H.H. Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, Chairman of the Sharjah Council for Higher Education and Scientific Research, chaired this morning, Tuesday, the second meeting of the Permanent Executive Committee, at University City.
His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah welcomed at the outset of the meeting the attendees from among the Committee members, addressing the role that the Council will work to fulfil in the coming years, in accordance with His Highness's directives regarding correcting the administrative concept, university governance, and strategic planning.
The Committee discussed a number of topics and future plans for the Council and ways to implement them, including a report on the work of the Permanent Committee of the Sharjah Council for Higher Education and Scientific Research, the Council's structure and strategy and its sub-committees, and criteria for the promotion and evaluation of academic staff at universities and matters of scientific research and innovation.
The Committee also discussed admission matters and university study conditions at higher education institutions in the Emirate, and the diversity of university courses and major and minor academic specialisations, in a manner that ensures meeting labour market needs and students' inclinations and future directions.
During the meeting, His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah approved the preliminary budget of the Sharjah Council for Higher Education and Scientific Research for the remaining period of this year, amounting to AED 18 million, along with approving the Council's logo and its new headquarters at University City.
His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah directed the Council's Permanent Executive Committee to take charge of scholarship affairs at higher education institutions in the Emirate of Sharjah, in addition to approving the organisation and governance of scholarships and working to coordinate between universities and academies in the Emirate and government, semi-government, and private sponsoring entities. In this context, the Committee approved the application of new criteria for postgraduate scholarships similar to those adopted for bachelor's degree scholarships, whereby a national student holding Sharjah Emirate residency who is accepted for study benefits from a full scholarship if their monthly income is less than AED 50,000; if their income exceeds that amount, they benefit from a scholarship covering 50% of tuition fees.
Support for certain categories of students through scholarships will continue, such as imams' children and people of determination studying for a bachelor's degree with full scholarships from the Ruler's Court, while universities and academies shall provide special discounts for other categories of enrolled students, such as academic high achievers and those distinguished in certain fields such as sports, research, and other areas.
Attending the meeting alongside His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah were: Dr. Mansour bin Nasser, Head of the Legal Affairs Department of the Government of Sharjah and Secretary of the Committee; Dr. Muthathir Al Hashimi, President of the Sharjah Education Academy; Dr. Hamid Majul Al Nuaimi, Advisor to the President of the University of Sharjah and Director of the Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences, and Technology; and Dr. Mohammed Yousuf Bin Yas, Higher Education Affairs Advisor at the Sharjah Private Education Authority.