Accreditation Unit

In order to produce highly skilled doctors, both professionally and technically, who are capable of keeping up with scientific advancements, accreditation was established. Accreditation refers to the recognition granted to a program or institution for meeting specific standards or criteria set by a specialized agency or association.

Through the accreditation process, it is determined whether the quality of medical education fully, partially, or does not comply with the set standards.

The most globally recognized organization for accrediting medical schools and their various programs is the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME), whose standards are implemented by most medical schools worldwide. To facilitate the mission of this federation, specific entities in each country, with expertise in medical education, are authorized to evaluate local medical schools seeking global accreditation.

In Iraq, the National Council for Accreditation of Medical Colleges (NCAMC) was granted full recognition and accreditation by the WFME in 2024. This recognition simplifies the process for Iraqi medical schools to achieve global accreditation.

The College of Medicine, University of Wasit, is one of the pioneering and leading institutions in the global accreditation project. It received partial or conditional accreditation in 2021, which indicates that it had implemented most of the WFME standards. Over this period, the college has worked diligently to complete the remaining standards and develop itself to achieve full accreditation.

The WFME standards are structured around nine domains or areas, which include: the mission and outcomes of the college, the educational program, student assessment, academic program evaluation, students, faculty, educational resources and affiliated hospitals, governance, and, finally, continuous development and improvement.

The purpose of these standards is to evaluate the suitability of medical education programs and the efficiency of medical schools in preparing graduates who are highly competent to practice medicine on a global scale. This enables students to practice medicine anywhere in the world.

Accreditation is an ongoing process, as colleges that have received accreditation must continue to adhere to the required standards. Continuous monitoring and evaluation are conducted every four years by the accrediting body to ensure the institution maintains the necessary standards to retain its accreditation.

The accreditation process is primarily for the benefit of students, as the main beneficiary is the student, given its importance and direct connection to the value of their degree.