«The crucial role of university accreditation in UAE’s educational policy»

Abstract

The article discusses the various types of quality assurance used in the United Arab
Emirates (UAE) and focuses on the country’s efforts to align its practices with international
standards of excellence as part of higher education reform initiatives. This study’s main
research question is whether or not the national accreditation strategies in the UAE can be
regarded as successful and effective. The authors used comparative analysis, a literature review,
and document analysis in this study. Our findings show that, unlike many other countries,
higher education institutions and programs in the UAE have used variety strategies to ensure
and validate their high quality of educational services. The existence of regulatory bodies and
their strict evaluation processes has helped to improve the standard of education, while the lack
of centralization of power and educational autonomy has allowed for the creation of a special
educational system.