The UAE’s Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MoHESR) has issued a prominent warning that all academic qualifications issued by Midocean University will no longer be recognised in the UAE. This means graduates of that university cannot use their degrees for employment or professional purposes in the country.The decision came after a detailed review of the university’s operations found fundamental violations of the UAE’s national higher-education standards and criteria, including problems with how academic programmes were delivered and administered.
Decoding the ‘Fundamental Violations’
The Ministry’s action followed a joint compliance inspection conducted in collaboration with the Fujairah Free Zone Authority (FFZA). This rigorous audit uncovered “fundamental violations” regarding the university’s operational mechanisms and controls for delivering academic programmes.The inspection revealed serious breaches, specifically detailing that the university’s executive office in Fujairah was operating far beyond its stated administrative mandate.Key Breaches Uncovered:
- Unaccredited Operations: The Fujairah office was found to be offering registration services and conducting educational programmes without obtaining the necessary formal accreditation from MoHESR.
- Quality Assurance Lapses: Investigators discovered the institution was running online academic programmes that completely lacked a clear, ministry-approved quality assurance mechanism.
- Data Mismatch: Significant discrepancies were identified between the student and programme data submitted to the authorities and the reality observed on site during the inspection.
- Legal Disregard: The university was engaging in educational activities that did not align with the legislation governing higher education institutions in the UAE.
These findings prompted MoHESR to conduct an extensive verification and technical assessment, which ultimately confirmed the breaches and cemented the decision to strip the university of its recognition status.
What does this mean for students?
The Ministry strongly urged all students and parents to always verify the licensing and accreditation status of any academic institution and its programmes before enrolment. This critical verification step can be done directly through MoHESR’s official website or by contacting its Customer Happiness Centre at 800511.Students affected by this decision can appeal individually if they believe there are special circumstances that warrant review. However, the ministry made it clear that successful outcomes are not guaranteed for these appeals. MoHESR’s statement said that this action reflects its ongoing commitment to protect students’ interests and uphold the quality and credibility of higher education in the UAE.This announcement is a strong reminder for students and families to confirm whether a university is officially recognised by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research before committing to an academic programme, especially when degrees are intended to lead to careers or professional licences in the country.
