Accreditation & assessment
Institutional and programme assessment based on approved standards and procedures.
ASSOCIATION OF ARAB UNIVERSITIES · ACQAA
Advancing quality. Building trust.
Strengthening higher education across the Arab region through institutional and programme accreditation, evidence-based evaluation, robust quality standards and university capacity building.
Evidence-led evaluationTransparent standards and independent review
Institutional developmentContinuous improvement and capacity building
Partnerships that build trustRegional and international academic cooperation
OUR PURPOSE & RESPONSIBILITY
A shared commitment to higher-education excellence
As higher education in the Arab region has expanded and diversified, common reference frameworks and ongoing evaluation have become essential to transparency, institutional credibility and meaningful improvement.
The Council helps universities strengthen internal quality systems, develop academic and institutional performance, and build capacity through professional standards, accreditation, training, advisory services and cooperation.
Clear quality frameworks
Independent review & verification
Institutional capacity building
Regional & global cooperation
Knowledge · Quality · Cooperation · Progress
FOUR COMPLEMENTARY PILLARS
How the Council supports Arab universities
A coordinated approach that combines assessment, standards, development and cooperation to advance educational quality.
Standards & frameworks
Reference frameworks, indicators and guidance that support consistency and clarity.
Training & capacity
Training reviewers and supporting institutional quality teams and communities.
Partnerships & cooperation
Knowledge exchange with national, regional and international bodies.
TWO DISTINCT DIGITAL EXPERIENCES
Two platforms. One commitment to quality.
Choose the right pathway: formal institutional accreditation through AASHEI, or capacity-building programmes through Bedaya.
AASHEI · ACCREDITATION
Institutional Accreditation Platform
A dedicated workspace for universities to manage institutional profiles, self-study and evidence against eight standards and checkpoints. Accreditation decisions follow formal review and verification procedures.
BEDAYA · CAPACITY BUILDING
A New Arab Beginning (Bedaya)
A separate capacity-building initiative offering development pathways and activities for universities, academic staff and students to strengthen quality culture, participation and learning.
ACCREDITATION JOURNEY
From self-evaluation to an informed decision
An overview of the evaluation process; formal accreditation is determined under approved Council procedures.
Self-evaluation
Universities assess their performance and prepare a documented self-study.
Evidence & documentation
Standards, indicators and checkpoints organise supporting documentation.
External evaluation
Reviewers verify the self-study through document and field review.
Accreditation decision
The authorised body considers verified findings under approved procedures.
Important: submitting a self-study or documents through AASHEI does not itself confer accreditation. Formal decisions follow independent review and verification.
AASHEI · 8 STANDARDS
Eight dimensions of institutional quality
Complementary standards covering institutional performance, with assessment weights totalling 100%.
0110%
Strategic planning
0215%
Governance and quality assurance
0318%
Teaching and learning
0413%
Students and graduates
0514%
Faculty and administrative staff
0610%
Institutional resources and sustainability
0710%
Research, innovation and entrepreneurship
0810%
Community engagement and development
Move your institution's quality journey forward
Review the accreditation framework, then use the dedicated platform to start your university's application.