SDG 4: Quality Education

4.1 Research on quality education (4.1.1–4.1.3)

The College publishes research in Sharia and law through its peer-reviewed journal Al-Mi'yar (مجلة المعيار); volume 12 (2025) includes articles on the social interpretation of Surat Al-Balad and poverty, the impact of viral outbreaks on family jurisprudence, and the mother tongue's impact on English language teaching and learning. In the data year a master's thesis in public law on the right to education under public international law was defended at the College.

4.2 Graduates with a qualification relevant to teaching (4.2.1)

Among the statutory goals of the College are to equip advocates, including imams, preachers and educators, to be righteous role models (Goal 3) and to prepare female Muslim advocates to play their role in community development and in educating the younger generation (Goal 4) (Vision, Mission and Goals). The College awards the Bachelor of Sharia Studies, the Bachelor of Law (with a Sharia minor in Maliki or Shafi'i jurisprudence), the Master of Islamic Jurisprudence and Its Principles, the Master of Family Jurisprudence, the Master of Public Law, the Master of Private Law, the Doctorate of Philosophy in Law and the Doctor of Philosophy in Contemporary Ijtihad. Alongside the Sharia and law courses, the bachelor's study plans include psychology, the rules of recitation and memorisation and English communication skills, with sociology and Islamic civilisation among the general electives (Study plans and curricula). The formal launch of the PhD programme was reported on 3 September 2025.

The career opportunities of the Bachelor of Sharia Studies list the sectors related to the Sharia studies programme as Sharia courts and the Sharia judiciary, ifta bodies, Islamic research and studies centres, and Islamic-affairs posts (preaching, guidance, sermon delivery and imamate) (Bachelor of Sharia Studies: career opportunities).

4.3 Lifelong learning measures (4.3.1–4.3.5)

Lifelong learning activities offered to people outside the College (courses, workshops, lectures, seminars and learning resources, in person or online, free of charge or for a fee) fall within the scope of the Learner Admission and Lifelong Learning Access for All Policy (IMC-THE-POL-01), owned by the Continuing Education Center.

College activities in lifelong learning:

4.3.1 Public resources

The College library serves students, faculty, administrative staff and postgraduate students "and a number of members of the local community, researchers and learners who wish to benefit from its services"; library staff provide guidance and reference services to users and train students to use the automated catalogues and electronic databases (Library services). The library also offers lending with the university ID card and photocopying of non-lendable material for a nominal fee per page. It provides subscription databases (Dar Al Mandumah, Al Manhal, Lexis Middle East, Ask Zad, Eastlaws), a set of free databases (including the Digital Knowledge Center, Al-Maktaba Al-Shamela and Arabic Collections Online) and its online catalogue (Databases). Articles of the peer-reviewed journal Al-Mi'yar are published online. Under a memorandum of understanding reported on 2 October 2025, the College and Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Library Foundation agreed to cooperate on the exchange of publications and research, library services and access to manuscripts, and participation in courses, workshops, conferences and seminars.

Issues 1 to 10 of Al-Mi'yar are available for download as PDF files, and the volume 12 (2025) articles are hosted on the Al-Mi'yar website (Al-Mi'yar journal). The Learner Admission and Lifelong Learning Access for All Policy applies to learning resources available to people outside the College, whether in person or online, free of charge or for a fee (IMC-THE-POL-01, section 1), and thesis defences held at the College in 2025 were streamed on the College's YouTube channel (for example news dated 14 February 2025).

4.3.2 Public events

In the data year the College organised or announced educational events with external partners or participants: a public lecture on the amendments to the UAE Personal Status Law with the Emirates Association for Social Development, announced for 26 May 2025 online via Zoom (notice dated 23 May 2025); an awareness workshop on consumer rights and duties with Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (news dated 24 June 2025; held via Microsoft Teams); a dialogue session with senior citizens held with Dubai's Community Development Authority under the Year of Community (news dated 20 October 2025); and the Third International Scientific Conference on the Maliki school and UAE legislation (24–25 November 2025, InterContinental Dubai Festival City). The conference's book of proceedings publishes 17 papers in three axes (book of proceedings, PDF ; conference page), and recordings of its sessions are publicly available on the College's YouTube channel (day one recording). In 2024 the departments of Sharia and Law held scientific symposia, three of which were live-streamed on the College's YouTube channel.

The notice of the 26 May 2025 lecture published the Zoom meeting link and meeting ID for participation (news item). For the 6 November 2024 symposium on teaching school-based jurisprudence the College published a seat-booking form. Under IMC-THE-POL-01 (section 3), the organising unit publishes, among other details, the intended audience, fees and registration channels of each activity.

