HE Dr Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Sports and Chancellor of the Higher Colleges of Technology, honoured 1,065 HCT graduates in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, including 101 who obtained distinction or distinction with honours.

HE distributed certificates to graduates in the presence of His Excellency Dr Faisal Alayyan, HCT President & CEO, several dignitaries, senior officials, strategic partners, HCT faculty and administrative staff, and graduates’ parents and families.

On this occasion, HE Dr Al Falasi expressed his happiness at the graduation of a new group of HCT graduates, Class of 2024, praising the support of the wise leadership for higher education institutions in the country, which enables them to fulfil their roles and responsibilities towards the sons and daughters of the nation, equipping them with the knowledge and skills that allow them to navigate the labour market and its changes and challenges successfully. He pointed out that the joy of the graduates and their families today, arising from their success and academic excellence, is the best evidence of the colleges successfully fulfilling their obligations in graduating quality competencies in various vital specialisations.

HE pointed out that higher education institutions and the private sector are jointly responsible for preparing and empowering human resources. This collaboration offers students optimal training and employment opportunities while fostering initiatives promoting excellence and distinction. He values the HCT's efforts to establish strong partnerships with various private and governmental sectors.

HE Belhoul congratulated the graduates and encouraged them to step confidently into the future. He reminded them that their country sees them as its energy source and a vital investment. They must remember their responsibility to work diligently and innovatively in their respective fields and enhance their contributions to national development.

The ceremony commenced with the national anthem, followed by a “laser show” that embodied the wise leadership’s thoughts regarding education as a priority since its inception, along with its vision of establishing the Higher Colleges of Technology as an institution specialising in applied education. The show showcased the HCT’s development and growth across the country and the fundamental pillars of its strategic vision and plans to enhance Emirati excellence.

Another video showed the programs, specialisations, and features of the HCT's educational environment. Dr Faisal Alayyan, HCT President & CEO, then delivered a speech on behalf of the HCT Board of Trustees, emphasising that this ceremony honours the nation's youth, a new group of graduates of the Higher Colleges of Technology in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, Class of 2024, under the theme “Empowering Minds, Creating Future.” He remarked that these graduates were nurtured in line with the UAE’s wise leadership vision. Since its inception, HCT has focused on being a platform for developing human resources that effectively contribute to a stronger economic system.

On behalf of HCT’s Board of Trustees, Dr Alayyan announced the graduation of 1,065 male and female students from the Class of 2024 of HCT-Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, and Al Dhafrah Campuses. These students completed their studies and earned their certificates with full distinction merit.

In their acknowledgement speech, the graduates expressed their immense joy at graduating and their pride in being part of HCT. They also conveyed their heartfelt appreciation and gratitude to the UAE leadership for its unwavering support, which enabled them to achieve their ambitions.

At the end of the ceremony, HE Dr Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi honoured the graduates, distributed the certificates to them, and joined them for a commemorative group photo.

A Grand Prize from Abdul Wahid Al Rostamani Group for distinguished students

The ceremony was marked by a grand prize - two eco-friendly "Zeekr X" cars - offered by the “Abdul Wahid Al Rostamani Group”, the strategic partner of the Higher Colleges of Technology, awarded for the first time to graduates who achieved the highest cumulative average (4/4) for the Class of 2024.

HE Dr Ahmad Belhoul unveiled the award and presented it to the two graduates: Maryam Sheikh Omar, who majored in business administration at the HCT-Abu Dhabi, and Meera Ahmed Abdel Muti, who majored in computer and information sciences at the HCT-Sharjah.

His Excellency noted that honouring the outstanding students at the “Abdul Wahid Al Rostamani Group” initiative is a model of cooperation aimed at encouraging students and appreciating their efforts and keenness for excellence.

