Commission for Academic Accreditation 1 Accreditation and Academic Quality King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals Faculty Workshop Accreditation, Assessment and Quality January 5, 2004

Commission for Academic Accreditation 2 Greetings from the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of the United Arab Emirates His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Minister

Commission for Academic Accreditation 3 And greetings from... The Commission for Academic Accreditation Michael Smith, Director

Commission for Academic Accreditation 4 The CAA makes assessments and recommendations based on Applying internationally recognized standards of quality To institutions for their licensure And to academic programs for their accreditation

Commission for Academic Accreditation 5 Topics Importance of Accreditation Its Role in Ensuring Quality Experience in the UAE The Interface of Accreditation and Program Quality

Commission for Academic Accreditation 6 What is accreditation? External review Assessment of higher education institutions and/or programs For quality assurance and continuous improvement

Commission for Academic Accreditation 7 What Is Clear? Strong higher education system is essential in a global, information-based economy Some form of national accreditation/licensure, based on international standards of quality, is necessary if countries are to achieve their higher education goals

Commission for Academic Accreditation 8... because national systems Provide an external review Based on agreed upon standards With an agreed upon process That can encourage institutions to enhance their own internal quality assurances processes So that they meet national and international quality standards

Commission for Academic Accreditation 9 Why is external review so important? Expertise Broad experience International standards Fresh perspective

Commission for Academic Accreditation 10 And external reviews cause... Institutions to look at themselves Faculty to look at their programs Institutions, colleges, schools, and faculties to “sharpen” their own assessment methodologies

Commission for Academic Accreditation 11 What can the review do for an institution? Periodic (cause faculty and staff to re- examine what they do, how they do it, what they achieve) On-Going (cause the institution to develop its own continuous improvement processes)

Commission for Academic Accreditation 12 Experience in the UAE Rapid growth in “private” colleges and universities Goal for the country of meeting or exceeding international standards of quality

Commission for Academic Accreditation 13 Commission for Academic Accreditation Formed in 2000 Developed the Standards for Licensure and Accreditation in 2001 and... Substantially revised the Stabdards in 2003

Commission for Academic Accreditation 14 The CAA both Licenses Institutions Accredits individual degree programs

Commission for Academic Accreditation 15 Both processes are Closely interlinked... so that... All the programs of licensed institutions must be individually accredited

Commission for Academic Accreditation 16 Processes for Licensure and Accreditation Institutional Licensure Official Candidacy Initial Accreditation Accreditation Eligible Full licensure Renewable 3 years Full accreditation Renewable every 5 years

Commission for Academic Accreditation 17 Types of higher education programs: Accredited and licensed in UAE Accredited in another country and “franchised” in UAE Unaccredited outside and inside of UAE and franchised in UAE Paper Mills

Commission for Academic Accreditation 18 The Ministry’s response All programs offering instruction in the UAE must be licensed and accredited by the UAE

Commission for Academic Accreditation 19 The CAA accredits based on The institution’s meeting quality standards for programs, faculty, academic support, and administration and Its having a well-developed system of institutional effectiveness to assess its own quality and contribute to continuous improvement

Commission for Academic Accreditation 20 The elements included in the review Institutional purpose and effectiveness Goals On-going quality assurance Institutional research Mission

Commission for Academic Accreditation 21 Educational Program Admissions Completion Curriculum Internships Readiness

Commission for Academic Accreditation 22 Instruction Advising Publications Distance learning Continuing education Student records Faculty

Commission for Academic Accreditation 23 Selection of faculty Preparation Compensation Appointment Professional development Role Loads

Commission for Academic Accreditation 24 Evaluation Grievance Agreements Contracts

Commission for Academic Accreditation 25 Educational Support Services Library Library staff Instructional support IT Students development Career planning Financial aid Student activities Health services

Commission for Academic Accreditation 26 Administrative Process Organization Titles and terms Governance Policies Alumni Financial resources Budget

Commission for Academic Accreditation 27 Accounting Auditing Purchasing Refunds Physical resources Space management Master plan

Commission for Academic Accreditation 28 The CAA’s reviews include Review of documentation submitted by the institution as part of its self- assessment Review by a visiting committee of experts from the international community who know the discipline and know accreditation and quality

Commission for Academic Accreditation 29 The external review Is conducted by experts in the discipline Takes place on-site Results in a detailed report and a series of recommendations Requires the institution to respond to each recommendation

Commission for Academic Accreditation 30 The Ministry only grants accreditation to institutions that –meet the requirements of the Standards for Licensure and Accreditation, –respond satisfactorily to visiting committee recommendations, and –have in place a system of quality control

Commission for Academic Accreditation 31 Results to date 24 institutions licensed and 10 more in process 150 programs accredited and 30 more in process Significant improvements at many institutions—including faculty credentials, faculty development, curricula, IT and library support, and program assessment

Commission for Academic Accreditation 32 What the UAE example shows The US model can be adapted to the requirements of countries in the Arab world Even smaller countries can establish strong quality standards and enforce them Rapid improvement in higher education institutions is possible External reviewers are willing to bring their expertise to assist

Commission for Academic Accreditation 33 The CAA accredits based on The institution’s meeting quality standards for programs, faculty, academic support, and administration and Its having a well-developed system of institutional program effectiveness to assess its own quality and contribute to continuous improvement

Commission for Academic Accreditation 34 The institution’s quality system must Be central to all operations Derive from its purpose, goals, and objectives Be broadly based Employ a variety of assessment methods Demonstrate how planning and evaluation are used for continuous improvement

Commission for Academic Accreditation 35 In assessing its academic programs, the institution must Evaluate the quality of student learning, research, and service Ensure that planning and evaluation are systematic and interrelated Develop academic program goals consistent with institutional purpose Evaluate the extent to which academic goals are achieved Use the results of assessment to improve the program

Commission for Academic Accreditation 36 Measures for academic program quality must include Evaluation of instructional delivery Results of standardized tests Analysis of student papers, portfolios, and other student work Data on admissions tests, program completion rates, and job placement Results of student licensure exams

Commission for Academic Accreditation 37 And... Feedback from employers Performance of students who transfer to other institutions Performance of students who continue their education at a higher level Assessments by alumni

Commission for Academic Accreditation 38 Institution therefore must Develop the capacity to collect and analyze data Incorporate IR as an integral part of planning and evaluation Assign administrative responsibility for IR functions Allocate adequate resources to support this function

Commission for Academic Accreditation 39 Institutional research must Be timely and on-going Disseminate results of its analysis Design studies to meet institutional and program needs Develop databases that support longitudinal studies Include external environmental analysis

Commission for Academic Accreditation 40 Thus, the assessment of effectiveness includes Inputs Processes Outputs Outcomes

Commission for Academic Accreditation 41 Relying on Multiple internal assessments Multiple external assessments

Commission for Academic Accreditation 42 In order to assess the extent that The institution fulfills its purpose The program meets its goals and objectives consistent with the institution’s purpose

Commission for Academic Accreditation 43 The review process offers faculty an opportunity to Examine their own programs Consider their own assessment data See their own programs from an “outside” perspective Identify needs for the future Consider data on outcomes Make a case for improvements

Commission for Academic Accreditation 44 And accreditation should be seen as... Linked to quality improvement In an examination of a variety of data In the tradition of academic study

Commission for Academic Accreditation 45 In service to... Academic Excellence Continuous Improvement Better Outcomes

Commission for Academic Accreditation 46 I would be pleased to have discussion and questions... Thank you, Michael Smith

Commission for Academic Accreditation 47 For The Commission for Academic Accreditation Thank you Michael Smith, Director