The Academic Bridge Program (ABP) received its first 5-year accreditation in August 2011 from the Commission on English Language Program Accreditation (CEA), the main accrediting organisation for foundation programmes in the United States. In October of 2014, the ABP began the process of re-accreditation with CEA.
The review process was long and intense. In March of 2016, a three-member accreditation team from CEA visited the ABP. While on site, they observed classes, conducted interviews, reviewed policies and procedures, and inspected documents to ascertain the degree to which the ABP meets the international standards established by CEA. After reviewing the visiting team’s report, the CEA Commissioners voted to reaccredit the Academic Bridge Program for a period of 10 years. The 10-year re-accreditation is the highest form of accreditation granted by CEA and extends through August of 2026.
CEA Accreditation confirms the high quality of education provided by the ABP and recognises the hard work and dedication of the ABP’s faculty and staff, as well as the support provided by the Office of Pre-University Education, Qatar Foundation, and the ABP Board of Governors.
Dr Bryan Lewallen, Director of the ABP, explained that “for students, faculty, and staff members, this accreditation represents the validation of our Academic Bridge Program as an exemplary model of English language programs throughout the world.”
Moza A Al Boainain, the ABP’s Assistant Director for Student Services, noted that the“reaccreditation for 10 years sends a positive message to parents, teachers, universities, and governments and encourages more students to apply to the ABP.”
Hamza Duhaini, the head of the ABP’s Math and Computer Departments, explained that the accreditation ensures that “all courses at the ABP include appropriate learning objectives and learning outcomes stated as part of the course description in the course syllabi and has been strategically aligned with corresponding student learning outcomes and the appropriate means of assessment.”
The ABP self-study was coordinated by a steering committee chaired by Asmaa Al Qaysi, Special Assistant to the Director, and Dr Mark Newmark, Assistant Director for Academic Affairs. Bob Campbell, the chair of the ABP’s EFL Department, explained that the self-study invited “us to look at faculty qualifications, professional development, and how faculty are evaluated. Some positive changes came out of the process.”
Marci Brown, the chair of the ABP’s Academic English Department, noted that “while we think the ABP curriculum is excellent, the self-assessment process was an opportunity to examine the curriculum in detail to see where we could strengthen our programme.”
Dr Avril O’Donoghue, the chair of the ABP’s Science Department, noted other benefits of the accreditation process. “Self-evaluation of the length and structure of our program of study for reaccreditation required in-depth reflectivity on practices, identification of weaknesses and some remedial action.”
