Yousef Ghanem Al-Shuhi, the Acting Director of the National Qualifications Center at the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, announced that the ministry is currently enhancing the mechanisms for recognizing vocational certificates and training courses.
The ministry is also working on establishing clear academic pathways that allow graduates of vocational education to pursue higher education, enabling them to obtain advanced degrees. Additionally, the ministry is focusing on attracting recognized local and international funding bodies to expand the range of specializations included in the recognition process.
Al-Shuhi highlighted that there are over 60 accredited educational and training institutions in the country that provide professional qualifications. This number includes not only universities but also various training institutions accredited by relevant authorities.
He explained that there are 17 higher education institutions accredited by the Academic Accreditation Commission of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, which also serve as approved educational and training facilities offering professional qualifications.
Regarding the importance of vocational and technical education, Al-Shuhi stated that the development and qualification of professional skills have a significant impact on contributing effectively to economic and social development. This is vital in supporting the country’s efforts to build a knowledge-based and sustainable economy.
In this context, Al-Shuhi emphasized the Ministry’s commitment to cultivating the necessary skills to meet the demands of new technologies, treating this aspect as a priority within its new strategy. The ministry aims to promote equal opportunities for obtaining high-quality higher education and vocational training.
Al-Shuhi noted that the National Qualifications Center is responsible for organizing the vocational education sector in the country, which includes developing and updating procedures and policies to ensure the quality of outcomes and their alignment with labor market requirements. The center continuously supports educational and training institutions to enable them to provide advanced vocational training across various specialties in line with national priorities.
Regarding the ministry’s plans and efforts to encourage and attract students to vocational and technical education and training pathways, the Acting Director of the National Qualifications Center explained that these efforts involve strengthening partnerships with relevant employment organizations to support the training and employment of graduates from technical and vocational education programs through apprenticeship pathways.
Official Document
He mentioned that a skills certificate or professional diploma is an official document granted by accredited entities, such as specialized international institutions in specific fields and professions, including project management, accounting, and information technology, as well as for professional licensing purposes.
Al-Shuhi clarified that trainees receive these certificates upon passing certain tests, and specialized training in the field may be required prior to qualifying for the examination. He outlined that the accredited national professional qualifications consist of educational and training programs that adhere to the standards set by the National Qualifications Center within the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and these programs are classified according to one of the eight levels of the national qualifications framework (2024 edition).
He indicated that there are four criteria that must be met to obtain accreditation for professional programs and qualifications. These criteria include the program’s alignment with the national qualifications framework standards regarding the number of accredited hours, knowledge, skills, and responsibilities necessary for a specific profession in the labor market.
He also stated that professional programs and qualifications (basic, partial, and short learning units) can be recognized, and it is not a requirement for partial qualifications or short learning units to be part of an accredited academic or vocational program.