REPORT OF QUALITY ASSURANCE AND ACCREDITATION AWARENESS WORKSHOP

Higher Education Development Program

July 9-10, 2018

2

Table of Contents

BACKGROUND OF THE WORKSHOP 3

THE WORKSHOP ACTIVITIES 3

PARTICIPANTS: 5

CONCLUSION: 6

APPENDIX 7

AGENDA 7

3

Background of the Workshop

The purpose of this two-day workshop was to explain the quality assurance and accreditation

process to the representatives of 15 universities selected for the third phase of the external peer

review. These 15 universities included both public and private universities. This workshop will

inform the leadership and representatives of the selected universities on the requirements and

responsibilities of the parties on external peer review process.

This workshop was assisted by the Higher Education Development Program (HEDP) and was

facilitated by the representatives of the Quality Assurance and Accreditation Board (QAA Board)

and Quality Assurance and Accreditation Directorate (QAAD). The workshop was convened on

July 9-10, 2018 at the Ministry’s Hall Eight.

The Phase III external review follows the pilot phase and phase II external review. In the phase III

external review seven public and eight private universities were selected for external review.

These universities that are planned to be reviewed in this phase are:

1- Bamyan University

2- Alberoni University

3- Jawzjan University

4- Kunar University

5- Paktia University

6- Helmand University

7- Parwan University

8- Salaam University

9- Alfalah University

10- Daawat University

11- Azad Islami University

12- Khurshaid University

13- Ghalib University

14- Ghorjistan University

15- Maulana Jalulladin Mohammad

Balkhi University.

The Workshop Activities

The workshop began with recitation of the Holy Qur’an and welcoming remarks by Director of

Quality Assurance and Accreditation. Subsequently, His Excellency Minister of Higher Education,

Dr. Najibullah Khwaja Omari, gave a speech stressing on the importance of quality assurance and

accreditation processes for improving the quality of the higher education, the independence and

non-interference in the quality assurance and accreditation processes. He also talked about the

challenges of the higher education sector of the country and the responsibility of the Ministry

and higher education providers for addressing the current challenges of this sector.

Then, Deputy Minister Abdul Tawab Balakarzai gave a presentation on the roles and

responsibilities of the involved departments in the process of quality assurance and accreditation

process. This presentation allowed the university representatives to understand the process and

4

whom to be assigned for each of the criteria of the quality assurance and accreditation

framework for the external peer reviewers.

The HEDP Director, Noor Ahmad Darwish then explained the role of the HEDP in the quality

assurance and accreditation process for general information and clarification of the roles of

involved parties in this process.

Next, the representatives of the QAAD explained criteria of the quality assurance and

accreditation framework for further awareness of the representatives of the selected

universities. They also explained the overall process of the accreditation, writing self-assessment

report, operational plan and action plan.

On the second day of the workshop, director of QAAD presented the process of annual academic

program review. The Director of Academic Programs presented the process of periodic review of

the programs. Then, the QAA Board members gave presentations on course development and

review policy, development of a strategic plan and vision and mission of universities, to enable

the universities to establish courses and develop university’s strategic plan, vision and mission

according to the requirement of the quality assurance and accreditation framework.

After lunch break of the second day, QAAD explains the detailed process of the external review

and QAA Board member talked about the importance of critical thinking in the growth of quality

FIGURE 1 DM BALAKARZAI DELIVERING HIS SPEECH

5

improvement and accreditation. The workshop ended with closing remarks of the Deputy

Minister Balakarzai, once again stressing on the importance of the quality assurance and

accreditation process and asked the university representatives to further publicize this process

throughout their respective universities. He also appreciated the presenters for their

presentations and the HEDP for the organization of this workshop.

FIGURE 2 MR. NOOR AHMAD DARWISH WHILE DELIVERING HIS PRESENTATION

Participants:

Participants of this workshop were His Excellency the Minister, the Deputy Minister for Academic

Affairs, representatives of the universities, external peer reviewers, QAA Board members and

staff members from HEDP and QAAD. Following is the detailed list of the participants of the

workshop:

His Excellency Dr.Najibullah Khwaja Omari, The Minister of Higher Education

Abdul Tawab Balakarzai, Deputy Minister

Noor Ahmad Darwish, Director of HEDP

Haji Mohammad Naimi, Director of QAAD

Khwaja Zubair Siddiqi, Director of APD

QAA Board members:

Kaihana Taieb

Mohammad Zarif Sharifi

Zubaida Anwari Zhwak

Mohammad Anwar Siraj

Lailuma Sharifi Yama

Mohammad Zubair Anwari

HEDP members:

Yama Hashimi Hidayatullah Hamdard

QAAD staff members:

Abdul Warah Mohammadi

Mehrabuddin Sediqi

Mohammad Noor Shirzad

University representatives:

Vice chancellors for academic

affairs

Head of quality assurance

unit

Conclusion:

This two-day workshop on the awareness of quality assurance and accreditation process for the

15 public and private universities that were selected for the phase III external review was

successfully conducted. The chief guest, His Excellency the Minister of Higher Education gave a

speech on importance of the quality assurance and accreditation process and the overall context

of the higher education sector. Multiple presentations were provided on various topics regarding

the quality assurance and accreditation processes and external review processes for effective

implementation of the phase III external review.

7

Appendix:

Agenda Day 1 (July 9, 2018)

No Session Facilitator/Speaker Time

1 Commencement with the Holly

Quran

Qari Sahib 09:00-09:10 am

2 Welcome and Introduction Pohand Haji Mohammad Naimi,

QAAD Director

09:10–09:20 am

3 Opening remarks/Speech Excellency Minister of MoHE 09:20–09:40 am

4 Department and its role in the

process of Accreditation

Excellency Deputy Minister,

Academic Affairs

09:40-10:10 am

5 The Role of HEDP on Quality

Assurance and Accreditation

HEDP Director, Mr. Darwish 10:10-10:30 am

6 Interpretation of QAA framework

criteria from 1- 5

Mr. Mohammad Anwar Siraj,

QAA Board Member

10:30-11:00 am

Tea Break 10:00-11:15 am

7 Interpretation of QAA framework

criteria from 6-11

Dr. Mohammad Zarif Sharifi 11:15-01:00 pm

Lunch 01:00-02:00 pm

8 Introduction of the accreditation

process

Mr. Mohammad Noor Shirzad 02:00-02:30 pm

9 Writing self-assessment report Mr. Abdul Warah Mohammadi 02:30-03:00 pm

10 Operational/Action plan Mr. Mehrabuddin Sediqi 03:00-03:30 pm

Day 2 (July 10, 2018)

8

No Session Facilitator/Speaker Time

1 Annual academic program

review

Pohand Haji Mohammad Naimi,

QAAD Director

09:00-09:30 am

2 Periodic review of program Mr. Khwaja Zubair Sediqi, APD

Director

09:30-10:00 am

Tea break 10:00-10:15 am

3 Course Policy Mr. Mohammad Zubair Omari,

Board member

10:15-10:40 am

4 Strategic Plan Ms.Lailuma Sharifi, Board member 10:40-12:10 pm

5 Vision and Mission Dr.Zubaida Zhwak, Board member 12:10-12:40pm

Lunch 12:40 – 01:30 pm

6 Introduction of the external

review process

Mr.Abdul Warah Mohammadi,

QAAD member

01:30 – 03:45 pm

7 The importance of critical

thinking in the growth of

quality improvement and

accreditation

Ms. Lailuma Sharifi, Board member 03:45 – 03:50 pm

8 Closing remarks Excellency Deputy Minister,

Academic Affairs

03:50 pm