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Established in 1977, the College of Education (CEDU) at the United Arab Emirates University
(UAEU) is one of the first four colleges in the University. Over the past four decades,
CEDU has maintained its status as a pioneer in the country’s higher education system,
by preparing educational leaders and teachers who shape the educational landscape
of the UAE. CEDU faculty engage in research, provide consultancy, and hold a variety
of forums, seminars, and professional training programs to meet the nation's educational
needs.
The College includes three academic departments: Learning and Educational Leadership
department, Special and Gifted Education department, and Physical Education department.
These departments offer undergraduate degrees in early childhood education, special
education, and physical education. At the graduate level, CEDU offers a Master of
Education (MEd) program that offers specializations in Early Childhood Education,
Special Education, Educational Leadership, and Curriculum and Instruction across multiple
disciplines. The Master of Educational Innovation program - offered in collaboration
with Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Science -
features two concentrations: Innovation in Leadership and Innovation in Teaching.
The College of Education offers Doctoral programs in Leadership and Policy Studies
in Education, Language and Literacy Education, Special Education, Mathematics Education,
and Science Education that further underscore the College’s comprehensive academic
values.
Committed to strengthening innovative leadership and academic excellence, CEDU aspires
to be a regional center of educational excellence. It is dedicated to preparing teachers
and school leaders who meet the globally recognized educational standards, demonstrating
essential knowledge, skills, and professional dispositions. The College provides a
learner-centered educational environment, and promotes excellence in teachers’ education,
research and scholarship, community service, and participation in educational policy
development.
The mission of the College is to continuously enhance the country’s collaborations
in education, nationally and internationally. These high-profile collaborations include
Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation, Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority, Zayed
Higher Organization for People of Determination, Ministry of Defense, the Education
University of Hong Kong, Erasmus, and other prestigious entities. CEDU faculty members
are actively participating in international research projects, including two awarded
collaborative research grants with Oxford and University College London (UCL).
The College upholds the highest standards in educator’s preparation, having received
accreditation by the international Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation
(CAEP) in 2021 for a seven-year term. CEDU is also accredited by the Ministry of Education’s
Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA) in the UAE.
Dean's Message
Welcome to the College of Education at United Arab Emirates University (UAEU). By
joining our community, you become part of one of the first four colleges established
in 1977 by our founding father, H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan (may God rest
his soul). Since its inception, the College of Education has been a beacon for preparing
high-caliber educators. We take immense pride in our graduates, including teachers,
educational leaders, and curriculum developers, who have contributed to advancing
education throughout the United Arab Emirates. We honor our rich legacy, but we are
not defined by the past alone. Our current achievements and key performance metrics
demonstrate our ongoing progress. We are steadfast in our mission: to provide a high-quality
program for preparing teachers and education leaders, to produce cutting-edge research
that significantly contributes to existing knowledge on education, and to collaborate
closely with local and international educational entities to put theory into practice.
This helps to promote a knowledge economy and human capital, which is a primary priority
for the United Arab Emirates. Currently, the College of Education has ranked 151–200
in the 2026 QS Subject Rankings and is accredited by CAEP, one of the leading accrediting
bodies in education. We maintain strong partnerships with national educational entities
and hold several memoranda of understanding with international universities. We encourage
our students to develop a love of learning, to stay curious, to ask questions, and
to seek answers. The beauty of our field lies in the fact that we are always anticipating
the future. Therefore, we are eager to lead our college to greater heights and embrace
an evolving world, ensuring that we keep abreast of all changes in communication,
intelligence, and transportation so that we may maintain this hub of excellence and
innovation.
Dr. Mona Aljanahi
Acting Dean, College of Education
Vision and Mission
Vision
College of Education aims to be the leader in the region in utilizing research-based
approaches in preparing successful future-ready learners in the United Arab Emirates
(UAE), through a wide range of graduate and undergraduate disciplines.
