Understanding Saudi Arabia Qualification Framework (SAQF)

Saudi Arabian Qualification Framework (SAQF) is a document aiming to integrate education, training and employment in a unified system. It has replaced the old National Qualification Framework (NQF) document. Educational Institutes in the Kingdom are required to register their institutions as well as the qualifications/programs they are offering on a set of standards. This article provides basic understanding of SAQF for an institution seeking accreditation with SAQF. There are two sets of standards i.e. standards for institution, standards for the program.

Standards for Registering Institutions :

The purpose of setting standards for institutions is to make sure that appropriate systems are in place to develop, manage, review and issue qualifications at various institutions in the kingdom.

Once the institutions get registered with SAQF through demonstrating evidence based compliance of standards, they would be eligible to move to the second level i.e. registering qualification (programs).

There are 07 standards for the institution registration. Each standard is further divided into one or more criteria (25 in total). Institutions have to demonstrate compliance to each criterion with specific evidence. SAQF provides guidance on understanding the criteria as well as the possible evidence to support compliance. However, these are just the guidelines and the list of evidence would depend on the institutional context.

1.      Standards for Registration of Qualification :

The purpose of these standards for registration of qualification is to make sure that there are effective systems in place to design, deliver, review and issue a qualification.

Thus all the institutions in the Kingdom are required to get themselves registered first as qualified institute for offering qualification, they would get their programs registered with SAQF by showing compliance to qualification registration standards.

There are 07 standards for the registration of qualification. Each standard is further divided into one or more criteria (21 in total). Institutions have to demonstrate compliance to each criterion with specific evidence. SAQF provides guidance on understanding the criteria as well as the possible evidence to support compliance.

SAQF would certainly bring several positive changes. Institute would review their level of preparation before offering a qualification. Even if the resources are available at the institute, registration of qualification itself would guarantee that the program is well thought-out and has potential to prove its significance to the recipients.