VOLUNTARILY HIGHER EDUCATION COLLABORATION
PEER-TO-PEER BENCHMARKING
Over the past few
years, a group of higher education institutions from MENA region, have
been collaborating on collecting peers' data on regionally comparable indicators for
benchmarking purposes. The
indicators are organized within a framework that distinguishes and examines key
constructs that influence overall achievement and policy.
PARTICIPATING INSTITUTIONS
WHY SHOULD MY INSTITUTION PARTICIPATE?
Benchmarking is an ongoing, systematic process for measuring and comparing the processes of one university or department to those of another by bringing an external focus to internal activities, functions, or operations for the purpose of improving these functions!
BENCHMARKING INDICATORS
Admission & Enrollment
This metric reflects students' interests in enrolling in institutions, and encompasses acceptance rate, enrollment yield rate, conditional admission and transfer student percent, for both undergraduate and graduate studies rates.
Offered Degrees
As per QS criteria, data captures the nature of all the undergraduate and graduate degree granting programs. It also covers undergraduate and graduate degree awarded by the institutions.
Tuition & Budgeting
This metric represents undergraduate and graduate average tuition fees for international and domestic students. This indicator includes scholarship, financial aid, operating and resarch budgets.
Faculty Figures
this metric captures faculty headcount pertaining full-time, part-time, and full-time equivalent, terminal degree holders, turnover rates, and holders of degrees from top 200 universities
Retention & Graduation
This theme reflects the overall learning environment provided by the institution to students, demonstrated by indicators with regard to retention rate, persistence rate, graduation rate.
Research Indicators
Academic research and peer reviewed scholarly work, patents awarded and spin-off and start-ups as new businesses ventures that are based on innovations and business ideas by university students or employees.
Internationalization
International Student and International Faculty Ratio, shows how attractive is the university to international students and staff.
Accreditation
Institutions list provide their programatic accreditation, regional and International Accreditation. In addition to QS Rankling in Arab and world region.
PARTICIPATION TIMELINE
SUBMISSION START DATE
20-FEB-2023
LAST DATE OF SUBMISSION
20-JUN-2023
PUBLISHING RESULT
20-JUL-2023
Submission Guidelines
- Each participating institution is provided with credentials to securely log in and submit its data through the MENA Portal
- The MENABenchmark team is available to elaborate on any indicator
HOW THE OUTCOMES ARE PUBLISHED?
Only participating institutions in the benchmarking have access to the MENABenchmark Report. the results will display each participant institutions' data, allowing each of the participant institutions to compare and recognize their institution's position/performance on each KPI. See Sample MENABenchmark Report 2022.
PARTICIPATION FACTS
Who can access the data, are institutions named in the benchmarking report?
Only institutions participating in the benchmarking have access to the report that describes and compares each institution's figures. Participating institutions may utilize the report for internal purposes.
Are the results shared with the primary regulatory and accrediting bodies?
Participating institutions may share it with accrediting agencies as evidence of compliance or benchmarking.
Does participation involve any costs?
The MENAbenchmark does not involve a third party and is conducted solely between institutions, hence there is no cost. It is the institution's preference to participate in the MENA Benchmarking.
My institution can only participate after signing the benchmarking agreement.
All participating universities sign a benchmarking agreement with the coordinating institution (AUE). The benchmarking agreement identifies and safeguards data exchange and confidentiality.
Can we conduct benchmarking on an academic program level? or a process level?
Yes, your institution can conduct benchmarking for academic programs (e.g. MBA to MBA), and on a process level (e.g. academic promotion procedure).
ORGANIZING INSTITUTION
Hello from the Institutional Effectiveness Team
During the academic year 2017-2018, AUE and AUS institutional Effectiveness heads considered benchmarking exercise between the two universities. On a cup of coffee, the concept of inviting other institutions through our personal connections and network started to develop. The same year, we were able to invite seventeen institutions to participate in the first benchmarking cycle by filling out a simple excel file with predefined KPIs. The tremendous success continues throughout the 2018-2019 academic year. The #MENABenchmark was formed to assist institutions with decision-making by identifying areas for improvement and recognizing the institution's status relative to other participant institutions. During the COVID19 pandemic, the benchmark process for the 2019-2020 academic year was suspended. Last year, a gradual start with seven participants recommenced the third benchmark cycle for 2020-2021.
Now The MENA2023 (Benchmarking data from academic year 2021-2022) enters its fourth cycle of collaborative benchmarking. We welcome institutions' participation. We are working to invite a greater number of regional presentations from a wider variety of institutions this year.
Ghayath Abbas
JOIN US
Youssef Hafez
Officer - Institutional Effectiveness
American University in the Emirates
Block 6, Dubai Academic City, UAE