This page offers information about getting Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in the UAE.
The UAE needs to produce 10 Emiratis with vocational skills for every university graduate produced to achieve a sustainable and diversified knowledge-based economy. Therefore, it focuses on building a national system to ensure quality technical and vocational education and training (TVET) system. The government prioritises building relevant skills to coincide with new and emerging technologies, materials and systems, ensuring equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education materials and systems. It aims further to substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship.
National Qualifications Center (NQC) is the federal entity that is responsible for developing and maintaining a framework for national qualifications and regulating the technical and vocational education and training (TVET) sector in the UAE. NQCrecognises TVET awarding bodies and endorses national vocational qualifications in the UAE. The entity extends its services to TVET institutes, as well as to individuals who provide education and training at TVET-licensed institutes in the country. All national vocational certificates issued by NQA’s awarding bodies are accredited for employment purposes.
Vocational Education and Training Awards Council (VETAC) is a supervisory and regulatory body at the federal level. It was set up to manage and coordinate vocational, technical and professional education and training sector in the UAE, under the auspices of National Qualifications Authority. Until 2020, the National Qualifications Centre has endorsed 200 national qualifications.
In Abu Dhabi, the Abu Dhabi Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (ACTVET) is authorized to regulate TVET within the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
The Qualifications and Awards in Dubai (QAD) is the arm of KHDA responsible for regulating the technical and vocational education and training (TVET) sector, and to quality assure TVET qualifications in Dubai. QAD was established in 2014 and it operates under the rules and regulations of KHDA; howerver, its awarding body functions are regulated by the NQC and VETAC.
Find a list of accredited awarding bodies in the UAE.
Vocational and technical education is a great platform for Emirati students who aspire to build their vocational skills to have a flourishing career.
UAE nationals, who are interested in technical and vocational education and training, may switch to a technical secondary school at the intermediate level/Cycle 2 stage of education. Upon successfully completing the study, students will be awarded a Technical Secondary Diploma.
Accordingly, graduates from a Secondary Technical school (STS) who wish to continue their higher education, will have the same admission requirements as graduates from government secondary schools.
EmiratesSkills is an initiative of Abu Dhabi Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (ACTVET). It aims to improve the competency levels of the UAE’s youth and prepare them for the future skills and a sustainable knowledge–based economy. Its activities are focused on raising the awareness of career-based technical and vocational education among young Emiratis by organising competitions, events, training programmes and technical career activities.
EmiratesSkills offers students opportunities to participate and compete in national, regional and world skills competitions, and for continuous benchmarking with international skills standards. Skills competitions also include juniors aged between 12 and 15 years and people of determination (people with special needs).
Learn more about EmiratesSkills and know how to join.
The UAE has made great strides in vocational and technical education by opening several specialised institutions and promoting practical learning methods.
Some of the vocational and technical educational centres include:
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