The UAE's Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT), a leading higher education institution in the region, has received accreditation from the prestigious US-based Accreditation Board for Engineering & Technology (ABET) for its Engineering Technology and Science programs.

The HCT's Engineering Technology Bachelor programs in the majors of Chemical, Civil, Electrical, Electronics, Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering have been accredited, in conjunction with the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission (ETAC), said a statement.

Engineering is one of the HCT's most popular programs with 6,138 male and female students, or about 26 per cent of HCT's total student population, enrolled in the various majors this year.

Dr Abdullatif Al Shamsi, HCT vice chancellor, said the national and international accreditation of its academic programs is a vital component of the strategic goals under its five-year, transformative HCT 2.0 initiative. The ABET accreditation reflected HCT's strategic directions and aspirations in innovative teaching and learning, as well as being aligned to Abu Dhabi Vision 2030.

"With the ABET accreditation, HCT students, employers, and the society we serve can all be confident that our Engineering programs meet the quality standards that produce graduates prepared to enter a global workforce. We are very proud of this key academic achievement, which will build on the history of excellence at the Higher Colleges of Technology," Dr Abdullatif Al Shamsi said.

Dr Al Shamsi added that this international accreditation will reflect positively on the students by enhancing their confidence in their programmes of choice. "It will also benefit HCT alumni seeking employment in various UAE institutions, by increasing employment opportunities and boosting HCT's graduate employability percentage of 100 per cent by 2021," he said.

He expressed his appreciation for the HCT's faculty and staff's keenness to implement these programmes in accordance with the international standards.

Founded in 1988 with four colleges, the HCT has grown to be the UAE's largest higher educational institutions, gaining a well-respected reputation for innovative learning. Over 23,000 students attend 17 modern, technology-oriented men's and women's campuses throughout the UAE. HCT offers a wide range of English-taught programs in the fields of Applied Communications, Business, Computer Information Science, Education & General Studies, Engineering Technology & Science, Foundations, Health Sciences and Arabic & Emirati Studies.  - TradeArabia News Service