IQR Case Study: QAA Institutional accreditation in Qatar

Commitment to quality and excellence is built into Doha Institute’s mission and ethos, given its drive to become one of the foremost centres of academic excellence regionally and internationally. From this perspective, meeting the international standards certified by accreditation is a first step towards international leadership in knowledge production and dissemination. Accreditation also serves as a vehicle for long-term quality enhancement and institutional maturity, and the IQR process helped to facilitate developments within a coherent strategic quality agenda.

As Doha Institute was looking to benchmark against international quality standards and achieve international recognition, engaging QAA was the most appropriate choice. QAA is one of the most reputable and experienced quality assurance organisations in Europe and internationally, and its reliance on the European Standards and Guidelines (ESG) for IQR provided a suitable framework to benchmark against. The ESG have been designed to allow for flexibility for higher education providers to demonstrate that they have adequate quality assurance systems and meet internationally recognised standards while at the same time not stifling the institution with specific criteria that may not necessarily apply to institutions in an international context.

Achieving IQR enhances Doha Institute’s recognition and more importantly ensures that it has effective quality assurance systems and processes that support its mission of achieving academic excellence for its students and stakeholders.

IQR has been instrumental in strengthening Doha Institute’s quality assurance system and enhancing operational practices. Key policies around institutional effectiveness and quality assurance were reviewed and updated, with the introduction of new policies around programme monitoring, review and assessment. The Teaching and Learning Assessment office was also established, which became a hub for professional development and pedagogical innovation.

Insights gained through the IQR process are being used to identify areas where improvements can be made to enhance the education quality and support services provided to students, as well as maintain and build on good practices. The accreditation process is informing strategic planning and decision-making, allowing the Institute to prioritise its resources in areas that are most critical for its long-term success and institutional growth.

Moreover, IQR contributed to fostering a stronger culture of quality assurance and continuous improvement across the Institute through sustained engagement with quality assurance principles and capacity building across stakeholder groups. Quality assurance evolved from being the domain of a single office to becoming a shared academic value embedded across departments and in strategic planning, helping the Institute remain relevant and competitive in a rapidly changing world.

Achieving international institutional accreditation has further reinforced Doha Institute’s reputation both locally and internationally. The recognition of the Institute through IQR has not only affirmed the robustness of its internal quality assurance systems, but also enhanced confidence in its academic standing among stakeholders across the region and beyond. At the national level, the Institute was formally invited by the National Committee for Qualifications and Accreditation (NCQAA) in Qatar to present its quality journey and experience in obtaining IQR accreditation to a gathering of peer university institutions.

IQR has had tangible effects on external perceptions of Doha Institute, particularly among students. Prospective and current students, especially those seeking postgraduate opportunities abroad, routinely inquire about the Institute’s accreditation status as a basis for recognition, credit transfer, or further study. Being able to confirm QAA recognition has proven to be a compelling reassurance for students, particularly those coming from countries where ministries of education require evidence of international quality assurance for credential validation.

Accreditation has also strengthened Doha Institute’s positioning with employers and public-sector partners who increasingly view accredited institutions as better aligned with international standards in graduate capabilities, learning outcomes, and quality assurance practices. As a result, the Institute has witnessed increased invitations to collaborate, contribute to quality assurance dialogue, and participate in shaping policy around higher education excellence.

The reforms undertaken during the accreditation process further strengthened Doha Institute’s internal quality architecture, enhanced its global credibility, and positioned it to pursue new institutional goals with confidence anchored in a strong, inclusive, and future-facing quality assurance system. The Institute is looking to further build on its good practices and recommendations identified by QAA to achieve higher levels of excellence in all areas of its academic provision. QAA’s confirmation of the current quality assurance system will allow the Institute to effectively monitor and enhance its academic offerings to provide exceptional value to its students, faculty, staff and relevant stakeholders.