REPORT OF QUALITY ASSURANCE AND ACCREDITATION AWARENESS WORKSHOP
Higher Education Development Program
July 9-10, 2018
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Table of Contents
BACKGROUND OF THE WORKSHOP 3
THE WORKSHOP ACTIVITIES 3
PARTICIPANTS: 5
CONCLUSION: 6
APPENDIX 7
AGENDA 7
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Background of the Workshop
The purpose of this two-day workshop was to explain the quality assurance and accreditation
process to the representatives of 15 universities selected for the third phase of the external peer
review. These 15 universities included both public and private universities. This workshop will
inform the leadership and representatives of the selected universities on the requirements and
responsibilities of the parties on external peer review process.
This workshop was assisted by the Higher Education Development Program (HEDP) and was
facilitated by the representatives of the Quality Assurance and Accreditation Board (QAA Board)
and Quality Assurance and Accreditation Directorate (QAAD). The workshop was convened on
July 9-10, 2018 at the Ministry’s Hall Eight.
The Phase III external review follows the pilot phase and phase II external review. In the phase III
external review seven public and eight private universities were selected for external review.
These universities that are planned to be reviewed in this phase are:
1- Bamyan University
2- Alberoni University
3- Jawzjan University
4- Kunar University
5- Paktia University
6- Helmand University
7- Parwan University
8- Salaam University
9- Alfalah University
10- Daawat University
11- Azad Islami University
12- Khurshaid University
13- Ghalib University
14- Ghorjistan University
15- Maulana Jalulladin Mohammad
Balkhi University.
The Workshop Activities
The workshop began with recitation of the Holy Qur’an and welcoming remarks by Director of
Quality Assurance and Accreditation. Subsequently, His Excellency Minister of Higher Education,
Dr. Najibullah Khwaja Omari, gave a speech stressing on the importance of quality assurance and
accreditation processes for improving the quality of the higher education, the independence and
non-interference in the quality assurance and accreditation processes. He also talked about the
challenges of the higher education sector of the country and the responsibility of the Ministry
and higher education providers for addressing the current challenges of this sector.
Then, Deputy Minister Abdul Tawab Balakarzai gave a presentation on the roles and
responsibilities of the involved departments in the process of quality assurance and accreditation
process. This presentation allowed the university representatives to understand the process and
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whom to be assigned for each of the criteria of the quality assurance and accreditation
framework for the external peer reviewers.
The HEDP Director, Noor Ahmad Darwish then explained the role of the HEDP in the quality
assurance and accreditation process for general information and clarification of the roles of
involved parties in this process.
Next, the representatives of the QAAD explained criteria of the quality assurance and
accreditation framework for further awareness of the representatives of the selected
universities. They also explained the overall process of the accreditation, writing self-assessment
report, operational plan and action plan.
On the second day of the workshop, director of QAAD presented the process of annual academic
program review. The Director of Academic Programs presented the process of periodic review of
the programs. Then, the QAA Board members gave presentations on course development and
review policy, development of a strategic plan and vision and mission of universities, to enable
the universities to establish courses and develop university’s strategic plan, vision and mission
according to the requirement of the quality assurance and accreditation framework.
After lunch break of the second day, QAAD explains the detailed process of the external review
and QAA Board member talked about the importance of critical thinking in the growth of quality
FIGURE 1 DM BALAKARZAI DELIVERING HIS SPEECH
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improvement and accreditation. The workshop ended with closing remarks of the Deputy
Minister Balakarzai, once again stressing on the importance of the quality assurance and
accreditation process and asked the university representatives to further publicize this process
throughout their respective universities. He also appreciated the presenters for their
presentations and the HEDP for the organization of this workshop.
FIGURE 2 MR. NOOR AHMAD DARWISH WHILE DELIVERING HIS PRESENTATION
Participants:
Participants of this workshop were His Excellency the Minister, the Deputy Minister for Academic
Affairs, representatives of the universities, external peer reviewers, QAA Board members and
staff members from HEDP and QAAD. Following is the detailed list of the participants of the
workshop:
His Excellency Dr.Najibullah Khwaja Omari, The Minister of Higher Education
Abdul Tawab Balakarzai, Deputy Minister
Noor Ahmad Darwish, Director of HEDP
Haji Mohammad Naimi, Director of QAAD
Khwaja Zubair Siddiqi, Director of APD
QAA Board members:
Kaihana Taieb
Mohammad Zarif Sharifi
Zubaida Anwari Zhwak
Mohammad Anwar Siraj
Lailuma Sharifi Yama
Mohammad Zubair Anwari
HEDP members:
Yama Hashimi Hidayatullah Hamdard
QAAD staff members:
Abdul Warah Mohammadi
Mehrabuddin Sediqi
Mohammad Noor Shirzad
University representatives:
Vice chancellors for academic
affairs
Head of quality assurance
unit
Conclusion:
This two-day workshop on the awareness of quality assurance and accreditation process for the
15 public and private universities that were selected for the phase III external review was
successfully conducted. The chief guest, His Excellency the Minister of Higher Education gave a
speech on importance of the quality assurance and accreditation process and the overall context
of the higher education sector. Multiple presentations were provided on various topics regarding
the quality assurance and accreditation processes and external review processes for effective
implementation of the phase III external review.
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Appendix:
Agenda Day 1 (July 9, 2018)
No Session Facilitator/Speaker Time
1 Commencement with the Holly
Quran
Qari Sahib 09:00-09:10 am
2 Welcome and Introduction Pohand Haji Mohammad Naimi,
QAAD Director
09:10–09:20 am
3 Opening remarks/Speech Excellency Minister of MoHE 09:20–09:40 am
4 Department and its role in the
process of Accreditation
Excellency Deputy Minister,
Academic Affairs
09:40-10:10 am
5 The Role of HEDP on Quality
Assurance and Accreditation
HEDP Director, Mr. Darwish 10:10-10:30 am
6 Interpretation of QAA framework
criteria from 1- 5
Mr. Mohammad Anwar Siraj,
QAA Board Member
10:30-11:00 am
Tea Break 10:00-11:15 am
7 Interpretation of QAA framework
criteria from 6-11
Dr. Mohammad Zarif Sharifi 11:15-01:00 pm
Lunch 01:00-02:00 pm
8 Introduction of the accreditation
process
Mr. Mohammad Noor Shirzad 02:00-02:30 pm
9 Writing self-assessment report Mr. Abdul Warah Mohammadi 02:30-03:00 pm
10 Operational/Action plan Mr. Mehrabuddin Sediqi 03:00-03:30 pm
Day 2 (July 10, 2018)
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No Session Facilitator/Speaker Time
1 Annual academic program
review
Pohand Haji Mohammad Naimi,
QAAD Director
09:00-09:30 am
2 Periodic review of program Mr. Khwaja Zubair Sediqi, APD
Director
09:30-10:00 am
Tea break 10:00-10:15 am
3 Course Policy Mr. Mohammad Zubair Omari,
Board member
10:15-10:40 am
4 Strategic Plan Ms.Lailuma Sharifi, Board member 10:40-12:10 pm
5 Vision and Mission Dr.Zubaida Zhwak, Board member 12:10-12:40pm
Lunch 12:40 – 01:30 pm
6 Introduction of the external
review process
Mr.Abdul Warah Mohammadi,
QAAD member
01:30 – 03:45 pm
7 The importance of critical
thinking in the growth of
quality improvement and
accreditation
Ms. Lailuma Sharifi, Board member 03:45 – 03:50 pm
8 Closing remarks Excellency Deputy Minister,
Academic Affairs
03:50 pm