Accreditation of Universities

Accreditation – is a process, by which an accreditation agency evaluates quality of higher education institutions. There can be general (institutional) or specific program (by specialties) types of accreditation. Accreditation agency determines higher education institutions' quality and relevancy to certain educational standards and criteria.

There are institutional, specialized, national and international types of accreditation.

Types of accreditation

Institutional accreditation – is an accreditation of higher education institutions in general, this means all professional specialties within a higher education institution are accredited.

Specialized accreditation – is an accreditation of distinct professional programs, not a general accreditation of all specialties as if in institutional accreditation.

National accreditation – is an accreditation of higher education institutions within a country.

International accreditation – is an accreditation whereby higher education institutions pass accreditation of specific professional programs in a foreign accreditation agency.
Laws concerning accreditation in the Republic of Kazakhstan

The procedures of completing institutional accreditation are made in accordance with the Statute of Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan from 29th of December 2007, #1385, "About assertion of rules of accreditation of education facilities" and by the Instruction concerning organization and conduction of accreditation of education facilities, approved by the order #109 by the Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan from 5th of March 2008. It includes the following steps:

1st step – self-assessment (internal evaluation) by higher education institution

2nd step – external evaluation by the commission of experts of an accreditation agency

3rd step – making the decision and, if positive, granting of the certificate of accreditation.

Step #1

Procedure of self-evaluation is conducted by higher education institution on the basis of standards and criteria of institutional accreditation for 12-18 months and it comprehends all the sides of activity of higher education institution, on the basis of this, report of self-evaluation is then prepared. During the period of conduction of self-evaluation by higher education institution, on the basis of preliminary agreement with it, IQAA provides consulting services to higher education institution along with personal visits of its staff to higher education institution.

During this period, there are three kinds of seminars which are offered to higher education institution by accreditation agency:

- for governing body of higher education institution (presidents and vice-presidents)

- for governing bodies of different branches of higher education institution (deans, heads of departments)

- for professors of higher education institution

Seminars will include lections and trainings for governing body and professors, on strategic planning, development and evaluation of internal system of higher education institution, quality assurance of education, endorsement of culture of quality in higher education institutions.

After finishing of procedure of self-evaluation, higher education institution (not later than 1 month before projected visit by the expert commission from accreditation agency) sends to accreditation agency 5 copies of report on self-evaluation, which is then thoroughly studied by all members of expert group of accreditation agency. Then, expert commission visits higher education institution for evaluation of correctness of results of self-evaluation provided by higher education institution.

Step #2

Visit of expert commission, created by IQAA, to higher education institution takes place for 2-4 days. Rules of work of expert group in higher education institution are conducted according to the guidelines of visiting higher education institutions, developed by IQAA. Writing of reports and visiting of higher education institutions is conducted by experts in IQAA for another 1-2 days. Results of report are then sent to higher education institution.

Reports, recommendations, presented by expert commission and other materials about accreditation of the higher education institution are reviewed by the IQAA Council of Accreditation. Council of Accreditation consists of representatives of Parliament of Republic of Kazakhstan, Presidents of higher education institutions, scientific organizations, representatives of major employer companies and other representatives of society.

Accreditation of higher education institutions is made on the base of financial resources provided by higher education institution, after their application for accreditation is submitted to accreditation agency, a contract of accreditation is then made.

Step #3

Adoption of final decision by the Council of accreditation

IQAA makes the analysis of report and recommendations on higher education institution by expert commission, and makes a decision, and then presents it to the Council of accreditation to for approval. Positive report of expert commission and a positive estimate by IQAA are a pre-condition for approval of accreditation by the Council of accreditation.

Council of accreditation can make one of the following decisions:

- accredit higher education institution for 5 years

- decline accreditation

Aftermath

Period of granting a higher education institution the status of organization that successfully completed accreditation is 5 years. After this period of 5 years ends, higher education institution must repeat accreditation procedure (reaccreditation) in order to retain the status of an accredited body.

In case of positive decision on accreditation of a higher education institution, IQAA publishes a short report on the results of accreditation of higher education institution, it is distributed in mass media and on the web-site of the agency.

Aftermath procedures, after granting higher education institution a status of accredited body

After completion of accreditation, IQAA has a right to send commission of experts to check and remove mistakes, made by expert commission in report, when visiting higher education institution