The training program for the Preparation and Qualification of External Reviewers for the Evaluation of Higher Education Institutions will conclude tomorrow, Thursday, at Hadhramout University. The program is organized by the Academic Accreditation and Quality Assurance Council for Higher Education, in cooperation with Hadhramout University and the Center for Academic Development, with the aim of promoting a culture of quality and preparing academic professionals capable of conducting evaluation and review processes in accordance with approved national and international standards.

This report highlights the views and impressions of participants and organizers regarding the program’s key components, the skills acquired, and its role in enhancing professional competencies.

Prof. Huda Basaleem, member of the Academic Accreditation Council and Professor of Community Medicine at the University of Aden, explained that academic accreditation represents a fundamental pillar of the Council’s efforts to support educational institutions and improve their academic programs.

Dr. Basaleem noted that this training course is the fourth in a series of qualification programs, following three previous courses held in Aden and Taiz. The current edition is hosted by Hadhramout University and brings together 45 faculty members as trainees.

She added that the program aims to establish a national pool of qualified external reviewers to support both the Accreditation Council and higher education institutions. The six-day intensive program combines theoretical and practical components and covers:

• Fundamentals of quality assurance and external review.
• Professional and objective report writing.
• Ethical principles, teamwork, and time management.
• Stages of the review process, from document review and site visits to the preparation of final evaluation reports.

Prof. Nawal Banafea, Consultant in Community Medicine at Hadhramout University, commended the efforts of the organizing institutions, describing the course as a significant step toward preparing academic programs for accreditation.

She stated: “The course focused on qualifying faculty members to evaluate undergraduate programs. It covered regulations and governing frameworks, reviewer and accreditation manuals, and mechanisms for assessing the seven approved accreditation standards. We hope that the outcomes will enable universities to identify strengths and address areas for improvement in order to enhance the quality of higher education outcomes.”

Meanwhile, Prof. Abdulqader Bajubair, faculty member at Seiyun University, emphasized that the program equips participants with evaluation methodologies aligned with the standards of the Academic Accreditation Council. He noted that this supports continuous development and improvement plans within universities and helps ensure that educational outcomes meet labor market requirements.

For his part, Dr. Yousuf Bayar, faculty member at Hadhramout University, explained that his participation focused on the evaluation of graduate programs. He pointed out that the training included two main tracks: introducing participants to quality standards required in academic programs and training them to review documentation and conduct field evaluations of academic programs.

The program comes at a time when Yemeni higher education institutions are taking serious steps toward embedding a culture of quality assurance and continuous improvement. Such initiatives contribute to enhancing the effectiveness of university education and strengthening its ability to respond to development priorities and labor market needs.