4.3.3 Vocational training events

On 27 August 2025 Prof. Nada Salem Hamdoun, Professor of Civil Law at the College, delivered an international online workshop on "Quality of Education" for the Continuing Education Centre of the College of Law, University of Mosul, covering the concept and tools of educational quality and the College's experience with the credit-hour system, and closing with recommendations for the host. Two framework agreements include professional training: the memorandum of understanding with the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department (IACAD) in Dubai, signed during GITEX 2024, covers education, professional Sharia training and advanced research, and the three-year memorandum with Dubai's Rental Disputes Centre (news dated 30 June 2026) covers practical training and the development of legal competencies.

IMC-THE-POL-01 (section 1) applies to programmes offered by the Continuing Education Center and to lifelong learning activities organised by College units for the public.

4.3.4 Education outreach beyond campus

In the data year the College's Adviser for Academic Affairs and Planning presented a paper at a symposium organised by the Islamic Forum in the Emirate of Sharjah (April 2025); the College presented its bachelor's, master's and PhD programmes to students, parents and visitors at the GITEX 2025 Education and Training exhibition at Dubai World Trade Centre; and it held the dialogue session with senior citizens in coordination with the Community Development Authority. In 2024 the College took part in the 20th International Education Show at Expo Centre Sharjah. In February 2026 a faculty member delivered the workshop "The law in the service of women" at the Dubai Municipality Academy in cooperation with the Dubai Municipality Women's Council.

Under the Recruitment and Participation Support for Underrepresented Groups Policy (IMC-THE-POL-06, section 4), Admissions and Registration, in coordination with Student Affairs, conducts targeted outreach with schools and community organisations based on identified gaps.

4.3.5 Lifelong learning access policy

The policy, version 1.1, was approved by the College Council and issued on 15 December 2025. The policy is owned by the Continuing Education Center and reviewed every three years or when legislation or regulations are amended. It commits the College to making lifelong learning activities accessible to everyone regardless of ethnicity, religion, disability, immigration status or gender; sets procedures for announcements, registration, reasonable accommodations and complaints; and requires an annual monitoring report. The approved signed PDF is available in Arabic and English.

Learner Admission and Lifelong Learning Access for All Policy

Official policy document Learner Admission and Lifelong Learning Access for All Policy

Document reference

IMC-THE-POL-01, version 1.1

Policy owner and approving authority

Continuing Education Center of Imam Malik College for Sharia and Law; approving authority: College Council; previous reference: Continuing Education Center Learner Admission Policy; indicator: THE 4.3.5

Approval date and review

Approved 15 December 2025; review: every three years or when legislation or regulations are amended

Revision History

Date and Status	Revision	Rationale
September 2024 First edition 1.0	Issued the policy on learner admission and access to lifelong learning for all.	Prepared the first edition and linked it to the College's continuing education centre regulations.
15 December 2025 Version 1.1	Extended access to the College's public activities and expressly stated the five grounds of non-discrimination.	Defined the institutional commitment to access under indicator THE 4.3.5.
15 December 2025 Version 1.1	Clarified procedures for registration, accommodations, complaints, publication and monitoring.	Assigned responsibilities, documented implementation and made the approved version available to the public.

1. Purpose and Scope

Imam Malik College for Sharia and Law is committed to making lifelong learning activities accessible to everyone, regardless of ethnicity, religion, disability, immigration status or gender. This commitment covers publicising opportunities, applying, participating, requesting accommodations and seeking a review of decisions.

This policy applies to programmes offered by the Continuing Education Center and to lifelong learning activities organised by College units for the public. These include courses, workshops, lectures, seminars and learning resources available to people outside the College, whether in person or online, free of charge or for a fee. Admission to degree programmes is governed by the regulations of those programmes.

2. Legal and Institutional Framework

This policy is based on Articles (5) and (6) of Law No. (10) of 2011 Establishing the College, Article (99) of the College's Internal Regulations, and the Center's policies on learner admission, programme design, learner support and assessment.

Accessibility arrangements are implemented under Dubai Law No. (3) of 2022 Concerning the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in the Emirate of Dubai and Article (4) of its implementing bylaw issued by Executive Council Resolution No. (1) of 2022, as amended. Data are managed in accordance with the approved information governance framework and retention schedule and applicable legislation, including Dubai Law No. (26) of 2015 Regulating Data Dissemination and Exchange and Dubai Law No. (9) of 2022 Regulating the Provision of Digital Services, where applicable.

