Abu Dhabi: The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MoHESR) has partnered with the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) to facilitate students' seamless transition from secondary to higher education. The collaboration will streamline licensing, accreditation, and data exchange, enhancing efficiency and education quality across Abu Dhabi.
According to Emirates News Agency, the move falls within MoHESR's efforts to unify regulatory frameworks with local government education entities and ensure consistency in policies, offering students a seamless journey from graduation through to entry into the workforce. Dr. Abdulrahman Al Awar, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation and Acting Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, emphasized the vision to build an education system that supports national goals. He noted the collaboration aims to streamline administrative and organizational processes for higher education institutions (HEIs) in Abu Dhabi and build a robust data exchange system for strategic planning and service development.
Sara Musallam, Chairperson of ADEK, highlighted the partnership as a model of collaboration to enhance education quality in the UAE. The aim is to ensure a seamless transition for students from high school to university and onwards to the workforce, increasing their readiness for future changes. The collaboration seeks to empower students to excel, foster innovation, and create diverse opportunities.
MoHESR and ADEK will ensure that Grade 11 and 12 students are registered in the Unified Registration and Admissions System. They will provide early academic guidance to students and comprehensive information to them and their parents on admission requirements, university majors, and career pathways. Seasonal awareness campaigns and training workshops for academic advisors will be organized to ensure service effectiveness through continuous monitoring.
Under this collaboration, applications from HEIs seeking to operate in Abu Dhabi will be reviewed, and licensing and accreditation processes will be aligned with both entities' regulations. The streamlined procedures will balance quality assurance through data sharing, curriculum review, and regular updates on institutional information. Institutional, student, and graduate data will be integrated and exchanged to support planning, programme evaluation, and service improvement.
The partnership includes setting up a clear data exchange mechanism, defining update timelines, and preparing joint reports on key indicators such as admission, enrolment, retention, and graduation rates. This will enable data-driven decision-making while ensuring full compliance with data governance, security policies, and relevant federal and local regulations.
Partnering with ADEK is part of MoHESR's strategy to implement its redesigned student journey model based on simplification, integration, and transparency. The collaboration aims to deliver a holistic educational experience that develops national talent capable of building a sustainable, knowledge-based economy.