Public Policy Document

The National Higher Education Institutions Classification Framework, introduced in 2024, aims to enhance the quality of higher education by offering a comprehensive framework for performance evaluation and quality assurance. To promote transparency and accountability, annual classification reports are published. The Ministry of Education considers this framework a vital initiative within the Higher Education Strategy 2030. Over recent years, the Ministry has diligently implemented this strategy in line with best practices and global standards, reflecting the UAE's national priorities.

This framework serves as an effective tool, providing clear data to help students and parents make informed decisions when selecting higher education institutions that align with their academic and professional goals. Additionally, it offers UAE higher education institutions a structured approach to performance evaluation and identifies areas for improvement, thereby enhancing the quality of their outputs and competitiveness. Institutions can also use this framework to develop strategic plans to attract students and top teaching talent, and to advance in scientific research and international academic cooperation.

1. Establishing a unified tool for classifying higher education institutions in the UAE using standardized and impartial criteria.
2. Empowering higher education institutions to monitor their performance and improve the quality of their outputs based on clear standards.
3. Providing clear indicators to students, parents, and the community about the performance and quality of each university, as defined by the classification framework.
4. Offering a comprehensive and integrated view of the higher education sector in the UAE, facilitating regular evaluations, process reviews, and the development of strategic and developmental plans.

For performance evaluation, higher education institutions were classified into two primary categories: Research cluster and Non-research cluster.

• Research cluster: HEIs that offer master’s and/ or doctorate studies, along with bachelor studies.
• Non-research cluster: HEIs that provide bachelor’s (or lower) studies only.

*The National Higher Education Institutions Classification Framework does not encompass HEIs established within the last five years, those exclusively offering master’s and doctoral programs, or HEIs with revoked or suspended licenses.

In its first phase, the UAE National Higher Education Institutions Classification Framework assesses HEIs across four primary pillars to assess their performance comprehensively:

1. Teaching Quality and Student Life (35%):
   Evaluates the quality of educational delivery, student-faculty interaction, and the overall academic experience for students.
2. Employability and Alignment with the Job Market (20%):
   Assesses the effectiveness in preparing students for the job market and ensuring that programs align with industry needs and societal demands.
3. Research and Innovation (35%):
   Measures the institution's capacity to generate new knowledge, conduct cutting-edge research, and foster innovation.
4. International Collaboration (10%):
   Examines the extent to which the institution promotes global engagement, international collaboration and a diverse, inclusive environment.

The evaluation of HEIs’ performance across targeted pillars uses various internal and external data sources to ensure accurate classification results. These sources include, but are not limited to:

• University performance measures, such as graduation rates, research contributions, and student-to-faculty ratio.
• Financial indicators for HEIs.
• Performance data provided by HEIs.
• Graduates’ and students’ surveys.
• Faculty surveys.
• HEI employees’ satisfaction surveys.
• Employers’ satisfaction survey.
• Central Higher Education Data Store.

1. Ensuring the enhancement of service quality, outputs, and both local and global competitiveness of federal higher education institutions in alignment with national objectives.
2. Improving quality and competitiveness by providing a comprehensive model for performance evaluation and quality assurance in higher education institutions, thereby boosting their international competitiveness.
3. Offering optimal guidance and mentorship for students in their educational journeys, and enabling students and parents to compare higher education institutions based on specific quality indicators.

The students, parents, higher education institutions, teaching faculty, research centers, and employers.