The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research has announced the withdrawal of recognition for all qualifications issued by Midocean University in Fujairah.
The decision was made following an inspection which uncovered “fundamental violations” in how the criteria was being adhered to. “The inspection revealed that the university’s executive office in Fujairah has been offering registration services and conducting educational programmes without obtaining the necessary accreditation from the ministry,” the ministry said in a statement.
“Furthermore, the institution has been engaging in educational activities that do not align with the legislation governing higher education institutions. This includes offering online academic programmes without a clear quality assurance mechanism as well as significant discrepancies in student and programme data compared to what was observed on-site.”
The findings of the inspection led to an assessment of the university to determine how well it was complying with approved national standards. Following the evaluation, a decision was made to withdraw recognition for all qualifications issued by the university.
“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.”
The university stated in a response that it had never operated under the supervision of the ministry. But when The National contacted the ministry, it confirmed that recognition of academic qualifications offered by any foreign institution, including Midocean University, fell strictly within its jurisdiction, in line with its regulatory mandate.
“The university will no longer be recognised by the ministry,” a statement said. “Following a comprehensive compliance review, the ministry determined that Midocean University does not adhere to approved national standards and criteria due to fundamental violations concerning operational mechanisms and controls for delivering academic programmes.
“After withdrawal of the recognition, consequently, such qualifications will not be accepted for employment or professional purposes within the UAE.”
The ministry said students who wished to contest individual cases may do so through its established appeals and review mechanisms. “Students and parents are strongly encouraged to verify the licensing and accreditation status of any university or academic programme through the ministry’s official website or contact centre before enrolment,” the statement added.
