Enhancing the Capabilities of the National Assessors Team

Specialized Workshop: "Enhancing the Capabilities of the National Assessors Team" Under the patronage of The Supervision and Scientific Evaluation Authority and in collaboration with the Deanery of the College of Medicine / Warith Al-Anbiyaa University, the National Council for the Accreditation of Medical Colleges (NCAMC) is organizing an interactive specialized workshop.Date: April 9-10, 2025Workshop Objectives:Explain and discuss selected national standards and how to extract evidence.Improve the quality of the accreditation process and learn from past experiences.Evaluate the members of the National Assessors’ Team (NAT).Speakers:Members of the National Council for the Accreditation of Medical Colleges.Members of the National Assessors Team.Venue: College of Medicine, Warith Al-Anbiyaa University.Target Audience: Members of the National Assessors Team.

NCAMC Decision Board Meeting

On March 13, 2025, the National Council for Accreditation of Medical Colleges (NCAMC) convened a Decision Board meeting to review the outcome of the recent accreditation process and site visit report for Kurdistan Hawler Medical College. This critical meeting aimed to evaluate all findings and make a final decision regarding the accreditation status of the institution.The NCAMC remains committed to upholding high standards in medical education across the region, ensuring that all accredited institutions meet the rigorous requirements essential for producing competent medical professionals. The decision will reflect the council`s dedication to fostering quality education, improving healthcare systems, and supporting the development of future medical leaders.Further details about the accreditation decision will be announced soon.

Post Anniversary Meeting

On March 6th, 2025, the National Council for Accreditation of Medical Colleges in Iraq held a regular meeting to discuss post-anniversary recommendations. The meeting addressed key points raised by the president of WFME, Prof. Ricardo Leon Boreques, and WFME assessor, Prof. Ismael Matalka. Both emphasized the era of post-recognition and highlighted the importance of continuous quality improvement, the effects of accreditation on transforming medical education, and the role of innovation and technology in medical education. This meeting had been attended by Students representative in the council The meeting also addressed the eligibility decision for the College of Medicine/ Ibn Sienna University for Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences.  

Workshop on Accreditation Practices

Workshop on Accreditation ProcessesBaghdad, Iraq – February 20, 2025 –  The National Council for Accreditation of Medical Colleges (NCAMC) marked the first anniversary of its recognition by the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) with a specialized workshop to enhance the capacity of national assessors.Workshop on Strengthening Accreditation PracticesThe workshop focused on two key areas crucial to the accreditation process:Enhancing the quality of Site Visit Reports (SVR) to ensure consistency, clarity, and alignment with international accreditation standards.Improving document indexing to streamline the accreditation review process and enhance efficiency.The training, led by experienced assessors and accreditation experts, provided practical guidance on standardized reporting, documentation best practices, and common pitfalls in accreditation reviews.

NCAMC Celebrates First Anniversary of WFME Recognition with Distinguished Guests

Baghdad, Iraq – February 20, 2025 – The National Council for Accreditation of Medical Colleges (NCAMC) marked the first anniversary of its prestigious recognition by the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) with a grand celebration attended by key international figures in medical education.The event, held on February 20, 2025, brought together prominent stakeholders in medical education, including Professor Ricardo León Bórquez, President of WFME, and Professor Ismail Ibrahim Matalka, WFME Assessor, who played a significant role in the evaluation process leading to NCAMC’s recognition.

The Role of Medical Students as Principal Stakeholders in the Accreditation Process

Under the patronage of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, represented by the Apparatus for Supervision and Scientific Evaluation, the National Council for Accreditation of Medical Colleges (NCAMC) successfully conducted a skill development course on “The Role of Medical Students as Principal Stakeholders in the Accreditation Process” on November 14th, 2024.The course, targeted at senior medical students (Stages 5 and 6), was held virtually on the Zoom platform. Lectures were delivered by NCAMC members and the Head of the National Accreditation Team (NAT).The event aimed to enhance students’ knowledge of the accreditation process and increase their awareness as principal stakeholders in improving the quality of medical education. Additionally, it informed students of their critical role in the Self-Assessment Study (SAS) process and their active involvement during site visits.

