The OAAA approaches institutional accreditation as an initial two stage process. Stage 1 involves Quality Audit followed by Stage 2: Standards Assessment.

Institutional Accreditation

In response to its mandate, the OAAA approaches institutional accreditation as an initial two stage process. Stage 1 involves Quality Audit followed by Stage 2: Standards Assessment.

Normally, four years after an HEI in Oman has undergone Quality Audit it undergoes Standards Assessment which then triggers a five-year institutional accreditation cycle.

Institutional Quality Audit

In Quality Audit, the HEI undertakes a self-study which results in a Portfolio. An external Quality Audit Panel considers the Portfolio and other evidence and carries out an audit visit. The Quality Audit Panel prepares a Quality Audit Report which covers the same areas as in the Portfolio.

Institutional Standards Assessment

The second stage of institutional accreditation involves the HEI undergoing Standards Assessment. The result of the Standards Assessment process is summative as the emphasis is on evaluating whether an HEI has met or has not met the applicable standards of the nine institutional standards, where applicable, set by the OAAA. The nine standards are based on the nine areas of institutional accreditation scope used in the Quality Audit. An HEI’s responses to the formal conclusions in the Quality Audit Report are considered as part of the Standards Assessment process. HEIs which meet all applicable standards are accredited. HEIs which do not meet the standards are placed on probation prior to Standards Reassessment5. Five years later, the HEI will again undergo Standards Assessment to maintain their accreditation status.

For further details, please visit http://www.oaaa.gov.om/ar/Institution.aspx#Inst_Overview