Farhana Chowdhury ■

Every person comes to a point in his or her life where they must decide which step to take to move towards their

aspirations. It is an important decision that would help lay down the founda-tions of a future career.

Choosing a university is one thing, but accreditation plays a big factor in the value of the degree. The UAE is home to over 100 national and inter-

national universities and colleges in the UAE that offer a variety of pro-grammes to cater to every interest, but few of these courses are accredited by a local or an international body.

Enrolling in an institution that meets all formal requirements of aca-demic excellence, curriculum and fa-cilities preps students for the real world with theory and necessary skills. This moulds them and helps them transition from a classroom environ-ment to a hands-on scenario.

Acquiring accreditation is a rigorous process that universities must go through. It is an intense procedure that scrutinises different aspects of its edu-cational offerings. But the results are rewarding for both university and its students. Not only is the university able to stand up to high academic standards, but it can also offer competitive and unique degrees that promise an excit-

ing world of learning for students. Besides having government accred-

itation by local ministries of higher education, there are a number of inde-pendent accrediting bodies around the world. Among these, few have at-tained a high reputation, including the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc. (ABET) for engi-neering schools and programmes; the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) of the US for architec-ture programmes; and the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Busi-ness (AACSB) for business schools and programmes.

When choosing a university, ensure that the university holds accredita-tions from both — the local authority of higher education, as well as an in-dependent accreditation body.

— farhana@khaleejtimes.com

Route to excellenceAccreditation is a defining factor in every hard-earned degree

Al Ghurair University (AGU) was set up in 1999 as a community-oriented institution. Since then it has been responsive to the dy-namic needs of the local, regional and inter-national markets. At present, the university offers nine programmes at the undergradu-ate level — six in English medium and three in Arabic, four programmes at the graduate level in English medium, and two post-graduate professional diploma programmes in Arabic medium.

Recently, the university’s Bachelor of Sci-ence in Electrical & Electronics Engineering (BSEEE) programme offered by the College of Engineering and Computing received ABET accreditation, which clearly demon-strates the commitment to deliver quality education. ABET-accredited programmes meet the standards to produce graduates ready to enter the critical fields of applied science, computing, engineering, and engi-neering technology. The graduates from ABET-accredited programmes have a strong educational foundation and are capable of leading the way in innovation, emerging technologies, and in anticipating the welfare and safety needs of the community.

For well-rounded experience, AGU has inked pacts with a number of regional and international institutes. The university is a member of various international associations, and has recently entered into collaborative arrangements with some universities of Europe through which students will be able to pursue studies in international universities through credit transfers.

Some of the important institutes with whom MoUs have been signed include Ara-bic Universities Union, Universidad Catoli-

ca De Murcia (Murcia, Spain), Birmingham City University, UK, Lakehead University (Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada) and Uni-versity of Southern Queensland, Australia.

Most of these collaborations will facilitate institutional cooperation and support in the areas of staff exchange, student exchange, joint research, and academic degree articu-lation pathways arrangements.

Such facilities and exposure make the students highly employable in various in-dustries. Almost 85 per cent of the gradu-ates from AGU get employment or place-ment in higher degree programmes within six months of their graduation.

AGU offers a wide range of scholarships of up to 100 per cent through different schemes and provides assistance to the students to get 0 per cent interest loans for tuition fees from different banks in the UAE to complete their studies.

The admission to academic programmes at the university is very flexible as pro-grammes are offered in the morning, eve-ning and on weekends. The graduate pro-grammes allow entry at any given term in a six-term academic year.

Students who did not study Physics, Chemistry, and/or Mathematics up to secondary school level can still enter into Engineering and Bachelor of Architecture programmes by passing challenge tests.

Preparing students for life Al Ghurair University’s accredited programmes and collaborations with foreign universities offer an edge to students and prepare them for a successful career

» Al Ghurair University (AGU)

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AGU offers a wide range of scholarships of up to 100 per cent through different schemes and provides assistance to the students to get 0 per cent interest loans for tuition fees from different banks in the UAE to complete their studies.

OUR INTERNATIONAL ACCREDITATIONMEANS BUSINESS

COLLEGE OF BUSINESSADMINISTRATION

An achievement exclusive to only 5% of business schools worldwide

Strong International accreditations build strong institutions.

Abu Dhabi University has earned International Academic Accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). This is a rare achievement, which only 5% of business schools enjoy worldwide.

Helping you achieve success tomorrow.

Call toll-free 800 ADYOU (23968) Email: admissions@adu.ac.ae