Abdul Wahid Al Rostamani Group expressed its pride in participating in this esteemed ceremony. Mr Roberto Colucci, Director of Electric Mobility for Zeekr at the Abdul Wahid Al Rostamani Group, stated: “At Abdul Wahid Al Rostamani Group, we are driven by our unwavering commitment to excellence and our dedication to creating a greener and more sustainable future. This occasion is a celebration and an affirmation of our role in empowering future generations and supporting their journey towards innovation. Today, we celebrate these creative graduates who embody the values of creativity and ambition, representing the UAE's strength in building a prosperous and sustainable future. Their excellence is in perfect harmony with the essence of Zeekr X, which represents individuals who shine in their fields thanks to their passion and creativity. By presenting Zeekr X to these distinguished graduates, we honour their great achievements and provide them with a boost to achieve their aspirations on a journey that paves the way for a brighter and more sustainable future.”

The Apprenticeship Program

The Higher Colleges of Technology ended its celebration season for the Class of 2024 by reviewing its achievements at several levels, enhancing the excellence and efficiency of its qualitative outputs. The HCT is aligned with future economic and industrial transformations, with an ambitious vision and plans that respond to the labour market's changing requirements. These include launching three academic tracks: the Applied Bachelor, the Vocational Diploma, the job accelerator, and the “Mahara” Program.

Achieving this vision requires collaboration between HCT and private sector institutions and expanding strategic partnerships with various local entities and companies to enhance their training and educational programs. This ensures alignment between academic outcomes and labour market demands, providing students with legitimate training opportunities that offer direct, practical experience tailored to emerging specialisations and rapid market growth immediately upon graduation. Hence, the Apprenticeship Program was implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation and the Ministry of Higher Education, allowing students to spend a period of up to a year in private sector institutions within the applied bachelor’s program, equivalent to 25% of the program’s academic period.

The Apprenticeship Program initiative has achieved remarkable success. Over 6,000 students from bachelor and diploma programs benefited initially, followed by approximately 4,000 students in the first semester of the 2024-2025 academic year and over 5,000 students receiving scholarships in the second semester. Students were given opportunities to learn about the labour market and the best practices applied in their fields, which sharpened their skills and enhanced their professional capabilities, thus bringing them closer than ever to a job. All HCT programs, with their various tracks, are designed in accordance with the Apprenticeship Program based on the standards of the National Qualifications Centre and the Commission for Academic Accreditation of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.

Exceptional Indicators in Graduate Employment

Regarding employment efforts, HCT graduates of the Class of 2023 (2,602) achieved employment at a rate of 84%. Abu Dhabi and Dubai campuses recorded the highest rates of graduate recruitment, at approximately 90%.

11,282 graduates from 2019 to 2023 at HCT achieved an employment rate of 79%, which equates to 8,930 graduates. They have become a significant part of the labour market’s map, specifically in the private sector.

Regarding the 3,512 graduates of the Class of 2024, the current year, the employment rate reached 66% in less than nine months. The Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, and Al Dhafrah campuses achieved 71% out of 1,065 graduates.

Number of Students

With increasing awareness of the importance of applied and vocational education to align with the needs of the changing labour market, the Higher Colleges of Technology acquired 4,500 students at the beginning of the academic year in the fall of 2024/2025; thus, the total number of students reached 25,781. More than 4,900 students were enrolled in the vocational programs, while 400 were enrolled in the accelerator program “Mahara”.

 Faculty Sabbatical Program in Private Sector Institutions

The Higher Colleges of Technology realise the faculty’s main role in enhancing students' practical skills through their deep knowledge of the labour market. The “Faculty Sabbatical Program” aims to keep pace with the latest developments in various sectors and specialisations, whether inside or outside the country. It was launched in 2024 with a first tranche that included 50 faculty members. Recognising the importance of the program in developing the efficiency of the faculty members and bridging the gap between labour market demands and the programs of the Higher Colleges of Technology in their various tracks, the program will be launched to be more comprehensive and diverse, allowing the faculty members to spend a period ranging from two weeks to a month annually in the various industrial and commercial sectors, so that building and developing faculties is part of their harmony with the labour market and private sector institutions.