ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS POLICY
1.0 Definitions
1.1 The following words and expressions have the meaning hereby assigned to them:
1.1.1 Academic Credentials: A certification of Qualifications issued by a post-secondary institution, recognized by the State of Qatar Ministry of Education and Higher Education, indicating that an individual successfully completed a particular course of study at a specified degree level (e.g., Diplomas, Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctorate degree, or other Terminal degree).
1.1.2 Academic Members: Faculty Members and Instructional Members.
1.1.3 Academic Rank: The rank held by the Academic Members in the University, having hierarchical titles such as Professor, Associate Professor, Assistant Professor, Senior Lecturer, Senior Technical Instructor, Lecturer, Technical Instructor, Assistant Lecturer, Workshop/Lab/Clinical Instructor, Assistant Technical Instructor, Trades Technical Instructor, and Teaching Assistant.
1.1.4 Business Unit: Any function of the University headed by the President, Vice-president, Associate Vice-President, Director, Manager, Dean, Head, or Academic Manager, as the case may be.
1.1.5 Course: A set of Learning Sessions in a particular subject, with a defined scope and duration, and specific Learning Outcomes.
1.1.6 Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs): The knowledge, skills, and competencies a Student can demonstrate immediately upon completion of a Course.
1.1.7 Faculty Members: Members of the Teaching and/or Research staff, whether on part-time or full-time contracts, holding the following ranks: Professor, Associate Professor, Assistant Professor, Senior Lecturer/Senior Technical Instructor, or Lecturer/Technical Instructor.
1.1.8 Instructional Members: Members of the Teaching staff, whether on part-time or full-time contracts, holding the following titles: Assistant Lecturer/or Workshop/Lab/Clinical Instructor, Assistant Technical Instructor, Trades Technical Instructor, or Teaching Assistant.
1.1.9 Job Description: A document which outlines the details of a position including the position title, Academic Unit, reporting line, job purpose, duties and responsibilities, key accountabilities, working relationships, qualifications, experience, competencies, and other specifics.
1.1.10 Learning Outcomes: The knowledge, skills, and competencies that a Student can demonstrate upon completion of an educational activity, Course, or Program.
1.1.11 Learning Session: Classes, labs, placements or work term prescribed by a Course.
1.1.12 President: The President of the University.
1.1.13 Professional Certification: A document indicating mastery of or competency in specific knowledge, skills or processes that can be measured against a set of accepted standards, which are typically awarded through assessment and validation of skills in cooperation with a business, trade association or other industry group.
1.1.14 Professional Credentials: A document issued by a responsible and authorized body that attests that an individual has achieved specific experience relative to a given standard, including licenses, badges, and Professional Certifications.
1.1.15 Program: A prescribed set of Courses leading to a qualification, including a Certificate, Diploma (2 years), Advanced Diploma (3 years), Bachelor, Post Graduate Diploma, Master, or Doctorate, according to the Qatar National Qualifications Framework.
1.1.16 Qatar National Qualifications Framework (QNQF): A structured system that classifies and standardizes qualifications in Qatar based on knowledge, skill, and competency levels to ensure alignment between education, training, and workforce requirements, enhancing the quality, comparability, and recognition of qualifications both nationally and internationally.
1.1.17 Qualification: A certificate awarded to an individual by an authorized organization acknowledging that such an individual has successfully achieved the learning outcomes of the relevant qualification in terms of knowledge, skills, and competencies according to specific standards and evaluation instruments, as per the Qatar National Qualifications Framework.
1.1.18 Research: The systematic and organized investigation of a subject/topic, and study of the materials and sources in order to establish new knowledge and/or reach new conclusions.
1.1.19 Strategic Priority: An outcome-oriented, high-level aim to achieve the University’s mission.
1.1.20 Student: A person who is presently enrolled at the University in a Credit Course or who is designated by the University as a Student.
1.1.21 Teaching: The delivery of theoretical and/or practical instruction for the purpose of Student learning and development, that is generally organized by disciplines and/or interdisciplinarity of study and administered within an established mode and timeframe.
1.1.22 Terminal Degree: The highest degree awarded in a given discipline.
1.1.23 University: University of Doha for Science and Technology established by Emiri Resolution No. 13 of 2022.
1.2 Where a word or phrase is given a particular meaning, other parts of speech and grammatical forms of that word or phrase have corresponding meanings.
