Working at the HCT

The Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) provides post-secondary education to Emirati men and women at colleges located in seven cities across the United Arab Emirates - Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Al Ain, Madinat Zayed and Ruwais. The size of the campuses ranges from 500 students in smaller cities to 2000 students in the larger centers. Student enrollment currently exceeds 18,500, with increases in enrollment seen each semester. The HCT employs almost 2,000 staff from over 60 different countries. Working with the HCT exposes our employees to people and practices from around the world, thereby enriching our organizational culture. We also have a growing number of UAE Nationals in our employee ranks and Emiratization is an organizational priority.

The Higher Colleges of Technology are at the leading edge of the UAE's drive to modernize and diversify the economy. Teaching methods and technology are the most modern available and focus on student achievement. The language of instruction is English; likewise, English is the language spoken within the management and administration of the organization.

The HCT recruits Faculty members for more than 80 programs from Foundation to Masters level, including English, Applied Communications, Business (and MBA), Education, Engineering Technology, Health Sciences, and Information Technology. Class sizes are typically 18 to 20 students and are 55 minutes in duration. The academic year is from September to June and is divided into two 20 week semesters. Students attend classes for 25 to 30 periods a week.

The working environment here is similar to what you would encounter in any major Western educational institution. A typical day depends on your position and which program you are in. HCT is open from Sunday to Thursday, with Fridays and Saturdays serving as the weekend.

Faculty
For Faculty, teaching can take place between the hours of 7:30am and 9:00pm, though you may work different shifts depending on the classes you teach. Faculty members usually teach 20 classes per week and are expected to be within the college for at least 8 hours per day in order to instill good work habits in students and to be available if students require additional assistance.

Work hours for Administration and other non-faculty positions are typically from 8:00am to 5:00pm. To manage daily activities, each College has their own Administrative team, headed up by the College Director. In addition, the Colleges are supported by the Central Services office in Abu Dhabi, which houses Human Resources, IT, Finance, Academic Central Services, and HCT’s Executive Leadership team.