A week ago, the UAE’s Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research announced that it was withdrawing the recognition issued for Midocean University in Fujairah. The news will come as a big blow to the students, who will now be unable to apply for jobs.
The Midocean University, which operated an office in Fujairah Free Zone, faced action after the UAE authorities conducted a review of the varisty, which revealed that it violated national standards.
According to authorities, the university failed to stick to approved national standards and violated operational mechanisms and controls for delivering academic programmes. The university had also been offering courses without the necessary accreditation. It had been engaging in activities “that do not align with the legislation governing higher education institutions”.
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The Midocean University also offered online academic programmes without a proper quality-assurance mechanism. There were also significant discrepancies between student and programme data, it claimed and observed onsite. The mismatch was such that it raised concerns about the reliability and transparency of its academic records, the report said.
“This measure reflects [the ministry's] dedication to protecting the interests of students and the academic community, safeguarding the credibility of academic qualifications, and raising the quality of higher education across the UAE,” the statement said. “The ministry aims to ensure that all educational institutions adhere to the regulatory standards that maintain a trustworthy learning environment while preventing unlicensed or misleading educational activities.”
To add to the woes, the government also issued a notification that the degrees issued by the Midocean University are no longer recognised in the country.
The UAE’s Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MoHESR) has issued a fresh notification confirming that all qualifications issued by Midocean University are no longer recognised in the country, following a comprehensive compliance review that found “fundamental violations” of national standards.
The ministry has withdrawn recognition of any and all academic degrees issued by the institution. It said such qualifications “will not be accepted for employment or professional purposes within the UAE.” It also said students who wish to contest individual cases may file appeals through established appeals and review mechanisms.
However, the university claimed it had never operated under the supervision of the ministry.