Mission
CEDU strives to address societal needs through evidence-based research, scholarship,
development of learning and teaching, and service to our national, regional, and global
society. In all of this, CEDU seeks excellence in its program delivery modes (i.e.,
face-to-face, blended, and online/distance approaches) utilizing a strong theory-practice
nexus approach.
Core Values
Excellence CEDU values excellence in teaching, research, and service and continuously strives
for distinction and exemplary outcomes.
Innovation CEDU is dedicated to embrace spirit of innovation in teaching, research and service
among its faculty, students, and staff.
Integrity and Dignity CEDU placing utmost value in conducting academic activities according to the highest
standards of academic and professional integrity, honesty, and trustworthiness.
Diversity and Equity CEDU carefully consider the significance of cultural diversity, equity, and social
justice to ensure that faculty, students and staff are supported and valued regardless
of their background and strives to embrace the power of diversity to foster an inclusive
and caring environment.
Collaboration and Public Engagement CEDU is committed to forging local and international collaborations and providing
much needed services to the community and stakeholders through outreach, research,
and partnerships.
Empowerment CEDU empowers its faculty, students, and staff to thrive and make the community a
source of strength and creativity.
Accreditation
Accreditation is quality assurance through external peer review. A university, college,
or specialized program is accredited when it meets standards set by an accrediting
organization that represents the academic community, professionals, and other stakeholders.
Accordingly, institutions and programs must undergo regular reviews to maintain their
accreditation.
The College of Education (CEDU) at UAEU received in 2021 the official accreditation
from theCouncil for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). CAEP is the world's largest top teaching education program accrediting board recognized
by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), a national coordinating
body for U.S. accreditation that advocates for and promotes academic quality, institutional
improvement, and advancement of student success. CAEP’s standards are developed to
ensure excellence in educator preparation programs.
CEDU accreditation by CAEP is effective until Spring 2028. It is granted at the initial-licensure
level:
Early Childhood Education,
Special Education, and
Health and Physical Education.
CEDU meets the rigorous CAEP Standards to prepare the teachers of tomorrow to become
competent, effective, and hired by employers.
The Quality Assurance System (QAS) of the College of Education (CEDU), Educator Preparation
Provider (EPP) at United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) nurtures an assessment environment
of continuous improvement that is sustainable, and evidence based. The CEDU QAS is
comprised of multiple measures intended to monitor candidate progress, completer impact,
and operational effectiveness. The system uses relevant, verifiable, representative,
and cumulative data that are actionable. The EPP assessment process is designed to
address the CAA (Commission for Academic Accreditation), CAEP (Council for the Accreditation
of Educator Preparation), and professional standards.
The CEDU EPP assessment system operates at three levels:
Assessment of individual candidate
Program assessment
Unit assessment
Each of these levels are interrelated with each other to form a cohesive whole.
The candidate competencies include content knowledge, pedagogy, ethical practices,
diversity, communication, and professionalism. These competencies are developed and
maintained through multiple measures of assessment.
Accredited Training Provider by the National Qualification Center (NQC):
The College of Education was accredited as a training provider by the National Qualification
Centre (NQC) in August 2023 for three years. In addition, the College of Education
received accreditation from the NQC to offer a Professional Diploma in Special Education
for Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination.
Facilities
The College of Education maintains a safe, healthy and attractive campus environment
for its students, faculty, staff and visitors in Al Ain. The main campus is a state-of-the-art
futuristic model campus complete with all modern amenities and the latest cutting-edge
technology to support the needs of the University’s teaching, research and service
mission.
Early Childhood Education Laboratory
Early childhood Education lab is a place where the students get to learn how a regular
room in preschool or Kindergartens might look. The lab is equipped with different
materials and theme corners. The materials and corners such as literacy and numeracy
corner, reading corner, arts and crafts corner, exploration corner, tradition corner
and Bakery corner, allow the students to engage in different activities while practicing
for future calls. The lab is located in C1 building room 0013.
Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics Education Laboratory S.T.E.M.
