Accreditation and Academic Quality

Commission for Academic Accreditation

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Accreditation and Academic Accreditation and Academic QualityQuality

King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals

Faculty Workshop

Accreditation, Assessment and Quality

January 5, 2004


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Greetings from the Ministry of Higher Education Greetings from the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of the United Arab Emiratesand Scientific Research of the United Arab Emirates

His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Minister


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And greetings from . . .

The Commission for Academic Accreditation

Michael Smith, Director

[email protected]

www.caa.ae


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The CAA makes assessments and The CAA makes assessments and recommendations based onrecommendations based onApplying internationally recognized

standards of quality

To institutions for their licensure

And to academic programs for their accreditation


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TopicsTopics

Importance of AccreditationIts Role in Ensuring QualityExperience in the UAEThe Interface of Accreditation and

Program Quality


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What is accreditation?What is accreditation?

External reviewAssessment of higher education

institutions and/or programsFor quality assurance and

continuous improvement


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What Is Clear?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


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. . . because national systems. . . because national systems

Provide an external reviewBased on agreed upon standardsWith an agreed upon processThat can encourage institutions to

enhance their own internal quality assurances processes

So that they meet national and international quality standards


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Why is external review so Why is external review so important?important?ExpertiseBroad experienceInternational standardsFresh perspective


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And external reviews cause. . .And external reviews cause. . .

Institutions to look at themselvesFaculty to look at their programsInstitutions, colleges, schools, and

faculties to “sharpen” their own assessment methodologies


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What can the review do for an What can the review do for an institution?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)


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Experience in the UAEExperience in the UAE

Rapid growth in “private” colleges and universities

Goal for the country of meeting or exceeding international standards of quality


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Commission for Academic Commission for Academic AccreditationAccreditationFormed in 2000Developed the Standards for

Licensure and Accreditation in 2001

and . . .Substantially revised the Stabdards

in 2003


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The CAA bothThe CAA both

Licenses InstitutionsAccredits individual degree

programs


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Both processes areBoth processes are

Closely interlinked

. . . so that . . .

All the programs of licensed institutions must be individually accredited


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Processes for Licensure and Accreditation

Institutional LicensureOfficial Candidacy

Initial AccreditationAccreditation Eligible

Full licensureRenewable

3 yearsFull accreditationRenewable every

5 years


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Types of higher education Types of higher education programs: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


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The Ministry’s responseThe Ministry’s response

All programs offering instruction in the UAE must be licensed and accredited by the UAE


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The CAA accredits based onThe 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


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The elements included in the The elements included in the reviewreviewInstitutional purpose and

effectiveness

Goals

On-going quality assurance

Institutional research

Mission


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Educational Program

Admissions

Completion

Curriculum

Internships

Readiness


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Instruction

Advising

Publications

Distance learning

Continuing education

Student records

Faculty


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Selection of faculty

Preparation

Compensation

Appointment

Professional development

Role

Loads


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Evaluation

Grievance

Agreements

Contracts


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Educational Support Services

LibraryLibrary staffInstructional supportITStudents developmentCareer planningFinancial aidStudent activitiesHealth services


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Administrative Process

OrganizationTitles and termsGovernancePoliciesAlumniFinancial resourcesBudget


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Accounting

Auditing

Purchasing

Refunds

Physical resources

Space management

Master plan


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The CAA’s reviews includeThe 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


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The external reviewThe 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


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The Ministry only grants The Ministry only grants accreditation to institutions that 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


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Results to dateResults 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


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What the UAE example showsWhat 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


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The CAA accredits based onThe 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


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The institution’s quality system The institution’s quality system mustmust 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


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In assessing its academic In assessing its academic programs, the institution mustprograms, 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


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Measures for academic program Measures for academic program quality must includequality must includeEvaluation of instructional deliveryResults of standardized testsAnalysis of student papers,

portfolios, and other student workData on admissions tests, program

completion rates, and job placementResults of student licensure exams


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And . . .And . . .

Feedback from employersPerformance of students who

transfer to other institutionsPerformance of students who

continue their education at a higher level

Assessments by alumni


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Institution therefore must 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


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Institutional research mustInstitutional research must

Be timely and on-goingDisseminate results of its analysisDesign studies to meet institutional

and program needsDevelop databases that support

longitudinal studiesInclude external environmental

analysis


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Thus, the assessment of Thus, the assessment of effectiveness includeseffectiveness includesInputsProcessesOutputsOutcomes


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Relying onRelying on

Multiple internal assessments

Multiple external assessments


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In order to assess the extent thatIn order to assess the extent that

The institution fulfills its purpose

The program meets its goals and objectives consistent with the institution’s purpose


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The review process offers faculty The review process offers faculty an opportunity toan opportunity toExamine their own programsConsider their own assessment dataSee their own programs from an

“outside” perspectiveIdentify needs for the futureConsider data on outcomesMake a case for improvements


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And accreditation should be seen And accreditation should be seen as . . .as . . .Linked to quality improvementIn an examination of a variety of dataIn the tradition of academic study


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In service to . . .In service to . . .

Academic Excellence

Continuous Improvement

Better Outcomes


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I would be pleased to have I would be pleased to have discussion and questions . . .discussion and questions . . .

Thank you,

Michael Smith


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ForForThe Commission for Academic The Commission for Academic

AccreditationAccreditation

Thank you

www.caa.ae

Michael Smith, [email protected]

Accreditation and Academic Quality

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