Higher Education Quality Council (HEQC)
Mandates
Prior to 2023, the Council functioned as the Quality Assurance and Accreditation Division (QAAD), under the Department of Adult and Higher Education, Ministry of Education. QAAD served as the Secretariat to the Bhutan Accreditation Council, which was the national autonomous body for accreditation, quality assurance and recognition of qualifications.
With the establishment of Bhutan Qualifications and Professionals Certification Authority (BQPCA) on 9 January 2023 as per Section 25 of the Civil Service Reform Act 2022, QAAD was subsumed as one of the councils, namely the Higher Education Quality Council (HEQC). The Council has the mandate to ensure provision for pursuit of quality higher education both within Bhutan and abroad with systemic mechanisms in place. Based on the Tertiary Education Policy of the Kingdom of Bhutan 2010, all Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Bhutan shall be required to institute and maintain an effective quality assurance system. The quality assurance system shall ensure that the threshold quality standard of the HEIs is maintained.
The broad mandates of HEQC are as follows:
- Regulate quality of higher education institutes and programmes.
- Validate and recognize qualifications from both within and outside Bhutan based on BQF.
- Regulate the Education Consultancy and Placement Firms (ECPFs) in Bhutan.
- Provide guidance on accreditation, affiliations with other institutes, qualifications and regulations for higher education.
- Review the Bhutan Qualifications Framework.
- Serve as the Member Secretary in the Technical Advisory Committee of the Council and assist the member secretary in the Governing Council of the Authority based on the agenda.
Technical Advisory Committee
In accordance with the endorsement of the 1 st Governing Council meeting for Bhutan Qualifications and Professionals Certification Authority (BQPCA), Ministry of Education and Skill Development (MoESD) held on 4 th July 2024, the following are the Technical Advisory Committee(TAC) members for HEQC:
- Dr Dorji Thinley, President, Paro College of Education, Royal University of Bhutan (Chairperson)
- Dr Rinchen Dorji, Director General, Academic Affairs, Royal University of Bhutan (Member)
- Mr Rixin Jamtsho, Director, Medical Education Centre for Research Innovation and Technology, KGUMSB (Member)
- Dr Chencho Lhamu, Dean, Development and External Relations, Royal Thimphu College, RUB (Member)
- Mr Sonam Tshering, Associate Dean for the Jigme Singye Wangchuck Law Research Centre (Member)
- Dr Ugyen Tshewang, Director, BQPCA (Ex-officio Member)
- Mrs Tashi Lhamo, Chief Program Officer, BQPCA (Member Secretary)
As the national agency to regulate the quality of Higher Education Institutes (HEIs), the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the TAC shall be, but not limited to the following:
- Endorse the process of accreditation of higher education institutions, qualifications and programmes
- Resolve issues related to Recognition of Qualifications
- Endorse standards for Higher Education Institutions in Bhutan.
- Review frameworks, standards, regulations, guidelines and SOPs related to higher education quality assurance
- Constitute time-bound technical working groups as and when necessary to develop standards, guidelines and regulatory tools and recommend to the Governing Council on technical aspects for efficient regulatory enforcement.
Accreditation/EQA
Accreditation is one of the most important tools used globally for quality assurance of higher education systems. It is a process by which a competent body evaluates the quality of a higher education institution as a whole or of a specific educational programme in order to formally recognize it as having met certain pre-determined minimal criteria or standards. There are two types of accreditations: institutional accreditation and programme accreditation.
The institution conducts self-study based on the accrediting body’s quality standards and prepares a self-assessment report. A peer review team studies the report and evaluates the evidence through document analysis, site visits, and interviews, then prepares an assessment report with possible recommendations. The accreditation body reviews the findings, makes a judgment on quality and integrity, and communicates the decision to the institution and stakeholders.
Currently, the quality of higher education institutions in the country are assured through institutional accreditation. The accreditation framework outlined in the institutional accreditation manual assesses higher education institutions based on a set of standards which were formulated through wide stakeholder consultations, research and international best practice. Each standard has key aspects and indicators that are significant, relevant, measurable and achievable. The seven standards are:
The Council conducted pilot accreditation in 2015 with help of two experts from Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA). The Council embarked on real accreditation in 2016 and by the end of 2022, the first cycle of accreditation was completed for all eligible HEIs in Bhutan. The Council began the 2nd cycle accreditation from 2021-2022.
