Amman, Aug. 17 (Petra) -- 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 the bill's explanatory reasons, the legislation seeks to promote a culture of quality and strengthen quality practices in educational institutions, foreign educational institutions, vocational and technical training institutions, Jordanian higher education institutions and foreign higher education institutions operating in the Kingdom.

It also aims to encourage foreign educational and higher education institutions operating in Jordan and vocational and technical training institutions to engage with their international counterparts and international accreditation and quality assurance bodies, while strengthening their ability to sustain excellence, address challenges and enhance competitiveness locally and internationally.

The bill also seeks to align learning outcomes with labor market needs in coordination with sector skills councils and in partnership with the private sector.

It provides for capacity-building among employees of educational, vocational and technical training, and higher education institutions in coordination and cooperation with those institutions to improve efficiency and strengthen quality practices.

Under the bill, the AQAC would be responsible for accrediting educational institutions, foreign educational institutions, Jordanian higher education institutions and foreign higher education institutions operating in the Kingdom, ensuring their quality, accrediting and monitoring their programs, and overseeing their performance.

The AQAC would also accredit and ensure the quality of vocational and technical training programs in all forms, accredit and classify trainers, monitor the quality of training outcomes and oversee them.

It would also recognize non-Jordanian educational, vocational and technical training, and higher education institutions and equate certificates and qualifications issued by them.

//Petra// NQ

17/08/2026 15:43:51