Education Quality in Higher Education
Quality Accreditation is an institutional procedure that universities and institutions of higher learning seek to complete in order to bring their academic programs up to recognized quality standards. The process of membership accreditation is non-governmental and voluntary; that is, universities and institutions appear before a private, regional or professional association (the one to which they wish to belong) and submit an application. The accrediting institution then carries out an overall assessment of the institution, and if the results are satisfactory, the school is accredited.
In responding to the multiple imperatives that drive our global knowledge-based economy and society, national governments recognize the need for higher education quality, but they do not have the means to cope with the fast and evolving educational initiatives developed by a globalized private sector. BQS Independent membership accreditation becomes a major instrument to ensure education quality ,competence and assurance in quality higher education .
Employers, parents, students, and others look to accrediting organizations for consistent and reliable information about educational institutions. There is no single model to ensures education quality and institutional accountability. What is essential to recognize is that in a global village, accreditation does take on many forms. What institutions of higher learning should be considering is not adding one or even two or three local accreditation in their home nation, but multiple, multinational accreditation globally.
Valid versus Bogus Agencies
Quality assurance agencies in higher education exist for many purposes. One area of their responsibility is checking that institutions or programs meet certain criteria, requirements or standards, or achieve certain levels of performance. The accreditation process is intended to prevent the creation or continuation of poor quality programs or institutions, and hence it is a consumer protection mechanism. Some institutions are genuine but of poor quality, and some institutions (often called degree mills or diploma mills) purport to provide qualifications, at a price, but the qualification is worthless because the ‘institution’ requires insufficient – perhaps no – work to achieve it.
The accreditation process is intended to weed out these inadequate institutions.
The US Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) has suggested the following tests that can be applied to a purported accrediting body.
To assist the consumer of higher education, UNESCO has developed a Portal that provides reference to accredited institutions in many countries.
NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY:
BQS provides its services and/or products to all individuals without regard to race, color, creed, disability, gender, or sexual orientation.
DISCLAIMER:
BQS makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of information found in its publications and on its web sites, it assumes no responsibility for the authenticity, accuracy or validity of opinions expressed and represented therein. Links to external web sites do not constitute endorsements of products or services. Accordingly, the BQS cannot be held liable for any damages resulting from its programs, activities, print materials or electronic communications.
Copyright © 2011 Board of Qualilty Standards . All rights reserved.
In responding to the multiple imperatives that drive our global knowledge-based economy and society, national governments recognize the need for higher education quality, but they do not have the means to cope with the fast and evolving educational initiatives developed by a globalized private sector. BQS Independent membership accreditation becomes a major instrument to ensure education quality ,competence and assurance in quality higher education .
Employers, parents, students, and others look to accrediting organizations for consistent and reliable information about educational institutions. There is no single model to ensures education quality and institutional accountability. What is essential to recognize is that in a global village, accreditation does take on many forms. What institutions of higher learning should be considering is not adding one or even two or three local accreditation in their home nation, but multiple, multinational accreditation globally.
Valid versus Bogus Agencies
Quality assurance agencies in higher education exist for many purposes. One area of their responsibility is checking that institutions or programs meet certain criteria, requirements or standards, or achieve certain levels of performance. The accreditation process is intended to prevent the creation or continuation of poor quality programs or institutions, and hence it is a consumer protection mechanism. Some institutions are genuine but of poor quality, and some institutions (often called degree mills or diploma mills) purport to provide qualifications, at a price, but the qualification is worthless because the ‘institution’ requires insufficient – perhaps no – work to achieve it.
The accreditation process is intended to weed out these inadequate institutions.
The US Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) has suggested the following tests that can be applied to a purported accrediting body.
- Does the operation allow accredited status to be purchased?
- Does the operation publish lists of institutions or programs they claim to have accredited without those institutions and programs knowing that they are listed or have been accredited?
- Does the operation claim that it is recognized (by some other body) when it is not?
- Are few if any standards for quality published by the operation?
- Is a very short period of time required to achieve accredited status?
- Are accreditation reviews routinely confined to submitting documents and do not include site visits or interviews of key personnel by the accrediting organization?
- Is ‘permanent’ accreditation granted without any requirement for subsequent periodic review, either by an external body or by the organization itself?
- Does the operation use organizational names similar to recognized accrediting organizations?
- Does the operation make claims in its publications for which there is no evidence?
- Does the operation claim that its accreditations would have international status?
- Does the operation claim recognition by international bodies or associations that in themselves are not in to the field of accreditation? (Examples would include UNESCO, NAFSA, AACRAO, EAIE.
To assist the consumer of higher education, UNESCO has developed a Portal that provides reference to accredited institutions in many countries.
NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY:
BQS provides its services and/or products to all individuals without regard to race, color, creed, disability, gender, or sexual orientation.
DISCLAIMER:
BQS makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of information found in its publications and on its web sites, it assumes no responsibility for the authenticity, accuracy or validity of opinions expressed and represented therein. Links to external web sites do not constitute endorsements of products or services. Accordingly, the BQS cannot be held liable for any damages resulting from its programs, activities, print materials or electronic communications.
Copyright © 2011 Board of Qualilty Standards . All rights reserved.
