New system for equivalency of university degrees for Qatari students wishing to study abroad on their own expense

For Qatari students who want to study overseas on their own expense, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education has introduced a new system for equivalency of university degrees that offers a prior approval service.

In addition to a service for the authentication of university certificates for non-Qatari students, the new system includes a service for the equivalence of university degrees for Qatari students who studied abroad on their own expense and with prior permission.

Jaber Ahmed Al Jaber, the director of the Department of Equivalency of University Degrees, stated in an exclusive interview with QNA that one benefit of the new system is that it speeds up work and achievement, prevents errors and complaints, and permits direct communication and correspondence with Qatar's cultural attaches abroad who also use the same system, thereby minimising the stages of service required.

In accordance with QNV 2030, he said, the concept of prior approval aims to control the quality of university outputs for Qatari students, ensuring that the student is qualified, a graduate of an accredited university, and is able to assume responsibility and compete in the labour market. He emphasized that prior approval is the student's right and is in his best interest.

Al Jaber also expressed the department's eagerness to speak with the cultural attaché in any nation to request a statement from them so they can speak to the university, educational facility, or educational establishment in that nation to enquire about any degree from a university and to confirm its validity.

He noted that there are currently 1,900 accredited universities for Qatari students to study abroad on their own expenses to obtain a bachelor's degree and 1,000 universities for postgraduate studies. He claimed that this is in accordance with the controls and conditions of the system of equivalence of university degrees, provided that the university is among list of universities approved for studying abroad and the student has prior approval.

Al Jaber pointed out that the new system is now accessible on the Ministry of Education and Higher Education website's public service portal, making it simpler for all parties to interact and resolve any associated challenges and issues.

In contrast to 700 requests for prior approval in 2022 and 2,000 requests for grades and certifications, the department completed 5,000 transactions relating to grades and certifications and 2,000 prior approvals during the time from 2018 to 2021, he said.

Al Jaber pointed out that the new university system adds to the completion of the transaction within one minute, as opposed to 25 minutes under the previous system, and seeks to increase the provision of services by 35 to 50%.