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Euclid University Accreditation How are intergovernmental institutions accredited? Syed Zahid Ali, Secretary General

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Page 1: Euclid University Accreditation

Euclid University Accreditation

How are intergovernmental institutions accredited?

Syed Zahid Ali, Secretary General

Page 2: Euclid University Accreditation

What is accreditation?

Accreditation as an external review and validation mechanism is not strictly identical with legal validity or recognition by the State authorities.

In most countries, at least until recently, the Ministry of (Higher) Education is the only State authority with the power to recognize institutions of higher education.

An emerging trend is for the Ministry of (Higher Education) to assign the accreditation responsibility to a separate agency.

Page 3: Euclid University Accreditation

US influence and leadership

Starting in the early 2000s, the US model begins to have international ramifications, due to US leadership in globalized higher education

The US is a different system because it has no national Ministry of Education. Its lose equivalent, the US Department of Education, recognizes valid accreditors mainly through the CHEA

US accreditation is mainly regional or specialized

US accreditation was a voluntary that is now de-facto a requirement to function, in addition to US state authorization (licensure)

Each one of the 50 US state can have it own recognition rules

Page 4: Euclid University Accreditation

WTO, US, globalization, institutional vetting

Starting in the late 1990s and early 2000s, unaccredited, substandard institutions become a US and global problem

Oregon ODA takes the lead as a vetting agency, but not without controversy

Other States follow Oregon’s lead

US institution oppose global deregulation as led by WTO

Increasing challenges over comparability of educational systems and degrees

European countries adopt ECTS and US Bachelor’s > Master’s > Doctorate format

Page 5: Euclid University Accreditation

What about university consortia and joint-degrees?

In this context, university consortia and joint-degrees become more difficult to regulate and accept because of conflicting sources of degree-authority and accreditation

Euclid consortium set up in 2006-2007, with accreditation from Ministry of Higher Education of Chad and joint-degree authority not satisfactory for long term

After discussion with Oregon ODA, agreement on the label (2007): “not a degree-granting institution. Please contact U. of Bangui for more information”

Page 6: Euclid University Accreditation

What about multilateral universities?

Several multilateral universities already in existence before 2008. They are assumed to be recognized / accredited by virtue of their creation and endorsement under international law

As subjects of international law, they are not directly subject to the national framework (for instance World Maritime University in Sweden

Variety of legal status, degree-granting authority and relationship with national authorities in headquarters country and other locations

United Nations University only becomes degree-granting in 2010, by resolution of United Nations General Assembly

Page 7: Euclid University Accreditation

2008: EUCLID open`MOU

In the 2008, EUCLID becomes the first multilateral institution to express State accreditation and recognition by instrument of international law: Article I:

“The Parties are participating in EUCLID (also properly called Pôle Universitaire Euclide and Euclid University) which has legal personality, not-for-profit status, and such capacities as may be necessary to exercise its functions and fulfill its objectives.

In order to ensure the international usefulness of the programs offered, EUCLID is chartered to confer diplomas, degrees and completion certificates accredited by the ministries of Education of the Participating Parties. EUCLID, a member of the Euclid University Consortium, receives the mandate to facilitate universal access to higher education and to foster the acquisition of knowledge and competencies under the supervision of the ministries of Education and Foreign Affairs of the Participating Parties.”

EUCLID begins UN registration process and sends updates to international agencies. ODA status updated (2008) to read: “ODA is currently evaluating the legal status of this entity” (in US law, States cannot actually evaluate the legal status of treaty-entities apart from US Federal law)

Page 8: Euclid University Accreditation

Accreditation until 2011

For EUCLID, accreditation is programmatic (programs inherited from Euclid Consortium) and under international law, but headquarters agreement necessary to obtain national Ministry of Education accreditation processes and label.

Other intergovernmental universities also begin national accreditation if possible, for instance UNU seeking accreditation in Japan and University of Peace accreditation in Costa Rica.

US accreditation not necessary for non-US institutions, but DETC US agency begins accrediting non-US institutions.

Page 9: Euclid University Accreditation

2011: CAR accreditation

EUCLID certified as a recognized / accredited institution under headquarters processes and agreement; obtains AAU then IAUP membership

Publication by United Nations of EUCLID treaty in December 2010 critical steps in providing verifiable confirmation of authority and legal status by trusted third party

EUCLID includes academic validation processes and certification for new Participating States

Several governments file statements of recognition and accreditation with US Department of State

Page 10: Euclid University Accreditation

2012: UN clarification

December 2012: United Nations Secretariat clarifies that EUCLID and 4 other UN-related institutions (United Nations University, World Maritime University, European University Institute, IMO Maritime Law Institute) are recognized a being accredited, even as some are undergoing national processes

Page 11: Euclid University Accreditation

2012-2013: Timor-Leste and Gambia

Instruments of Participation for Timor-Leste first to provide for academic verification and validation by national authority (Ministry of Education)

Gambia headquarters agreement provides for specific agreement with Ministry of Higher Education and issuance of Official Circular

Page 12: Euclid University Accreditation

December 2013: completion of US processes

EUCLID vetting processes completed with 3 States (Maine, Michigan, Oregon) with 1 last State in legal review toward completion (2015)

United Nations University, University for Peace and World Maritime University also benefit from EUCLID processes

Overcoming perception that institutions outside the United States can achieve superior academic standards remains a challenge

Page 13: Euclid University Accreditation

2014: intergovernmental universities updates

Ministry of Education of Sweden issues statement of clarification for World Maritime University

University for Peace completes accreditation processes in Costa Rica

Ministry of Higher Education of Gambia and National Commission for UNESCO issues documentation of accreditation and recognition for EUCLID

Page 14: Euclid University Accreditation

2015 and Beyond

Increased importance of autonomous accreditation agency forming regional and international networks (INQAAHE)

Increased globalization in higher education competing with increased protectionism in US and elsewhere

Growing concerns with lowering of standards, especially in for-profit institutions offering “accredited” yet increasingly sub-standard programs

Explosion of MOOCs and alternative institutions (Udacity, nano-degrees)

Page 15: Euclid University Accreditation

Summary

Globalization continues, including in higher education

The online revolution continues with positive and negative effects globally

Substandard institutions, including accredited ones, remain a major issue

For-profit institutions need to be carefully screened

Overseas branches and operations require special monitoring

Intergovernmental universities have now adopted the national accreditation model