Arab Council for Quality Assurance and Accreditation Holds 19th Board Meeting in Doha and Adopts Regional Institutional Accreditation Framework

The Arab Council for Quality Assurance and Accreditation, affiliated with the Association of Arab Universities (AArU), held its 19th Board Meeting in Doha, chaired by H.E. Prof. Amr Ezzat Salama, Secretary-General of AArU and Chairman of the Council, with members participating both in person and virtually. The meeting was held on the sidelines of the National Forum on Qualifications, Academic Accreditation and Quality Assurance in Higher Education, held on 7–8 October 2026.

The meeting highlighted AArU’s commitment to strengthening cooperation among Arab higher education institutions and quality assurance and accreditation bodies, and to developing regional frameworks and standards that enhance the quality, competitiveness and international standing of Arab universities.

A key outcome was the adoption of the Regional Institutional Accreditation Framework and Standards, presented by Prof. Hisham Abdel-Nasser, Director of the Arab Council for Quality Assurance and Accreditation. The first 2026 edition comprises eight key standards, providing an integrated reference framework for assessing institutional quality, strengthening institutional effectiveness and supporting continuous improvement. The framework seeks to establish a unified Arab approach to institutional accreditation while reflecting international standards and the specific context of Arab higher education.

Prof. Anas Ratib Al-Soud, Executive Director of AArU, also presented the Electronic Institutional Accreditation Platform, designed to support the digital transformation of accreditation processes through online assessment, evidence and document management, and monitoring of accreditation stages, enhancing efficiency, transparency and accuracy.

The meeting further discussed the “A New Arab Beginning for Quality Assurance and Accreditation” initiative, which includes two tracks: Arab Quality Ambassadors, targeting university students and student leaders, and Arab Quality Experts, aimed at building the capacities of faculty members, quality assurance professionals and academic leaders.

The meeting reaffirms AArU’s continued efforts, through the Arab Council for Quality Assurance and Accreditation, to build an integrated Arab quality assurance and accreditation ecosystem, strengthen alignment between national and regional frameworks, and harness digital transformation and innovation to advance academic excellence and sustainable development across the Arab region.