Six universities in the UAE had their licences revoked by the Ministry of Education for failing to meet quality and accreditation standards.
An additional six campuses have been prohibited from admitting new students for the current and next academic year.
The evaluation was conducted as a part of the ministry’s annual review of universities which includes ensuring that academic programmes comply with key benchmarks.
Student relations and exam performances are also monitored as part of the annual review.
UAE’s National Strategy for Higher Education was launched in 2017 to “build and achieve the highest scientific and professional education standards to serve the UAE’s future generations.”
The move was a part of this strategy which aims “to prepare a generation of Emirati professionals to sustain growth in vital sectors such as knowledge, economy, entrepreneurship and the overall development of the UAE’s labour market.”
The Ministry of Education, last year, introduced a new set of standards for licensing higher education institutions in the country.
All 12 universities have been informed of the decision and instructed to adhere by the new rules with immediate effect.