Abu Dhabi University succeeds in renewing ISO certification for the quality of its programs and services

Abu Dhabi University succeeded in renewing its ISO 9001:2008 certification for its commitment to quality standards in the design, development and delivery of its academic programs and their supported services, according to the international standards set by ISO for organizations around the world. The announcement was made during an official ceremony held on the University’s campus on Monday, in the presence of Dr. Nabil Ibrahim Chancellor of Abu Dhabi University, Basem Obaid Area Manager for MEA Region of Lloyds Register Quality Assurance Ltd (LRQA), Dr. Terry Motiuk Vice Chancellor of Abu Dhabi University and several other university officials.

On receiving the certificate, Dr. Nabil Ibrahim Chancellor of Abu Dhabi University expressed the University’s pride and gratitude in getting this prestigious certification, especially since it is part of a small group of academic institutions in the UAE who have successfully attained the ISO certification. “This wonderful feat adds value to our wide range of accomplishments that come as recognition of our growing role in local and global communities.  These achievements are a testament to Abu Dhabi University’s commitment to excellence and international standards, and prove what everybody already knows of the quality of our graduates, and our keenness to keeping up with modern developments though offering educational programs that meet the ever-growing needs of the labor market and contribute to national development”, explained Dr. Ibrahim. 

He added: “The renewal of the ISO certification is a great addition to a series of accomplishments the University has achieved over a very short period of time which include receiving the Sheikh Khalifa Excellence Award in 2010 after besting a large number of industrial and developmental institutions in the country, and most recently entering the ranks of the world’s top 550 universities in Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) world university rankings of 2012 -2013. All these successes bring us closer to achieving our goals of receiving international accreditation which we have been actively pursuing with the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)”.

“This outstanding achievement is the result of hard intensive work and an acknowledgement of the dedication and efforts of our faculty, staff, students and alumni. It’s also dedicated to our community partners and various collaborators in other industries; their efforts and achievements enhance the community’s confidence in our path to achieve excellence and is a strong impetus for further successes”, concluded Dr. Ibrahim.

Commenting on the renewal of the University ISO certification, Basem Obaid Area General Manager of Lloyds Register Quality Assurance Ltd (LRQA) for the MEA Region said: “Abu Dhabi University really earned the renewal for its commitment to quality standards in the design, development and delivery of its academic programs and their supported services. This success demonstrates the University’s commitment to implementing further development of the services it offers to students, faculty and staff, especially since its one of few universities to successfully receive this certification in the UAE, moreover, covering all areas of the instiution, and not just certain departments or functions”. 

Obaid explained that the ISO 9001: 2008 is an international standard that assesses an organization’s quality management system through examining its ability to satisfy its customer’s requirements. “This process for renewal occurs every three years and is a much more difficult task for an organization to complete in comparison to the initial certification, since the team of ISO auditors look into the developments that have been implemented and the growth that the organization has achieved since its initial certification.  Furthermore, since Abu Dhabi University is not a commercially driven enterprise seeking to market a product, then its pursuit and success in receiving the ISO certification naturally stems from its commitment to adhere to the highest standards of quality and performance, therefore, it’s quite a remarkable achievement for an academic institution", added Obaid.