Amman: The Senate Education and Higher Education Committee on Monday passed the 2026 Accreditation and Quality Assurance Commission (AQAC) Bill as referred from the Lower House. The committee, chaired by Senator Wajih Owais, discussed the bill with AQAC President Dhafer Sarayreh, focusing on its justifications and objectives.
According to Jordan News Agency, the bill's explanatory reasons emphasize promoting a culture of quality and strengthening quality practices across various educational institutions, including foreign educational entities, vocational and technical training institutions, and both Jordanian and international higher education institutions operating within the Kingdom. The legislation aims to encourage these institutions to engage with their international counterparts and accreditation bodies, thereby enhancing their ability to maintain excellence, address challenges, and boost competitiveness on both local and international levels.
The bill also addresses the alignment of learning outcomes with labor market needs, in collaboration with sector skills councils and the private sector. It seeks to build capacity among employees of educational, vocational, technical training, and higher education institutions by improving efficiency and strengthening quality practices through coordinated efforts with these institutions.
Under the proposed legislation, the AQAC will be tasked with accrediting educational and higher education institutions, both domestic and foreign, ensuring their quality and monitoring their performance. Additionally, the AQAC would oversee the accreditation and quality assurance of vocational and technical training programs, classify trainers, and monitor the quality of training outcomes. The commission will also recognize non-Jordanian educational qualifications and equate certificates and qualifications issued by foreign institutions.