A Critical Review of Quality and Accreditation Standards in Postgraduate Programs: The Experience of the National Center for Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Libya
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Abstract
This study examines the reality of quality standards and programmatic accreditation in graduate education in Libya during the period (2012–2023), amid steady quantitative growth coupled with structural and procedural challenges. The core of the study lies in the gap between the numerical expansion of programs and the effectiveness of the standards applied. The findings indicate violations of the legal frameworks governing program opening procedures, as well as ambiguous indicators characterized by low reliability and insufficient professionalism.
The study also highlights a fundamental flaw: the absence of specialization. Quality evidence and standard-development work was assigned to non-specialized teams that unified both general and higher-education standards, thereby weakening the distinct research-focused nature of graduate-level education.
Overall, the study concludes that bridging this gap requires rebuilding the standards-making ecosystem, strengthening the precision and measurability of indicators, and improving institutional coordination mechanisms between the Ministry and the Quality Assurance Center to enhance consistency and transparency.
Accordingly, the study recommends reforming specialized working teams responsible for developing standards, simplifying indicators to reduce administrative burden, automating coordination between the Ministry and the Quality Assurance Center to ensure transparency, and aligning research outputs with the needs of development and labor-market requirements.
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Quality Assurance, Programmatic Accreditation, Postgraduate Studies, Libya, Structural Challenges
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