Amman: Lebanon's Minister of Education and Higher Education, Rima Karami, accompanied by her delegation, conducted a thorough review of Jordan's accreditation and quality assurance systems during an official visit to the Kingdom. The visit included an informative tour of the Accreditation and Quality Assurance Commission (AQAC) headquarters, where Karami engaged in discussions with its president, Dhafer Sarayreh, along with the vice president Dr. Saad Bani Mohammad, and other officials.
According to Jordan News Agency, Sarayreh provided an overview of the development of Jordan's accreditation and quality assurance system, tracing its origins to the expansion of private higher education and its evolution through legislative changes, culminating in the establishment of an independent commission. He elaborated on the recent expansion of the system's mandate, which now includes vocational and technical education following a merger with the Vocational and Technical Skills Development Commission.
Sarayreh highlighted the shift from a purely quantitative focus to a more comprehensive framework incorporating qualitative standards. This approach evaluates the quality of educational processes and outcomes through continuous monitoring. He emphasized that licensing and accreditation are distinct yet complementary processes, with licensing granted by the Higher Education Council and accreditation handled by the Commission.
Quality assessment spans institutional, faculty, and program levels, utilizing tools such as competency tests. Sarayreh noted the Commission's alignment with international standards, especially in medical disciplines, and its encouragement for universities to seek prestigious accreditations. The Commission is also updating standards to incorporate advancements in information technology, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence.
Sarayreh underscored the importance of periodic curriculum reviews, linking academic programs to labor market demands, and ensuring the qualifications of faculty members. He stressed the need for accurate data submission to international ranking bodies and the gradual introduction of new standards, allowing institutions adequate time for compliance.
Karami expressed admiration for Jordan's accreditation system and highlighted the value of exchanging expertise among Arab quality assurance bodies. She cautioned against adopting external models without local adaptation and stressed involving employers in academic program development to align educational outcomes with market needs. Karami emphasized strengthening scientific research and addressing gaps between graduates' skills and the labor market.
During discussions, Sarayreh and Karami explored avenues for enhancing cooperation between Jordan and Lebanon, including expertise exchange, academic collaboration, and utilizing virtual meetings for ongoing technical engagement. They also emphasized establishing direct communication channels between institutions to facilitate information exchange and cooperation.
The visit underscored the mutual benefits of collaboration between Jordan and Lebanon in advancing education, accreditation, and quality assurance systems.