Sabine Elarissy and Wafa Ramahi

From Compliance to Commitment: Reimagining Accreditation Through Appreciative Inquiry

Sabine is a PYP Coordinator in Qatar

Wafa is an Accreditation Evaluator at the Ministry of Education in Qatar

Workshop Information:

The session invites school leaders and educators to reframe accreditation not as a checklist-driven obligation, but as a powerful opportunity for growth, alignment, and community voice. 

Drawing on the principles of Appreciative Inquiry, participants will explore how to move from compliance-based mindsets to meaningful, contextually grounded processes that empower all stakeholders.

Through real-life school examples, collaborative dialogue, and reflective protocols, the session will focus on how schools can cultivate a culture of collective responsibility, where evidence of learning is not just collected for reporting but used to inspire professional learning and innovation. 

Participants will experience how Appreciative Inquiry can be used as both a reflective tool and a strategic framework to co-construct vision, identify strengths, and design next steps aligned with what matters most.

Together, we’ll explore:

• How to engage staff in reflective, inquiry-driven conversations around standards and practice.

• How to identify, celebrate, and build on the unique strengths and stories of your school community.

• How to use the accreditation process as a catalyst for culture-building and future-ready learning.

Session Outcomes

Through interactive discussions and practical strategies, participants will explore how to:

• Design or adapt a strengths-based reflective protocol that invites teams to collaboratively evaluate current practices through an appreciative lens, using real school evidence and language that fosters agency and ownership.

• Develop a clear plan to involve diverse voices in the accreditation journey by identifying entry points for participation, co-reflection, and shared storytelling aligned with school values and priorities.

Bibliographies

Sabine ElArissy- PYP Coordinator (You can use my image from Linkedin)

Sabine is a passionate educator and  PYP Coordinator based in Doha, Qatar. She is a certified Erickson & Lanning Concept-Based Curriculum and Instruction (CBCI) trainer, an active IBEN member, a CIS accreditation evaluator, and NEASC visitor. These roles allow her to continue learning, growing, and contributing to a global education community that values agency, innovation, and global citizenship.

Wafa Ramahi- Accreditation Evaluator

Wafa Ramahi is an education specialist with over 30 years of experience in curriculum design, early childhood education, school evaluation, and accreditation. Passionate about transformative change in education, she currently serves within the Ministry of Education and Higher Education in Qatar, where she contributes to school improvement through ethical leadership, strategic planning, and inclusive policy development.