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Students' Level of Awareness of Accreditation Process International Journal of Pedagogical Innovations ISSN 2210-1543 Int. J. Ped. Inn. 6, No. 1, (Jan. 2018) Students’ Level of Awareness of Accreditation Process: A Case of University College of Bahrain Sutan Emir Hidayat1, Rana Sawaya2, Khalid M. Al-Khalifa3 1 Head of Business Administration Department, University College of Bahrain, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain 2Admission Manager, University College of Bahrain, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain 3 Chairman of Board of Trustee, University College of Bahrain, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain Received: 25 Feb. 2017, Revised: 14 Nov. 2017, Accepted: 01 Dec. 2017, Published: 01 (January) 2018 Abstract: Accreditation has become an essential element in educational sector especially when it comes to higher education level. One of the key success measures of the accreditation process is the involvement of all stakeholders in the process. To be involved in the process, the stakeholders must be aware of the importance of accreditation. One of the key stakeholders in the university is the student. The purpose of this study is to measure the level of University College of Bahrain (UCB) students’ awareness of the importance of accreditation process taken place at the University. A survey questionnaire was used as the research instrument of this study. The questionnaire was distributed to 150 UCB students using convenience sampling technique. All of them filled up the questionnaire giving 100 percent response rate. The survey results reveal that UCB students are generally aware of the importance of accreditation as shown by their agreement to all statements in the questionnaire. Among the importance of accreditation process that obtained an elevated level of awareness are “Accredited Universities give their graduates a better opportunity to get a job after graduation,” “Accredited universities give their graduates a better opportunity to succeed in their workplace” and “Accreditation strengthens the university’s image.” The study is expected to benefit UCB management as an input to make strategic decisions for a success accreditation process. This is because students perceive accreditation process as very important. In addition, this study can also be used by Higher Education Council (HEC) of Ministry of Education in Bahrain as an input for them in making policies with regards to the awareness campaign of its accreditation process. Since the study is the first study conducted in Bahrain in this aspect to the best knowledge of the researchers, the results of this study can be used as a reference for further studies in the Kingdom and other studies worldwide. Keywords: Accreditation, Students’ Awareness, University College of Bahrain. 1. Introduction is also currently being used by students and parents as one of the deciding factors when Accreditation has become an important they want to choose a college or a university element in educational sector especially when it (ASPA, 2013). As a result, it is important for comes to higher education level. Accreditation each college and university around the world can be defined as a validation process in which to be accredited. The same situation applies to universities, colleges and other higher learning all colleges, and universities in the Kingdom institutions are evaluated by a peer review of Bahrain. The Higher Education Council board using standards set by an accreditation (HEC), and the Ministry of Education in the agency or higher education authority in which Kingdom of Bahrain has recently initiated those institutions are operating. Accreditation accreditation process for all higher learning E-mail: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] http://journals.uob.edu.bh 14 Sutan Hidayat, Rana Sawaya & Khalid Al-Khalifa: Students’ Level of Awareness .... institutions operating in the Kingdom. In 2015, up a necessary strategy to enhance the level of the HEC signed an agreement with British the students’ and other stakeholders’ awareness Accreditation Council (BAC) in which the BAC levels towards the accreditation process. In will help the HEC in developing accreditation addition, this study can also be used by Higher documentation, training the HEC staff for Education Council (HEC) of the Ministry of all the accreditation aspects and supervising Education in Bahrain as an input for them in private and public institutions in this regards. making policies with regards to the awareness campaign of its accreditation process. Since to In general, there are eight areas required the best knowledge of researchers this study by the HEC for universities or colleges is the first study conducted in Bahrain in this applying for accreditation in Bahrain at the aspect, the results of this study can be used as institutional level namely (1) Governance, a reference for further studies in the Kingdom Strategy and Financial Management; (2) and other studies worldwide. Academic Management and Administration; (3) Teaching, Learning and Assessment; (4) This study consists of five sections. Section Research and Innovation; (5) Economy and 2 discusses the relevant literature related to Society Impact; (6) Student Recruitment, the study. Section 3 explains the research Support, Guidance and Progression; (7) methodology applied in the study. Section 4 Premises, Facilities and Learning Resources; comes out with the findings of the study and and (8) Quality Management, Assurance and their discussion. Section 5 concludes the study Enhancement (HEC, 2015). Those areas are and comes out with several recommendations required by most accreditation agencies across to improve the students’ awareness based on the the world (NEASC, 2013). Once an institution findings of the study. is accredited, its status provides the potential 2. Literature Review students and their parents with an assurance that the institution follows with the quality This section discusses some available requirements set by the HEC. Currently, most previous studies in the area of accreditation and universities in Bahrain including University students’ awareness of accreditation process. College of Bahrain (UCB) are in the process Review of the available literature exhibits that of applying for the HEC accreditation. UCB there are significant numbers of studies that Management is vastly aware of the importance discuss the impact of accreditation on Higher of accreditation for the University. Therefore, Education Institutions (HEI). However, there all staffs at the University are involved in the is a limited number of studies that discuss preparation for the accreditation process. UCB the students’ awareness of the accreditation also wants to make sure that all its stakeholders process. This section is divided into two parts including students are aware of the ongoing namely the impact of accreditation on the HEI accreditation process. Awareness is crucial since and the students’ awareness of the accreditation awareness has been empirically found to have process. a positive relationship with market preference. 2.1 The Impact of Accreditation on the Higher Therefore, it is important to measure the level of Education Institutions students’ awareness towards the accreditation process which is currently taking place in UCB. In the highly competitive environment, accreditation is a process to reveal the quality of Given the importance of the accreditation higher education institutions (HEI), strengthen and awareness to the success of higher learning their ranking in the market, and innovate. institution including UCB, this study aims to Accreditation has become the backbone of measure the level of UCB students’ awareness HEI to survive in the globalization era and in towards the accreditation process taken place at encountering the changes in the Higher Education the University. The study is expected to benefit sector. The accreditation standards can facilitate UCB Management as an input for them to set the HEI “organizations’ development” leading to http://journals.uob.edu.bh Int. J. Ped. Inn. 6, No. 1, 13 - 22 (Jan. 2018) 15 a “higher social impact” (Cooper et. al., 2014), respondents agree that accreditation fulfilled a commitment to higher quality (Cornuel, 2007) the function of promoting quality at their and higher financial performance (Chow-Chua institutions.” (Alam, 2006). However, in the et. al., 2003). AACSB’s1 new mission is “to foster Kingdom of Bahrain, few studies examined the engagement, accelerate innovation, and amplify importance of accreditation and more precisely impact in business education, with a renewed no study was conducted on the student’s focus on transforming business education for awareness towards accreditation. An article global prosperity” translates the importance of published by a local newspaper, which entitles accreditation (AACSB, 2016). Similarly, the “Books Could Replace Oil,” interviewed accreditation associations favor measurable Prof. Riyadh Hamza, the Secretary General of outcomes and practices derived from continuous Higher Education Council (HEC) of Ministry of sustainability. Regnier et al. (2005) imply that Education, Kingdom of Bahrain. Prof. Hamza the standards and the information flow between views the Kingdom has a potential to be an organizations and the accrediting commissions educational hub in 10 years in the GCC, and he play a crucial role in the change process. also states that “the introduction of accreditation Furthermore, the number of accredited universities will give confidence to students in the region, is increasing every year. For example, as per
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