PROFILE OF BRUNEI DARUSSALAM NATIONAL ACCREDITATION COUNCIL

1. PROFILE OF BRUNEI DARUSSALAM NATIONAL ACCREDITATION COUNCIL Presenter: Datin Hajah Khadijah binti Haji Akbar Acting Executive Secretary khadijah.akbar@moe.edu.bn

2. SCOPES OF PRESENTATION • Background of Brunei Darussalam National Accreditation Council (BDNAC) • Establishment of BDNAC • Vision and Mission • Aims and Objectives • Organization Structure of the Council • Roles and responsibilities of the Council • Organization Structure of the Secretariat • Roles and Responsibilities of the Secretariat

3. SCOPES OF PRESENTATION • 2. Quality Assurance Processes • Needs for accreditation • Processes of accreditation • Public accountability • Accreditation criteria • 3. Rapport with International Accreditation Agencies • 4. Challenges

4. ESTABLISHMENT OF BDNAC • The need for recognition/accreditation is stipulated in the General Order of Public Services Brunei Darussalam issued in 1961 . • Established as the sole national accrediting agency in 1990 by decree of His Majesty The Sultan of Brunei Darussalam: “...sebuah badan tunggal kebangsaan (a sole national accrediting agency) yang bertanggungjawab sebagai badan rujukan khususnya dalam hal-hal yang berkaitan dengan penilaian dan pengiktirafan kelulusan serta institusi bagi tujuan pekerjaan ke dalam sektor kerajaan...”

5. VISION AND MISSION Vision To establish a national and international reputable accrediting agency. Mission To ensure and maintain the quality and standard of educational credentials in accordance with the provisions as set and required by the Government of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam.

6. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES • To assess and ascertain the value and status of any qualifications. • To ensure the evaluation processes and assessment criteria are consistent in accordance with national priorities. • To establish appropriate accreditation guidelines and to publish directories of qualifications and institutions accredited by the Government of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam.

7. ORGANISATION STRUCTURE OF THE COUNCIL MINISTER OF EDUCATION (CHAIRMAN) DEPUTY MINISTER OF EDUCATION (DEPUTY CHAIRMAN) • MEMBERS • CHAIRMAN, PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION • PERMANENT SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS • PERMANENT SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY AND • PRIMARY RESOURCES • PERMANENT SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF HEALTH • PERMANENT SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF DEVELOPMENT • DIRECTOR GENERAL OF PUBLIC SERVICES • VICE CHANCELLOR UNIVERSITI BRUNEI DARUSSALAM PERMANENT SECRETARY [HIGHER EDUCATION] MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (SECRETARY) Administrativelink SECRETARIAT

8. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE COUNCIL • To consider and evaluate the status and quality of qualifications awarded by various local and overseas institutions. • To set up, if necessary, appropriate committees including special and ad-hoc committees to assist the Council pertaining to the evaluation and assessment of qualifications in various subjects or disciplines.

9. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE COUNCIL • To act upon matters relating to the Council’s responsibilities either directed by His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam or if and when the Council considers it appropriate and necessary to do so. • To review the status of any qualifications as and when the Council sees it fits or necessary.

10. ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE OF THE SECRETARIAT ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES SUB-COMMITTEE LAW SUB-COMMITTEE ICT SUB-COMMITTEE MEDICINE SUB-COMMITTEE ENGINEERING & ARCHITECTURE SUB-COMMITTEE SECRETARIAT COMMUNICATION SUB-COMMITTEE EDUCATION SUB-COMMITTEE ISLAMIC RELIGIOUS STUDIES SUB-COMMITTEE MILITARY & SAFETY SUB-COMMITTEE ACCOUNTING & MANAGEMENT SUB-COMMITTEE

11. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE SECRETARIAT • To act as reference body by providing assistance and advice concerning accreditation and recognition of qualifications and institutions to government departments, private sectors and individuals. • To make recommendations concerning accreditation in terms of policies, criteria, procedures, processes and priorities. • To establish contacts and to organise discussions with overseas institutions or other similar bodies.

12. NEEDS OF ACCREDITATION • Application for full in-service training • Employment with government sector • Registration as a private student • Application for Education Loan • Entrance to institution/university • Continuation of education to local Private Higher Education Institution • Application for Overseas scholarship

13. PROCESSES OF ACCREDITATION The accreditation process are as follows: • Receiving and acknowledging queries or applications • Gathering relevant information • Preparing working papers or case studies • Submitting the papers to sub-committees for recommendations • Submitting the recommendations to the Council of assessment and decisions • Conveying the Council’s decisions to the appropriate applicants

14. PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY The Secretariat is committed to provide consultancy services via: • Telephone or face-to-face • Correspondence and email • A series of seminars, talks and forums for government and private sectors • Consultation during education exhibitions

15. ACCREDITATION CRITERIA Assessment of accreditation is based on: • Basic Criteria • Criteria on qualifications/awards • Criteria in institutions • Criteria on professional bodies

16. BASIC CRITERIA Taking into account of the government policy towards qualifications from countries that already have some form linkages or relationships with Brunei, e.g. The Commonwealth, OIC and ASEAN countries.

17. CRITERIA ON QUALIFICATIONS/AWARDS • Entry requirements • Course duration • Course contents • Course methodology • Mode of assessments • Medium of instruction

18. CRITERIA ON INSTITUTIONS Institutions will be assessed and evaluated based on a number of aspects such as international recognition, educational and physical infrastructure including facilities, the qualification and number of academic staff, student-lecturer ratio, management of institutions and quality assurance system.

19. CRITERIA ON PROFESSIONAL BODIES Assessments on professional bodies are based on a number of aspects such as: • Registration • Licensing • Legal and Statutory Status: Act of Law • International Recognition

20. RAPPORT WITH INTERNATIONAL ACCREDITATION AGENCIES BDNAC collaborates with overseas/international accreditation agencies such as: • Australian Universities Quality Agency, Australia • Malaysian Qualifications Authority, Malaysia • New Zealand Qualifications Authority, New Zealand • Quality Assurance Agency, United Kingdom BDNAC has become an intermediate member of Asia Pacific Quality Network.

21. CHALLENGES Some of the challenges are as follows: • To accredit Open Distance Learning (ODL) • To enhance multiple pathways/wide access to higher education

22. THANK YOU VERY MUCH