Higher Education Sector on the Verge of a Major Turning Point
The higher education sector is set to undergo a significant transformation with the upcoming implementation of a national accreditation system for universities. This major reform aims to modernize the Tunisian university landscape, strengthen international recognition of degrees, and improve the employability of graduates.
The announcement was made on the sidelines of a workshop organized by the Tunisian Agency for Evaluation and Accreditation in Higher Education and Scientific Research (ATEAS), which presented the new accreditation framework.
Speaking on the occasion, the agency's General Director, Salma Damak, highlighted the unprecedented nature of this initiative, which is a first in Tunisia. The system will allow for the accreditation of both specific programs and universities as a whole. Damak emphasized that the reform will apply to all institutions, public and private, without distinction of specialty.
Described as strategic, the project aims to enhance the credibility of Tunisian scientific degrees on an international scale and consolidate the position of Tunisian universities in an increasingly competitive academic environment.
For his part, the President of the ATEAS Scientific Council, Ali Mtiraoui, stated that accreditation will become mandatory for all universities in the country. He explained that this process will be based on a set of rigorous criteria, including governance, the relevance of training programs to labor market needs, the relevance of scientific research axes to national priorities, as well as the social responsibility of institutions, including the quality of student life and social engagement.
Through this reform, the authorities intend to establish a sustainable culture of quality within the Tunisian higher education system and lay the foundations for a more efficient, transparent, and internationally aligned system.
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