A case study on benchmarking for biomedical engineering study programs

This study presents the experience of the Department of Applied Medical Sciences (AMS) - Riyadh Community College - King Saud University in its way to achieve the international accreditation standards to ensure quality. The study is based on a three years experience (2008-2010). The following will be clarified, the list of criteria adopted by AMS to ensure quality and the procedures adopted by AMS to apply accreditation standards to ensure quality of outputs.The study followed the iterative descriptive approach in analyzing the topics. The results show the procedures how the standards were applied to ensure the quality of outputs by meeting the requirements in all aspects, national and international, especially of the internationally recognized organization Council on Occupational Education COE, by which the AMS was then accredited in June 2010. A four year development strategic plan is set for the department to ensure consistent quality and improvement standards. By reviewing the literature of former experiences of Arab and international bodies for accreditation and quality assurance, the study concluded a list of accreditation criteria and indicators of quality assurance, as well as indicators to ensure the quality of the university environment. The achieved number of accreditation and quality assurance standards are presented from both national and international organizations and were found to be: 25 accreditation standards leading to 245 indicators, and 41 indicators for QA, and 29 indicators for the QA of the university environment.The study recommended the need to activate the academic accreditation and assessment of academic programs periodically internally and externally. Furthermore, similar departments of applied medical sciences should adopt the presented accreditation and quality assurance principles. In addition those departments are asked to put a strategic plan that meets their needs and goals.