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Home > Regulations & Compliance > Higher Education > Higher Education FAQs

Higher Education FAQs

How does the KHDA define a higher education provider?

A Higher Education Provider is every authority, university, college, institution, academy or other establishment concerned with higher education, which is either:

Domiciled in the Free Zone and provides theoretical, material or applied regulated academic programmes for the purposes of granting an academic or professional degree, in which the studying period shall not be less than one year after obtaining the secondary school certificate or an equivalent thereto, in accordance with a curricula approved by the Authority, or
Its principle domicile is outside the Free Zone and provides through centres, branches or through its agents in the Free Zones, theoretical, material or applied regulated academic programmes for the purposes of granting an academic or professional degree, in which the study period shall not be less than one year after obtaining the secondary school certificate or an equivalent thereto, in accordance with a curricula approved by the Authority.

Currently two types of HE providers located in Dubai Free Zones are issued a Permit from the RCC. These are HEP branch campuses and HEPs that have been accredited by the Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA).

Are all higher education providers under the remit of KHDA?

All HEPs located in Dubai’s free zones are under the remit of KHDA. Higher Education providers existing outside the free zones come under the remit of the MoHESR.
What relationship does KHDA have with other accreditation bodies?

As the education Authority responsible for the provision of quality education at an Emirate level, KHDA constantly works in conjunction with CAA that functions at a Federal level.

What are the services offered by RCC’s Higher Education Permits Department to new and existing providers?

In addition to regulating the Higher Education Providers and assisting them with necessary regulatory procedures, the Higher Education Permits Department offers services mainly in the areas of:

Issuance of new Educational Services Permits
Renewal of Permits
Amendments to Permits
Withdrawal of Permits
Approval of advertisements
Addressing complaints relating to HEPs who have obtained an Educational Services Permit from KHDA.

How can I apply for a new Educational Services Permit?

All the relevant details to apply for a new Permit are listed on this website. Please click here to view the details.
What is the validity of the Permit?

All Educational Services Permits issued by KHDA are valid for a period of one year and renewable thereafter upon successful completion of the renewal requirements.
How can I apply for the renewal of my Educational Services Permit?

All the relevant details for the renewal of a Permit are listed on this website. Please click here to view the details.
How can I apply for amendments to my Educational Services Permit?

All the relevant details for amendments to a Permit are listed on this website. Please click here to view the details.

What amendments require KHDA approval?

Request to change shareholders or investors
Request to add/change/remove additional programmes of study
Any change to the buidling
Request to reduce the size of the premises.
Request to change the Academic Head/Permit Holder
Any other changes

Can I add programmes to the ones I am already offering now?

Yes, adding programmes is one of the amendments permitted to the HEP’s Permit. However, all new programs offerings will need to be either validated by the University Quality Assurance International Board (UQAIB) or accredited by the CAA, before the Permit can be amended to include the new program. UQAIB programme validation forms can be found in the UQAIB manual and must be submitted for review and recommendation at one of the UQAIB rounds on the 1st of February and 1st of September every year.

So KHDA does assure quality education at these institutions?

Yes. KHDA’s quality assurance through the University Quality Assurance International Board (UQAIB) follows the Equivalency Validation Model.:

The Home HEP and its programs are properly approved according to the official higher education system in that country;
The standards used at the home country are acceptable to Dubai and the international higher education community and;
There must be evidence that the quality of a HEP Branch and its programs are equivalent to its home campus and programs

This is the essence and the fundamental premise of the Equivalency Validation Model.

Does KHDA attest the degrees of Higher Education Providers under its remit?

The Executive Council has announced a new Decree that concerns Higher Education Institutions in Dubai’s Free Zones and the certificates awarded by them. Through this Decree, KHDA may attest degrees issued by Higher Education Institutions that have been granted an Academic Permit. Please direct any queries you may have to the Authority for further information and/or clarification.
What is the relationship between UQAIB and Regulations and Compliance Commission (RCC) of KHDA?

Upon following the Equivalency Validation Model to review the quality of educational provision at the HEP branch campuses, UQAIB then makes recommendations to RCC on the final quality status. Based on the regulatory framework, RCC then makes decisions on issuing the Permit to HEP branch campus.

What are the benefits of the UQAIB quality assurance process?

The UQAIB model fits Dubai’s needs for Quality Assurance in the Free Zones. The UQAIB process meets the human development needs of the Dubai Strategic Plan 2015 relating to the provision of many higher education options for students. In so doing, UQAIB’s quality assurance system.

Is flexible to accommodate a variety of international higher education programs;
Protects the integrity of foreign degree programs by taking into account the assessment of those programs by other external quality agencies;
Recognises and attends to the unique quality assurance factors associated with maintaining the quality of transnational higher education programs;
Protects students and society from low-quality education provision;
Minimizes any potential confusion and administrative burden on HEPs by avoiding duplication of quality assurance processes; and most importantly
Emphasizes the principle that the primary responsibility for quality lies with the higher education providers themselves.

Let’s say a student has successfully completed his degree program from a branch campus in one of Dubai’s free zones. What is this degree worth?

In terms of learning outcomes and knowledge, a degree from a branch campus HEP located in Dubai’s free zones (that has successfully completed the UQAIB procedure) is worth the same as the degree from the home campus abroad. Other than the experience of travelling, living and learning at a University outside UAE, there is no difference.

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