The ministry was established by Federal Law no.4 of 1992, to oversee highr education and scientific research policies in the United Arab Emirates. The ministry is responsible for the general planning of higher education and scientific research in the UAE;licensing private institutions og higher education,accrediting their programs and seeing them to ensure their quality standards within the context of the master plan of higher education; preparing draft laws for the establishments of federal government institutions of higher education and scientific research and; achieving co ordination and integration between federal institutions of higher education and scientific research in terms of budgets,fields of specialization and academic degrees awarded by each of them. The ministry is also responsible for co ordinating student's admission policies and the criteria for the their placement in the various fields of specialization in the UAE higher education institutions in response to the needs of the community, accrediting foreign bodies and institutions of higher education and equalizing thier certificates, laying down the general policy of scholarships and academic aid, and following up their affairs inside and outside the UAE, taking into account the needs of the community and the specializations provided by the higher education institutions in the UAE and developing scientific research institutions, transferring technologies in the context of developmental requirements of the community, and coordinating between higher education and scientific research bodies and institutions on the one hand, and public education on the other hand. The ministry also performs any other responsibilities entrusted to it pursuant to any laws and regulations.