1.3 Where the context requires, words importing the singular shall include the plural and vice-versa.
2.0 Policy Purpose
2.1 This policy outlines the qualifications required of Academic Members working at the University.
2.2 This policy also reflects the University’s compliance with the requirements and credential standards stipulated by the State of Qatar Ministry of Education and Higher Education, the University’s accreditation agencies, regulatory bodies, and relevant international practices.
3.0 Policy Scope
3.1 This policy applies to all Academic Members at the University.
4.0 Policy Statements
4.1 The University employs qualified Academic Members to achieve its mission, Strategic Priorities, and commitment to stakeholders. Students in all Programs offered by the University have a right to be taught by qualified Academic Members who meet the minimum requirements of the position.
4.2 The University will establish and require attainment of minimum Academic Member Qualifications as a means of ensuring competence, relevance, currency, and quality in instructional delivery.
4.3 Academic Members must meet the University’s requirements, as outlined in the approved Job Descriptions, to teach in their discipline and the requirements of applicable accreditation agencies and regulatory bodies.
4.4 Academic Members must hold the minimum required qualifications to teach in their respective disciplines. Qualified Academic Members are identified by Academic Credentials, employment and/or Teaching experience and, where relevant, Professional Credentials and Certification.
4.5 Academic Members with honors and awards, continuous documented excellence in Teaching, or other demonstrated and documented competencies and achievements that contribute to effective Teaching and Course Learning Outcomes may also be considered by the University in determining an Academic Member’s qualification.
4.6 Qualification Types
4.6.1 Academic Members require to have the following types of qualifications:
4.6.1.1 Academic Credentials
4.6.1.1.1 Where the Academic Member has achieved the required Academic Credentials within the relevant discipline, from a recognized higher education institution;
4.6.1.2 Experience
4.6.1.2.1 Industry employment experience: Where the Academic Member was a practitioner/professional within the relevant discipline in the industry, practicing within the appropriate and relevant scope, for a minimum of three (3) years.
4.6.1.2.2 Academic employment experience: Where the Academic Member has met the relevant Teaching experience in an academic institution or certified training center (excluding Faculty Members), as defined under each Academic Rank in the Academic Ranking Procedure (PR-AC-03);
4.6.1.3 Professional Credentials, Licenses, and Certification
4.6.1.3.1 Where the Academic Member is Teaching in a discipline that requires Professional Credentials and Certification, registration, or licensure, holds that registration or license, and maintains its currency throughout their employment at the University.
4.7 Ranking and Qualification Requirements
4.7.1 Academic Ranks and qualification requirements, as defined in the Academic Ranking Procedure (PR-AC-03) are as follows:
4.7.1.1 Professor, Associate Professor, and Assistant Professor
4.7.1.1.1 Requires a Terminal Degree in the relevant discipline area, employment experience, and evidence of being current and competent in the relevant Teaching field and Research.
4.7.1.2 Senior Lecturer/Senior Technical Instructor and Lecturer/Technical Instructor
4.7.1.2.1 Requires at least a Master’s degree in the relevant discipline, employment experience, and evidence of being current and competent in the field in which they will be Teaching and/or conducting Research.
4.7.1.3 Assistant Lecturer/or Workshop/Lab/Clinical Instructor, Assistant Technical Instructor, Trades Technical Instructor, or Teaching Assistant
4.7.1.3.1 Requires at least a Bachelors’ degree (Diploma degree may be considered in special circumstances) or trades designation in the relevant discipline, employment experience, and relevant Professional Credentials and Certification for disciplines that require Professional Credentials and Certification.
4.7.2 The University’s Programs, which are comprised of theoretical, practical, and work-integrated components, require an appropriate mix of qualified Academic Members (from the above noted Academic Ranks) to support Students in their knowledge and competency-development within the relevant disciplinary area.
4.8 Any exceptions to 4.7 must be based on:
4.8.1 A rationale in writing, stipulating the reason for an exemption from the policy.
4.8.2 The absence of a related Program credential at the graduate level, or another exceptional circumstance based on the considerations mentioned under 4.7; and
4.8.3 The recommendation of the Vice-President, Academics and the approval of the President.
5.0 Procedures
5.1 The Vice-President, Academics will ensure that procedures are developed for the execution of this policy, and are implemented accordingly.
6.0 Related Documents
6.1 PL-AC-02: Academic Credentials Policy.
6.2 PR-AC-03: Academic Ranking Procedure.