Under the country's new higher education licensing system, universities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) must have approved plans guaranteeing that students will not lose their academic path if the educational institution or one of its programs closes.
This mechanism, known as a 'teach-out plan,' is designed to protect enrolled students and prevent negative consequences if a university's license is revoked, not renewed, or if the institution faces circumstances preventing its continued operation.
Dr. Ahmed Al Shuwaibi, Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MoHESR), emphasized that having such a plan is one of the key requirements. He assured that students will not be harmed in the event of the university or its program needing to close.
According to Al Shuwaibi, each educational organization is responsible for implementing these plans for current students, while the Ministry oversees them to ensure no harm comes to the students. Student protection was one of the main goals of the recent Cabinet decisions regulating higher education, alongside clarifying the roles of the Ministry, local authorities, and the institutions themselves throughout the entire lifecycle of the university.
The new system tracks the institution from its creation and initial licensing through reviews of individual academic programs and continuous monitoring, with student protection being part of this process. The National Framework for Higher Education Licensing requires institutions to have an academic continuity plan that covers scenarios of difficulties or inability to continue operations.
This plan must outline the students' educational pathway, continuation of studies, preservation of academic records, and protection of financial rights. If necessary, arrangements must be made for affected students to transfer to another educational institution.
The framework applies to higher education institutions and their branches, including those operating in free zones, transforming licensing into a continuous process rather than a one-time approval. Institutions are required to maintain accurate and up-to-date data, comply with information security and incident reporting requirements, and have mechanisms to sustain academic activities in case of failures.
For new institutions, obtaining a license confirms their readiness and sustainability, as well as their ability to fulfill their mission; however, it does not grant the right to immediately start offering courses. The program must undergo separate accreditation before it can be offered, advertised, or accept students under the new structure.
According to the Ministry's clarifications, a newly licensed institution has one year to launch programs, with at least one program intended for student advertising needing to receive accreditation.
The system also introduces risk-based licensing, where the validity period of an institution's license varies depending on its risk category, compliance with requirements, and performance results. Existing institutions are granted a transition period to assess gaps against the new requirements and resolve issues affecting their license and student rights.
Al Shuwaibi noted that these broader changes aim to increase confidence in the higher education system among students, universities, and employers. He added that when a company hires a graduate with a specific certificate, it expects them to possess that certificate, along with certain skills and knowledge, which strengthens trust in the system.
He also stated that students should be confident that the program they choose will deliver what is promised. The new licensing system is one of four Cabinet decisions adopted as part of a broader reform of higher education regulation by the Ministry, alongside new rules concerning review fees, Ministry service charges, financial guarantees, and violations and administrative measures. The Ministry stated that the new regulatory system aims to create a clearer and more integrated framework for higher education institutions while enhancing quality, accountability, and student protection.
