الهيئة الوطنية للاعتماد والجودة والنوعية - فلسطين

Overview

The Accreditation and Quality Assurance Commission of the Palestinian Territory (Arabic: الهيئة الوطنية للاعتماد والجودة والنوعية, often abbreviated AQAC) is the sole national body charged with higher education accreditation and quality assurance in the Palestinian Territory. Its primary responsibility is to licence institutions, evaluate academic programmes and ensure that both public and private institutions meet internationally recognised quality standards, while promoting a culture of continuous improvement among stakeholders. According to uniRank, AQAC’s main goal is to enhance the quality of Palestinian higher education and ensure international comparability and mobility of graduates.

History and Legal Framework

AQAC was established in 2002 alongside the government's National Quality Assurance policy, becoming the officially designated authority for institutional and programme accreditation in Palestine, as outlined in UNESCO’s country profile. Although it began operating that year, source listings such as development portals have alternately recorded 2010 as its formal inception date.

Its legal basis was further solidified by the Higher Education Law No. 6 of 2018, which defines the regulatory framework for all higher education providers, followed by Cabinet Decision No. 5 of 2020, which officially established AQAC’s governance structure, mandate and powers—authorising it to evaluate, licence, accredit and enforce quality standards across the sector.

Mission, Vision and Objectives

AQAC’s declared vision is "to enable Palestine to be a resourceful, value‑oriented education provider, offering quality higher education that is internationally comparable and aligned with national development." Its mission emphasises reinforcing a systematic quality culture in higher education through accountability, regulatory oversight, guidance and ongoing enhancement, aiming to ensure student learning, institutional integrity and public trust.

AQAC operates under four principal objectives:

• Licensing and institutional accreditation under Ministry regulations.
• Programme evaluation based on peer‑review standards and self‑study evidence.
• Promotion of internal quality assurance mechanisms within institutions.
• Capacity‑building and transparency to support national quality assurance development.

Governance, Structure and Independence

AQAC is a semi-autonomous public authority formally based within the Ministry of Education and Higher Education but governed by its own Commission board. That board, chaired by the Minister of Education and Higher Education, includes academic commissioners—senior faculty from both public and private institutions—and external experts from professional, legal and student constituencies. This structure was mandated by the 2020 Cabinet Decision.

While intended to operate independently, a 2021 report by the Coalition for Accountability and Integrity (AMAN) argued that AQAC’s governance and operational autonomy still need further strengthening to prevent undue administrative interference and ensure transparent, merit-based accreditation decisions.

Accreditation and Quality Evaluation Role in Higher Education

AQAC holds exclusive authority for evaluation and accreditation across all institutional types—including universities, university colleges and community colleges—both public and private. New institutions or programmes must pass AQAC reviews before commencing operations​, as establishing academic credibility without prior accreditation is prohibited.

The formal accreditation process includes the following stages:

• Institutional or programme self‑assessment reports aligned with AQAC’s published standards
• Selection of a peer review panel, including faculty peers, sector experts and student representatives
• Onsite evaluation visits and validation of evidence
• Commission board decisions on licensing and accreditation
• Requirements for periodic follow‑up and re‑accreditation at set intervals.

In many cases—especially for re-accreditation—AQAC offers a quality audit pathway focusing on institutions’ internal mechanisms, data management and stakeholder satisfaction systems, to encourage internal quality development rather than establishing externally imposed benchmarks​.

International Cooperation and Network Memberships

AQAC is a recognized member of the following international networks:

• The International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE).
• The Arab Network for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ANQAHE), alongside peer agencies across the Arab region.

AQAC has engaged in several international and regional cooperation initiatives, including:

• Technical visits and joint workshops with Jordan’s national QA agency, as highlighted by a 2025 exchange hosted in Amman, intended to promote mutual learning and regional alignment of accreditation mechanisms.
• Collaborative projects with European agencies and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), particularly in areas such as dual‑study formats and electronic accreditation systems.

Current or Future Impact on Higher Education

AQAC’s 2020 regulation represents a major step toward institutionalising higher education quality assurance in Palestine. The new structure empowers it to enforce accountability while encouraging sector-wide self-evaluation and institutional intelligence.

Current trends suggest AQAC is shifting from simply licensing to focusing on capacity-building and quality enhancement. Partnerships with European and regional bodies are supporting technical innovation in data collection and learning outcome assessment. Despite governance concerns highlighted by AMAN, AQAC has pledged greater transparency, systematic use of student‑graduate‑employer feedback and more frequent re-accreditation cycles.

Looking ahead, AQAC is likely to spearhead the rollout of Palestine’s National Qualifications Framework (PNQF), strengthening alignment between local HE programmes and international standards—thereby promoting graduate mobility and institutional recognition abroad.

Summary

The Accreditation and Quality Assurance Commission serves as Palestine’s national authority for institutional and programme accreditation in higher education, with a legal mandate under the Ministry of Education and Higher Education. Since its establishment in 2002, AQAC has positioned itself as a standards-based regulator and enabler of quality, using peer-reviewed evaluations and quality audits. As a member of INQAAHE and ANQAHE and through regional cooperation with bodies such as GIZ and Jordan, AQAC is deepening its impact. Its newly formalised structure and emerging focus on stakeholder feedback, capacity-building and qualifications alignment suggest a trajectory toward greater independence, credibility and educational excellence.

FAQs

1. What does AQAC stand for?
   The Accreditation and Quality Assurance Commission of the Palestinian Territory (Arabic: الهيئة الوطنية للاعتماد والجودة والنوعية).
2. Is AQAC part of the Ministry of Education?
   Yes—AQAC is administratively under the Ministry of Education and Higher Education but operates as a semi-autonomous authority led by its own Commission board (chaired by the Minister).
3. Do universities in Palestine need AQAC accreditation?
   Absolutely. No university or programme can legally open or award degrees without AQAC licensing and/or accreditation, as stipulated by higher education legislation and Cabinet regulations.
4. What is the accreditation process?
   Institutions and programmes complete a self-evaluation report, are evaluated by peer reviewers during site visits and receive a decision from AQAC’s Commission board. Some applicants may also follow a quality audit path focused on self-improvement systems.
5. How long is accreditation valid?
   AQAC issues accreditation for a defined period (typically several years), after which institutions must undergo re‑accreditation with updated evidence and any required follow-ups.
6. Does AQAC offer institutional and programme accreditation?
   Yes. AQAC evaluates both the university as an institution and individual academic programmes—each programme must be accredited before it can enroll students or award recognised degrees.
7. Is AQAC recognised by international QA bodies?
   Yes. AQAC is a full member of INQAAHE and ANQAHE and it maintains cooperation agreements and technical exchange programmes with regional and international partners.
8. How independent is AQAC?
   While designed to function independently, transparency advocates such as AMAN have called for stronger safeguards against political or institutional interference and for merit-based board appointments.

Organization Name

الهيئة الوطنية للاعتماد والجودة والنوعية - فلسطين

Accreditation and Quality Assurance Commission of the Palestinian Territory

Acronym

AQAC

Year of Establishment

2010

Control Type

Public

Entity Type

Non-Profit

Geo Focus and Coverage

National

Recognized by

n.a.

Affiliations or Memberships

n.a.

Number of Member Universities or Accredited Institutions

n.a.

Address

PO Box 576, Al-Masioun
Ramallah
West Bank Palestinian Territory

Phone

+970 (2) 298 0140

Fax

+970 (2) 298 0139

n.a.

Official Social Media Channels

Facebook

Not available

X (Twitter)

Not available

LinkedIn

Not available

YouTube

Not available

Instagram

Not available

Wikipedia Article

Not available

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