Meeting of Minds

Colleges marking 20th anniversary

The Higher Colleges of Technology will celebrate the 20th anniversary of their founding at a major conference on August 30 in Dubai. Started with a personal contribution by His Highness Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, the HCT system has grown from an initial enrollment of 200 students to more than 17,000 students today at 14 campuses around the United Arab Emirates.

According to Dr. Tayeb A. Kamali, Vice Chancellor of HCT, the system has produced more than 32,000 graduates, all of them nationals.

Enrollment has grown by 350 percent annually since the system was founded, he said.

Faculty members are drawn from dozens of countries, Dr. Kamali said.

The 20th anniversary conference will feature a number of major personalities, including Sheikh Nahayan.

The keynote address will be delivered by Dr. John Strassburger, President of Ursinus College in Pennsylvania, the United States. Dr. Strassburger is a noted educator and writer, with an academic specialization in American history.