Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi.

Jehan Shoaib, Staff Reporter

His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has directed the authority to provide scholarships in the Khorfakkan University for the Emirati students, who meet the requirements, and 30 per cent discount on the tuition fees for the Emirati students from outside the emirate, and residents from within and outside the emirate, who do not meet the scholarship’s requirements.

His Highness Sheikh Sultan will soon issue the law organising the university, and the executive regulations, in addition to the approval of its academic staff, Dr. Humaid Majul Al Nuaimi, Chancellor of the University of Sharjah, said.

He also noted that the official documents of the university have been completed and sent to the Ministry of Education to obtain the academic accreditation.

Moreover, the university has obtained the initial licence, and is waiting for the content of the two academic programmes of the College of Marine Sciences, namely the Bachelor of Marine Science and Aquatic Biology, to be consistent with the Ministry of Education to obtain the academic accreditation, Dr. Humaid added.

Speaking to the “Direct Line” radio programme broadcast via Sharjah Radio and Television, Dr. Humaid said that His Highness Sheikh Sultan directed the Department of Public Works to build a fully furnished accommodation residence on the eastern side of the university for the professors, and behind it housing for the female students. The construction will start soon, as the design is ready, he added.

Two buildings have been rented for student housing, each consisting of two floors, and each floor contains two apartments, each of which includes three rooms, accommodating more than one hundred students in total.

He further noted that the study at the university would start on September 1, while the admission has been open for new students since July, and will continue until August 21.

The university includes the College of Sharia and Law, College of Arts, College of Sciences, College of Information Technology, College of Business Administration, College of Marine Science and Aquatic Biology, which comes in cooperation with the University of Exeter-UK.

Dr. Humaid also stated that the tuition fees for Khorfakkan University are similar to the  fees at the University of Sharjah, as well as the admission requirements. The colleges of arts, sciences and business administration accepts high school students achieving rate of 70 per cent and above, and so does the College of Sharia, except for the law major, while the College of Marine Sciences accepts students achieving rate of 75 per cent and above.

He also indicated that the university is currently fully prepared to receive students, where the classrooms and the library are ready, while establishment of scientific laboratories in chemistry, biology, science and information technology has started.