vision of education hailed at HCT’s 25th anniversary

Higher Colleges of Technology,

Sheikh Nahyan, chancellor of the Higher Colleges of Technology, used the start of this year’s Festival of Thinkers yesterday to mark HCT’s 25th anniversary.

He stressed the colleges’ growth over the years from just four campuses in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain to a nationwide network of 17 institutions.

Sheikh Nahyan told an audience including the Nobel chemistry laureate Martin Chalfie and peace laureate Mohamed ElBaradei: “The late Sheikh Zayed, the man who united our seven emirates … declared the nation’s enduring attitude toward education when he said, ‘A country’s greatest investment lies in building generations of educated and knowledgeable youth’.

“Our current leaders of wisdom and vision have kept education as our most essential commitment.”

Moayyad Mohammed, who has taught engineering at HCT’s men’s campus in Al Ain for every one of its 25 years, says its mission is unchanged. “It prepares students to take part in the country’s development.”