3. Announcements, Registration and Admission

Before making an announcement, the organising unit verifies the activity requirements, fees and validity of any approvals, licences or permits required for the activity. It publishes the objectives, intended audience, eligibility conditions, language, dates, capacity, fees, cancellation and refund terms, and channels for registration, assistance, accommodations and complaints.

The organising unit applies published, objective conditions proportionate to the educational purpose or regulatory requirements. If places are limited, it applies published selection criteria and documents decisions and reasons. Applicants are informed of acceptance, waitlisting or refusal, the reasons and how to request a review.

An alternative registration route is available to anyone unable to register online. Identity, residency and permit requirements are limited to what is necessary for the activity or required by law. Applicants are informed of the basis for any restriction affecting their application.

4. Reasonable Accommodations and Participation Support

The organising unit receives accommodation requests confidentially and assesses needs with the participant and relevant units. Arrangements may include accessible venues or platforms and adaptations to materials, communication and assessment, as appropriate to the activity. The College enables persons with disabilities to participate and provides reasonable accommodations at no additional charge.

The operational target is to acknowledge accommodation requests within two working days. The target for communicating the decision is five working days after all required information is received, and before the activity wherever possible. Urgent cases are addressed immediately and suitable interim arrangements considered. Additional needs are referred to the authorised decision-maker. Options, the decision and reasons are recorded, and the organiser verifies implementation.

5. Complaints and Information Protection

Applicants and participants may complain or request a review of an admission or accommodation decision through the published institutional channel. The request is referred to the Center officer or competent unit, depending on the activity, and escalated to the Vice Executive President or authorised body if a conflict of interest arises. Anyone who made the contested decision is excluded from the review.

The target is to acknowledge a complaint within two working days and communicate a reasoned outcome within ten working days, with notice of any extension, its reason, the response date and the escalation route. Statutory grievance rights remain in force. The College protects good-faith complainants from retaliation.

Registration, accommodation and complaint records are retained in accordance with the approved retention schedule. Access to personal data and medical reports is restricted to authorised personnel whose duties require it.

6. Monitoring and Publication

The Continuing Education Center prepares an annual report on pre-announcement accessibility reviews, accommodation requests and outcomes, processing times for requests and complaints, barriers and corrective action. Findings are presented in aggregate to protect participants' identities.

The approved version is published in the Knowledge Management System (KMS) archive accessible to staff and on the College website through a direct public link. It specifies the version, effective and review dates, and channels for support and complaints. The policy is reviewed every three years or when relevant legislation or regulations are amended.

7. Responsibilities

Responsible Unit	Responsibility
Continuing Education Center	Own the policy, coordinate implementation and manage admission, accommodation and complaint records within its remit.
Organising Units and Trainers	Review activity accessibility and requirements, implement approved arrangements, and document admission and support decisions.
Vice Executive President	Oversee implementation and consider escalated matters within the approved delegation of authority.
Finance, Facilities, IT and Publishing Unit	Provide approved arrangements and resources, publish the approved version and verify that the public link is accessible.
Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Strategic Planning	Monitor the indicator, implementation evidence and aggregate results, and verify consistency across documents and the revision history.

Short links: go.imc.gov.ae/sdg4-pol1-en · go.imc.gov.ae/sdg4-pol1-ar

4.4 First-generation students (4.4.1)

The College's support measures for new entrants are: orientation meetings for new students (a reception of new students for the new semester, news dated 7 February 2025, and an orientation meeting for bachelor's students on 4 September 2025 covering academic programmes, regulations, registration, assessment, student services and academic advising); a foundation programme and a remedial programme with a reduced minimum study load (Study load and duration of study); partial tuition grants for limited-income students administered by the Grants and Scholarships Department, conditional on passing the admission test, being a UAE national or resident, paying the first instalment of the semester fee and maintaining a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 (Scholarships and grants); general-education courses in Arabic language (1) and (2), English communication skills (1) and (2) and psychology, with electives in sociology, logic, human rights in Islam and international covenants, and Islamic civilisation (Study plans and curricula); and a flexible two-shift (morning and evening) attendance system recorded in the College Strategic Plan 2013–2018 (Strategic Plan 2013–2018).

The Recruitment and Participation Support for Underrepresented Groups Policy provides that barriers such as disability, limited income and first-generation status in higher education are assessed on the evidence (IMC-THE-POL-06, section 3), and makes Admissions and Registration and Student Affairs responsible for identifying student access gaps (section 7). The Bachelor of Sharia Studies offers morning, evening and weekend study periods (Bachelor of Sharia Studies: admission).