Effat University is seeking to obtain national and international accreditation for its courses as part of its future five-year plan. Dr. Houria Oudghiri, Provost of Effat University, and Dr. Anette Lagman, Dean of Quality Assurance, are working with a team of experts, including students, faculty members and non-teaching staff, to chart out the institution's development strategies. The team will take into account the university's past performance, and its transformation in 2009 from being a college. “The next phase for us is not just becoming a university in name but a university in everything we do. We want high-quality academics and a matching organizational structure,” said Lagman. She said Effat University's 2007 to 2011 plan was a great success. Lagman said that the university will also soon get national accreditation. Its application is currently being processed by the National Commission for Academic Accreditation and Assessment (NCAAA) at the Ministry of Higher Education. The university has also set its sights on gaining international accreditation. “After producing many graduates over the past 12 years we are now trying to accredit our programs so that they will be recognized by external entities as quality programs,” said Oudghiri. The university has more than 90 staff members and are planning to recruit many more to help teach the expanded internationally-recognized curricula, said Oudghiri. Non-teaching staff are also part of the institution's continuous development. “We don't want them to just come, do their jobs and then go home. We want them to recognize they have an important role to play at Effat,” said Oudghiri. Effat's Community Service Center also provides staff members with additional training, including English for business purposes, computer skills and leadership and management courses so that employees can move up the ranks. “Part of our mission is lifelong learning. We even want to offer interesting courses such as Chinese,” said Lagman. Oudghiri added that Effat University wants to prepare students for the workplace and build character. An Effat graduate has to have high ethical values, be aware of social responsibilities, contribute to her country and finally be an ambassador and live up to the legacy of Queen Effat, said Oudghiri. She said the university wants to add to its 12 programs by developing its research capabilities, adding a Media and Journalism program in 2012 and a Master's in Arts from the Faculty of English and Translation. The university also wants to eventually offer PhD courses. Lagman said that 84 percent of the university's graduates are either working or studying. __
