Dr. Jawaher S. Al-Mudhahki

Chief Executive

QAAET-Kingdom of Bahrian

The Roadmap to

a Regional Quality

Framework

for the Islamic world

T h e f i r s t v e r s e o f t h e Q u r an r ev ea l ed t o P r o p h e t M u h am m ad ( p b u h ) w as

“Iqra”Read in the name of the Lord who c rea tesT h a t w as t h e b eg i n n i n g o f t h e q u es t f o r k n o w l ed ge t h a t em p h as i z ed t h e i m p o r t an ce o f l e a r n i n g i n h u m anl i f e

In Is l am "T h e q u es t f o r k n o w l ed ge an d s c i en ce i s o b l i ga t o r y u p o n ev e r y M u s l i m m an an d w o m an . "

4/4/2013 Roadmap to Regional Quality Framework 2

THE

BEGINNING

4/4/2013 Roadmap to Regional Quality Framework 3

ISLAMIC WORLD IN FIGURES

The Islamic world consist of:

22% of the world population They have 70% of energy resources, and 40% of natural resources Their contribution towards world income is only 8% 39% of the Islamic countries population live below the poverty level 22 of the 50 least developed countries in the world are OIC Member States .

Huge enrollment numbers of students

Low quality of education due to the inflation of student number and limited number of

available staff members

Low quality and quantity of scientific research

Small number of researchers – 450 per

million population compared to 2200 – 4500

per million

Lack of scientificresearch activities and its

impact on sustainable development

Low awareness of the importance and impact of

good scientific researchBrain drain

Inadequate networkingbetween countries

limited international collaborative efforts

Inadequate networking opportunities

Need for Qualification Framework to network

all regions Capacity building

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CHALLENGES FACING HE

IN ISLAMIC COUNTRIES

Expansion of HE in the Islamic Countries

Increasing Demand for Higher Education

Competitive Environment at the National/International Level

Increase demand for Private Providers of Higher Education

Distance Education

Increasing Diversity in Programs Offered

Recognition of Qualifications in Other Countries

Need for Transparency and Accountability

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NEED FOR QUALITY ASSURANCE IN

HIGHER EDUCATION

- US Department of Educationrecognizes accrediting organizations only, for the purpose of allocating federal funding

- CHEA, Council for Higher Education Accreditation has approximately 3000academic institutions as members and recognizes 60 major accrediting organizations.

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QA IN USA

- As a consequence of the Bologna process now covers EHEA includes 47 countries.

- Establishment of The European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA) to promotecooperation in the QA field.

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QA IN EUROPE

- Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World (FUIW) established in 1987.

- Arab Network for QA in Higher Education (ANQAHE), initiated in 2004 and activated in 2007.

- Islamic Body for Quality and Accreditation (IBQA) initiated during the 4th General Conference of the FUIW in 2007.

- Experts meeting in collaboration with Organization of the Islamic Countries (OIC) in Kuala Lumpur to initiate AQAAIW in 2010 and formed in 2011.

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QA IN ISLAMIC WORLD

- Students graduate at different levels of expertise from Islamic universities, making it difficult to set common standards.

- Many universities in the Islamic world still work withoutreference to Quality Assurance

- It is essential to have Functional National QA bodies

- Students Mobility and Cross Border HE

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ISSUES TO ADDRESS

IN THE ISLAMIC WORLD

In order to cope with the changing contexts resulting fromGlobalization, it has become necessary to take actions of Reformfor Educational Systems in order to meet Global Standards.

Quality Assurance and Accreditation procedures are a MUST for Muslim countries in order to raise Quality of Human Capital.

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THE NEED TO REFORM

QA is one of

the most important

factors driving

the reform

of HE in the

Islamic countries

Reform of Education should focus in the following:

CreateNational

QA agencies

Enhance QA at

the University

level

Create awareness

at the community

level

Capacity

building

Globalization

of the world

Cross border education

Mobilization

of students

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EDUCATION REFORMS

Capacity Building

Cooperation

Establishing regional quality assurance networks to help promoting QA of

higher education in the region.

• To establish national quality assurance frameworks and to develop current established ones in order to guarantee the quality ofeducation and control its outcomes.

• To develop, enhance and review current internal quality management systems.

Develop a regional QA Framework

THE ROADMAP TO IMPROVE QA IN IC

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Establish a system for internal &

external QA system

Establish a database for

experts & reviewers

Combat accreditation

mills

Help other countries

that do not have QA

(ANQAHE workshops)

Train reviewers &

HEIs

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A) CAPACITY BUILDING IN THE

ISLAMIC COUNTRIES

Develop common

standards

Spread QA culture

Start awareness campaign

Build capacity building at all

levels

Conference –forums/ study group: present

findings & results

cooperation with other

entities in QA

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A) CAPACITY BUILDING IN THE

ISLAMIC COUNTRIES

Cooperation between all

organization in the Islamic countries

working in QA is very important:

- To develop action plans on quality

assurance of higher

education institutions.

- To enhancecooperation in fields of

higher education

quality assurance

There is need to

synchronize all activities in the region

International and regional organizations working in

the QA within Muslim countries such as:

UNESCO

ALESCO

ISESCO

BRITISH COUNCIL

DAAD

INQAAHE

Regional organization like AARU, OIC, FUIW &

AROQA

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B) COOPERATION BETWEEN THE

ISLAMIC COUNTRIES

LEVELS OF COOPERATION

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in the form of:

QA Level Governmental Level

MOE

GCC

HEIs Level

Partnership

Relationship

Networks

Association

Federation

Societies

INQAAHE ENQA EAQAN APQN RIACES

AAAC AfriQAN ANQAHE AQAAIW

C) REGIONAL NETWORKS AS A MEANS

TO SUCCESS

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The European Quality

Assurance Network

Asia Pacific Quality

Network

The Iberoamerican

Quality Network

African Network for

Quality AssuranceThe Association of

Accrediting Agencies

in Canada.

Regional QA Framework need to address the following:

Promote Qualitative

cross-border education

Set higher education

quality standards

Safeguard the quality of

HEIs outputs

Promote competitive

HEIs

Establish Qualifications Framework

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D) QA FRAMEWORK

It is highly recommended to establish mutual partnership or twining between QA agencies and HEIs in the Islamic countries

Regional organizations needs to fight the accreditation mills in the region

There is strong needs to harmonize Qualification Frameworks (ANQAHE)

Reviewer training at national and regional level is an important step

Creating a Database of experts

There is a need to involve students in all QA/Accreditation activities

Build common standards for institution and program review

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RECOMMENDATIONS

Thank You

for Your Attention