The newly formed quality assurance board set up by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) to review higher education in Dubai's Free Zones received its first applications last week.
The KHDA expects 16 institutions to be considered by the Universities Quality Assurance International Board (UQAIB) in this first round of reviews. They will be given the outcome by the end of January 2009 from the KHDA's Licencing Department.
If an institution does not meet quality standards, its licence may be renewed with conditions attached, and recommendations for improvement will be made within a specified period of time.
The criteria by which institutions will be evaluated are set out in a quality manual, which will be made available next month. Currently what has been given to institutions is a checklist of documents that are required for submission.
Dr Warren Fox, chairman of UQAIB, said: "Branch campuses are located in Dubai as they can offer quality programmes that are already accredited in their home countries. The board's validation of academic programmes will be a significant step forward for quality assurance in the Dubai Free Zones."
One aim of the board, made up of quality assurance experts from around the world, will be to ensure that a degree earned from an international higher education establishment on a campus in Dubai is of the same value as that achieved in its country of origin.
UQAIB will review all licencing applications of Higher Education Providers in the Dubai Free Zones, and make recommendations on accepting or rejecting these applications.
The board will ensure that all international higher education institutions in Dubai's Free Zones are properly accredited in their home country, and conform to international and the emirate's standards.
The UQAIB will also set up a grievance procedure for parents, students and staff, and will make inspections of the institutions periodically if needed.
Page last updated 01 January 2020