Meeting with the President of Ain Shams University and the President of the National Authority for Education Quality Assurance and Accreditation

In the framework of Ain Shams University's preparations to apply for institutional accreditation from the National Authority for Quality Assurance of Education and Accreditation, the university president Prof. Dr. Mahmoud El-Meteini received Dr. Johansen Eid, Chairman of the National Authority for Education Quality Assurance and Accreditation, Prof. Dr. Sanaa Rady, Vice President of the National Authority for Education Quality Assurance for Higher Education Affairs, Prof. Dr. Osama Saleh, accreditation officer at the National Authority for Quality Assurance and Accreditation, prof. Dr. Ghada Farouk, Acting Vice President of the University for for Community Service and Environmental Development, Prof. Dr. Rasha Khafagy, Director of the Quality Assurance and Accreditation Center at the University, Messrs. Deans and Vice Deans of the University Faculties, and Messrs. Directors of Quality Units in the University Faculties, and a delegation from the authority’s leaders.

In an expanded meeting that included representatives of the university and the Quality Authority, the President of Ain Shams University, Prof. Dr. Mahmoud El-Meteini, expressed his appreciation for the Education Quality and Accreditation Authority, stressing Ain Shams University's keenness to continue its efforts to obtain institutional accreditation from the Education Quality Authority, according to the most important international standards through which it operates. The authority, emphasizes the academic status of Ain Shams University as a leading Egyptian scientific beacon.

Prof. Dr. Mahmoud El-Meteini, spoke appreciating the efforts of the Quality Assurance and Accreditation Authority in raising the quality of education and its continuous development in Egypt, indicating that Ain Shams University is in the process of applying for institutional accreditation, stressing that it is a large and huge work that requires joint and organized efforts among all members of the work team.

The President of the University praised the efforts made by the deans of the faculties to improve the quality of education in all university institutions, and the effective contribution to achieving continuous qualitative development to put Ain Shams University in an advanced position at the national, regional, and international levels.

During her speech, Prof. Dr. Johansen Eid, head of the National Authority for Education Quality Assurance and Accreditation affiliated with the Prime Minister, said that interest in education outcomes represents the main pillar for increasing human capital productivity and promoting entrepreneurship and technological progress.

For her part, Dr. Johansen Eid, head of the National Authority for Education Quality Assurance and Accreditation, expressed her appreciation to Ain Shams University, explaining that applying for institutional accreditation is a difficult task that requires tireless work from all educational institutions.

Dr. Johansen Eid added that paying attention to the quality of education and keenness to obtain institutional accreditation remains a national duty consistent with the interest of the political leadership in Egypt in advancing the concept of quality, and placing educational institutions in Egypt on the map of regional and international competition.

Referring to the joint role between the Education Quality Authority and educational institutions in spreading the culture of quality, Dr. Johansen Eid affirmed the message of spreading awareness of the culture of quality and raising the level of quality of education according to national standards that are compatible with the national identity, noting that the National Authority for Quality Assurance of Education and Accreditation enjoys independence and according to its founding law, it submits its reports directly to the House of Representatives, in addition to its legal obligation to publish all reports on its website.

Dr. Johansen Eid stressed that the accreditation of Egyptian universities includes evaluating the university in terms of the existence of a vision and mission to perform, a strategic plan for its development, its competitive position, and the need for an integrated organizational structure for any university applying for institutional accreditation while adhering to the specific criteria for selecting academic leaders.

Referring to the call made by His Excellency the President of the Republic, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, to the necessity of linking education and its outputs to the labor market, it represents for us in the Education Quality Authority a real work strategy adopted by the Authority through its adoption of various education programs in all disciplines according to the latest standards.

During the meeting, Prof. Dr. Johansen Eid, reviewed the mission and objectives of the authority to spread awareness of the culture of quality, raise the level of quality of education and its continuous development, accredit educational institutions in accordance with national standards that are transparent and compatible with standard and international standards, and confirm confidence in the outputs of the educational process locally, regionally and internationally in a way that supports belonging, preserves the identity and culture of the nation, and coordinates with Educational institutions, to ensure access to an integrated system.

On the mechanisms of applying for institutional accreditation and the methodology of this process, the head of the National Authority for Quality Assurance of Education and Accreditation, Dr. Johansen Eid explained that the beginning is with the educational institution submitting an application for accreditation to the Commission, which determines whether or not the institution meets the conditions for accreditation, submitting self-study and all documents, forming a review team, conducting virtual visits, then field visits, then making auditors’ reports, sending the initial report to the institution, and submitting the report to the Board of Directors to take a decision whether to adopt or by granting a new deadline for the institution to complete the accreditation mechanisms, or not to accredit.

The expanded meeting between the leadership of Ain Shams University and the National Authority for Quality Assurance of Education and Accreditation was attended by Prof. Dr. Ghada Farouk, Acting Vice President of the University for Community Service and Environmental Development, Dr. Rasha Khafagy, Director of the Quality Assurance and Accreditation Center at Ain Shams University, and Messrs. deans, Vice Deans and directors of quality units in the various faculties of Ain Shams University - and from the Education Quality Authority, Prof. Dr. Sana Radi, Vice President for Higher Education Affairs, Prof. Dr. Osama Saleh, Director of the Accreditation Department of the Authority attended the meeting.