Doha: The Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MOEHE) in Qatar has launched a Quality Assurance Guide aimed at enhancing performance and improving efficiency in the non-school education and training sectors. This initiative reflects the ministry's commitment to raising quality standards and achieving institutional excellence across educational and training centers in the country.
According to Qatar News Agency, this newly introduced guide serves as an integrated document designed to ensure the quality of educational and training outputs in Qatar. Eman Ali Al Nuaimi, Director of the Educational Services Centers Department at MOEHE, explained that the guide includes procedures and tools for evaluating centers, thereby raising their efficiency and enhancing the services they provide.
The guide has been developed based on scientific foundations and global quality standards. It sets specific goals, forms quality teams, analyzes requirements, and clearly identifies standards along with their key performance indicators (KPIs). The international quality standards were reviewed by global accreditation institutions, with consultations from official bodies to finalize the guide.
Key objectives of the guide include establishing a fair and unified evaluation system for educational and training centers, improving the work environment, developing lifelong skills for individuals, and promoting regular training programs in collaboration with employers. It aims to unify evaluation procedures to achieve quality and transparency in monitoring the performance of these centers.
Eman Ali Al Nuaimi highlighted that the guide was reviewed by several prestigious entities, including Qatar Foundation's Pre-University Education, Community College, University of Doha for Science and Technology (UDST), and international accreditation organizations. The guide aids in institutional development by providing performance benchmarks and identifying areas for improvement through specific evidence-based measurement models.
The evaluation process impacts each center by setting performance levels and providing a comprehensive report on strengths and areas needing improvement. Centers are then guided to develop improvement plans overseen by specialists. Rather than focusing on penalties, the objective remains to enhance center performance and service quality.
Centers receiving excellent evaluations are recognized with benefits such as a Certificate of Excellence, participation in strategic projects, and collaboration opportunities with various institutions. Conversely, centers with weak evaluations face potential penalties, including license suspension or cancellation, if improvements are not made within specified timelines.
According to experts, this guide signifies a shift in the Ministry's approach to institutional development. It aligns quality standards with Qatar's vision, fostering a knowledgeable society and professionalizing educational centers. This roadmap is seen as a vital step toward excellence in education and training amidst rapidly changing global dynamics.