The Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA) oversees quality assurance in post-secondary education by:

			establishing and disseminating educational standards
			providing a licensing process that ensures that prospective educational institutions have the essential documents, facilities, administration and faculty in place before they offer academic programmes
			providing an accreditation process that ensures that the educational programmes offered by Institutes of Higher Education in the UAE are high quality and meet UAE and international standards
			promoting the process of ‘Institutional Effectiveness’ to ensure that institutes of higher education continually improve the quality of their educational programmes and facilities
			providing an online database of licensed Higher Education Institutes in the UAE and the accredited programmes they offer.

Technical and vocational standards

The CAA is currently engaged in developing accreditation standards for technical and vocational education and assisting in the development of a national qualifications framework. In addition, the CAA works closely with other UAE government agencies to evaluate overseas qualifications for education and employment purposes.

Qualifications

Qualifications include:

			statement of attainment
			certificates
			diplomas
			advanced diplomas.

In addition, prior learning can count towards qualifications in vocational education. Completing a vocational programme can help students who wish to follow an undergraduate degree at an international university. For working professionals, vocational qualifications raise employment prospects, help career advancement and can also encourage personal development.

These vocational qualifications will lead directly to employment opportunities or they may be a ‘stepping stone’ into higher level qualifications, through entry to colleges and universities offering Associate and Bachelor degrees.

Download a presentation about the CAA's Strategic Plan for 2008-12.