The details of the accreditation status and their validity are as follows:
Details of Second Cycle of Accreditation
- Governance, Leadership and Management
- Academic System
- Human Resources
- Research, Publications and Linkages
- Infrastructure and Learning Resources
- Student Services
- Internal Quality Assurance and Enhancement System
| Range of Total Weighted Average Score | Grade | Performance Descriptor | Validity |
| 86 and Above | A+ | Excellent | 5 years |
| 70 – 85 | A | Very Good | 4 years |
| 50 – 69 | B | Good | 3 years |
| Less than 50 | C | Not Accredited | 1 year |
| S/No | Institutions | Date of Site Visit | Grade | Validity of Certificate | Accreditor’s Report |
| 1. | Gedu College of Business Studies | 23 – 26 May 2016 | A (Very Good) | 28.06.2022 | ➢ View report |
| 2. | Royal Thimphu College | 1 – 4 June 2016 | A+(Excellent) | 28.06.2023 | ➢ View report |
| 3. | Arura Academy of Health Sciences | 21-24 October 2019 | C (Satisfactory) | 15.12.2022 | ➢ View report |
| 4. | Faculty of Nursing and Public Health | 12 – 15 June 2017 | B (Good) | 27.06.2022 | ➢ View report |
| 5. | Faculty of Traditional Medicine | 5 – 8 June 2017 | B (Good) | 27.06.2022 | ➢ View report |
| 6. | Paro College of Education | 22 – 25 May 2017 | B (Good) | 27.06.2022 | ➢ View report |
| 7. | Samtse College of Education | 15 – 18 May 2017 | A (Very Good) | 27.06.2023 | ➢ View report |
| 8. | College of Science and Technology | 6-9 November 2017 | A (Very Good) | 07.01.2024 | ➢ View report |
| 9. | Jigme Namgyel Engineering College | 13-16 November 2017 | A(Very Good) | 07.01.2024 | ➢ View report |
| 10. | Sherubtse College | 20-23 November 2017 | A (Very Good) | 07.01.2024 | ➢ View report |
| 11. | College of Natural Resources | 19-22 March 2018 | A (Very Good) | 09.05.2024 | ➢ View report |
| 12. | College of Language and Culture Studies | 26-29 March 2018 | A (Very Good) | 09.05.2024 | ➢ View report |
| 13. | Royal Institute of Management | 2-5 April 2018 | A (Very Good) | 09.05.2024 | ➢ View report |
| 14 | Faculty of Postgraduate Medicine | 10-14th May, 2021 | B (Good) | 01/06/2024 | ➢ View report |
| S/No | Institutions | Date of Site Visit | Grade | Validity of Certificate | Accreditor’s Report |
| 1 | Gedu College of Business Studies | 25-29 April 2022 | B (Good) | 28.06.2025 | ➢ View report |
| 2 | Faculty of Traditional Medicines | 25-29 April 2022 | A (VeryGood) | 27.06.2026 | ➢ View report |
| 3 | Faculty of Nursing and Public Health | 3-7 May 2022 | A (VeryGood) | 27.06.2026 | ➢ View report |
| 4 | Paro College of Education | 3-7 May 2022 | A (VeryGood) | 27.06.2026 | ➢ View report |
| 5 | Norbuling Rigter College | 20-25 November 2022 | B (Good) | 19.12.2025 | ➢ View report |
| 6 | Arura Academy of Health | 20-25 November 2022 | B (Good) | 15.12.2025 | ➢ View report |
| 7 | Royal Thimphu College | 1-5 May 2023 | A+ (Excellent) | 28.6.2028 | ➢ View report |
| 8 | Samtse College of Education | 6-10 November 2022 | A (Very Good) | 27.06.2027 | ➢ View report |
| 9 | Jigme Namgyel Engineering College | 5-9 December 2024 | A (Very Good) | 07.01.2028 | ➢ View report |
| 10 | College of Natural Resources | 5-9 May 2025 | A (Very Good) | 06.06.2029 | ➢ View report |
| 11 | Gyalpozhing College of Information Technology | 5-9 May 2025 | A (Very Good) | 06.06.2029 | ➢ View report |
| 12 | Jigme Singye Wangchuck School of Law | 19-23 May 2025 | A+ (Excellent) | 06.06.2030 | ➢ View report |
| 13 | Royal Institute of Management | 5-9 May 2025 | A+ (Excellent) | 06.06.2030 | ➢ View report |
| 14 | Sherubtse College | 19-23 May 2025 | A (Very Good) | 06.06.2029 | ➢ View report |
Accreditation Status: Certificate Award Date: 10.12.2025
| Si.no | Institutions | Date of Site Visit | Grade | Certificate Validity | Report |
| 1 | Arura Academy of Health Sciences | 20-24 October 2025 | A | 09.12.2029 | View Report |
| 2 | Norbuling Rigter College | 20-24 October 2025 | A | 09.12.2029 | View Report |
| 3 | Faculty of Postgraduate Medicine | 20-24 October 2025 | C | 09.12.2026 | View Report |
| 4 | College of Science and Technology | 27-31 October 2025 | A | 09.12.2029 | View Report |
| 4 | Gedu College of Business Studies | 27-31 October 2025 | A+ | 09.12.2030 | View Report |
Recognition of Qualifications
The Bhutan Qualifications Framework (BQF) empowers the Council to provide recognition of qualifications services. The Guidelines for Recognition of Qualifications not only ensure transparency, professionalism and objectivity in the decision-making process but also institute a duly documented system for recognition and/or validation of qualifications.
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Education Consultancy and Placement Firm
To ensure quality and protection of student interests, the Higher Education Quality Council (HEQC) and the Bhutan Qualifications and Professionals Certification Authority (BQPCA) oversee and regulate the services provided by ECPFs. Education Consultancy and Placement Firms (ECPFs) in Bhutan play a crucial role in assisting students aspiring to pursue higher studies abroad. It is mandated to guide and support students in making informed decisions about the choice of programs and institutions outside Bhutan. They are responsible for placing students in recognized institutions abroad, based on factors such as aptitude, economic considerations, and client preferences. ECPFs are responsible for processing student admissions to various programs (minimum of diploma level) in recognized institutions.
Overall, ECPFs play a vital role in facilitating the dreams of Bhutanese students to study abroad by providing valuable guidance and support throughout the process, ensuring they have access to quality education in recognized institutions around the world.
External Linkages Collaboration
Being the national quality assurance agency in Bhutan, the erstwhile Quality Assurance and Accreditation Division attained as intermediate membership to Asia Pacific Quality Network (APQN) and full membership to International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE) in 2013 and 2014 respectively. Considering the benefits from these quality agencies, the transformed quality assurance (QA) agency in higher education (HE) in Bhutan, viz. Higher Education Quality Council (HEQC) under Bhutan Qualifications and Professionals Certification Authority continued to be a member to these two networks.
Hours
Daily 9.00 am–5.00 pm
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