Dr. Faisal Al Ayyan, President & CEO of the Higher Colleges of Technology, announced the successful employment of 450 graduates in the first half of this year through the innovative “Career Accelerators Track” program, launched in collaboration with partners from both the public and private sectors. The initiative reflects HCT’s commitment to empowering national talent, preparing them to meet the UAE’s future ambitions, and enabling them to play an active role in driving national economic growth.

Dr. Al Ayyan explained that the program is designed to fast-track the employment of graduating students and alumni, enhancing their competitiveness by equipping them with the skills and competencies most in demand by employers. The initiative relies on direct engagement with students through multiple communication channels, as well as retraining participants in new specializations and training programs aligned with labour market needs.

He noted that the strong collaboration between HCT and its partners in supporting students through training, employment, and career development underscores a shared commitment to developing exceptional national talent capable of shaping the UAE’s future.

Dr. Al Ayyan also highlighted a new internal initiative launched in coordination with service companies contracted by HCT, enabling the employment of HCT graduates within these organizations. This step further supports graduate integration into real workplace environments and has contributed positively to the rising employment rates among graduates.

Employment levels have seen a significant increase this year compared to previous years, reinforcing HCT’s strategic goal that every graduate becomes either employed or an entrepreneur upon graduation.

Over the past decades, HCT has supplied the job market with more than 85,000 qualified graduates, serving as a key driver of the UAE’s economic growth across both public and private sectors. Among the latest graduates, 61% secured employment within nine months, with 95% of them working in the private sector.

For the 2023/2024 cohort, the employment rate reached 84%, with 91% employed in the private sector. Meanwhile, the 2022/2023 cohort recorded an 89% overall employment rate, including 74% in the private sector.

These steadily increasing employment rates, particularly in the private sector, demonstrate the strong relevance and quality of HCT’s graduates, confirming that they remain a top choice for employers across the UAE.