The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MoHESR) has joined forces with Times Higher Education (THE), a global leader in university rankings, to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the UAE’s higher education landscape. This partnership supports the Ministry’s goal of enhancing the global competitiveness of UAE-based universities in education and scientific research, while also strengthening the alignment of higher education outcomes with national priorities.
The announcement coincides with Emirati Day for Education, celebrated under the theme ‘Education By Everyone, For Everyone,’ which aims to drive the strategic transformation of the UAE’s education sector and further its connection to human and community development.
Under this collaboration, THE will leverage its expertise to evaluate the performance of higher education institutions (HEIs), benchmark it against leading global universities, and identify key areas for growth and development. The analysis will provide insights that will help refine policies aimed at maximising the contribution of UAE-based HEIs to developing the nation’s sustainable, knowledge-based economy.
His Excellency Dr. Hassan AlMheiri, Acting Assistant Undersecretary for Higher Education & Scientific Research Regulation and Governance Sector, said: “The UAE recognises that a strong higher education sector is fundamental to achieving development, progress and success at the individual, community and national levels through building a competitive knowledge-based economy. The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research is committed to enhancing the efficiency and competitiveness of UAE-based higher education institutions, strengthening the UAE’s position as a pioneering global hub for innovation and cutting-edge research and future sciences”.
His Excellency Dr. Hassan AlMheiri added: “Our partnership with THE will enable us to assess the strengths and areas for improvement across our HEIs, ensuring they are even better positioned to produce world-class graduates. This will contribute to enhancing the national education system in a way that supports societal needs while keeping pace with future requirements”.
The project will be implemented across five phases. In the first phase, Nationwide Engagement, representatives of participating universities will attend training sessions to understand THE's ranking methodology and data submission processes. In the Data Submission and Quality Assurance phase, THE will collect data related to up to 11 subjects for a specific academic year for global benchmarking analysis. In phase three, Simulation and Rankings Production, THE will evaluate UAE-based universities based on their current performance and compare them to their peers.
After that, THE will move to phase four, Higher Education Landscape Analysis, where it will review local and federal institutional strategies, policies, and initiatives to assess their alignment with its World University Rankings metrics. In the final phase, THE will conduct International Peer Benchmarking against top-tier universities.
Phil Baty, Chief Global Affairs Officer at THE, said: “At THE, we have been extremely impressed with the UAE’s nationwide commitment to collecting and analysing quality data to support universities’ strategic direction and align their outcomes with national policy goals for the benefit of the nation. It has also been exciting to see key UAE universities rapidly develop research capabilities and join the world-class institutions listed in the World University Rankings. It is both an honour and a privilege to have entered this long-term strategic partnership to support MoHESR’s exciting ambitions for the nation’s burgeoning higher education sector”.
Participating universities will gain insights into their standing within the UAE higher education sector, along with recommendations for improvement and a comprehensive performance analysis report, including detailed metrics-level rankings.
THE will host interactive sessions with key stakeholders from academia and government, as well as conduct masterclasses to guide universities on data submission and ranking methodologies. The initiative will conclude with the development of actionable strategies aimed at elevating the UAE’s higher education sector to new heights.
