Building an Excellence Capabilities Portfolio in Higher Education: A Case Study of Higher Colleges of Technology, UAE

The Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) has developed and deployed a set of distinctive and dynamic capabilities in alignment with the UAE national agenda. These capabilities drive an ambitious strategy that anticipates and ensures future readiness; creates student-centric value; enables and empowers human capital; exploits the full potential of digital enablement; leverages through smart partnerships and resource optimization; builds capacity for knowledge exchange; and synergizes through collaboration, co-creation, and stakeholder orientation. This study presents HCT’s methodology as a case study to develop its capabilities portfolio, structure, main connectors (internal and external forces), and business operational model and capabilities dynamics that support HCT’s continuous transformation and leading position. The study proposes a model and practices to develop and unify standards for higher education institutions (HEIs) in their journey towards building distinctive and dynamic capabilities and achieving excellence maturity.