Abu dhabi: The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MoHESR) has officially adopted the Clinical Training Guidelines to establish effective partnerships between higher education institutions (HEIs) and clinical training facilities. These guidelines are designed to ensure high-quality educational and practical experiences for students pursuing health professions.
According to Emirates News Agency, the guidelines play a crucial role in clinical training governance, a fundamental part of health professions education programs. They offer a standardized framework that combines theoretical knowledge with practical application, emphasizing the critical role of clinical training in bridging academic education and the demands of the labor market. This initiative aims to produce qualified healthcare professionals.
Ibrahim Fikri, the Acting Assistant Under-Secretary for the Higher Education and Scientific Research Regulation and Governance Sector, noted that these guidelines complement the Ministry’s recent decisions on governing work experience in HEIs. They support efforts to strengthen health education, integrate academic and practical training, and prepare qualified national professionals for the healthcare sector. This move aligns with the UAE’s vision of creating an integrated education and healthcare system capable of meeting future needs.
Dr. Hussain Al Rand, Assistant Under-Secretary for the Public Health Sector at the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP), highlighted that the adoption of these guidelines will significantly contribute to developing a comprehensive national framework for healthcare professionals. The guidelines prioritize professional excellence and workforce readiness from the earliest stages of medical and health education.
Dr. Al Rand further emphasized that standardizing clinical training frameworks helps align health education outcomes with the evolving needs of the healthcare system. It ensures the development of clinical skills rooted in competence, professional responsibility, and patient safety, ultimately improving public health outcomes and the quality of care provided to the community.
Dr. Mohammed Al-Houqani, Secretary-General of the National Institute for Health Specialties, remarked that the issuance of the Clinical Training Guidelines is a pivotal step towards enhancing practical training quality across hospitals and healthcare facilities. The guidelines ensure structured, high-quality training experiences based on unified standards for health college students, reflecting the Institute’s commitment to strengthening trainees’ competencies and professional readiness.
These guidelines apply to all health profession programs requiring clinical training under the National Qualifications Framework, excluding postgraduate programs such as internships, residencies, and fellowships. They emphasize structured clinical training as a means for students to gain practical experience, develop professional skills, and understand the healthcare sector while supporting healthcare facilities in building national competencies and fostering partnerships with HEIs.
The guidelines provide a governance framework for clinical training, outlining clear policies for planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation in work-based settings. They define the roles of HEIs, supervisors, healthcare facilities, and the Ministry in oversight, quality assurance, and aligning training with national strategies and labor market needs.
The guidelines also stress formal, documented partnerships between HEIs and clinical training facilities through binding agreements covering training scope, capacity, supervisor qualifications, evaluation mechanisms, and legal and insurance responsibilities, ensuring continuous, high-quality training without compromising patient care.
Furthermore, the guidelines highlight the importance of a qualified supervision and adequate educational resources in the clinical training environment. They establish systematic documentation of clinical training through task records, assessments, and observations, enabling continuous monitoring and improvement of training outcomes.
MoHESR has issued a Ministerial Resolution on Governance of Higher Education Institutions’ Obligations concerning Students’ Work Experience and launched a guide providing a unified national framework. This framework defines the roles of HEIs, work experience providers, and students, setting clear supervision and monitoring mechanisms to ensure high-quality work experience nationwide.