Latest news with #AlAwar
Time of India
6 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
UAE unveils new university academic calendar for 2025–2026: What students need to know
All UAE public, private, and international branch Higher Education Institutions must follow the 2025–2026 academic calendar, except international universities aligned with home-country calendars/ Image: Pexels TL;DR UAE university year runs from 25 August 2025 to 3 July 2026, applying to all HEIs. Winter break is 8 Dec 2025 – 4 Jan 2026; Spring break is 16–29 March 2026. Minor flexibility allowed: holidays can shift by up to one week, but durations stay fixed. New calendar aims to balance academics with wellbeing, family time, and national priorities. In a step that reflects the UAE's broader focus on harmonizing educational progress with community values, the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MoHESR) has unveiled a revamped academic calendar for the 2025–2026 university year. The change, recently approved by the Education, Human Development and Community Development Council, will be applied across all public and private higher education institutions (HEIs) in the country. The new calendar structure introduces more consistent term schedules and better-aligned holiday breaks, reinforcing the government's commitment to creating a balanced, student-centered learning environment—especially in a year officially marked as the 'Year of Community.' A New Approach to the Academic Year Effective from the next academic cycle, the updated university calendar is designed to unify start and end dates across all HEIs in the UAE. The shift is aimed at improving educational efficiency, supporting students' mental and academic wellbeing, and ensuring family cohesion during major breaks. Key features of the new academic structure include: Academic Year Start: Monday, 25 August 2025 Winter Break: A four-week holiday from 8 December 2025 to 4 January 2026 Classes resume on 5 January 2026 Spring Break: A two-week holiday from 16 to 29 March 2026 Classes resume on 30 March 2026 Academic Year End: 3 July 2026 These changes will bring the university calendar more in line with the national school system, allowing families with students in both sectors to enjoy synchronized breaks. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Beyond Text Generation: An AI Tool That Helps You Write Better Grammarly Install Now Undo by Taboola by Taboola Balancing Flexibility with Structure Dr. Abdulrahman Al Awar, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation and Acting Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, emphasized that the new schedule marks a 'qualitative shift' in how higher education institutions approach academic planning. He described it as a step toward a more flexible, integrated and student-focused academic system. 'This step reflects our ongoing efforts to enhance the efficiency of the higher education system by aligning academic policies with community development goals and student needs,' Dr. Al Awar said. 'The changes mark a qualitative shift toward a more flexible, balanced system that supports students' well-being, community engagement and personal growth.' In line with this goal, universities will also be granted limited flexibility: Institutions can adjust start and end dates of the academic year based on their academic programs and summer semester schedules. Holiday dates may be shifted by up to one week earlier or later, provided that the total duration of each break remains unchanged. However, all HEIs, local or international, operating in the UAE are expected to adhere to the unified start and end dates, unless international universities are following home-country academic calendars, in which case exemptions may apply. Supporting Students and National Development The revised calendar is not just an administrative update, it represents a broader national effort to integrate education with societal wellbeing and long-term development. The Ministry states that the redesign is part of a strategic move to enhance the quality, relevance and responsiveness of higher education in the country. By balancing academic rigor with rest periods that align more naturally with students' rhythms, the new framework aims to: Foster family cohesion and community integration Enhance student wellbeing and academic performance Prepare graduates to meet the evolving needs of the national and global workforce Provide institutions with the flexibility needed to support diverse academic models and specializations In a year when the UAE has designated 'community' as a national theme, the updated academic calendar reflects an effort to align educational planning with broader social priorities, offering a structure that supports both institutional goals and student wellbeing. FAQs: Q. Who must follow the new academic calendar? All public, private, and licensed higher education institutions in the UAE. Q. Are universities allowed to change start or end dates? Start date is fixed; end date and breaks can shift slightly based on programs. Q. What are the key term dates in the new structure? Start: 25 August 2025; End: 3 July 2026; breaks in December and March. Q. Do international branch campuses need to comply? Yes, unless their home country calendars require different term structures.
