H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Chairman of the Education and Human Resources Council, launched the Higher Colleges of Technology’s (HCT) new strategy under the theme “Shaping the Future'', during a visit to the HCT-Dubai Men's campus on May 12, 2023.

The HCT's new strategy was rolled out in the presence of Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Education, Dr Abdulrahman Al-Awar, UAE Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation, and HCT Chancellor, Dr. Faisal Al Ayyan, HCT President and CEO, and a number of senior HCT officials.

The strategy seeks to draw a new work roadmap for applied education model, in alignment with the UAE leadership's vision for building Emirati human capital, who are equipped with high-quality skills, proficiency and readiness so they are capable of responding efficiently to rapid changes and transformations. In turn, this will sharpen the UAE's competitiveness in building a sustainable economy.

H.H. Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed said: ''Investing in human development has been one of the basic foundations in the UAE journey since the establishment of the federation, as well as in its forward-looking vision for the future.''

H.H. Sheikh Abdullah affirmed the UAE leadership's support for all development plans and initiatives for higher education institutions, which aim to improve the quality of educational services in accordance with international performance and evaluation standards, in order to produce distinguished national human capital with qualitative skills and capabilities that meet the needs of future jobs and the requirements of the UAE’s key industries and vital sectors.

Sheikh Abdullah was briefed by the HCT President & CEO, Dr. Faisal Al Ayyan, about the strategic transformations taking place in the HCT, saying that the aim of the new strategy is to make a paradigm shift in the concept of applied education through three core pillars: Inclusion, sustainability and integrity.

Dr. Al Ayyan said the 2023 - 2028 strategy will lend attention to “applied education”, in order to achieve a greater focus on educational goals and vocational training programs, and introduce new programs that meet labor market demands, while being in accordance with the standards of international applied education institutions.

Dr. Al Ayyan announced that the forthcoming 2023-2024 academic year will see student registrations in five basic programs - health sciences, business administration, engineering and science technology, computer and information sciences, and education. ‘’With the launch of the new tracks, it is expected that more than 8,000 students will be admitted, an increase of about 31 percent compared to the previous academic year,'' he added

Sheikh Abdullah was also briefed about the new HCT Bani Yas campus in Abu Dhabi which will welcome more than 10,000 students in the new academic year.

H.H. Sheikh Abdullah also witnessed the ceremony for signing cooperation agreements with 11 strategic partners to the HCT. The 11 partners are as follows:

• Tawazun Council
• Emirates Health Establishment
• AW Rostamani
• Hameem Technologies
• GEMS Education
• Chalhoub Group
• ADNOC
• UAE FA
• Alfardan Exchange
• G42 Healthcare
• Al Futtaim Group