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| EDITORIAL |
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| Year : 2017 | Volume
: 4
| Issue : 2 | Page : 61 |
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Accreditation process promotes quality academic programs in the health sciences training institutions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Abdullah R AlShammery
Rector, Riyadh Colleges of Dentistry and Pharmacy, Riyadh 11681, Saudi Arabia
| Date of Web Publication | 25-Jul-2017 |
Correspondence Address:
Abdullah R AlShammery
Rector, Riyadh Colleges of Dentistry and Pharmacy, P.O. Box: 84891, Riyadh 11681
Saudi Arabia
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/sjos.SJOralSci_40_17
How to cite this article:
AlShammery AR. Accreditation process promotes quality academic programs in the health sciences training institutions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Saudi J Oral Sci 2017;4:61 |
How to cite this URL:
AlShammery AR. Accreditation process promotes quality academic programs in the health sciences training institutions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Saudi J Oral Sci [serial online] 2017 [cited 2023 Jan 27];4:61. Available from: https://www.saudijos.org/text.asp?2017/4/2/61/211565 |
The establishment in 2004 of the Education Evaluation Commission (EEC) of the National Center for Academic Accreditation and Assessment (NCAAA) as an independent oversighting agency for all educational institutions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was a watershed decision for higher education in the Kingdom.
The terms of reference of EEC/NCAAA are very much in line with those of similar agencies in many countries of the world to ensure excellence and quality of the products of these educational institutions.
For health education, in particular, EEC/NCAAA programmed visitations to institutions for accreditation purposes was a definite paradigm shift to enforce national quality standards in health education. Riyadh Colleges of Dentistry and Pharmacy (RCsDP) took pride of place in being the first private health institution to have its dental college accredited in 2012. The commendations, recommendations, and suggestions which were clearly indicated in the positive accreditation process were welcomed by RCsDP.
Unsurprisingly in 2017, following another rigorous visitations by EEC/NCAAA, a Reaccreditation was granted the Benchmarks and the Key Performance Indicators as applied to the institution of RCsDP and its academic programs were satisfactorily met. It is obvious that RCsDP was complying proficiently with the standards set by the EEC/NCAAA agency. This is yet another feather in the cap of RCsDP.
Maintenance of accreditation status at all times based on specified quality standards will determine the future of dental education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The process of accreditation will not revert to an option but rather will become a necessity to be met by all training institutions to guarantee quality education. Quality education in any country impacts the community.
With the current large number of government and private dental schools in the Kingdom, a uniform national accreditation process will guarantee that the standard of competence and maintenance of continued excellence are ensured.
Accreditation process when carried out correctly is rigorous, costly, time-consuming but enduring. Administrators, faculty staff, and all other stakeholders in an institution like a dental school must appreciate that the process defines the being and the essence of the institution.
This is the future of dental education in the 21st century.
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