Copyright (c) 2026 Faizulhaq Faizi, Yücel Şimşek, Atiqullah Rahimi, Ataulhaq Ahmadi

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Examining the Role of Quality Assurance in Accelerating the Internationalization Process of Higher Education in Afghanistan
Corresponding Author(s) : Faizulhaq Faizi
Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities,
Vol. 3 No. 2 (2026): April
Abstract
Internationalization of higher education has become one of the strategic priorities for universities worldwide in recent decades; however, its effective realization largely depends on the existence of efficient quality assurance systems, Given the growing importance and discussion of quality assurance and the internationalization of higher education, to date, no specific research has been conducted on the relationship between the quality assurance process and higher education in Afghanistan. Therefore, addressing this issue is essential. This study aims to examine the role of quality assurance in supporting and strengthening the internationalization process of higher education in Afghanistan. This study is a systematic review in which data were gathered from scholarly articles, institutional reports, and policy documents published between 2006 - 2025 in databases such as Web of Science, Scopus, Wiley, Springer, Sage, Taylor & Francis, ERIC, ACE, ENQA, IEAC, Google Scholar and World Bank, and analyzed following the PRISMA guidelines. References citations have been made using Mendeley Reference Manager. The results of this research indicate that the establishment of effective quality assurance mechanisms can pave the way for increased trust and academic credibility of universities, improve the quality of teaching and research, increase participation in joint international research projects, faculty exchange, student exchange, and the internationalization of curricula. Overall, strengthening quality assurance systems can be considered one of the fundamental strategies to support the sustainable internationalization of higher education in Afghanistan.
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- Altbach, P. G., & Salmi, J. (2011). The Road to Academic Excellence. World Bank. https://doi.org/10.1596/978-0-8213-8805-1
- American Council on Education (ACE). (2024). Comprehensive Internationalization Framework. https://www.acenet.edu/Research-Insights/Pages/Internationalization/CIGE-Model-for-Comprehensive-Internationalization.aspx?utm_source=chatgpt.com
- Chi Hou, A. Y. (2016). Quality Assurance in Asian Higher Education: Challenges and Prospects. In The Palgrave Handbook of Asia Pacific Higher Education (pp. 381–392). Palgrave Macmillan US. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-48739-1_25
- Chien, W.-C. (2023). Internationalization of quality assurance and the international quality of higher education in Taiwan. Higher Education Evaluation and Development, 17(2), 113–128. https://doi.org/10.1108/HEED-08-2022-0032
- De Wit, H., & Hunter, F. (2015). The Future of Internationalization of Higher Education in Europe. International Higher Education, (83), 2–3. https://doi.org/10.6017/ihe.2015.83.9073
- Deardorff, D. K. (2006). Identification and Assessment of Intercultural Competence as a Student Outcome of Internationalization. Journal of Studies in International Education, 10(3), 241–266. https://doi.org/10.1177/1028315306287002
- European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA). (2024). Quality assurance and internationalisation: state of play and perspectives for the future. https://www.enqa.eu/publications/quality-assurance-and-internationalisation-state-of-play-and-perspectives-for-the-future/
- European Consortium for Accreditation in higher education (ECA). (2015). Frameworks for the Assessment of Quality in Internationalisation. https://www.cti-commission.fr/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/CeQuint-Frameworks-for-the-Assessment-of-Quality-in-Internationalisation.pdf
- Fahimi, M. Z. (2023). Status and Challenges of Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Higher Education. Scientific Research Journal of Kabul University, (Special Issue 2023: Selected Papers of the National Conference on Strengthening Higher Education), 29–42. https://jss.edu.af/jss/article/view/287/187
- Guri-Rosenblit, S. (2015). Internationalization of Higher Education: Navigating Between Contrasting Trends. In The European Higher Education Area (pp. 13–26). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-20877-0_2
- International Education Accreditation Council (IEAC). (2025). Assuring the Best: Top Strategies for Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Education. https://www.ieac.org.uk/38-Assuring-the-Best-Top-Strategies-for-Quality-Assurance-and-Accreditation-in-Education-blog.php
- Kayyali, M. (2023). An Overview of Quality Assurance in Higher Education: Concepts and Frameworks. International Journal of Management, Sciences, Innovation, and Technology IJMSIT, 4(2), 1–4. https://papers.ssrn.com/abstract=4497492
- Knight, J. (2012). Concepts, Rationales, and Interpretive Frameworks in the Internationalization of Higher Education. In The SAGE Handbook of International Higher Education (pp. 27–42). SAGE Publications, Inc. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781452218397.n2
