The UAE ranks first in the world in the “Higher Education Student Transfer Index”

The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research announced that the UAE has achieved a number of achievements in the field of higher education and scientific research, “sustainable achievements”, most notably the first place in the world in the index of transfer of higher education students into the country and international students for the year 2024, and the classification of 12 Emirati universities among the best 1000 global universities. Achieving a 75% increase in the percentage of programs receiving international accreditation in 2024, and recording a 95% increase in the percentage of scholarship students. Enrolled in distinguished universities for the year 2023, noting that the country includes 123 higher education institutions, providing 1,500 academic programs, and has 165,000 students enrolled in universities.

In detail, the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research reported, on its official account on the “X” platform, yesterday, that its most prominent sustainable achievements include the UAE achieving first place in the Arab world in the index of the proportion of the population holding educational qualifications at the higher education level by 2023, and first in the Arab world in the index of the proportion of spending. on higher education by 2023, first in the Arab world in the percentage of spending on research and development out of gross domestic product by 2024, and first in the Arab world in the number of researchers per million people in 2024. 170% increase in the research output of scientific publications in the country 2018-2023.

The Ministry affirmed moving forward in developing the higher education system and improving the quality of its outputs by raising the efficiency and effectiveness of higher education institutions in the country, and linking its academic programs to the needs of the economic and social sectors and the requirements of the labor market, explaining that it is based on four priority axes during the current stage, which are enhancing the journey Students by changing student admission criteria to provide higher education opportunities for all through multiple academic tracks linked to the labor market, simplifying procedures and modernizing digital services to enable students to excel in their academic career, improve the experience of educational institutions, and enhance their flexibility. By developing licensing and evaluation frameworks, working to link the outcomes of the educational process to the requirements of the labor market, while ensuring the strengthening of partnerships with economic sectors, and working on the continuous development of policies and procedures, in a way that contributes to achieving these goals.

The Ministry affirmed its support for increasing higher education opportunities for students, so that every student who graduates from the 12th grade has the opportunity to join bachelor’s, higher diploma, diploma, or skills certificate programs, so that universities become partners in raising the skills and employability of students.

She pointed out that the new vision will give universities greater responsibility and flexibility in determining admission criteria, so that universities can attract students who do not meet the English language requirement by registering them in courses that qualify them to attain the required proficiency. Universities will also have the possibility of accepting students and registering them in specialized remedial courses in case They do not obtain the required grade in the subjects required to study the specialization.

She added that higher education institutions now have the flexibility to determine admission criteria, in a manner consistent with their academic requirements, and enabling them to attract students according to their academic and professional aspirations, and therefore the responsibility for determining admission criteria falls on higher education institutions.

. 165 thousand students are registered in UAE universities.

. 95% increase in scholarship students enrolled in distinguished universities in 2023.