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WELCOME TO HEP
We are a higher education consultancy with years of experience and vast expertise at your disposal.
About HEP
HEP is a higher education consultancy that provides expert advice in a wide range of areas that are of critical importance for the success of higher education institutions (HEIs).
- Accreditation (Institutional and Program-Specific)
- Institutional Licensure (Initial and Renewal)
- New Strategic Plan Development and Implementation
- Existing Strategic Plan Review, Mission Alignment and Implementation
- Development and Implementation of Metrics-Based Quality Assurance and Outcomes Assessment Systems
- Review and Design of Risk Management Systems
- Curriculum Design (New Programs) and Curriculum Review (Existing Programs)
- Custom-Designed Seminars and Workshops on the Above
Our Mission
The mission of HEP is to assist HEIs in the UAE and the wider MENA region in developing and implementing strategic plans that are consistent with the HEI’s institutional mission and that fullfill the requirements of institutional licensure and accreditation and program-specific accreditation.
We offer a wide range of services that vary depending on each HEI's situation and its specific needs.
Institutional Licensure
In the UAE and most other MENA countries, before a HEI can start operations, it must apply for and receive initial licensure by the relevant government authority, typically the national Ministry of Education. Initial licensure has a limited term and is awarded after the HEI completes a rigorous process to meet the requirements of licensure. Before initial licensure expires, the HEI must pass another rigorous review to be granted a renewal of licensure.
In the Emirate of Dubai, several HEI’s are permitted and accredited by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA).
Accreditation
Accreditation is a highly desired, prestigious status which a higher education institution (HEI) earns after undergoing a rigorous process of strategic change management to achieve the highest levels of quality in all aspects of its operation and fulfill the standards set by an accrediting body.
Strategic Planning
For an HEI, strategic planning is a process which involves “a disciplined effort to produce fundamental decisions and actions that shape and guide what an institution is, what it does, and why it does it.”
John M. Bryson, Strategic Planning for Public and Nonprofit Organizations, Wiley (2018).
Quality Assurance & Outcomes Assessment Systems
A HEI must have in place a periodic integrative internal process for measuring the performance of every academic and administrative unit against goals and objectives that each unit had set for itself for that period. At the end of the assessment cycle (typically an academic year), achievement of the goals and objectives is assessed, negative performance gaps are identified, and action plans are drawn up for closing these gaps in the next assessment cycle (“closing the loop”).
Curriculum Design & Review
Initial curriculum design for a new academic program and periodic curriculum reviews for an existing program are key elements in the strategic planning implementation process and critical requirements for achieving and maintaining program accreditation.
Review and Design of Risk Management Systems
Risk management in all areas of an institution’s operation is essential for continually monitoring and controlling eventualities and situations that might have adverse effects on the institution’s performance, the continuity and sustainability of its operations, and even its survivability.
Custom-Designed Seminars & Workshops
At the request of a HEI, we will develop and deliver a seminar or workshop to designated staff from the HEI (administrators, institutional effectiveness officers, deans, department heads, faculty) on any of the areas described above. The objective will be to enhance staff understanding of and engagement in the activities that are required for success in each of these areas
When an HEI partners with us, we use a three-stage methodology to develop a customized plan of action.
Our Experts
Our consultants are seasoned international academics who are selected from various academic disciplines. Besides having vast expertise in all aspects of higher education administration, many are experienced in guiding program-specific accreditation processes with “gold standard” accrediting bodies.
Licensure, Accreditation, Mission-Aligned Strategic Planning, Quality Assurance & Outcomes Assessment Systems, and Curriculum Design and Review are crucial for HEIs. With ever-changing guidelines and regulations, it is important to stay in the loop. We share our insights with you.
Contact Us
Whether you’re ready to take your HEI to the next level, or have questions about HEP, we’d love to hear from you.