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HCT council okays 5 new programmes

ABU DHABI - The Governing Council Meeting of the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) which was chaired yesterday by Shaikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and Chancellor of the Higher Colleges of Technology, has approved five new programmes for the academic year 2003-2004.

Dr Suleiman Al Jassim, Director of Community Relations and Manpower Development at the Higher Colleges of Technology told newsmen that these programmes included a Higher Diploma in Food Inspection Technology, BSc. in Medical Imaging Technology, BSc. in Medical Laboratory Technology (to be jointly done with the UAE University in Al Ain), Diploma in Highway Maintenance Technology, and Bachelor of Pharmacy Degree.

Dr Al Jassim said that the HD programme in Food Inspection Technology was a customised programme, designed and developed in collaboration with the Food and Environment Control Centre (FECC) of the Abu Dhabi Municipality, and was aimed at training UAE nationals for suitable positions at the Food and Environment Control Centre.

The baccalaureate programme in Medical Imaging Technology, which was offered at the Higher Diploma level since 1995, will provide graduates with a more advanced knowledge in research and applied biomedical sciences, while the degree in Medical Laboratory Technology has been designed to enable United Arab Emirates national graduates to compete with and replace expatriates in clinical laboratories, and also to provide a foundation for post-graduate studies.

He noted that the Diploma in Highway Maintenance Technology has been sponsored jointly by the Abu Dhabi Municipality and the Public Works Department, and has been designed in part, to follow the existing Higher Diploma in Civil Engineering, and allowing graduates of the diploma to work as Highway Maintenance Inspectors.

The Pharmacy Degree will be an advanced version of the Higher Diploma in Pharmacy Technology, presently offered at the Higher Colleges of Technology, to enable United Arab Emirates national graduates to take up responsibilities as pharmacists.

Dr Al Jassim added that the council had also recommended that follow-up would be ensured to obtain academic accreditation for the Higher Colleges of Technology from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), an American non-profit, non-governmental organisation which accredits some 800 degree awarding institutions, in addition to which Higher Colleges of Technology's programmes accredited by professional bodies in specific disciplines will also continue.

The Governing Council also approved the Higher Colleges of Technology Academic Calendar for the year 2003-2004.