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How Ajman University is using QS Stars to strengthen institutional performance and global recognition
30 October 2026
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Ajman University is using QS Stars to evaluate institutional performance, strengthen international recognition and support continuous improvement, achieving an overall 5 Star Rating and 5 Stars across eight assessment categories.
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Full Report (16 pages)
The challenge: Demonstrating institutional excellence
Founded in 1988, Ajman University was the first private higher education institution in the United Arab Emirates and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
With a diverse international community and a growing portfolio of academic programmes, the university wanted to strengthen its reputation while demonstrating the quality of its teaching, facilities and student experience.
A key priority was finding a comprehensive and independent way to evaluate institutional performance, identify areas for improvement and communicate its strengths to prospective students and other stakeholders.
Ajman University also recognised the need for more systematic data collection and reporting processes to support institutional decision-making and long-term development.
The solution: Evaluating performance with QS Stars
Ajman University adopted the QS Stars rating system to gain a detailed understanding of its performance against internationally recognised criteria. The university was able to evaluate its strengths across areas including Teaching, Employability, Internationalisation, Facilities, Online Learning and Inclusiveness.
Unlike traditional university rankings, QS Stars provides category-level ratings and detailed performance insights, allowing institutions to identify opportunities for improvement while highlighting their achievements.
The assessment also helped establish more systematic processes for collecting, organising and reporting institutional data for Ajman University.
These improvements extended beyond the QS Stars assessment itself, providing a framework that could support wider internal performance monitoring and strategic planning.
The impact: Strengthening recognition and performance
Through QS Stars, Ajman University achieved an overall 5 Star Rating, alongside 5 Stars in eight assessment categories: Teaching, Internationalisation, Facilities, Employability, Academic Development, Online Learning, Social Responsibility and Inclusiveness.
According to the university, the assessment has delivered several benefits:
- Greater international visibility: The QS Stars ratings have helped strengthen Ajman University's brand recognition at local, regional and global levels.
- Stronger student recruitment positioning: Independent ratings allow prospective students to evaluate the university's performance and compare its strengths with other institutions.
- Improved data management: The assessment has supported more systematic data collection, organisation and reporting, creating processes that can also be used for internal performance evaluation.
- Continuous institutional improvement: Detailed assessment criteria have helped the university identify areas for development and reinforce its commitment to quality across institutional activities.
Building a culture of continuous improvement
Beyond external recognition, QS Stars has helped Ajman University strengthen its approach to institutional quality and performance monitoring.
The data submission and validation process encouraged greater consistency in how information is collected and assessed, and the methodology provided guidance on areas requiring further development. These insights have supported a more strategic approach to institutional improvement, helping the university align its internal processes with its wider ambitions for academic excellence.
Reflecting on the experience, Dr Karim Seghir, Chancellor of Ajman University, said:
"Most importantly, the QS Stars ratings have given us momentum in our quest for quality and excellence in everything we do at AU."
Supporting long-term institutional development
QS Stars has provided Ajman University with both independent recognition of its achievements and a structured framework for continuous improvement.
Through a combination of detailed performance assessment and internationally recognised ratings, the university has strengthened its ability to communicate its academic strengths, support student recruitment and guide strategic decision-making. Its experience highlights how QS Stars can help institutions move beyond external validation, using data-driven insights to foster a more systematic approach to performance enhancement and long-term institutional development.
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