Essential Information: The International Association for Quality Assurance in Pre-tertiary and Higher Education (QAHE) provides ISO-certified, independent accreditation for education and training institutions worldwide. Using ISO 9001:2015 and benchmarks aligned with ISO 21001:2018, it applies an evidence-based, multi-stage peer-review methodology rooted in a Self-Evaluation Report and supporting documents. Accreditation focuses on governance, curriculum quality, teaching and learning, assessment, student support, and continuous improvement. QAHE accredited institutions are listed in a public directory for employer verification and are designed to be compatible with national regulatory frameworks through external audit readiness.
The QAHE accreditation process for educational institutions consists of the following stages:
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1. Application submission
Applications are submitted electronically 24/7 via QAHE’s dedicated Accreditation Platform.
- Programmatic Accreditation: Accepted throughout the year
- Institutional Accreditation: Accepted throughout the year
- Initial review completed within 48-72 hours
2. Internal Quality Evaluation
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| Area of Inspection | Quality Improvement Criteria | Compliant |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Academic Quality and Integrity | Mission documented, learning outcomes published, academic policies current | |
| 2. Teaching Staff Qualifications | 80%+ faculty qualified, industry experience verified, PD records current | |
| 3. Delivery of Programs | Syllabi complete, assessment methods published, 70%+ pass rates | |
| 4. Student Services | Admissions functional, support contactable, grievance process published | |
| 5. Website Design and Performance | Mobile responsive, load <3s, HTTPS secure, accessibility compliant |
3. External Quality Evaluation
Independent experts verify self-evaluation through off-site audit and document review:
- Programmatic Accreditation: Maximum 5 working days
- Institutional Accreditation: Maximum 10 working days
4. Final Decision and Certification
The QAHE Accreditation Commission reviews findings across all Five Areas of Inspection and issues one of two decisions:
Successful Outcome: When compliance is confirmed in all five areas, the educational institution or program receives full QAHE accreditation status. A formal certificate is issued, valid for one year, along with authorization to use the “QAHE Accredited” designation and logo package.
Unsuccessful Outcome: When any of the five areas is determined non-compliant, accreditation is not granted. Institutions may address identified deficiencies and reapply following corrective action.
Public Registry: Accreditation decisions and final evaluation reports are published in QAHE’s Register of Accredited Institutions, publicly accessible 24/7.
QAHE QA Standards
1. Application submission
1 Institutional Standards
Institutions must demonstrate excellence in the following areas:
- Provision of adequate learning resources, including library facilities, computer and information services, and instructional materials.
- A robust and transparent system for assessing and recording student performance and academic progress.
- Course content clearly reflects stated institutional goals, learning objectives, evaluation methods, and expected student outcomes.
- Regular self-evaluation of academic programs, faculty performance, staff effectiveness, and overall alignment with institutional mission.
- Comprehensive student support services, including academic advising, counseling, and appropriate supervision.
- Publicly stated policies of non-discrimination based on race, color, sex, national or ethnic origin, disability, or other protected characteristics.
- Accurate, complete, and up-to-date institutional catalogues, curriculum guides, and official publications.
- Faculty and instructional staff qualifications verified by appropriate academic credentials and relevant subject-matter expertise.
- Clearly defined and consistently applied policies regarding the acceptance of prior learning, life experience, or work experience credits, supported by verifiable documentation.
- A formally adopted mission statement approved by the governing board that clearly demonstrates an educational purpose.
- Publicly available and consistently applied admission policies and procedures.
2. Internal Quality Evaluation
Individual academic or training programs must maintain:
- Acceptable course content that aligns with clearly stated program goals and evaluation methods.
- Well-articulated learning outcomes with appropriate assessment strategies.
- Curricula that remain current, relevant, and responsive to industry or professional standards.
Programmatic accreditation is conducted separately following successful institutional accreditation.
3. External Quality Evaluation
3 Five Areas of Inspection
All QAHE accreditation evaluations focus on five core areas:
- Academic Quality and Integrity
- Teaching Staff Qualifications
- Delivery of Programs
- Student Services
- Website Design and Performance