TECHNOLOGY CORNEROpen Online Coursesare changing the Future ofEducationPage 25

FEATURED

Page 16

FROM THE IAO'S DESKLatest Happenings and Educational Accreditation Updates

Page 27

Events in FocusIAO's Evaluation

Commission Visits

Q&A SessionBrayden De Satg

answers your queries

To view online or subscribe, visit: http://iao.org/magazine/

In Conversation with

Shri P.R AgarwalaChairman, Sobhasaria Group of Institutes

Through IAO’s Recommendation Reports

MAIN STORY:

THE PATH TOCONTINUOUSQUALITYIMPROVEMENT

The Need and Techniques PreparingStudents for Workplace Success

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It also will examine the promise we hold for improved learning, as well as some of the challenges for finding success @In this era of Globalization, more and more educationists

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and adds tremendous brand value to education systems.

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Featuredin this issue

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IAO’s Evaluation Commission’s Visit to:

The Path to Continuous QualityImprovement –Through IAO’sRecommendation Reports

Main Story

Contents

IAO Accreditor

121314

Preparing International Studentsfor SuccessSocial Media - How Tweet It Is

16

24

Hot Topic

15

Events In Focus

8 Sobhasaria Engineering CollegeThebes AcademyInternational Media AcademyUniversity of YacambuApex InstituteSkillful TradingRegional Information Technology InstituteAtlas Translation Services

18

Editorial

Contents

IAO Accreditor

Brief Word from the Editor07

Technology Corner

Feedback

Q&A

27

28

From the IAO's Desk

Gamifying the Classroom

Make Way for Open Online Courses

17

25

Q&A Session with Brayden De Stag26

Renew Your Membership BeforeYou Lose The Winning Edge

IAO’s Globally Accredited Education Providers

Letters to the Editor6

20 In Conversation with Shri P.R. Agrawala

Interview

Feedback

feedback

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Impressed!

I would just like to thank IAO for issuing such an impressive magazine to enable us readers to stay updated on the latest happenings of the acreditation industry and tell us how the accreditation is changing the face of educational quality assurance. It surely represents the hardwork of IAO team who put all the effort in compiling all the information. It goes without saying that the IAO Accreditor magazine is the result of the cooperation of all educatioists, accreditation professionals, government officials and all other stakeholders.

- Sue Sumpter

I love Technology Centre the best. It comes with such handy tips and ideas that helps us to transform ourselves so that we can compete and thrive in today's economy. The latest solutions and product innovations help us sharpen our knowledge.

- Ronald Rodriguez

TREP OF THE MONTH

TELL US ABOUT IT

LETTERS

IAO Accreditor6

Disclaimer:IAO ACCREDITOR Magazine makes no warranties or representations of any kind concerning the accuracy or suitability of the information contained in this magazine for any purpose. All such information is provided "as is" and with specific disclaimer of any warranties of merchantability, fitness for purpose, title and/or non-infringement. The opinions and writings of all authors in this magazine are merely an expression of the author's own thoughts, knowledge or information that they have gathered for publication in this magazine. IAO ACCREDITOR does not endorse such authors nor represent that their writings are accurate or suitable for any purpose or practice whatsoever. The publisher, authors and contributors reserve their rights in regard to copyright of their work in the IAO ACCREDITOR Magazine. No part of this work covered by the copyright may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means without the written consent of the publisher. While every effort has been made to ensure that information is correct at the time of going to print, IAO ACCREDITOR cannot be held responsible for the outcome of any action or decision based on the information contained in this publication. It is advisable that no person, organization or party should rely or in any way act upon any part of the contents of this publication whether that information is sourced from the website, magazine or related product without first obtaining the advice of a fully qualified person.

email us at: feedback@iaoaccreditor.com

The article titled "International Accredita-tion in the Digital Age" grabbed my atten-tion. I completely agree that accredita-tion is essential for an educational institute's quality of educational programs. Being a faculty member at a Mexican University, I completely agree that international accreditation is gradu-ally taking up the plane in the educational quality assurance arena. The author has so rightly put international accreditation as the the need of time for educational institutes. If the institues do so, they would benefit from increased students enrolments regionally & internationally because they offer international level quality programs.