Al Etihad
9 hours ago
- Science
- Al Etihad
Following the Education, Human Development and Community Development Council's approval, Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research unveils new calendar for university academic year 2025-2026
23 July 2025 20:41 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)Following the Education, Human Development and Community Development Council's approval, the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MoHESR) has announced a new academic calendar structure to be implemented across all public and private higher education institutions (HEIs) for the academic year 2025-2026, reflecting a shared commitment to advancing the national education new structure introduces key changes to end-of-term holidays to create a more flexible and consistent academic calendar across UAE-based HEIs. Aligned with the 'Year of Community' objectives, the structure aims to foster family cohesion and support students through a balanced distribution of study and break Excellency Dr. Abdulrahman Al Awar, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation and Acting Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, noted that the new academic calendar reflects the Ministry's commitment to creating an integrated university environment that meets student needs, enhances academic life and boosts student Excellency Dr. Al Awar added: 'This step reflects our ongoing efforts to enhance the efficiency of the higher education system by aligning academic policies with community development goals and student needs. The changes mark a qualitative shift toward a more flexible, balanced system that supports students' well-being, community engagement and personal growth.'Under the new structure, the university academic year will start on 25 August 2025, with major holidays aligning with the school calendar. These include a four-week winter break from 8 December 2025 to 4 January 2026, with classes resuming on 5 January 2026, as well as a two-week spring break from 16 to 29 March 2026, with classes resuming on 30 March 2026. The academic year will end on 3 July 2025, offering a clearer and more balanced schedule that supports students' learning and wellbeing. All UAE-based higher education institutions must follow a unified academic year start and end date, with exceptions for international universities aligned with their home calendars. The mandate also allows flexibility in determining the start date of the academic year in line with the requirements of academic programs and specializations at higher education institutions, as well as flexibility in setting the end date of the academic year based on the timing of the summer semesters. While also allowing the flexibility to adjust the holiday dates by up to one week before or after the specified dates, provided the holiday duration remains unchanged. Adoption of the new academic calendar is a strategic move aligned with national efforts to advance higher education by offering a more flexible, high-quality experience that meets students' academic and person
Hi Dubai
30-06-2025
- Business
- Hi Dubai
UAE Forms Advisory Committee to Align Higher Education with Future Skills
The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research has launched the Advisory Committee for Higher Education and Future Skills to advance the UAE's higher education sector and align it with national development goals and global labour market trends. Chaired by Dr. Abdulrahman Al Awar, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation and Acting Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, the committee is a sub-body of the Higher Education Committee under the Education, Human Development and Community Council. The initiative aims to build a flexible, forward-looking education system that supports a knowledge-based economy. The committee will develop plans, assess institutional performance, and drive collaboration between higher education institutions (HEIs) and key economic sectors such as technology, energy, health, and tourism. During its inaugural meeting, the committee reviewed the current state of UAE's higher education system, discussed global competitiveness, and introduced a pilot initiative to integrate artificial intelligence into higher education. Specialised working groups were also formed to oversee implementation. Dr. Al Awar emphasised the importance of public-private collaboration to create an agile, responsive education system that equips students with high-quality qualifications and future-ready skills. The committee's responsibilities include aligning higher and general education strategies, improving global rankings of UAE-based HEIs, and strengthening partnerships across sectors to meet evolving labour market needs. News Source: Emirates News Agency
Al Etihad
30-06-2025
- Business
- Al Etihad
MoHESR establishes Advisory Committee for Higher Education & Future Skills
30 June 2025 15:31 ABU DHABI (WAM) The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MoHESR) has established the Advisory Committee for Higher Education and Future Skills, chaired by the Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation and Acting Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Dr. Abdulrahman Al newly formed body is one of the subcommittees of the Higher Education Committee of the Education, Human Developmen,t and Community move reflects the Ministry's ongoing efforts to strengthen institutional collaboration and advance the development of the higher education sector in the committee will contribute to building a flexible and forward-looking education system capable of meeting national development priorities and keeping pace with the rapid transformation of the global labour Al Awar said, 'At MoHESR, we believe that developing a