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.Marjorie Peace Lenn, Global Trends in Quality Assurance in Higher Education , World Education News and Reviews, v. 5, no. 2, Spring 1992, pages 1 and 21 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 (CHEA), 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 (non-governmental) 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 (Albanian: Agjencia e Sigurimit të Cilësisë në Arsimin e Lartë) 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 (TEQSA). 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 advice from special bodies. The ministry follows the body's advice in almost every case.
Business Schools – the official consultation body is the . There are two levels of accreditation. Accreditation by collation of master's degree Accreditation by visa Engineering Schools – the official consultation body is the . 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 (National Commission for Vocational Certification). Accreditation by inscription on the Répertoire national des certifications professionnelles (National Repertory of Vocational Certifications), which is a five-level listing.
The , which is a non-profit association, issues three types of accreditation:
Accreditation of Mastère Spécialisé (Specialized Master or Advanced Master), only in grandes écoles Accreditation of Mastère en sciences (MSc), only in grandes écoles Accreditation of Bilan d'aptitude délivré par les grandes écoles (Assessment of competency issued by grandes écoles), only in grandes écoles
French schools, mainly Business Schools, may seek non-French accreditation.
Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) Association of MBAs (AMBA) European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) EFMD Quality Improvement System (EQUIS), the more prestigious EFMD Program Accreditation System (EPAS)
Germany The Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder in the Federal Republic of Germany (Kultusministerkonferenz or KMK) was founded in 1948 by an agreement between the states of the Federal Republic of Germany.Standing Conference of the Ministries of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder in the Federal Republic of Germany, Foundation and Composition Among its core responsibilities, the KMK ensures quality development and continuity in tertiary education.Standing Conference of the Ministries of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder in the Federal Republic of Germany, Qualitätssicherung im Hochschulbereich Bachelor and Master programs must be accredited in accordance to a resolution of the Kultusministerkonerenz.Kultusministerkonferenz. Ländergemeinsame Strukturvorgaben gemäß § 9 Abs. 2 HRG für die Akkreditierung von Bachelor- und Masterstudiengängen. October 10, 2003, amended September 18, 2008
The German Council of Science and Humanities (Wissenschaftsrat) was founded on September 5, 1957, and conducts institutional accreditation of private and religious universities since 2001.Council of Sciences and Humanities, Function
The Foundation for the Accreditation of Study Programs in Germany or Accreditation Council (Akkreditierungsrat) was created in a KMK resolution on October 15, 2004.Resolution of the Standing Conference of the Ministries of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany of December 16, 2004. Agreement on the Foundation "Foundation: Accreditation of Study Courses in Germany." The Accreditation Council certifies accreditation agencies and establishes guidelines and criteria for program and system accreditation.Accreditation Council, Mission Statement There are currently ten certified agencies.Accreditation Council, Accreditation 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 (system accreditation) from state or state recognized Higher Education institutions in Germany and abroad.Accreditation Council, Accreditation of Programs 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 (HEIs). Accreditation is compulsory for all universities in Greece.
The HQA accredits programs of study for undergraduate degree and postgraduate degree and quality management systems (system accreditation) 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 (HEIs) in Greece are public (state) 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 (HKQF).
Assessment is made with reference to local and internationally recognized standards through a process of peer review. The HKCAAVQ issues 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.
Ireland