His Excellency Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Sports and Chancellor of the Higher Colleges of Technology, congratulations to HCT students, faculty, and staff on the beginning of the 2024-2025 academic year, wishing them a successful and rewarding year ahead.

His Excellency emphasized to the students that they are the future and that empowering them with knowledge and skills is a top priority. He observed that their enthusiasm for studying applied sciences reflects their understanding of its importance in preparing them for the workforce, as their studies will equip them with practical skills, enabling them to generate innovative ideas, develop solutions, and contribute to progress. He reaffirmed HCT’s dedication to developing them into outstanding graduates who are both creative and competitive, urging them to take full advantage of every opportunity to advance their academic and practical excellence.

His Excellency also expressed his appreciation for the efforts of HCT’s administrative and academic leadership in advancing their mission to prepare and empower future generations. He commended their dedication to continuously enhancing the educational system, which reinforces HCT’s position as the leading institution for applied higher education. This is evident through the high-quality programs and specializations offered, as well as the educational tracks designed to align with students' capabilities and aspirations. He acknowledged the institution's alignment with national goals in developing future-ready talents and appreciated HCT's commitment to ushering in a new era of igniting Emirati excellence.

His Excellency Belhoul highlighted that developing human resources is a shared responsibility, underscoring the importance of collaboration between educational institutions and the business and industrial sectors. He commended HCT's strategic partners for their role in creating programs, delivering vocational training, and offering job opportunities for students and graduates. He considered these partnerships crucial for enabling graduates to excel and achieve significant successes both locally and globally.

Vision for Excellence

Dr. Faisal Alayyan, President & CEO of the Higher Colleges of Technology, expressed his delight at the beginning of the new academic year and the enrollment of over 5,500 new students across various bachelor’s and diploma programs. This brings the total number of students at HCT to more than 27,000 across its campuses. He also noted the recruitment of over 111 academic staff members from international institutions, who bring valuable teaching and professional experience to enhance the delivery of applied sciences education. He commended the HCT team for their dedication over the summer, working together to ensure that all campuses were fully prepared to welcome students.

He emphasized that HCT has a clear vision for the future and is well-positioned to advance its leadership in applied higher education. The goal is to contribute to cultivating exceptional talents that foster Emirati excellence by delivering applied education that adheres to international standards and aligns closely with the labor market. He noted that HCT currently offers 28 applied bachelor’s programs and 18 vocational diploma programs, including new offerings designed to meet the evolving demands and changes in key industry sectors.

Dr. Alayyan highlighted the ongoing efforts to enhance scientific laboratories at HCT, where over 150 labs have been upgraded and established to meet the highest international standards. These updates are designed to support applied studies across various specializations and to reflect advanced skills and real-world job scenarios. He noted that HCT features a variety of laboratory types, including those for experiments and simulations, as well as facilities for practical hands-on training, all tailored to the specific needs of the specializations offered.

He explained that HCT’s educational system enhances students’ presence in the labor market during their academic years through the “HCT Apprenticeship” model. Under this model, bachelor’s students undertake 16 weeks of full-time vocational training in a work or industrial institution related to their specialization. Diploma students, on the other hand, engage in vocational training over three semesters, integrating their work experience with their studies. This approach ensures a seamless blend of academic learning and practical experience, thereby improving their professional readiness and job preparedness.