Laboratory
STEAM Lab is built on the integrated approach to learning that combines Science, Technology,
Engineering, Art, and Math. It aims to develop the teaching and learning skills of
Early Childhood Mathematics and Science student teachers. The lab is equipped with
hands-on materials for students to engage in activities which can be used for their
planning and preparation of lessons for future. This is intended for them to assist
their students to have fun exploring science, technology, engineering, and math (STEAM)
to solve real-world problems with creativity and critical thinking. The lab is located
in C1 building room 0048.
Physical Education Biomechanics Laboratory
The laboratory is a specialized facility designed to study the mechanical aspects
of human movement and the physical forces involved in various activities. It is equipped
with motion capture systems that precisely record the movements of individuals and
high-speed cameras to capture rapid movements. The lab is located in F3 building
room 020.
Physical Education Laboratory
It is designed to help students explore, discover, and collect data related to students'
projects. It enables students to evaluate health-related components of physical fitness.
To enable students to complete their projects, it is equipped with tools related to
exercise testing, metabolic measurements, cardiovascular system function assessment,
strength, endurance, and flexibility testing, also it provides the opportunity to
assess body composition. The lab is located in C1 building room 0031.
The Child and Family Laboratory provides a practical, inclusive, and supportive learning
environment for students in the Special Education (SPED) department. It provides them
with necessary resources and guidance to reach their full potential. In addition,
child and family lab supports the community by offering consultations and sessions
related to children's disabilities.
CARE Research Laboratory
The College of Education CARE Research Lab is dedicated to establishing itself as the premier education-based research center,
focusing on both local and global impact. Its primary aim is to strengthen the research literacy skills of scholars in the field to effectively translate complex research findings into
practical, impactful educational strategies and to influence relevant policy decisions.
The lab operates on the mission of building strong research capacity among scholars
through a theory-practice nexus approach, utilizing collaborations, community engagement, and expert consultations.
These activities are formalized through its Seven Pillars of CARE, which emphasize capacity-building, advanced expertise cultivation, collaborative
academic engagement, and community advocacy based on solid research evidence. To execute
this mission, the Research Lab Coordinator plays a crucial operational role, responsible
for leading college-based research groups toward concrete deliverables like manuscript
submissions and grant writing, organizing weekly research consultations for students
and faculty, coordinating regular academic workshops on diverse research methods,
identifying key visiting professors for support, and providing essential collaborative
assistance to the Assistant Dean for Research and Graduate Studies office for successful
strategy implementation and official reporting.
Student Development Unit
The Student Development Unit (SDU) operates as a platform upon which students are
encouraged to develop their professional-oriented knowledge and self-skills. These
skills then contribute to students’ success. The SDU creates an environment that is
enabling and empowering, allowing the space for constructive debate and critical enquiry
for students' benefit. The SDU further contributes to creating a unique out-of-classroom
environment to maximize the opportunities for student personal growth and intense
self-discovery through exciting and challenging co-curricular activities and student
leadership training.
Future Teacher Unit
The Future Teacher Unit (FTU) is a vehicle for delivering student learning support
and initiatives that foster prospective teachers’ enrichment of experience and expertise.
This unit provides an environment for students during their internship program to
work on skills related to their future careers, also it includes training workshop
program that prepare students before joining the educational field.
Community Service
Since its establishment in 1981, the College of Education has been working to serve
the community in many ways:
Working with the Ministry of Education in preparing the school curriculum;
Working with the Ministry of Education in providing professional development for principals
and teachers (in-service training);
Organizing and participating in the educational conferences, forums, and workshops;
Providing consultancy services to schools and other education centers in teaching,
assessment, student performance, classroom management, etc;
Working closely with the educational awarding bodies in the nation to provide consultancy
and to work as reviewers (e.g. Khalifa Award, Hamdan Award, Sharjah Award, etc)
Providing special education services to the community though the ARU (Assessment and
Remedial Unit) such as; hands-on workshops on instrumentation and rehabilitation of
students with hearing loss. The department also conducts workshops for occupational
therapy, report writing, phonetic transcription, documentation, vocal laryngeal massage
and vocal function exercise.
