𝐁𝐐𝐏𝐂𝐀 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

The Bhutan Qualifications and Professionals Certification Authority (BQPCA) completed the accreditation of five Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) for Autumn 2025. This achievement reflects BQPCA’s commitment to strengthening quality assurance and promoting excellence in Bhutan’s higher education sector. The Institutional Accreditation serves as a critical mechanism to ensure that HEIs meet minimum acceptable quality standards aligned with national and international benchmarks.

The accreditation was carried out in accordance with the seven standards outlined in the Institutional Accreditation Manual (IAM):

i. Governance, leadership, and management;

ii. Academic systems;

iii. Human resources;

iv. Research, publications, and linkages;

v. Infrastructure and learning resources;

vi. Student services;

vii. Internal quality assurance and enhancement systems.

A team comprising two international assessors, one from the University of the Philippines and another from Mahidol University, Thailand along with fifteen national assessors conducted the accreditation.

The results are as follows:

1. Gedu College of Business Studies (GCBS): A+

2. Arura Academy of Health Sciences (AAHS): A

3. College of Science and Technology (CST): A

4. Norbuling Rigter College (NRC): A

5. Faculty of Postgraduate Medicine (FoPGM), KGUMSB: Accreditation Certificate not awarded; did not meet the minimum threshold

The Hon’ble Lyonpo of Education and Skills Development graced the certificate award ceremony today in Thimphu. The presidents, deans and representatives from the accredited HEIs along with the national assessors also attended the event.

In her address, Lyonpo emphasised that institutional accreditation assures stakeholders that Bhutanese HEIs meet international benchmarks, as the accreditation processes and standards are aligned with global best practices.

Representatives from HEIs and assessors also reiterated that accreditation strengthens compliance, accountability, and a culture of continuous improvement in alignment with BQPCA’s national standards and internationally recognised quality frameworks.

The FoPGM of KGUMSB did not achieve the minimum threshold score of 50% required for accreditation certification.

Looking ahead, BQPCA will continue institutional accreditation in the coming financial years, guided by the validity of existing accreditation statuses and the eligibility criteria outlined in the Accreditation Manual. This ensures Bhutan’s higher education system remains responsive to the rapidly evolving global academic landscape, where External Quality Assurance (EQA) agencies worldwide are adopting innovative measures to keep pace with emerging trends.

To incentivise high-performing HEIs, BQPCA is initiating a Research Endeavour Grant to strengthen the research culture within institutions. Furthermore, BQPCA is in the process of obtaining ISO 9001:2015 certification, a globally recognised quality management standard that will enhance the Authority’s institutional credibility, improve service delivery, and reinforce public confidence in Bhutan’s quality assurance system.