successful and sustainable higher education system requires strong collaboration with national companies, the private sector, and research institutes. The formation of the committee is a testament to our commitment to adopting a participatory and integrated approach to shaping the future of higher education that enhances graduates' qualifications, builds their capacities, and prepares them to contribute to a competitive, knowledge-based economy. Its work will support our vision for a dynamic, responsive educational system that equips students with the skills required to lead our nation's journey of sustainable development.'He added, 'We continue to work closely with our partners in the public and private sectors to redesign the higher education system to be more agile, flexible, and closely linked to the needs of the economy, technology, and society. This approach will ensure that our graduates possess high-quality qualifications and advanced skills that match their ambitions while contributing to national progress.'The committee comprises a distinguished group of academic leaders from the UAE's higher education institutions (HEIs), alongside representatives of key economic sectors, including technology, industry, energy, health, tourism, and investment. The diverse membership reflects the alignment of the higher education system with national development the committee's first meeting, held at the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, the current state of higher education in the UAE was reviewed, along with the committee's role in developing the sector, linking it to secondary education and the labour also discussed enhancing its global competitiveness through active collaboration with international, industrial, and research institutions, addressed the performance of UAE-based HEIs in global rankings and explored strategies for improving their members evaluated criteria for collaboration between HEIs and the industrial sector within the approved a pilot initiative was launched to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) in higher education, and specialised working groups were formed to oversee the implementation of the committee's initiatives and part of its mandate, the committee will propose higher education development plans and work to align them with general education development will also assess the performance of HEIs, offering recommendations for improvement in line with international competitiveness indicators and national addition, the committee will drive collaboration between HEIs and strengthen partnerships with the public and private sectors to ensure that higher education outcomes match the needs of the labour responsibilities include enhancing coordination between HEIs, research councils, and key economic sectors in the UAE, organising conferences and other scientific events, and forming specialised technical teams to implement joint initiatives and projects across various sectors. The formation of the committee is part of the Ministry's efforts to boost the global competitiveness of the UAE's higher education and scientific research sectors and align them with the country's strategic objectives, most notably building a knowledge economy and developing national human capital.
Al Etihad
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Al Etihad
Abu Dhabi Festival 2025: Sustainability redefined as experts highlight social, cultural dimensions of urban development
22 June 2025 22:22 SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)As cities place greater emphasis on green spaces and mindful living, experts are shedding light on how urban landscapes are evolving — and what it truly takes to build a sustainable were the topics in focus as artists and thought leaders came together for a panel discussion, titled 'Space as Medium – In/Visible City', held on June 20 as part of Abu Dhabi Festival 2025. 'True sustainability' is not just about acquiring certifications and using eco-friendly technology in building infrastructure, said Wael Al Awar, Principal Architect and Founding Partner of design studio Waiwai. Instead, it should be 'about looking at how traditional knowledge can inform contemporary design', Al Awar told Aletihad on the sidelines of the panel discussion.'Sustainability should always begin with an understanding of the climate, materials, and the history of a place,' he said. Infrastructure must respond to the specific environmental conditions we live with while remaining open to change, he added. 'True sustainability is social and cultural as well as ecological… A sustainable urban environment must embrace all of these dimensions while also being adaptable.'Al Awar could imagine cities that respond to 'the rhythms of the desert, where public spaces are shaped by shade, breeze, and water—not just an image'.'Our cities have grown rapidly, but now we have an opportunity to reflect and to design for adaptation and resilience in addition to expansion,' the architect said. 'If we think of infrastructure as a living, adaptive landscape rather than a static framework, it can guide Gulf cities towards a more sustainable and resilient future,' he added. Meanwhile, multimedia artist Minouk Lim offered an emotional and philosophical take on the place of art in urban she said, highlights and exists with the 'unseen'. "A sanctuary or nest is placed in the hidden area. Just as there are creatures that prepare for birth in the dark, we human beings also need to sleep, dream, and rest in the unseen. Therefore, we also need to care for the invisible, and that is what it means to preserve dignity,' said Lim, who was also a panellist at the event. "Taking care of a city is also not the power of a single person, but the conscience and solidarity of ordinary, invisible citizens," she added.
