Accreditation:
WADE Quality Accreditation
The WADE, World Association for Distance Education, will grant
recognition of distance educational quality to all the institutions
that meet our standards through a voluntary, non-governmental guided
self-regulation that is called accreditation.
Why is Accreditation Important?
Accreditation is important because it gives the assurance to the
public, in particular to prospective students, that you, as an
education provider, meet education quality standards in the global
market.
Prospective students usually feel insecure accessing the
international market when they need to measure the quality of a
foreign education provider with the standards known to them (set
forth by their own country). The World Association for Distance
Education accreditation may provide a global education quality
reference not limited or constrained by local regulations or
idiosyncrasies.
The comprehensive compilation of institutions provided by the
European ENIC-NARIC Network (National Academic Recognition
Information Centres) and the UNESCO IAU (International Association
of Universities) is usually limited to traditional universities
recognized by their corresponding Ministry of Education.
What happens then with many higher education initiatives that do not
fit in this category? What happens with those who provide innovative
pedagogical approaches, programs of study not yet recognized by the
traditional education establishment, or simply those who are
responding to the current global market demands?
The WADE Quality Accreditation becomes the best way to endorse them.
It is essential to recognize that in a global market, accreditation
does take on many forms. The perception of US accreditation as the
"gold standard" dismiss the growing and major impact that many
international schools are having on the future of global higher
education. The question is not who or what accredits the school,
rather, it is -- How much accreditation does the school need to
have?
What institutions of higher learning should be considering is not
adding more local accreditations in their home nation, but a truly
international accreditation standard that may serve in the global
market arena.
The WADE Accreditation is the best option. Apply now!
What is Accreditation?
Accreditation in distance education is a process based on self- and
peer-assessment for improvement of academic quality and public
accountability. This quality control process occurs on a continuing
basis and it usually involves three major phases:
1. Self Study.
The faculty, administrators, and staff of the institution or academic program conduct a self-study using the accrediting association's set of standards as their guide.
2. Review.
A team of peers selected by the WADE Secretary reviews the evidence, may visit the campus to interview faculty and staff, and writes a report of its assessment including a recommendation to the commission (a group of peer faculty and professionals) of the accrediting association.
3. Accreditation.
Guided by a set of expectations about quality and integrity, the
accreditation organization reviews the evidence and recommendation,
makes a judgment, and communicates the decision to the institution
and other constituencies as appropriate.
About the WADE Accreditation Status
1. WADE Quality Accreditation is NOT a
substitute of legal regulations.
Accreditation is a voluntary, non-governmental peer review process.
Accreditation by the WADE shall be understood to convey only that
the higher education institution meets the WADE’s educational
standards. Such recognition is not in any way intended to substitute
legal authorization, recognition or regulation, through compliance
with local government laws. Legal authorization, recognition or
regulation, and government accreditation occur in the context of
different reviews.
2. Institutional accreditation.
The WADE accredited institution is evaluated as a whole entity and
not in every a each specific program offered. Thus, the WADE
accreditation status is not programmatic and it may not be useful
for the licensing of professions or approval of specific programs.
3. Global & International Scope.
The WADE accreditation focuses primarily on educational quality from
a global and international perspective, not narrow interests, or
political action, or educational fashions. The WADE is aware of the
differences among countries that may arise in regards of fulfilling
the quality standards set forth, so The Commission will examine each
higher education institution expecting their institutional autonomy
and following a non discriminatory policy. Due to this global
policy, the WADE is not part of the CHEA (Council of Higher
Education Accreditation, USA) nor any other country's governmental
agencies. Academic mobility and credit transferability of accredited
institutions will always be subject to the receiving country or
institution policy.