NCAAA certifies eight academic institutions

The National Commission for Academic Accreditation and Assessment (NCAAA) has recently certified eight Saudi universities and colleges, according to Abdullah Almusallam, secretary general of the NCAAA, who also pointed out that the commission has only accredited 30 academic institutions in the Kingdom.
Abdullah Al-Rubaish, rector of Dammam University said, “The Ministry of Higher Education has canceled some academic programs at Saudi universities because they were deemed undesirable for the labor market,” stressing that the private sector should absorb two-thirds of higher education graduates.
During a press conference, which was held at Dammam University to announce the agenda of the third international conference on quality assurance in post-secondary education, Almusallam and Al-Rubaish addressed various questions regarding the quality of institutions and programs at Saudi universities.
Held under the patronage of King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, the conference will kick off on April 27 in Dammam.
Officials explained that the new accreditation system aims to enhance and upgrade the quality of education in the Kingdom under the supervision of the NCAAA to ensure Saudi graduates are prepared for the labor market.
Almusallam said that conference will shed light on the upcoming decisions and changes in the accreditation system in the presence of international experts.
“The quality assessment of university curriculums and programs will meet the standards and demands of the new era. Educational institutions will be developed to meet the nation’s growth requirements,” said Almusallam, adding, “Universities will be encouraged to foster scientific research and expand student’s knowledge to keep apace with the latest technological developments and international standards of education.”
The secretary general said that faculty members will also undergo assessment to ensure they meet academic standards.
“Some professors teaching at our universities have not earned the proper qualifications or higher education degrees, which is a concern that we aim to address,” he added.
Almusallam said, “NCAAA will not differentiate between public and private educational institutions, and all universities in the Kingdom will undergo accreditation with no exceptions.”
Meanwhile, Al-Rubaish said that high-caliber universities and colleges are the only means of achieving the nation’s renaissance. He also added that the latest enhancements in terms of the criteria of accreditation will yield positive results for society.