Higher Education Quality and Academic Accreditation Standards: The Private University Education Status in Jordan

Higher Education Quality and Academic Accreditation Standards: The Private University Education Status in Jordan abstractIn Jordan, private universities constitute an important factor in higher education sector. Specifically, they provide an important contribution in supporting the Jordanian economy and serving the large number of students who are willing to go on with their academic education. Many official and academic personalities, believe that private universities face many challenges that relate to their quality, accreditation standards, incompatibility of their academic programs with market demands, faculty, management and societal perception. This study aims to provide an assessment of private universities in Jordan and shed the light on a number of their current and futuristic challenges. The study also attempts to examine quality assurance standards in some developed countries (such as the US and Britain) and compare it with Jordanian standards with the aim of developing them and attaining quality and excellence in higher education. Keywords: Academic quality, Academic accreditation, Standards, Jordan, Higher Education, Private universities