- Lemaitre, M. J., & Karakhanyan, S. (2020). Quality Assurance in Higher Education, A Global Perspective. In The International Encyclopedia of Higher Education Systems and Institutions (pp. 2400–2410). Springer Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-8905-9_263
- Mussawy, S. A. J. (2019). The Challenges of Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Afghanistan: A Policy Implementation Analysis. Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education, 11(4), 72–76. https://digitalcommons.lib.uconn.edu/jcihe/vol10/iss3/18
- Niroo, W. T., & Glass, C. R. (2022). Illusions of improvement: aspirations and realities of quality assurance and accreditation policy in Afghanistan higher education. Higher Education Research & Development, 41(3), 952–966. https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2020.1867514
- Oyedotun, T. D. (2025). Challenges and Strategies in Quality Assurance and Internationalisation of Higher Education in the Caribbean - IRPJ = Intergovernmental Research and Policy Journal. Intergovernmental Research and Policy Journal. https://irpj.euclid.int/articles/challenges-and-strategies-in-quality-assurance-and-internationalisation-of-higher-education-in-the-caribbean/
- Peacelenn, M. (2006). Qualıty assurance ın hıgher educatıon: a global tour of practıce and resources. Higher Education in Europe, 18(3), 71–80. https://doi.org/10.1080/0379772930180309
- Pillay, H., & Kimber, M. (2009). Quality assurance in higher education: for whom and of what? International Journal of Management in Education, 3(3–4), 270–281. https://www.inderscience.com/info/inarticle.php?artid=27349
- Quality Assurance and Accreditation-Afghanistan(QAAD). (2025). Afghanistan Higher Education Quality Assurance Framework. https://qaad.edu.af/index.php/en/instruction
- Roof, D. J. (2015). Day-By-Day: Higher Education in Afghanistan. FIRE: Forum for. International Research in Education, 1(3), 64–80. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1133794.pdf
- Ryan, T. (2015). Quality assurance in higher education: A review of literature. Higher Learning Research Communications, 5(4). https://doi.org/10.18870/hlrc.v5i4.257
- Velkoska, C., & Nuredin, A. (2024). Internationalization from the Perspective of Quality Assurance and Enhancement: A Comprehensive Framework for Internationalization through Novel Lens “Flow of Quality.” Journal of Higher Education Policy and Leadership Studies, 5(3), 88–111. https://johepal.com/article-1-846-fa.pdf
- Welch, A., & Wahidyar, A. (2020). Quality assurance in Afghan higher education: achievements and challenges. Asian Education and Development Studies, 9(4), 479–493. https://doi.org/10.1108/AEDS-09-2018-0146
- Westerheijden, D. F., Stensaker, B., & Rosa, M. J. (2007). Quality Assurance In Higher Education (D. F. Westerheijden, B. Stensaker, & M. J. Rosa, Eds.; Vol. 20). Springer Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-6012-0
- World Bank. (2013). Higher education in Afghanistan: An emerging mountainscape. https://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/307221468180889060/pdf/809150WP0Afgha0Box0379822B00PUBLIC0.pdf
- Yusufzada, S., Xia, Z., & Sediqi, M. (2020). Challenges and Prospects of Higher Education in Afghanistan. International Journal of Innovation and Applied Studies, 29(1), 29–36. http://www.ijias.issr-journals.org/
- Zolfaghari, A., Sabran, M. S., & Zolfaghari, A. (2009). Internationalization of higher education: Challenges, strategies, policies and programs. US-China Education Review, 6(5), 1–9. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED505713.pdf
References
Altbach, P. G., & Salmi, J. (2011). The Road to Academic Excellence. World Bank. https://doi.org/10.1596/978-0-8213-8805-1
American Council on Education (ACE). (2024). Comprehensive Internationalization Framework. https://www.acenet.edu/Research-Insights/Pages/Internationalization/CIGE-Model-for-Comprehensive-Internationalization.aspx?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Chi Hou, A. Y. (2016). Quality Assurance in Asian Higher Education: Challenges and Prospects. In The Palgrave Handbook of Asia Pacific Higher Education (pp. 381–392). Palgrave Macmillan US. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-48739-1_25
Chien, W.-C. (2023). Internationalization of quality assurance and the international quality of higher education in Taiwan. Higher Education Evaluation and Development, 17(2), 113–128. https://doi.org/10.1108/HEED-08-2022-0032
De Wit, H., & Hunter, F. (2015). The Future of Internationalization of Higher Education in Europe. International Higher Education, (83), 2–3. https://doi.org/10.6017/ihe.2015.83.9073
Deardorff, D. K. (2006). Identification and Assessment of Intercultural Competence as a Student Outcome of Internationalization. Journal of Studies in International Education, 10(3), 241–266. https://doi.org/10.1177/1028315306287002
European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA). (2024). Quality assurance and internationalisation: state of play and perspectives for the future. https://www.enqa.eu/publications/quality-assurance-and-internationalisation-state-of-play-and-perspectives-for-the-future/
