Doha, - The National Committee for Qualifications and Academic Accreditation (NCQAA) has launched its inaugural round of institutional accreditation process for higher education institutions in the State of Qatar, which includes the Community College of Qatar (CCQ) and Lusail University as the first two local higher education institutions to undergo the institutional accreditation process.
HE Minister of Education and Higher Education Buthaina bint Ali Al Jabr Al Nuaimi expressed pride in the higher education institutions for their commitment to attaining national academic accreditation and their dedication to elevating the standard of education.
On this occasion, Her Excellency said: "The Ministry of Education and Higher Education has embraced the NCQAA since its inception. This Committee complements the quality assurance mechanisms of our national education system, contributing to the enhancement of higher education quality in the country." For his part, NCQAA Chairperson Dr. Mazen Omar Hasna said: "The commencement of institutional accreditation visits to higher education institutions in the country marks the initiation of the Committee's journey. Over the past year, a select group of esteemed academic experts, renowned for their scholarly and academic accomplishments within Qatar and abroad, have worked on the development of institutional accreditation standards following a comprehensive review of regional and international standards." Dr. Hasnah further explained that during its 7th meeting, the Committee approved the adoption of five standards that encompass the core aspects of higher education institution functions. These standards are delineated as follows: Standard 1- Institution's Mission and Organization and Ensuring Integrity; Standard 2- Deployment of Appropriate Institutional Resources; Standard 3- Institutional Planning and Effectiveness; Standard 4- Delivering on the Mission; and, lastly, Standard 5- Making Impact and Meeting Stakeholders' Expectations.
Dr. Hasnah commended the commitment of CCQ and Lusail University in Qatar for their participation in the inaugural cycle of institutional accreditation visits, emphasizing that such participation serves the best interests of students and bolsters the quality of national higher education.
For his part, President of CCQ Dr. Khalid Al Horr said: "At CCQ, we are deeply committed to providing top-tier education to our students. We are honored to be part of the first cycle of the institutional accreditation process and will strive to leverage this process to enhance our academic and non-academic operations, benefiting students and the community." In turn, President of Lusail University Dr. Nizam Hindi said: "As Lusail University prepares to graduate its inaugural class this year, undergoing the institutional accreditation process serves as a motivation for us to enhance educational practices across all domains. It also provides a valuable opportunity to receive feedback and recommendations from independent experts and peer evaluators." The NCQAA began its work after its formation in October 2022 and has diligently been developing institutional accreditation standards, policies, and procedures throughout this year. These will be put into effect during the current academic year.
NCQAA has produced a comprehensive guide detailing the five standards to assist higher education institutions in the country in formulating their self-studies on their academic institutions. This marks a pivotal element in the institutional accreditation process.
NCQAA was established through Cabinet Decision No. 12 of 2022, outlining its mandate to exercise general oversight and update the National Qualifications Framework as required to align with the State's general policies. Furthermore, NCQAA is responsible for accrediting qualifications (certificates and degrees) conferred by local higher education institutions, ensuring their alignment with the National Qualifications Framework through quality assurance standards, and promoting compliance with such standards through the academic accreditation system developed by NCQAA.
Source: Qatar News Agency