Abu Dhabi: For the third time since it opened in 1995, the American University in Dubai has received accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, one of the seven regional accrediting agencies in the US.
"[The American University in Dubai] AUD is proud to continue Dubai's tradition of being the 'city of firsts', and is honoured to participate in fostering international recognition for Dubai and the UAE's educational endeavours.
"The achievement by AUD is its latest initiative within the plans and challenges for education articulated by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in his Strategic Plans for Dubai and the UAE," said Elias Bou Saab, AUD Executive Vice-President.
Degrees
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) is a regional accrediting body in 11 southern US states including North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia, and in Latin America for institutions of higher education that award associate, baccalaureate, master's or doctoral degrees.
The Commission on Colleges is the representative body of the College Delegate Assembly and is charged with carrying out the accreditation process. AUD was the first and only institution outside the US and Latin America to be granted accreditation by SACS and represents a rigorous process of inspection and evaluation, including a visit to the university in March by an accreditation committee.
"The university's direct accreditation by SACS according to a process implemented exactly as it would be in the US, speaks of AUD's standards and the experience we offer," said Dr Lance de Masi, AUD President.
The announcement was made at SACS annual meeting held in New Orleans last December 8, where 4,000 educators from over 800 universities gathered for the annual meeting.
