide variety of business and technical courses for Emirati men in Fujairah. The Current director is Dr David Pelham who is also the director of 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 Fujairah.
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 University. 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 (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 (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 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).
New campus were opened in 2007 for both men and women in the western area of Abu Dhabi Emirate at Madinat Zayed and Ruwais. The Director of the MZ and Ruwais Colleges is Dr Phil Quirke.
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− In December 2005, soon after Dr. Kamali was appointed as Vice Chancellor of HCT, a spate of resignations were reported, raising concern among employees over increasing job uncertainty which could adversely affect the reputation and standard of the institutions.
− Some 25 officials, ranking from directors, supervisors and heads of departments primarily from the directorates of Central Services and Academics at HCT, resigned for various reasons, prominent being the alleged change in policy after Dr. Kamali took charge in June.[13]
− Moreover, the HCT system has recently been criticized after the College management reneged on a previously agreed 'merit pay' system, and also ordered cuts in pay increments throughout the organization.[14]
− In September 2010, further degrees of indifference from HCT senior managers towards their staff were revealed. Teachers who were forced to transfer to HCT upon the dissolution of the UAEU's Foundation Programme were reportedly told that they were 'lucky to have jobs' when they complained about vastly deteriorating working conditions - 50% extra teaching hours and no pay increase to compensate. Moreover, the HCT Provost, Dr Mark Drummond, claimed that such complaints 'were to be expected', which hardly served to inspire confidence in the organisation. As a result of HCT's dismissal of the grievances of its staff, several teachers resigned immediately and many other have threatened to do so soon.[15]
− More recently (September 2011) the HCT management reneged on their pay agreements even further, denying all staff their contractually-agreed increments without even bothering to notify them. Staff have reacted to the college's actions angrily, claimimg that HCT treats its teachers as "unskilled, disposable labour". One claimed there had been "a steady decline in the pay, bonuses and working conditions at HCT" over the past few years.[16]
HCT's flagship conferences include: