A delegation from the Accreditation Commission on Colleges of Medicine (ACCM), based in the Republic of Ireland, will visit the College of Medicine and Health Sciences at the Arabian Gulf University (AGU) tomorrow, Monday (February 3, 2025). The purpose of the visit is to evaluate the quality of the "Doctor of Medicine" programme and ensure the implementation of international academic and health standards. This visit is part of the college's ongoing efforts to enhance the quality of medical education and ensure it meets the highest global standards.

On the occasion, Dr Ghazi bin Abdulrahman Al Otaibi, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Scientific Research at AGU, stated: “At AGU, we are committed to having our Doctor of Medicine programme among the best medical programmes worldwide. This requires constant commitment to global standards in medical education. The visit by the ACCM is an opportunity to assess our efforts and achieve further academic excellence.”

During their visit, the delegation will meet with the college’s administration and faculty members and hold meetings with students to review the educational methods and clinical practices employed in the programme. This step is crucial for ensuring the academic sustainability of the programme and reflects the college’s commitment to providing outstanding medical education that keeps pace with the latest scientific and research advancements in the field of medicine.

Dr Al Otaibi added: “We are constantly striving to improve the quality of education and develop academic programmes, enhancing the level of training students receive through collaboration with esteemed accreditation bodies, such as the Irish Accreditation Commission. This ensures our students are equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills, supported by modern facilities and infrastructure, to keep pace with contemporary health challenges and ensure the graduation of qualified doctors capable of delivering high-quality healthcare.”

He further noted that AGU continuously seeks to renew its academic programme accreditations by adopting the best global practices, highlighting its commitment to advancing medical education in the GCC region and the Arab world.

In this regard, Prof. Abdelhalim Deifalla, Dean of the College of Medicine and Health Sciences, said: “This visit represents an important step in maintaining the medical education standards at the college, serving the youth of the GCC countries.  Preserving this significant international accreditation enhances the stature of the college and the university, attracts more outstanding medical students, and maintains the college’s position in the World Federation for Medical Education’s Global Directory of Medical Schools.” 

“Furthermore, it ensures a high-quality educational environment that contributes to preparing doctors capable of delivering exceptional healthcare and enables graduates to pursue further studies at prestigious global universities. It is noteworthy that the Doctor of Medicine programme received full accreditation for six years from the Accreditation Commission, and this visit comes mid-term to monitor accreditation requirements,” he added.

For his part, Mr Khabab Al Haj, Supervisor of the Quality Unit at the Quality Assurance and Strategic Planning Centre, indicated that the visit would include inspections and evaluations of the medical and educational facilities, laboratories, the anatomy museum, and the medical simulation centre available to students. Additionally, there will be field tours to inspect the practical training centres in government hospitals to observe the modern equipment used by students during their clinical training.