QRTA becomes first educational organisation in Jordan to gain CAEP accreditation

AMMAN — The Queen Rania Teacher Academy (QRTA) received international academic accreditation for its Teacher Education Professional Diploma (TEPD) from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), the largest accreditation council of its kind in the United States. 

QRTA became the first educational organisation in Jordan to be fully accredited by CAEP for the coming seven years, which is the maximum accreditation length granted by the council. 

QRTA is also the third educational organisation in the Middle East to obtain the CAEP accreditation, after the United Arab Emirates University and Zayed University, making Jordan the second country in the region to receive such recognition after the UAE.

Commenting on the most recent accomplishment, QRTA CEO Osama Obeidat said, “This achievement is one of many underscoring the vision of Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah for education, marking yet another addition to QRTA’s longstanding track record.” 

He added that the CAEP accreditation positions QRTA alongside many international institutions working in the field of teacher preparation and training.

QRTA continues to extend free training programs for school teachers – including the School Networks Program, Advanced Instructional Leadership Professional Diploma, Psychological Adaptation Skills Program in Crises and Emergencies and several MOOC courses, among others.  

He noted that as part of the CAEP accreditation process, the council examines the soundness of QRTA’s quality assurance systems to ensure continuous improvement and innovation that reflect on its programme outcomes and graduate competencies.

The CAEP considers teachers’ proficiencies in the subject they are preparing to teach, their ability to apply that knowledge efficiently and create viable educational opportunities for  a diverse student population.

QRTA Business Development Senior Manager Nabila Bashir, stressed that, “Obtaining the CAEP accreditation is a substantial academic achievement that bolsters the Academy’s standing and programmes both locally and globally.”

She noted that the accreditation process took two years to be completed, starting with a rigorous strategic plan and a detailed roadmap. 

This was followed by a comprehensive action plan, including extensive documentation and a self-study report demonstrating evidence of meeting each of the five CAEP standards. 

The process concluded with a site visit involving interviews with various relevant stakeholders.

“The accreditation is a seal of approval for QRTA that assures quality in educator preparation,” said Bashir. “It includes a framework that prompts such programmes to continually self-assess and conduct evidence-based analysis to gauge their efficacy in order to promote continuous improvement and produce distinguished educators.”

Established in 2009, QRTA is a non-profit organisation committed to the vision of Her Majesty Queen Rania to support and empower educators with the skills to become creative and diligent professionals, who are well-equipped to nurture and lead future generations. 

QRTA offers innovative and evidence-based professional development programmes informed by international best practices and the latest research in the field.

QRTA has extended thousands of professional development opportunities to public school teachers and leaders, and continues to offer many training programs and host its annual Teacher Skills Forum. 

This year’s forum, which was held virtually, drew the viewership of nearly 7,000 educators from 50 countries worldwide.