The accreditation also helps the staff membes to develop themselves profes-sionally; and I am looking forward to one such opportunity.

- Barbara Dilos

Unlocking the KnowledgeSkill Set

6

EDITORIAL NOTEThinking of how should I start this editorial note, I came across thisbeautiful quote from Theodore Roosevelt, "Nothing in the world isworth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain anddifficulty". This is very much applicable to all the educationalinstitutes that undergo the whole process of accreditation as it avery long and difficult process. Yet, educational institutions want toget accredited as it represents their commitment to deliver qualityeducation to students.

International Accreditation Organization - IAO, has made thisdifficult and long process a very easy one for educational institutionsall over the world to ensure students that they receive qualityeducation. IAO has laid the foundation for international standards ofeducation to serve as a benchmark for global educational institutions.

To achieve this mission, IAO provides recommendations to each educational institute individually to upgrade their education system in accordance with the applicable international education standards. And that is what our cover story - The Path to Continuous Quality Improvement is all about.

The changing times have not only called for the updation in educa-tional standards but also how the educational institutes preparestudents for success in the workplace. You can view these tips inthe featured topics. This section also covers the topic of how socialmedia has changed our everyday lives too and what role can it alsoplay in the educational development and learning of the students.The Technology section discusses how online classrooms arestarting to replace the traditional classroom and how they canfurther be upgraded to the new systems.

Lastly, but not the least, you can always find information aboutIAO's latest happenings, IAO's interview with the Chairman ofSobhasaria Group of Institutes, Mr. Shri P.R Agarwala; and a Q&Asession to provide insights into educational accreditation industry.Hope you enjoy your read as much as we did while putting it alltogether.

We are declaring an ‘open-door’ policy here. We invite our readersto contact us with ideas, comments, criticism, whatever will help uskeep IAO ACCREDITOR the respected industry resource it hasbecome. Visit us online at www.iao.org. We look forward tomeeting you.

IAO Accreditor 7

Sincerely,

Jeff WrightEditor-in-chiefj.wright@iaoaccreditor.com

Editorial

The Officials busy validating the information

The Commission Member Visiting the Library

Having a talk with the students Impressive University Premises

The spacious & modern computer centre

Events in Focus

IAO’s Evaluation Commission’s VisitSobhasaria Engineering College

IAO Accreditor8

Events in Focus

The Grand Reception of the IAO's Evaluation Commission Member

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Events in Focus

Visiting the Computer Lab

Spacious Lecture Halls

The Engineering Lab With the Academy's staff

Students studying at the library

IAO’s Evaluation Commission’s Visit Thebes Academy

IAO's Evaluation Commission Member & Institute'sofficials busy in discussion

ALLIANCE

IAO Accreditor10

Events in Focus

The Media Training Room

The sound system room

The students having a good time in the cafeteria The latest music classroom

The students during training

IAO’s Evaluation Commission’s Visit International Media Academy

The Management Team & the Students

IAO’s Evaluation Commission’s Visit University of Yacambu

IAO Accreditor 11

Events in Focus

The impressive campus buildingLush green lawns at the unievrsity campus

Students receiving practical lessons

Students at the classroom Shuttle facility of the university

Students receiving practical lessons

ALLIANCE

IAO Accreditor12

Events in Focus

The institute's management with IAO's Commission Member

Wide Variety of Training Areas

The huge training hall During a Training

Strong list of Apex's Clients

IAO’s Evaluation Commission’s Visit Apex Institute

Warm Welcome at the institute premises

IAO’s Evaluation Commission’s Visit Skillful Trading

IAO Accreditor 13

Events in Focus

Impressive interiorThe institute's building

IAO's Commission Member busy evaluating the institute's documents

The Lecture hall The skilled staff

Training room at the institute

ALLIANCE

IAO Accreditor14

Events in Focus

The institute's Chairman with IAO's Evaluation Commission Member

IAO's Evaluation Commission Member at the library

At the computer lab The institute's Chairman & staff with IAO's Evaluation Commission Member

