Sultan chairs meeting on higher education strategy

His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, chaired the second meeting of the permanent executive committee of the Sharjah Council for Higher Education and Scientific Research (SCHESR) on Tuesday morning at the University City.

Sheikh Sultan welcomed the committee members and emphasised the council’s role in the coming years, following his directives to correct administrative concepts, improve university governance, and implement strategic planning.

The committee discussed various topics and future plans, including the council’s work report, organisational structure, strategy, subcommittees, academic staff promotion and evaluation criteria, as well as research and innovation affairs.

The committee also reviewed university admission conditions, the diversity of academic programmes, and main and specialised fields to ensure they meet labour market demands and students’ interests.

Sheikh Sultan approved the preliminary budget for the remaining period of the year, amounting to Dhs18 million, alongside endorsing the council’s new logo and headquarters at the University City.

He directed the committee to oversee scholarship affairs in Sharjah’s higher education institutions, adopting governance frameworks and coordinating between universities and scholarship providers—governmental, semi-governmental, and private.

New scholarship standards for postgraduate studies were approved, similar to those for bachelor’s degrees.

Sharjah students registered with the emirate and with a monthly income below Dhs50,000 will receive full scholarships, while those with higher incomes will benefit from 50% fee grants.

Full scholarships will continue for groups such as children of imams and students with disabilities, funded by the Emiri Diwan.

Universities and academies will offer special discounts to other categories like high achievers in academics, sports, research, and other fields.

The meeting was attended by Dr Mansour Bin Nasar, Head of the Sharjah Government Legal Department and committee rapporteur; Dr. Muhadditha Al Hashemi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Private Education Authority; Professor Hamid Majoul Al Nuaimi, Chancellor of the University of Sharjah and Director of Sharjah Academy for Space Sciences and Astronomy; and Dr Mohammed Yousuf Baniyas, Adviser for Higher Education at Sharjah Private Education Authority.

Separately, Sheikh Sultan issued an Emiri Decree regarding the transfer, promotion, and appointment of a Secretary-General for the SCHESR.

According to the Decree, Dr Aisha Mohammed Obeid Boukhater Al Shamsi, Director of the Admissions and Registration Department at the University of Sharjah, is transferred to SCHESR, promoted to the rank of Director-General under the Special Jobs System in the Government of Sharjah, and appointed as Secretary-General of the Council.

Recently, Sheikh Sultan emphasised the significant role of universities in advancing society.

He highlighted the importance of the SCHESR, which was established specifically to assist universities and academies in the emirate in continuing the journey of higher education, which began in 1997 with the establishment of the University of Sharjah and the American University of Sharjah.

The Council continues to provide the best sciences to its students, based on the latest educational and pedagogical curricula.

Sheikh Sultan spoke about various important issues concerning universities and academic institutions.

He emphasised how closely he monitors all aspects of higher education because he believes that science plays a crucial role in the lives of individuals and society as a whole.

The Ruler of Sharjah pointed out that science is a double-edged sword; while it has the power to create and improve, it can also be used in harmful ways.

Sheikh Sultan emphasised the importance of setting up academic institutions the right way from the very beginning. He reflected on how universities were first established in Sharjah, highlighting the need for skilled professionals to guide this process, which enables these institutions to start strong. Sheikh Sultan pointed out that each university follows a high-quality educational curriculum developed in partnership with some of the best universities worldwide.

WAM