KAAE Conducts Virtual Accreditation Assessment Visit for CUE

The Kurdistan Accreditation Association for Education (KAAE) held virtual visits with CUE on March 13^th and 14^th, 2026.

The Kurdistan Accreditation Association for Education (KAAE) is a national accreditation body established by the Kurdistan Regional Government in June 2022. Its aim is to enhance the quality of education in Kurdistan with accreditation, transparency, accountability, and academic excellence.

The virtual visit was to assess CUE’s eligibility for KAAE accreditation. The two-day virtual readiness assessment visit for KAAE accreditation included interactive sessions and discussions with key university stakeholders. The first day focused on institutional governance, financial sustainability, and academic quality, with contributions from senior leadership, board representatives, and academic administrators. The second day addressed student support services, institutional planning and assessment, and scholarship management. Open forums were also conducted with faculty, staff, and students, enabling direct engagement with the review team.

Many people attended the virtual meeting from CUE, who included CUE President – Dr. Nazar Shabila; Provost and Institutional Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO) – Fr. Dr. Karam Shamasha; Chief of Planning and Effectiveness and Institutional Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO) Mrs.Vida Hanna; Board of Trustees Representatives – Dr. Francis Davis and Dr. Daniel Kempton; also, representatives of university staff, faculty members, and students also participated in the visit.

Also, members from KAAE were present in the virtual meeting: Prof. Kevin Mitchell, AUS – Team Chair; Prof. Claudio Piani, AUP – Team Member; Dr. Sabine Charles, Touro University – Team Member; and Dr. Karmand Hamad, SUN – Local Observer.

The purpose was to assess CUE’s eligibility for KAAE accreditation. The main goal of the virtual visit was to conduct the pre-applicant review and to demonstrate the university’s institutional readiness for accreditation. The visit provided an opportunity to present institutional data, academic and administrative structures, quality assurance practices, and strategic planning efforts.

This visit was especially important because it helped move CUE forward in its accreditation journey. It gave the university a chance to receive early feedback, clarify its processes, and strengthen its documentation and evidence-based reporting in preparation for the next stages of evaluation.

The activity enhanced institutional readiness for accreditation by clarifying expectations and providing external feedback on existing practices. It promoted shared understanding among stakeholders and supported improvements in documentation, planning, and quality assurance systems. In a broader sense, it contributes to strengthening institutional effectiveness and advancing CUE’s long-term academic and strategic goals under the KAAE framework.