The Commission Member enjoying his time

IAO’s Evaluation Commission’s Visit Regional Information Technology Institute

The beaufitul architechture

IAO’s Evaluation Commission’s Visit Atlas Translation Services

IAO Accreditor 15

Events in Focus

The institute's Chairman presenting Institute's book to the Comission MemberThe Chairman in his office

The institute's staff with students

The guest award presented to the IAO's Evaluation Commission Member The commission member showing his prepared Audit report

The students at a training class

Preparing

for

International Students Success

O

Featured Topic

ver the past few decades, the global landscape has undergone dramatic changes. Apart from the obvious economic and technological developments that have taken place recently, education, one of the most impor-

tant sectors of an economy, has come to the forefront with a large number of students travelling halfway across the world in search for quality education and enlightening experiences. In the United States alone, the number of international students study-ing at American universities has grown by nearly 32% in the past decade. These figures are according to a report drafted by the Institute of International Education’s Open Doors; a comprehen-sive, national data and information resource on US and interna-tional individuals studying or teaching in US and abroad.

large portion of that figure consists of Chinese students; over one-fifth of the total international student population. Statistics show that there has been a 23% increase in the number of Chinese students studying in the US.

Studying abroad has its advantages; both for the student as well as for the host country. As an international student, you have the opportunity to experience different cultures and opinions while simultaneously develop and hone the skills needed to become a professional. For the host country, such exchanges project a positive image as well as provide revenue in terms of admission and course fees.In spite of all its benefits, numerous international students face difficulty brought about by intense challenges

IAO Accreditor16

from their surrounding environment. Many of them cannot speak proper English and struggle to understand and ultimately adapt to Western customs and traditions. Similarly, universities and other educational institutions find it extremely challenging to help such students ‘settle in’ and find a job once they graduate.

In order to prepare students for the workplace and help pave their way towards success, a program developed by the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) comes up with an approach that cultivates students’ skills and makes them ready to enter the corporate arena. This program aims to build proficiency and competence in four key areas, namely:

Communication: Students are made to work on theirEnglish language skills, thus enabling them to communicate and interact effectively. The section ofprogram also helps to polish their presentation skills.

Acculturation: Students are made aware of USculture with respect to common customs and traditions as well as workplace norms and etiquette.

Job Search Skills: Students are taught how to writeproper resumes and cover letters. They are even given tips and guidance with respect to searching for the rightjob as well as preparing for interviews.

Self- Awareness: Students are given an insight into theirpotentials as future business professionals so that they may align their abilities with their career goals.

Through the above step-by-step process, academic institu-tions can hope to help international students integrate into the student population and get on the path of career success. As a result of the implementation of such programs, students develop with more self-confidence and competitive job skills. They are also better prepared to communicate their value to potential employers.

Technology Corner

A new method of managing classroom instructions and deliver-ing coursework is slowly making its way into the world of educa-tion, which is called Gamification. The term can be defined as the use of game mechanics and dynamics to achieve desired behav-iors. ‘Gamifying the classroom’ simply means presenting the class content in an exciting and engaging way. To further increase motivation, the method makes use of a rewards system, badges and quests so as to enhance the experience levels of students and encourage healthy competition.

Why Gamify Learning?

As we all know, games, in any form, manage to engage users via interesting and innovative game techniques. If we look at the current education scenario, we notice a great lack of motivation at all levels- around 1.2 million American students fail to graduate from high school each year and at the college level, according to a Harvard Graduate School of Education study, only 56% of students complete four-year degrees within six years. In contrast, video games have proven to increase user engagement by a great extent; 28 million people take care of their crops on Farmville daily (Mashable, 2010), and over five million people are glued to World of Warcraft for more than 40 hours per week (Blizzard, 2010). So, by adding the excitement and fun associ-ated with video games to the classroom environment, it can be expected that the motivation level of students will increase dramatically. Here are some examples of successful gamification projects:

Gamifying the Classroom

Lee Sheldon is a professor at Indiana University. He has gamified his course by changing grades to ‘experience points’ system. Students’ grades are now determined by the number of points they have secured at the end of the course.

