ABU DHABI // The National Qualifications Authority has much work to do in educating people about what it does, its director general says.
Dr Thani Al Muhairi said the authority aimed to recognise student learning, regardless of the where it was acquired, following international assessment standards.
He said the NQA was also responsible for validating the courses as having met the demands of the labour market.
“The NQA is not a mere regulatory or awarding body as some may think,” he said. “It is not an entity responsible for one particular education and training sector.”
The authority has since 2010 been trying to help people trained by organisations such as the military or police, or those with a vocational education, to find a role that matches their qualifications in the civilian workforce, the state news agency Wam reported.
This week the NQA outlined new goals and services, which include designing plans, policies and a national strategy for qualifications.
“These services are multiple and aim to serve a huge segment of the community as well as the business sector,” said Dr Al Muhairi.
“They include the registration of occupational skills standards already developed by some of the UAE’s key industry sectors, such as oil and gas and aviation, the assessment and registration of vocational education and training providers, and the recognition of foreign vocational qualifications.”
The authority is working with ministries including Higher Education and Scientific Research, Education and Labour, and other government bodies.
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