Higher Colleges of Technology: Winning an award "to merge" It reflects our firm commitment to empowering people of determination

ABU DHABI, 18 JUNE / WAM / His Excellency Dr. Faisal Al-Ayyan, Director of the Higher Colleges of Technology Complex, confirmed that the colleges’ winning the award for “Best Entity in the Accessibility Axis – Government Sector” during the ceremony honoring the winning entities of the Abu Dhabi Award for Excellence in Inclusion of People of Determination – Integration, reflects their commitment to translating the concept of inclusion into practical and sustainable practices within the educational environment.

He expressed his pride in this honor, which represents a testimony to the continuous efforts made by the Higher Colleges of Technology to provide an inclusive, safe, and qualified educational environment that provides students of determination with equal opportunities to learn, participate, and achieve. It also comes in appreciation of its efforts to develop an inclusive and qualified educational environment on its campus in Abu Dhabi, and to enhance access to facilities, services, and digital platforms, in a way that supports the participation of students of determination in academic life.

He added: We view inclusion and accessibility for people of determination as an essential part of the student’s educational experience, and not just requirements or regulatory procedures. From this standpoint, we continue to invest in developing more comprehensive and flexible educational and digital environments, and we work to employ modern technologies and innovative solutions to enable students of determination to participate effectively, in line with the UAE’s trends and national priorities in building an inclusive society and a knowledge economy based on competencies and equal opportunities for all.

Over the past years, the Higher Colleges of Technology have achieved qualitative achievements in the areas of qualified physical environment and digital accessibility for people of determination, including developing college facilities and improving students’ experience in accessing academic and non-academic services.

The efforts of the Higher Colleges of Technology on the Abu Dhabi campus included developing adapted facilities that support ease of movement and independence, including providing designated parking, ramps and elevators, adapted restrooms, wheelchairs, and evacuation seats, in addition to personal evacuation plans and safety training that takes into account the needs of students of determination.

The colleges also provided academic and non-academic support services, including facilities for taking exams, supportive technologies, and solutions for converting written texts to audio, and audio texts to written.

At the level of the digital environment, the Higher Colleges of Technology have developed their electronic platforms to enhance ease of access and use for all groups, through features that include reading texts, alternative texts for images, controlling font size, supporting keyboard browsing, and sign language translation.

The colleges also achieved advanced indicators in the satisfaction of students of determination with digital services and the website, in addition to implementing training and awareness programs to enhance the culture of inclusion.

This achievement comes as an extension of the Higher Colleges of Technology’s approach to developing an applied educational model that links the quality of education to the quality of the student experience, and establishes a supportive academic environment that enables all students to acquire skills, build confidence, and prepare for the future, thus enhancing the colleges’ contribution to preparing national competencies capable of effective participation in the comprehensive national development process.

• For more: Follow Khaleejion 24 Arabic, Khaleejion 24 English, Khaleejion 24 Live, and for social media follow us on Facebook and Twitter