Khan Academy has completely changed the dynamics of education by providing thousands of educational videos for students. As students watch these videos and complete problem sets, they are awarded points and badges.

Mr. Pai, a 3rd grade teacher transformed the traditional way of classroom learning by introducing Nintendo DS, among other technology to his curriculum. His students practiced math and language through the use of computer and video games.

Steven Johnson, an assistant professor of management information systems at Temple University's Fox School of Business in Philadelphia, utilized gamification in his social media innovation course. Students take the course as a "Social Media Innovation Quest" where they can earn points for different activities and receive badges at certain levels, which include "rookie," "ace," "magnificent," and "virtuoso."

As gamification continues to gain popularity, it is bound to create a huge dent in the traditional education landscape.

Educators need to realize the potential of gamification and work on research-based, gamification projects in order to add maximum value to their education systems.

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IAO Accreditor18

Accreditation has evolved over the years to international accreditation in response to the changes in the educa-tion environment. International Accreditation plays a vital role in education because both the education

community and government use the system to promote and assure quality and protect the public interest, glob-ally. It is one of the major ways in which the education community sets expec-tations for quality and also defines governments’ and public interest in education. International Accreditation is founded on the principles of self-review and evaluation.

Accreditation is a very large and com-plex public-private system of federal, state and private regulators. The number and diversity of accrediting organizations has grown as a result of the increasing diversity of educational institutions, new education techniques such as distance learning, and growing public and private interest in assuring quality in specific programs such as

THE PATH TO CONTINUOUSQUALITY IMPROVEMENTTHROUGH IAO’SRECOMMENDATION REPORTS

Quality Assurance& Diversity

Cover Story

IAO Accreditor 19

Cover Story

education, business, and engineering. This has led to the establishment of accrediting organizations with different quality standards and processes that are not fully comparable and non- transparent to government and other public stakeholders.

The final matrix gives the overall picture of an institution’s educational standards and also recommends ways to improve them.

IAO is an international agency working to enhance the standards of education in all education sectors. It operates worldwide, granting educational accreditation upon evaluation to institutions involved in offering education in all disciplines. The organization works in close coordination with their members to develop standards for quality. They also conduct a review process to determine whether institutions and programs meet those educational standards and can be formally accredited. The review process is also used to suggest improvements in quality through self-evaluation and recommendations. The agency has a rating system through which IAO does not pass or fail institutes. The main purpose of IAO is to promote education worldwide. IAO has a unique Points Profile System that does not discourage the newly established institutes by disqualifying them. The Points Profile System determines strengths, weaknesses and offers recommendations to the institutions with which they can improve their standards. The concept of Profile Points System assigns points to every answer submitted and rates them to calculate a final score for each dimension. These scores are put together to form a matrix that measures the quality of an institute from different perspectives. The profile point system is intelligently designed to determine strengths and areas that need improvement to match the international standards.

Every fully accredited institute of IAO receives Recommendation Reports at regular intervals to enhance their entity’s educational practices and standards. As the name suggests, these reports provide recommenda-tions for the factors that have implica-tions for full accreditation based on the data provided in the application form.

The Recommendation Guidelines provided by the IAO to its accredited education providers are prepared with the goal to lead them with further improvement for their education systems. The IAO was established for assuring quality in the education system by accrediting traditional and nontradi-tional education providers and their study programs. In a very short span of time, the IAO managed to setup a unique and patented accreditation system, known as Points Profile System, with sufficient human, financial and expert resources. The evaluation commission of IAO, as the main decision making body of the accredita-tion agency, takes strategic and accreditation decisions and oversees the quality of the institution’s study programs. The panel endorses that IAO’s accredited education providers are compliant with the IAO Standards and Guidelines; however by means of the Recommendation Guides, IAO proposes several recommendations in the light of further development of the institution. The panel stresses the need for improvement of such areas. There are normally points in the system for further development and improvement which will contribute to higher quality of the education standards.

