Nineteen professors from Arab universities in Egypt, Jordan, UAE, Iraq and Morocco participated in the workshop and discussed the methods and mechanisms for academic accreditation
AMMAN------ July 27, 2011---- In cooperation with the League of Arab States, the Arab Organization for Quality Assurance in Education (AROQA) held a workshop at the League’s headquarters entitled “Mechanisms of Qualification to Obtain ABET Accreditation”. The objective of the workshop was to promote quality in education and academic excellence in the educational institutions in the Arab world.
Nineteen professors from Arab universities in Egypt, Jordan, UAE, Iraq and Morocco participated in the workshop and discussed the methods and mechanisms for academic accreditation, in particular in engineering.
The two-day workshop addressed the steps needed to obtain accreditation of engineering, computer science and IT programs by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). Academic accreditation criteria were clarified by introducing and discussing the nine academic standards that ABET considers in the accreditation process. The standards represent criteria related to students, program objectives and outcomes, evaluation, continuous improvement, curricula, faculty, facilities, institutional support and program criteria. The workshop also addressed other important aspects, such as the role of professionals, institutions and representatives from both industry and government.
The workshop was opened by Ms. Fa’eqa Al Saleh, advisor to the secretary-general of the League of Arab States and manager of Education and Scientific Research Department. In her speech, Ms. Al Saleh emphasized the significance of such workshops and meetings in promoting the quality of education, and praised the role played by AROQAE in raising the awareness of quality culture and academic accreditation in the Arab universities.
Participants emphasized the importance of ABET accreditation and recommended that the Arab universities seek this accreditation for engineering and technology programs, as it is necessary for promoting quality in education and developing our universities to keep up with universities worldwide. They also recommended enhancing communication with national bodies of academic accreditation in the Arab countries in order to link ABET requirements with those of the national bodies, particularly in relation to engineering and technology programs. The importance of communication between ABET and the Arab universities participating in the workshop to enable them to apply ABET standards in their academic programs was also stressed.
Participants called for holding similar workshops on Arab and international accreditation of other academic programs, particularly in relation to sciences, management, economy and arts.
The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology is the body authorized to issue accreditation of computer science, engineering and technology programs in the USA. Universities in many countries around the world seek to obtain ABET academic accreditation.
Participants at the “Mechanisms of Qualification to Obtain ABET Accreditation” workshop organized by the Arab Organization for Quality Assurance in Education (AROQA) in cooperation with the League of Arab States held at the League’s headquarters.