Higher Colleges of Technology receives institutional reaccreditation

Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) in the United Arab Emirates has successfully completed global reaccreditation through the process of International Quality Review (IQR) and has been awarded global quality accreditation by QAA. 

IQR is underpinned by a rigorous process which benchmarks global higher education institutions against international quality assurance standards set out in Part 1 of the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG).

The review visit was conducted between 27 April and 1 May 2025 by a team of four independent reviewers (including a student reviewer) appointed by QAA. The team concluded that HCT meets all of the 10 ESG Standards and Guidelines and may therefore be granted QAA's reaccreditation. 

Established in 1988, HCT is the largest federally funded applied higher education institution in the United Arab Emirates with over 25,000 students and 2,000 staff across 16 campuses in five Emirates. HCT first achieved IQR accreditation in 2020.

The IQR reaccreditation report identified two features of good practice and made ten recommendations for enhancement. 

Dr Faisal Al Ayyan, President and CEO of HCT, said: 'This reaccreditation is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our faculty, staff, and students, as well as our commitment to continuous improvement and alignment with global best practices in applied education. At HCT, we strive to provide our students with world-class learning experiences that equip them to lead and innovate in the evolving global economy. This recognition reinforces our position as a leading institution that meets and exceeds the highest international standards.'

Piers Wall, QAA’s Head of International Quality Assurance and Enhancement, added: 'QAA is pleased to congratulate Higher Colleges of Technology on its successful reaccreditation through our International Quality Review. We have very much enjoyed working with our colleagues in the United Aran Emirates, and we look forward to collaborating with them in the future.'

By securing IQR accreditation from QAA, international institutions can clearly spotlight their quality standards internationally, and more easily start dialogues with institutions outside their own country.

You can read HCT's full IQR report on our website, where you can also find out more about the IQR process and QAA International Membership. If you are interested in your institution seeking accreditation or international membership, and wish to discuss this further, please contact the QAA Global team at accreditation@qaa.ac.uk.