Higher education accreditation


Higher education accreditation is a type of quality assurance and educational accreditation process under which services and operations of tertiary educational institutions or programs are evaluated to determine if applicable standards are met. If standards are met, accredited status is granted by the agency.

Overview

In most countries around the world, the function of educational accreditation for higher education is conducted by a government organization, such as a ministry of education. In the United States, however, the quality assurance process is independent of government and performed by private agencies. Canada takes a unique position, not allowing any accreditation by government or private agencies, causing some Canadian institutions to seek accreditation by American agencies. Similar situation occurs in Singapore and Macau, which both countries do not have their own higher education accreditation organisation. Some institution from above countries seek accreditation from foreign agencies instead.
The Council for Higher Education Accreditation, maintains an international directory which contains contact information of about 467 quality assurance bodies, accreditation bodies and ministries of education in 175 countries. The quality assurance and accreditation bodies have been authorized to operate by their respective governments either as agencies of the government or as private organizations. In September 2012, University World News reported the launching on an international division of the council.
A criticism of higher education accreditation is the over-reliance on input factors, such as instructional time, adequate facilities and credentialed faculty, compared to learning outcomes.

By country

Albania

In Albania, the accreditation authority/national recognition body is the ASCAL – Quality Assurance Agency in Higher Education which was established by Order of CM no. 171, dated 27.09.2010, "On approval of structure of Public Accreditation Agency on Higher Education".

Australia

To award higher education qualifications in Australia, a provider must be registered with the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency. Some providers, such as universities, can self-accredit their courses of study using their own academic governance structures and procedures. Most higher education providers must apply to have their courses accredited by TEQSA in order to award qualifications.
In many professional fields, practitioners must have studied a course accredited by the relevant professional body in order to be eligible for registration with that professional body. For example, registered nurses must have studied an eligible course in order to gain registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency in order to be eligible to practice. It is the responsibility of the higher education provider to obtain professional accreditation for such courses.

Bangladesh

The Bangladesh Accreditation Council is an autonomous government agency responsible to accredit higher education institutes and academic program offering entities for quality assurance leading to international recognition. Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh, Institute of Architects Bangladesh, Bangladesh Bar Council, Pharmacy Council of Bangladesh also accredit programs in Bangladesh.

Canada

Canada does not have a system of national or regional accreditation. Provincial legislation and membership in the Universities Canada are substitutes. Some universities seek evaluation from American regional accreditation agencies.

France

In France, the main accreditation authority is the Ministry of National Education.
  • Accreditation by collation of academic degrees – the first-tier accreditation. Whereas institutions of higher education issues diplomas, only the ministry can award degrees. It is the main accreditation level and automatically awarded to public universities.
  • Accreditation by visa – the second-tier accreditation. Only for private institutions.
  • Accreditation by recognition – the third-tier accreditation. Only for private institutions.
In some education fields, the ministry must take official advise from special bodies. The ministry follows in almost every case the body advice.
  • Business Schools – the official consultation body is the Commission d'évaluation des formations et diplômes de gestion. There are two levels of accreditation.
  • * Accreditation by collation of master's degree
  • * Accreditation by visa
  • Engineering Schools – the official consultation body is the Commission des Titres d'Ingénieur. It is an accreditation authority for private schools, but only an advising body for public schools.
  • * Accreditation of Engineer's degrees
  • Vocational education – the consultation body is the Commission Nationale de la Certification Professionnelle.
  • * Accreditation by inscription on the Répertoire national des certifications professionnelles, which is a five-level listing.
The Conférence des grandes écoles, which is a non-profit association, issues three types of accreditation:
  • Accreditation of Mastère Spécialisé, only in grandes écoles
  • Accreditation of Mastère en sciences, only in grandes écoles
  • Accreditation of Bilan d'aptitude délivré par les grandes écoles, only in grandes écoles
French schools, mainly Business Schools, may seek non-French accreditation.
The Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder in the Federal Republic of Germany was founded in 1948 by an agreement between the states of the Federal Republic of Germany. Among its core responsibilities, the KMK ensures quality development and continuity in tertiary education. Bachelor and Master programs must be accredited in accordance to a resolution of the Kultusministerkonerenz.
The German Council of Science and Humanities was founded on September 5, 1957, and conducts institutional accreditation of private and religious universities since 2001.
The Foundation for the Accreditation of Study Programs in Germany or Accreditation Council was created in a KMK resolution on October 15, 2004. The Accreditation Council certifies accreditation agencies and establishes guidelines and criteria for program and system accreditation. There are currently ten certified agencies.
  • AHPGS – Accreditation Agency for Study Programs in Special Education, Care, Health Sciences and Social Work
  • AKAST – Agency for Quality Assurance and Accreditation of Canonical Study Programs
  • ACQUIN – Accreditation, Certification and Quality Assurance Institute
  • AQAS – Agency for Quality Assurance by Accreditation of Study Programs
  • AQ Austria – Agency for Quality Assurance and Accreditation Austria
  • ASIIN – Accreditation Agency for Degree Programs in Engineering, Informatics/Computer Science, the Natural Sciences and Mathematics
  • evalag – Evaluation Agency Baden-Württemberg
  • FIBAA – Foundation for International Business Administration Accreditation
  • OAQ – Swiss Center of Accreditation and Quality Assurance in Higher Education
  • ZEvA – Central Evaluation- and Accreditation Agency
These agencies accredit programs of study for bachelor's and master's degrees and quality management systems from state or state recognized Higher Education institutions in Germany and abroad. AKAST only accredit programs of study.

Greece

In Greece, the accreditation authority/national recognition body is the HQA – Hellenic Quality Assurance and Accreditation Agency which was established by Law 3374/2005 and 4009/2011 and belongs to the Ministry of Education, Research and Religious Affairs. It is the government supervisory and coordinating agency of the quality assurance framework applied in Hellenic Higher Education Institutions. Accreditation is compulsory for all universities in Greece.
The HQA accredits programs of study for undergraduate degree and postgraduate degree and quality management systems from state or state recognized HEIs in Greece. The right of conferring or granting university degrees shall be exercised only by a State University established. Thus, any institute which has not been created by an accreditation of Ministry of Education of Greece and HQA state agency according Greece State Legislature or has not been granted the status of a Deemed-to-be-University, is not entitled to award a university status degree. In Greece it is illegal to offer a qualification that is or might seem to be a university degree because all Higher Education Institutes in Greece are public operating with government approval.

Hong Kong

The Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications is appointed by the Secretary for Education of Education Bureau as the Accreditation Authority and QR Authority under the Qualifications Framework of Hong Kong.
Assessment is made with reference to local and internationally recognised standards through a process of peer review. The HKCAAVQ will issue an accreditation report on the outcome of the accreditation activity.

India

Accreditation is compulsory for all universities in India except those created through an act of Parliament. Without accreditation, "It is emphasized that these fake institutions have no legal entity to call themselves as University/Vishwvidyalaya and to award 'degrees' which are not treated as valid for academic/employment purposes." The University Grants Commission Act, 1956 explains,
"the right of conferring or granting degrees shall be exercised only by a University established or incorporated by or under a Central Act or a State Act or an Institution deemed to be University or an institution specially empowered by an Act of the Parliament to confer or grant degrees. Thus, any institution which has not been created by an enactment of Parliament or a State Legislature or has not been granted the status of a Deemed-to-be-University, is not entitled to award a degree."

Accreditation for higher learning is overseen by autonomous institutions established by the University Grants Commission.
Other accreditation are
National Assessment and Accreditation Council and National Board of Accreditation.