Does Accreditation = Quality Higher Education?

The World Bank and the Regional Development Banks increasingly invest in universities and other institutions of higher education in developing countries. Among the objectives is enhancing the quality and relevance of higher education and research. However, the question how to assess the quality and the improvement of quality over-time of both academic teaching & learning and the associated research remains a unusually weak area internationally, in effect meaning that the final result and outcome of the higher education investments and World Bank projects are difficult to measure reliably and meaningfully. At the national level, a variety of countries have conducted efforts aimed at establishing national quality assurance agencies, and accrediting bodies. Also, accrediting agencies in some countries have expanded their scope of work in order to accommodate requests from institutions abroad. Nevertheless, many questions remain unanswered: Is accreditation the best proxy for quality? How adequate is to "export" accreditation mechanisms and procedures to other countries? Is it better to engage in developing international accreditation approaches, or to further strengthen national entities? What is the role of the World Bank and similar international organizations in such a debate? 

This BBL will feature a conversation with a Panel of accreditation and quality assurance leaders, including Dr. Thomas J. Nasca, President of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME, Chicago), Dr. Judith S. Eaton, President of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), and others. The Panel will be chaired by Francisco Marmolejo, the Bank's Coordinator for Higher Education, and will also have leaders on accreditation in other sectors, such as agriculture and engineering. 

Questions & Comments: email World Bank Education Events at wbeducation@worldbank.org.