Role of IAO in InternationalEducationalQuality Assurance

Key Dimensions Tothe Institute’s Ranking

Exclusive Recommendation Reports to Improve your Institute’s Education Standards

Organizational Management

Academic Management

Institutional Performance

IAO’S Recommendation Reports are meant to enhance the educational practices and standards of educational institutions so they are on a par with international educational quality standards, enjoy increased students enrolments and international recognition.

Currently, I am serving as the Chairman of Sobhasaria Group of Institutions. We are proud to be a member of the National Board of Accreditation (NBA), India. Our institute has been set up in 27 Acres of land with very high standards of infrastructure and well laid down labs and classrooms with very ambient lush green environ-ment which create a very good atmosphere for teaching/ learning/ research.

I am currently heading Rupa & Co. Ltd, Rupa Dyeing & Printing Ltd and Sobhasaria Group of Institutions as Chairman

I am also serving as Board of Governors of Heritage Institute of Technology, Kolkata, a prestigious college of West Bengal,Kharagpur

I am also working with three Vice Presidents and a dedicated team of Board of Directors to bring laurels to Sobhasaria Group of Institutions so as to make it number one amongst private institutions of Rajasthan. We aim to provide education with a difference so that our students are recognized world wide

I have acquired the following qualifications:

B.Com from Calcutta University LLB from Calcutta University

Interview

Mr. Shri P. RAgarwala

IAO In Conversation with

A:

A:

Could you please tell us about your academic background and achievements?

Q:

Your extensive experience can be a source of inspiration for many; please share with us the professional milestones you have achieved so far?

Q:

IAO Accreditor20

Qualifications & Experience

Interview

As Chairman of the institute my short term goal is to provide the best infrastructure and to provide the best available faculty so that Rajasthan can be proud of our institute as the “BEST TECHNICAL EDUCATION CENTER” of Rajasthan in terms of education and research.

On a long term goal, I wish to convert it into an International University of repute and we have already proceeded in this regard by making a World Class Hostel for Foreign students.

The biggest challenge as on date is to recruit the best faculty and we have to find ways and means to retain them. I think in this direction we have been fairly successful.

A:

A:

As the Chairman of the University what are some of your long and short term goals for the education system at the University?

Q:

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Rupa is a well recognized name in hosiery, worldwide. Over and above I have the distinction of being Sr. Vice President of Bharat Chander of Commerce

I have also been the President of West Bengal Hosiery Association

Challenges & Opportunties

Being the Chairman, what do you think your biggest challenges will be?

Q:

We have no hesitation to learn the best teaching-learning practices from others and share their knowledge and wisdom worldwide, if the same can transform the lives of our students to become professionals in their carriers. Our emphasis has been for knowledge development and exchange of creative thoughts and ideas.

A:

We believe in reasonable tuition fee so that the standard education is passed on to the masses. In

A:

Interests & OpinionsWhat is your philosophy for effective teaching methodology?

Q:

In the wake of hiking tuition fee, do you predict a decline in overall enrolment in higher education institutes/universities?

Q:

order to attract meritorious students, we provide scholarships liberally. However, I am a firm believer that quality of education must be the priority for the institute and our belief is not on profit making but to provide education with a difference internationally.

For quality assurance, accreditation is very impor-tant for institutions in Higher Education sector also. Therefore, institutions in education sector also need to have a stamp of an independent agency of

I am a firm believer that non-traditional methods of education can fill up the gap of technical manpower on a short term goal only. In order to get the in-depth knowledge of Engineering and Manage-ment, one must go through the various technical sessions and labs to be professional in their career.

Interview

A:

In the recent times it has been observed that many students are opting for non-traditional methods of education, like distance learning, etc. Do these alternative methods produce equally competent graduates?

Q:

What, in your opinion, is the perceived value of accreditation for:(a) Education Providers(b) Students

Q:

IAO Accreditor22

It means means following the standard practices for imparting best educationEnhances trust and confidence in the institute and assures degrees acceptability

A: (a)

(b)

Do you think IAO’s international accreditation has made a difference in the world of education? If so, then how?

