ِABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)

The Abu Dhabi Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (ACTVET) has achieved a new global milestone in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2025, with Emirati students in the Advanced Science Track at Applied Technology Schools (ATS) exceeding the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) average and ranking among the world’s leading performers.

Emirati students in the Advanced Science Track ranked tenth globally in Mathematics, eleventh globally in Computational Problem Solving and fifteenth globally in Science.

Applied Technology Schools students also outperformed the UAE public school average in Mathematics, Science and Reading, reflecting the quality and competitiveness of ACTVET’s technical and vocational education and training system and its ability to develop national talent equipped with advanced scientific and practical skills.

ATS Students in the Advanced Science Track demonstrated particularly strong performance, exceeding the OECD average by 28 points in Mathematics, 18 points in Science and 29 points in Computational Problem Solving. Students achieved scores of 448 in Science and 455 in Mathematics, exceeding the public school average by 82 points in both subjects.

In Reading, students scored 410, outperforming the public school average by 55 points. These results reflect the strength of ACTVET’s education system, which is designed to respond to the UAE’s needs and future priorities, drawing on national expertise and international standards to support the development of a sustainable technical and vocational education and training ecosystem.

The overall performance of Emirati students at Applied Technology Schools also showed significant progress across all three core assessment domains compared with PISA 2022. The average score in Mathematics increased by 45 points to 455, Science increased by 40 points to 448, and Reading increased by 31 points to 410.

His Excellency Dr Mubarak Saeed Al Shamsi, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Institute of Applied Technology and Director General of ACTVET, said: “This achievement reflects the forward-looking vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and the continued support and guidance of His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, in advancing the technical and vocational education and training ecosystem, investing in the capabilities of Emirati youth, and equipping them with the skills of the future.”

His Excellency added: “The leading global rankings achieved by Emirati students in the Advanced Science Track represent a national accomplishment of which we are proud and reflect the quality and global competitiveness of our technical and vocational education and training system.

We remain committed to advancing an educational model that integrates scientific knowledge with practical application while strengthening critical thinking, analytical, problem-solving and innovation skills. Our focus is on preparing a generation of Emiratis equipped with the capabilities to compete globally and contribute effectively to the UAE’s strategic and future sectors.”

A total of 828 Emirati students from Applied Technology Schools participated in the assessment, highlighting the capabilities of young national talent within the technical and vocational education and training system.

ACTVET continues to advance its programmes and educational pathways in alignment with national priorities and the needs of strategic and future sectors.

hese efforts strengthen the role of technical and vocational education and training in developing Emirati talent with the scientific, technical and professional capabilities required to contribute to the UAE’s development and innovation, support the knowledge economy, and enhance the nation’s global competitiveness.