After UAE authorities announced the cancellation of the EmSAT entrance exam in early November, the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research granted universities the autonomy to set their own admission policies, minimum guidelines, and support programs for students.
In response, the ministry has established evaluation criteria for the outcomes universities should achieve by the end of a student's academic journey, aiming to regulate the quality of education and its results. The primary goal of this approach is to provide universities with flexibility. Ahmad Ibrahim Alsaadi, Acting Assistant Undersecretary for higher education operations, emphasized: "Universities are better equipped to understand their students as they are on the ground, allowing them to develop their own admission criteria."
The removal of EmSAT as an admission requirement enables universities to offer flexible entry options, such as bridge programs or preparatory courses. As previously reported by Khaleej Times, Dr. Yousef M. Al Assaf, President of Rochester Institute of Technology, Dubai, noted, "The new admission criteria will largely reflect our current approach. We will continue with our own placement tests in Physics, Math, and English, in addition to the standard IELTS and TOEFL requirements."
Nahid Afshan, Head of Admission at BITS Pilani Dubai Campus, stated: "Our admission criteria will be based on the overall aggregate secured by the student in the high school examination, with a minimum mark requirement in relevant subjects, depending on the preferred specialization. For English proficiency, we will consider alternative exams such as IELTS in the absence of EmSAT."
To streamline university admissions, specific subjects have been aligned with various specializations, highlighting that high grades in these relevant subjects are more critical than the overall average. "We will only consider the specializations of the required subjects for that major," Alsaadi further explained, ensuring that students are assessed based on their strengths in their chosen field.
For example, for those interested in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) programs, achieving high grades like an A in chemistry, biology, or physics is now a requirement for admission. To ensure transparency, all data regarding admission criteria will be publicly available. "Students are encouraged to contact universities directly to inquire about available bridge programs and their eligibility for preferred majors," he added.
Additionally, NAPO 2.0, a revamped admission service by the ministry, is designed to make applications and acceptances more flexible and provide all necessary information for student registration year-round. "There is no limit on the number of applications, enabling students to explore admissions and deadlines for various universities," Alsaadi said. The system currently includes over 20 universities and will soon encompass most universities in the UAE, streamlining the student application process.
The ministry is shifting its focus to measuring outcomes rather than policing the admissions process. "We are going to measure the outcomes. The universities are responsible for establishing the right admission criteria to achieve these outcomes," Alsaadi clarified.
This aligns with the new outcome-based framework, which consists of six key pillars that connect education to the job market: Employment outcomes ensure graduates gain essential skills for relevant jobs; Industry collaboration fosters partnerships between schools and businesses to create relevant curricula; Research outcomes promote innovation and practical problem-solving; International education prepares students for a global workforce through international collaboration; Community engagement encourages social responsibility by serving local communities; Quality assurance maintains academic standards while promoting continuous improvement in educational programs.
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