UAE Universities Reopen in Stages for Practical Classes: What Students Should Know
Universities in the UAE are slowly reopening for students who need to attend practical classes on campus. Starting Monday, some students will return to places like labs, clinics, and workshops. These are classes where students need to learn by doing, not just by watching on a screen.
This step comes after instructions from the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. The ministry said universities should bring back face-to-face classes only for courses that need hands-on training. These courses include clinical training, lab work, field study, and in-person exams.
This is very important for students in subjects like medicine, engineering, and applied sciences. For them, practical classes help them stay on track with their studies. A notice sent to universities listed 14 important fields for the phased return. These include health sciences, information technology, architecture, and psychology.
Even though campuses are reopening, universities say safety is still the top priority. Some lessons need students on campus At the American University of Ras Al Khaimah, officials said only the most important in-person classes will restart.
Prof. Bassam Alameddine said some courses need students to be physically present because online learning cannot fully replace practical training. He explained that the phased return mainly covers courses that need lab work, special equipment, and final-year projects. He said these parts of learning, especially in engineering and applied sciences, cannot be fully done online. That is why some students must return to campus.
The university has also created an emergency response team and improved its safety plans. Prof. Alameddine said the return will be carefully managed. Only students in courses with urgent practical needs will come back. He added that strict safety rules, space limits, and campus readiness will stay in place. Most students will still study online. Universities are using a mix of online and on-campus learning to reduce problems and give students more flexibility.
Universities stay ready for changes Universities across the UAE are also making backup plans in case the situation changes. Prof. Alameddine said the university is ready to change its plans if needed. If practical classes cannot continue, they will be moved to a later time so students can still complete their work. At Gulf Medical University, the focus is also on courses that need real-life practice.
Prof. Manda Venkatramana said the university is giving priority to Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, and Physiotherapy. These are subjects where students need direct contact with patients or must train in clinical settings. He said patient interaction, lab work, and simulation training are very important and cannot be fully replaced by online classes. To make the return safe, the university is using different class times, hybrid learning, and strict safety rules. Special training centres are being used in a careful and controlled way. Online platforms are also still helping students who remain at home.
Prof. Venkatramana said student wellbeing is also very important during this time. He said the university has started a special support hotline to help students quickly with academic or administrative questions. Students can contact the university by phone or WhatsApp at +971561775555.
