Accreditation Ensures Educational Standards

Accreditation is the formal recognition granted to an institution or programme that meets specific, pre-established standards of quality. It is a vital indicator of an institution's internal quality mechanism and is awarded by an authoritative body, often at a national level. It is a brand name of an institution. From enhancing institutional credibility to ensuring programme quality, accreditation plays a pivotal role in shaping the educational landscape.  At its essence, accreditation ensures that an institution or programme is meeting the established standards of quality. 

Academic aspects

Accrediting agencies evaluate various academic aspects, including graduates' trends, curriculum design, faculty qualification, graduates' employability, planning and growth, research and extension activities, teaching methodologies, infrastructures, job placement, students support, financial sustainability, integration of technology in teaching learning, institute's communication system and public relation. By adhering to these and many other standards, any institution can provide students with high-quality education to attain international credibility and excellence in higher institutes. For this, our education policy should incorporate accreditation as mandatory. Higher education policy should focus on attracting talented and efficient faculties to uphold the dignity of higher education.

Without accreditation, there is no formal mechanism to guarantee that an institute is meeting the benchmarks necessary for effective teaching and learning. Accreditation is a mark of approval, which indicates an institution has been rigorously assessed and found competent to deliver education that meets international standards. Institutes that are not accredited face significant disadvantages, including lack of credibility, with their qualifications not being recognised, and even the institutes themselves succumbing to indefinite closure. Graduates from institutes without accreditation struggle to find jobs or enrol in higher education programmes due to the lack of recognised credentials. An unaccredited institute faces complications with transferring credits for international-level students. 

Of course, the process of accreditation proves to be a considerably challenging one and involves extensive documentation, self-assessment and external audit. Institutions must invest a significant amount of their time, effort and resources in meeting the already set standards.  Accreditation assures that an institute adheres to specific quality standards in its teaching methods, graduates trend, pass percentage, facilities and outcomes. In the context of students, it would mean getting education or training that is recognised by employers and institutions. For the prosperity and broader economy of the country, it will nurture a more competent workforce, reducing the skill gap and enhancing competitiveness.

Global recognition 

The donors and funders of scholarships want to know if their donations and funds are going to legitimate institutions offering quality education and opportunity to their students. Nepal's education sector is at a crossroads. It has failed to produce efficient and skilled human resources demanded by the global job market. Higher Education sans global recognition has no value. Educational products from nominal universities and colleges are less likely to be employed in the market.  So, it is the demand of the global market and necessity of the day. By assimilating new technology and changing pedagogy, we have to modify and adopt a new dimension of learning to make higher education globally excellent.

(The author is a Tehrathum-based teacher.)