Q:

international standard. This helps an institute to get into an international club of institutions which are accredited by the same agency. The IAO's accreditation brings an institute at a common meeting point where it can freely exchange thoughts across the universities or colleges across the world. It also helps the institution to collabo-rate with them on various academic initiative and more importantly consult each other on curriculum and effec-

The time has passed when there used to be general purpose engineers to perform the given tasks. With the advancement in technical education, I am of the option that we should have more and more specified Engineer-ing branches wherein detailed knowledge about the subject can be imparted to the students so that they are more useful to the society in terms of research and devel-opment of industry at large. In a competitive world it is the survival of the fittest.

Do you think technological advancement has helped in effective learning for students or is it more of a distraction?

Whenever I have spare time, I reach on the internet for the best practices for the welfare of the industry and good teaching practices to imporve the education and learning standards of the university.

Q:

A:

A:

Ending NoteWhat do you do in your spare time?Q:

The key areas where institutions need to improve are research, publications, faculty quality, PhD ratios, conference presentations, international teaching, governance, better corporate networking, etc.

A:

Dr. Agarwala, thank you for taking the time to answer a few questions for IAO ACCREDITOR. Do you have any message or piece of advice for educationists and students?

Q:

“International accreditation by the IAO encourages global networking

with other peer institutes bringing in new knowledge and culture from different regions of the world.”

IAO Accreditor24

typical day in the life of a university student normally consists of the following routine; studying for midterms and finals, meeting up with friends, playing sports and using social media tools such as Facebook and Twitter – a phenomenon that has, in just a few years, taken the world by storm. If numbers are anything to go by, social media then would be the most oft-used tool of the nearly 56% have

either used or have a profile on social networks while a whopping 1.2 billion people have accounts on Facebook.

Research tells us that social networking websites such as Face-book and Twitter are considered the most reliable sources of information by students around the world. They are tools through students are able to stay connected with their peers, their institute and the wider world. Many instructors may argue that social media websites such as Facebook are a waste of time; students are unable to pay attention to their studies or develop constructive learning habits because they’re always on Face-book. On the other hand, there are others belonging to certain educational institutions that see potential in these websites and are, as a result, trying to incorporate them into their institute’s curriculum as a way of establishing and maintaining a connection between students and the institute.

One of the major reasons why students prefer to stay connected to social media (and which is also why universities and colleges are now suddenly paying attention) is the provision of information related to their school, friends and about what’s happening around the world in real-time. The immediacy with which

Featured Topic

Ainformation can be accessed through social media is unparal-leled by any other medium which is why many educational institutes are taking the plunge by attempting to connect with their students via this unique medium. As a result of this emerging trend, many business schools have made their fan pages on Facebook in order to interact with their students. Yet, utilizing social media effectively does not neces-sarily mean to connect with a student via just a fan page. They must integrate such pages with their home websites through links – something that will ultimately help cement the relationship between a student and his/her university but is a practice that many universities rarely adopt. According to a survey conducted by BizEd Magazine in which nearly 371 business schools were surveyed, around 36% - a figure of 133 schools – did not provide links to their feeds on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or LinkedIn from their websites.

Adding links to social media feeds is as easy as loading each social media service's plug-in to a Web site. Plug-ins can be found on Facebook, LinkedIn, and other social media outlets on their Web site developer pages. Schools that haven't taken this step could be reducing the impact of their social media content by up to 70 percent.

With today's social media tools, business schools can enhance their visibility in the market, connect with constituents at greater speed, and take only seconds to provide their students with new opportunities to learn. Simply put, social media is how today's students communicate. Whether by tweet, like, or status update, it's time for business schools to get that message.

SocialMedia- How Tweet It Is!

IAO Accreditor 25

Technology Corner

Massive Open Online Courses are a recent and major develop-ment in distance education. These courses are similar to college courses; except that they are meant for a larger student base, providing open and free access to the course material via the web. Harvard, MIT and Duke are among the leading educa-tional institutions that are offering free online courses in collaboration with Coursera, edX and Udacity- some of the major platforms to deliver the MOOCs. Stanford University also offered two free open courses (Computer Networking and Solar Cells, Fuel Cells, & Batteries) with Class2Go in fall 2012.

