The Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (CASN) has granted accreditation to the University of Calgary in Qatar (UCQ). The announcement was made in a letter from CASN, which is the national accrediting body for nursing education in Canada. The accreditation will run for a seven-year term, the highest level possible.
“Achieving National accreditation provides students and graduates an assurance that the University of Calgary in Qatar programme meets recognised standards of excellence that are applicable to masters programmes throughout the world,” states Dean & CEO Kim Critchley.
Accreditation is recognised worldwide for promoting excellence and as an important, objective method of assessing professional education programmes. It identifies strengths and opportunities for improvement. Administrators and faculty are provided with information regarding areas that require development, modification and/or resources.
The accreditation procedure is also an important ingredient in the National Health Strategy’s aim of regulating healthcare practitioners in Qatar and ensuring the quality of the education they receive for professional development.
“UCQ’s CASN accreditation demonstrates the commitment of Canadian institutions to academic and professional excellence in Qatar,” said the Canadian Ambassador to Qatar, André Dubois. “UCQ and others are helping the next generation who will fulfill the Qatar National Vision 2030, particularly in health care. This is a further demonstration of how Canada can be a partner of choice in Qatar. ”
The CASN Accreditation Bureau gave high marks to UCQ for its ability to adapt its nursing programme to incorporate the local culture and support students whose first language is not English.
“Nursing education programmes must continually incorporate new knowledge and be responsive to the changing needs of students and the health care environment. Graduates must be prepared to work safely in increasingly complex environments in the context of the constantly changing and growing body of knowledge on which nursing practice is based. One of the ways to ensure this is being done, is the CASN accreditation process, which demands the content and standards of education is maintained,” Critchley explains.
UCQ must now finalise the evaluation plan and have it approved by the Academic Program Committee and submit a progress report of the evaluation process in 2016.
The CASN review committee was led by Jane Milliken with the participation of Landa Terblanche and Lorna Butler.
UCQ’s accreditation committee members are: Lois Thornton, Sue Kersey, Jan Marie Graham and CJ Davison.
The Peninsula
