UAE ministry of higher education and scientific research announces list of accredited online universities

The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research has announced a list, including the names of 105 foreign online universities recommended for students in the UAE to enroll in them. Of those 46 are in the United Kingdom, 34 in the United States of America, 20 in Australia and five universities in New Zealand. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research issued last October an order on the regulations of accreditation of distance and online learning to keep pace with the latest developments in the area of higher education and spread of online learning. Saif Rashid Al Mazrouei, Assistant Under Secretary for Institutional and Support Services at the Ministry, said the online education referred to in the regulations, "Is the education, which depends on the educational process management in an interactive manner through the use of various modern technologies in education, participation and interaction of learner with the lecturer and content of the study programme." He added a number of conditions that must be observed to study at those universities, notably, an applicant must make sure that the distance education programme should be ( interactive e-learning) and not distance education ( enrollment, correspondence and open education). The educational institution must be recognised by the Ministry and the competent government bodies in the country of study, which oversees the system. Sheikh Hamdan added that the study programme must be accredited course or equivalent in the country of study, and not less than the minimum duration of study for a degree for the equivalent in traditional education. The study programme should not be specifically designed for a particular class. He noted that the names of accredited universities and regulations can be found on the list through the Ministry's website