One of the most prominent platforms to deliver the MOOC is Coursera which was developed by Daphne Koller and Andrew Ng, computer science professors from Stanford University in California. Coursera partners with the world’s top universities and now offers around 119 MOOCs.

Darden School of Business by University of Virginia has recently announced ‘New Models of Business in Society’, an open online course, or MOOC in collaboration with Coursera. Darden Professor, R. Edward Freeman is going to conduct this class to the Coursera community. The same school delivered its first Coursera class in January 2013 on "Grow to Greatness- Smart Growth for Private Business," which received 71,000 registrations on its start date.

In July 2012, Coursera held a face-to-face event for students near San Francisco which invited all of its students to come and meet their classmates and professors.

In Sept. 2012, Colorado State University became the first U.S.-based University to offer academic credit for Udacity course. To earn three credits for Udacity's "Introduction to Computer Science: Building a Search Engine," students need to earn a "certificate of completion" and pass a proficiency exam.

In Sept. 2012, edX announced its collaboration with Pearson VUE, the leading provider of global computer-based testing solutions, to provide its learners the option to take a final exam to prove their proficiency in its free online courses.

The above developments indicate the quick development and popularity of MOOCs. However, most educational experts agree that MOOCs still have a long way to go before they could be compared to smaller traditional or online courses. Nonethe-less, the enrolment of hundreds and thousands of learners in MOOCs indicates that this mode of delivery will soon impact the future of education.

Make Way forOpen OnlineCourses

Q&A

We say that the faculty should be given an opprutnity to pursue research & fellowship activites. I wonder, if that happens then how will they keep a balance between their teaching and studying?

Q: What are your suggestions for our school in terms of enhancing students admission policies? How will these policies contribute towards our school's improvement?

Q:

Hi. I am an administrative officer at an educational institute in africa. We regularly receive updates about improving educational standards for our institute. However, i have reservations in one area i.e. Marketing. Could you please elaborate on how we can do effective marketing to get more students enrolmnents.

Q:

First of all, please understand that good faculty shoud be the foremost priority of your educational institute. We highly encourage institutes that they help their faculty pursue research & scholarships as that would better prepare them to contribute more to the educational environement and strengthen the teaching and learning environment. In case of unavailability of the teacher, the classes can be scheduled online as per the faculty member's availability. If it so appears that the institute does not have much technological advancements then a new faculty ememebr can take over. But always remember, best educational institutions set themselves apart with their continuous commitment to faculty development.

I appreciate your concern in knowing how students admission policies will contribute towards your schools success. to enhance your school's admission policies, firstly I would like to suggest that your school first develop clear enrolment goals and establish such strategies that enable the delivery of effective academic programs and promote students success. Your school should also clearly define policies for a wide variety of students such as students who are returning back to studies, or students who have disability, or senior citizens etc. All information about the confidentiality of the student's records and information, admission criteria, fees and fundings, concessionary offers in different situations and cases, closing dates etc; should be clearly specified on all the marketing material and also the implications if not obliged. These few factors should form the framewok of your school's policies.

First of all we are glad that you are a member of IAO global institutions network. We are very thankful that your institution practises the techniques and policies suggested by IAO for imporving and standardizing the educational standards. Now answering your question, please note that different countries have different educational environments and educational systems. So, the marketing strategies for your educational institute should be designed by keeping in mind your country's educational environment. A few basic and sugegsted ones are: website, publications, advertisements, press releases etc.

A:

A: A:

How does IAO define ' Measure of Students Success'?