European Consortium for Accreditation in higher education (ECA). (2015). Frameworks for the Assessment of Quality in Internationalisation. https://www.cti-commission.fr/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/CeQuint-Frameworks-for-the-Assessment-of-Quality-in-Internationalisation.pdf
Fahimi, M. Z. (2023). Status and Challenges of Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Higher Education. Scientific Research Journal of Kabul University, (Special Issue 2023: Selected Papers of the National Conference on Strengthening Higher Education), 29–42. https://jss.edu.af/jss/article/view/287/187
Guri-Rosenblit, S. (2015). Internationalization of Higher Education: Navigating Between Contrasting Trends. In The European Higher Education Area (pp. 13–26). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-20877-0_2
International Education Accreditation Council (IEAC). (2025). Assuring the Best: Top Strategies for Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Education. https://www.ieac.org.uk/38-Assuring-the-Best-Top-Strategies-for-Quality-Assurance-and-Accreditation-in-Education-blog.php
Kayyali, M. (2023). An Overview of Quality Assurance in Higher Education: Concepts and Frameworks. International Journal of Management, Sciences, Innovation, and Technology IJMSIT, 4(2), 1–4. https://papers.ssrn.com/abstract=4497492
Knight, J. (2012). Concepts, Rationales, and Interpretive Frameworks in the Internationalization of Higher Education. In The SAGE Handbook of International Higher Education (pp. 27–42). SAGE Publications, Inc. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781452218397.n2
Lemaitre, M. J., & Karakhanyan, S. (2020). Quality Assurance in Higher Education, A Global Perspective. In The International Encyclopedia of Higher Education Systems and Institutions (pp. 2400–2410). Springer Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-8905-9_263
Mussawy, S. A. J. (2019). The Challenges of Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Afghanistan: A Policy Implementation Analysis. Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education, 11(4), 72–76. https://digitalcommons.lib.uconn.edu/jcihe/vol10/iss3/18
Niroo, W. T., & Glass, C. R. (2022). Illusions of improvement: aspirations and realities of quality assurance and accreditation policy in Afghanistan higher education. Higher Education Research & Development, 41(3), 952–966. https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2020.1867514
Oyedotun, T. D. (2025). Challenges and Strategies in Quality Assurance and Internationalisation of Higher Education in the Caribbean - IRPJ = Intergovernmental Research and Policy Journal. Intergovernmental Research and Policy Journal. https://irpj.euclid.int/articles/challenges-and-strategies-in-quality-assurance-and-internationalisation-of-higher-education-in-the-caribbean/
Peacelenn, M. (2006). Qualıty assurance ın hıgher educatıon: a global tour of practıce and resources. Higher Education in Europe, 18(3), 71–80. https://doi.org/10.1080/0379772930180309
Pillay, H., & Kimber, M. (2009). Quality assurance in higher education: for whom and of what? International Journal of Management in Education, 3(3–4), 270–281. https://www.inderscience.com/info/inarticle.php?artid=27349
Quality Assurance and Accreditation-Afghanistan(QAAD). (2025). Afghanistan Higher Education Quality Assurance Framework. https://qaad.edu.af/index.php/en/instruction
Roof, D. J. (2015). Day-By-Day: Higher Education in Afghanistan. FIRE: Forum for. International Research in Education, 1(3), 64–80. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1133794.pdf
Ryan, T. (2015). Quality assurance in higher education: A review of literature. Higher Learning Research Communications, 5(4). https://doi.org/10.18870/hlrc.v5i4.257
Velkoska, C., & Nuredin, A. (2024). Internationalization from the Perspective of Quality Assurance and Enhancement: A Comprehensive Framework for Internationalization through Novel Lens “Flow of Quality.” Journal of Higher Education Policy and Leadership Studies, 5(3), 88–111. https://johepal.com/article-1-846-fa.pdf
Welch, A., & Wahidyar, A. (2020). Quality assurance in Afghan higher education: achievements and challenges. Asian Education and Development Studies, 9(4), 479–493. https://doi.org/10.1108/AEDS-09-2018-0146
Westerheijden, D. F., Stensaker, B., & Rosa, M. J. (2007). Quality Assurance In Higher Education (D. F. Westerheijden, B. Stensaker, & M. J. Rosa, Eds.; Vol. 20). Springer Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-6012-0
World Bank. (2013). Higher education in Afghanistan: An emerging mountainscape. https://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/307221468180889060/pdf/809150WP0Afgha0Box0379822B00PUBLIC0.pdf
Yusufzada, S., Xia, Z., & Sediqi, M. (2020). Challenges and Prospects of Higher Education in Afghanistan. International Journal of Innovation and Applied Studies, 29(1), 29–36. http://www.ijias.issr-journals.org/
Zolfaghari, A., Sabran, M. S., & Zolfaghari, A. (2009). Internationalization of higher education: Challenges, strategies, policies and programs. US-China Education Review, 6(5), 1–9. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED505713.pdf
Accepted 2026-04-28
Published 2026-04-30