An examination of assessment practices in colleges of business at various middle east countries

Abstract

This study reports the results of a survey conducted during 2007 which was mailed to deans of schools of business at institutions of higher education located within the Middle East. Schools of business are now more engaged in assessment activities than a few years ago. Assessment activities are costly and the emphasis seems to be placed on assessing critical thinking, communication skills, technology/computer usage, professional knowledge, and problem solving. Colleges of business are relaying heavily on course-embedded measures, followed by indirect measures of assessment. Curriculum and instructional changes were the top-ranked uses of assessment results. Universities that are accredited by the ministry of higher education were more likely to indicate attract equipment and/or financial resources as the purpose of assessment. Finally, AACSB accredited universities were more likely to identify alumni as assessment stakeholder and were more likely to assess global issues.