Enhancement of Accreditation Process in The Medical Colleges

On October 31, 2024, the National Council for Accreditation of Medical Colleges, in collaboration with Al-Ameed University, organized a workshop to enhance the capacity of self-assessment committees in recently established medical colleges and support their steps toward academic accreditation. The workshops cover a variety of topics that are of paramount importance in preparation for the accreditation process, including  How to apply for accreditation  Guideline on Writing the Self-assessment Report  document indexing  Best practice panel discussion 

National Assessors Visit to Al Nahrain University /College of Medicine

As part of the academic accreditation process and in accordance with the policies and procedures of the Iraqi NCAMC, the National Assessors Team conducted a site visit to the College of Medicine at the University of Nahrain from October 20 to 23, 2024. The purpose of the visit was to evaluate the extent to which the college meets NCAMC`s academic accreditation standards and to review the documentation submitted to obtain the international academic accreditation certificate recognized by the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME). The visit involved examining the submitted documents and conducting a tour of the college to assess its infrastructure and make visual observations related to the educational process.

National Assessor Visit to Al Iraqi University /College of Medicine

The National Assessor Team visited the College of Medicine—Iraqi University from 14 to 17 October 2024 as part of the academic accreditation process. The team reviewed the documentation provided by the college across various accreditation criteria. They conducted field visits to different college facilities and affiliated teaching hospitals and model health centers approved by the college for student training. The team met with the College`s dean, faculty members, administrative staff, and students. They expressed satisfaction with the spirit of cooperation demonstrated by the college’s administration, faculty, and students.

National Assessors Visit to University of Basrah/College of Medicine

The College of Medicine at the University of Basra entered its second round of academic accreditation, having previously obtained conditional accreditation in May 2022. In line with NCAMC policy, the college re-applied for accreditation two years later. The accreditation team began its work, which culminated in a site visit from October 13 to 16, 2024, following a pre-agreed agenda. During this period, the team worked full-time, transitioning to part-time for two weeks to ensure they could complete their tasks thoroughly.

Student Selection Process

On September 5th and 12th, 2024, the National Council for Accreditation of Medical Colleges (NCAMC) in Iraq will conduct interviews with student candidates from various medical colleges across the country. The purpose of these interviews is to select two exemplary students to become members of the NCAMC. 

Quality Assurance Meeting

On August 22nd, 2024, the National Council convened a meeting featuring esteemed international expert and advisory board member Omar Mustafa. Dr. Mustafa, a consultant physician at King’s College Hospital and an honorary senior clinical lecturer at King’s College London, also serves as the Global Vice President of the Royal College of Physicians.

Meeting with International Expert

On June 27th, 2024, the National Council for Accreditation of Medical Colleges in Iraq hosted a meeting with International expert and members of the advisory board, including Professor Azim Mirzazadeh from the Department of Medicine and the Department of Medical Education at the School of Medicine, TUMS. 

NCAMC meeting with Deans of Medical Colleges

On May 30, 2024, the NCAMC convened a crucial meeting with Deans of Medical Colleges to discuss its future plan. Key highlights include achieving WFME Recognition Status for a duration of 10 years, addressing the policy of eligibility for accreditation, outlining the application process for accreditation, emphasizing monitoring of accredited colleges through a progress report policy, and actively involving students in the accreditation process. These efforts contribute to enhancing medical education quality across Iraq

Capacity Enhancing Workshop Internal Quality Assurance

Capacity Enhancing Workshop " Internal Quality Assurance" The National Council for Accreditation of Medical Colleges held a workshop focused on enhancing the capacity of its members concerning internal quality assurance. During this workshop, Professor Abduladeem Al Barak, the advisory member for the NCAMC, presented the principles and procedures to improve the internal quality assurance system and how these procedures ultimately lead to improving the productivity of NCAMC. Most NCAMC members attended this workshop, in addition to Professor Yusra Abdullah, the Head of the Accreditation Department in the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.