Abu Dhabi, UAE: The Higher Colleges of Technology ‘s new academic year, which starts on September 8, 2013, will see the UAE’s largest higher education institution introduce a new academic model designed to further enhance HCT students’ learning experience and to meet the nation’s needs for a highly skilled workforce.
Each of HCT ‘s six core academic divisions, or faculties, will be led by an Executive Dean, who will be responsible for that division, or faculty, on a system-wide basis. The six faculties are Applied Communications, Business, Education, Engineering Technology, Computer & Information Science and Health Sciences. Due to the importance of Foundations programmes in transitioning students from high school to post-secondary studies, two Executive Deans (Academic and Administrative) have been appointed to oversee HCT ‘s Foundations programmes.
The Executive Deans, who bring international academic leadership experience to their roles, will have primary responsibility for managing and developing academic subject areas across all 17 HCT colleges . However, all college faculty members will continue to report to respective program /department chairs at their respective colleges.
As part of the new model College directors will be responsible for administrative support to teaching and learning and to reach out to the respective local communities. College directors will be responsible for essential college services and operations, such as Student Services, College Registrar, IT Services, Facilities, Finance, Community Relations, and Learning Resources. Teaching faculty and students will continue to report to the relevant program chairs at the respective colleges.
Dr. Tayeb Kamali, HCT Vice Chancellor, said the model would assist with HCT achieving its primary goals, as well as providing HCT students and faculty with strong academic leadership. “It is the perfect opportunity to embrace this model as we move into another year of great opportunities and possibilities that await us. It will help us achieve our priorities for 2014, which include having our programmes fully accredited and attain international benchmarks; ensuring that the core philosophy of learning by doing is embedded in all aspects of our teaching and learning; and that we engage all of our students in world-class learning environments where we utilise cutting-edge tools and technologies,” Dr. Kamali said.
Dr. Kamali added that the new processes would be important for ensuring HCT is able to respond to the local business, government and industry communities. “Having quality relationships with business and industry are key. We therefore need to ensure our programmes are ideal for our students and are well-led by Executive Deans who have the necessary skills and leadership attributes,” Dr. Kamali said.
A team comprising HCT ‘s executive management has started a series of meetings with HCT faculty this week to explain the new management model and operational systems, starting with a meeting at the HCT Abu Dhabi Men’s College yesterday. That meeting saw all 200 members of the Engineering Technology faculty from all HCT colleges informed of action plans for the division as well as any changes to the course structures. The faculty members were also familiarised with any changes to the Bachelor of Sciences curriculum offered by HCT and the introduction of new Applied Diploma courses in Engineering, and to better meet the needs of the HCT ‘s 4,000 Engineering students.
Faculty meetings for the five remaining divisions will be held at various colleges in the HCT system, with the Education faculty meeting today at Al Ain; Health Sciences on Tuesday at Sharjah; IT and Applied Communications on Wednesday at Ras Al Khaimah and Business & Foundations on Thursday in Dubai.
The new management model will not be a radical departure from educational practices adopted around the world. “Post-secondary models around the world all have the incorporated into them the concept of having faculties or schools in charge of a specific discipline,” Dr. Sam Shaw, HCT Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic Affairs explained.
“This system has worked so well across the globe and has been used successfully by many institutions and it is what academics and faculty members are used to in their home countries. We looked at different models and this model will help us to clearly and precisely move forward. We want to be in the top ranks for technical institutions globally and this will help us achieve this,” he said.
Dr. Shaw added that the new model was more of a procedural change designed to streamline the academic process.
“We have found that for HCT it is best to have one person in charge of each faculty or department. Therefore it makes sense to have individuals with the appropriate backgrounds being the leaders in these programmes. Furthermore, the accreditation systems understand and accept this way of doing things. The new approach will lead to a uniformity of the whole system throughout these six faculties and the students will appreciate what they are getting. It will be the same procedures in each division right throughout the whole HCT system,” Dr. Shaw explained.
“We are not changing the relationships between students and the programme chairs and faculty members. The background or backbone that is changing is the academic quality – it will allow us to marshall the resources that emphasise quality, student success and international recognition, while prioritising the UAE’s workforce requirements,” he said.
“The magic of teaching and learning in the classrooms will not change. We will also continue to transform students where they will be more successful, more skilled, more confident and more willing to contribute to the country’s business and industry sectors,” Dr. Shaw concluded.
Dr. Kamali said that the process would also enhance HCT ‘s emiratisation policy, with the Emirati College directors being more responsible for the community relations, community issues and pastoral care of the students.
“This system reinforces HCT ‘s core areas of educating and training the local population, but also allows HCT to grow to meet the new needs of the UAE and help the UAE and its economy and communities to grow. We are ensuring that our staff will be led by academic leadership from their particular areas of expertise, which will strengthen the quality of our programmes,” he said.
Dr. Kamali said that new operational structures would reinforce HCT ‘s Learning by Doing philosophy and therefore enable the HCT to undertake its vision to support the nation in its economic and social development by providing a highly qualified, job-ready work force.
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About the Higher Colleges of Technology ( HCT )
Founded in 1988 with four colleges, the Higher Colleges of Technology have grown to be the largest of the higher educational institutions in the UAE, gaining a well-respected reputation for innovative learning. More than 18,000 students attend 17 modern men’s and women’s campuses in the cities of Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah, Fujairah and the western region cities of Madinat Zayed and Ruwais.
HCT offers a wide range of English-taught programs in Applied Communications, Business, Education, Engineering Technology, Computer & Information Science, General Education and Health Sciences. These programs are all relevant to the UAE’s fast growing and evolving economic sectors. All programs are designed in consultation with business and industry leaders to ensure that the skills students learn are job-relevant and to high standards. They are constantly monitored to ensure they are at the cutting edge of industry standards and technological change. Visit www.hct.ac.ae. Follow us on Facebook hctuae and Twitter @hctuae
For more information or to arrange interviews contact:
Paul Lancaster. HCT Communications
Email: paul.lancaster@hct.ac.ae
Mobile: 050 616 0964
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