Curriculum Development and Higher Education Accreditation: A process in a new country like East Timor: Challenges and possibilities

East Timor went through a long period of colonization, 450 years by the Portuguese and 24 years by Indonesia. The Indonesian army invaded East Timor after the Portuguese government left in 1975. Both countries introduced their own education systems into Timorese education. In 1999, Indonesia ended its rule in East Timor, leaving the country devastated. East Timor gained its independence in 2002, however, the Timorese government has struggled to develop the country ever since. This situation meant that the Timorese government had no option but to adopt and opt for the education systems of both countries. After a few years of independence, the Ministry of Education established the National Agency for Academic Assessment and Accreditation (ANAAA) in higher education with the aim of achieving higher quality education at national and international level.