The Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) announced a new faculty academic scale to enhance the role of university educators and reward their performance at its recent annual Spring Conference in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

During the summit attended by over 1,300 faculty, HCT named 2017 as the ‘Year of Faculty’.

Inaugurating the conference, Dr Abdullatif Al Shamsi, HCT vice chancellor, said that HCT will implement a number of key initiatives, including its faculty academic scale which was approved for the first time in HCT’s history.

The new faculty system, established in line with international academic criteria, will see HCT faculty being graded from lecturer level, to first lecturer or assistant professor, then to associate professor level and finally reaching professor grade.

The academic scale system will contribute to HCT’s key mission of ensuring its teaching levels are to the highest standards, which in turn will enhance the quality of its future graduates.

Dr Al Shamsi pointed out the initiative will also support the recruitment of qualified Emiratis to take up teaching roles at HCT, particularly with its HADEF programme, which aims to develop the skills and competencies of Emirati faculty for the purpose of increasing the number of Emirati teachers at HCT.

He reiterated HCT’s commitment to developing UAE National graduates with the specialized skills needed for the post-oil period. “This plan necessitates team work and it lies on the shoulders of highly skilled and competent faculty members to empower students to reach their desired academic and professional levels,” he said.

The conference also featured a number of sessions relating to HCT’s focus on providing state-of-the-art education using the latest techniques and technologies, as well as the implementation of a “hybrid” education model which aims to award graduates with academic and professional certificates to ensure their work readiness. This is aligned to HCT’s goal to reach a 100 per cent rate of employment for HCT graduates by 2021.

The one-day conference included discussions relating to the implementation of HCT innovation spaces, which will enhance the professional learning environment and link closely to industry requirements. Another feature was HCT’s plans and initiatives for enhancing positivity and happiness in its working environments.  – TradeArabia News Service