Q:We measure students success when they have acquired the following skill set: A:

Send us your questions at: qasession@iaoaccreditor.com

Communicate effectively

Solve problems and make decisions using critical

and creative thinking

Use technology effectively

Work, get along well with others and participate as

responsible citizens

Explore educational and career goals

Apply aesthetic judgment in everyday life

Make wise and safe choices for healthy living

IAO Accreditor26

IAO Accreditor 27

Upfront

FROMTHE IAO’SRenew Your Membership Before You Lose The Winning Edge

DESK

IAO’s Accreditation provides an opportunity to improve the educational quality of your institution. It provides a means of evaluating and comparing your courses/programs, facilities, and procedures with those of others.

It involves a process whereby an accrediting body grants public recognition to an institution as having met certain standards.As a fully accredited institute, you have received a number of incomparable benefits and you can continue to reap the same and more value added benefits if you renew your membership. As an IAO’s renewed accredited member you will receive the following:

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FROMTHE IAO’SRenew Your Membership Before You Lose The Winning Edge

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As IAO's Fully Accredited University, you can promote yourself at IAO's educational events and seminars by participating in them. IAO will also send its publica-tions from time to time to your Universityto keep you updated on educational practices you can adopt to enhance your University 's educational standards.

By renewing your IAO’s full accreditation, you will receive professional development opportunity of your staff members by participating in IAO's conferences and seminars. It will also encourage exchange of information, technology and resources on quality assurance standards and good educational practices on an international level.

Upon receiving Full Accreditation, the University will get a Full Accreditation Certificate & Seal that your University can use to promote on several mediums including your website, official documents and marketing collaterals.

IAO will send its recommendation reports at regular intervals to enhance your University's educational practices and standards. Also, a dedicated accreditation consultant will be available to support you for your queries.

IAO's Renewed Full Accreditation Certificate & Seal Continuous Improvement of Educational Standards

IAO's accreditation will continue to enhance the education provider’s profile on an international level, ensuring that the educational programs of the entity are globally recognized and accepted. Upon renewing your IAO's accreditation, the education provider will be able to enjoy continued record student enrollments, and the degrees offered will be accepted by leading national and multinational organizations the world over.

As an IAO’s renewed fully accredited institution, you will be awarded with an updated IAO's unique and patented Points Profile Score which will ensure that the educa-tional programs are on a par with the global standards. IAO's Points Profile Score is a testament of the quality education that the education provider delivers and you can continue enjoying a competitive edge over all regional and international education providers.

International Accreditation with Regional Recognition International Benchmark in Education Standards

Professional Development OpportunityInternational Promotion & Access to IAO's Publications

IAO’s Globally Accredited Education ProvidersIAO has awarded accreditation to a large number of education providers around the world with its educational accreditation services. The agency grants accreditation to educational institutions after evaluating them through its points profile system.

Following is the list of fully accredited and candidate universities, institutes and schools.

Candidate for Accreditation

International School Of Business &Media

Ibn Khaldun Training Center

Dr. K. N. Modi University

CoimbatoreInstitute of Technology

St.Andrew’s College

Benaa AlrowadCenter

Arab Consulting andDevelopment Corporation

Asia Pacific Institute of Technology

National Institute of Business Management

Fully Accredited

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Universidad Yacambú

AZ International

Kawader

Budding Babies

Sofcon India Pvt. Ltd.

The DJ Academy

Connect-2-Hair Ltd

Chef Academy ofLondon

Maple InternationalEducation

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IAO’s Globally Accredited Education ProvidersIAO has awarded accreditation to a large number of education providers around the world with its educational accreditation services. The agency grants accreditation to educational institutions after evaluating them through its points profile system.

Following is the list of fully accredited and candidate universities, institutes and schools.

Candidate for Accreditation

Regional Information Technology Institute

ApexInstitute

Skillfull Trading

Lal bahadur ShastriInstitute of Management (LBSIM)

Fully Accredited

Atlas TranslationServices

Victory Training &Development Institute

MAK Group Business Solutions

World School

Skills International For Training &Consulting

Petra for Conferences

Consultants For Managerial & Technical Consultation

New Vision forStudies and Research

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Contact IAO

IAO, 10685-B Hazelhurst Dr. #11524Houston, TX 77043, USA

Phone: 1-866-2768-IAO (426)

Email: contact@iao.org

Website: http://iao.org

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