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 quality and is awarded by an authoritative body, often at a national level.
From enhancing institutional credibility to ensuring programme quality, accreditation plays a pivotal role in shaping the educational landscape. At its core, accreditation ensures that an institution or programme is meeting the established standards of quality. Accrediting agencies evaluate various aspects, including curriculum design, faculty qualifications, teaching methodologies, infrastructure, student outcomes, and administrative processes. By adhering to these standards, institutions can provide students with a well-rounded and high-quality education.
Without accreditation, there is no formal mechanism to guarantee that an institution is meeting the benchmarks necessary for effective teaching and learning. Accreditation is a seal of approval, which indicates that an institution has been rigorously assessed and found competent to deliver education that meets the required standards.
Institutes that are not accredited face significant disadvantages, including lack of credibility, with their qualifications not being recognised. Graduates from institutes without accreditation struggle to find jobs or enrol in higher education programmes due to the lack of recognised credentials. Without oversight, the institute’s curriculum and training may not align with market needs, resulting in a mismatch between the skills taught and the employer’s expectations, which in turn reduces competitiveness.
Institutes that are not accredited face significant disadvantages.
Thus, an accredited status is a differentiator, allowing institutions to stand out in a crowded and competitive educational market.
Accreditation also opens doors to partnerships and affiliations with other institutions, both nationally and internationally. This can lead to resource sharing, faculty exchange programmes, joint research initiatives, and collaborative academic projects.
In Pakistan, the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) is responsible for the accreditation of programmes and institutes, and has so far accredited a total of 754 institutes with 421 of them in Punjab, 122 in Sindh, 56 in Balochistan, 94 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 23 in Azad Kashmir, 12 in Gilgit-Baltistan and 26 in the Islamabad federal territory. Of these, only 11 have an accreditation grade of A. These figures underscore two things: firstly, the quality of institutes in the country, and secondly, the fact that there are a number of excellent institutes that have not applied for accreditation.
The emphasis on domestic and international employability now makes it imperative to consider only working for or funding those institutes that are accredited with minimum B grade. If this is not done, Pakistanis will continue to miss out on quality skilled training which can lead to gainful employment.
One is mindful of the need for NAVTTC to expand its accreditation programmes with a focus on increasing the number of institutions that meet international standards. This task includes capacity-building initiatives, revising accreditation manuals, and working with provincial and private stakeholders. These efforts will help Pakistan strengthen its technical and vocational education sector, aligning it with the economic demands of the modern age. Accreditation is one of the basic requirements for international certification and so it is imperative that institutes get accredited.
Of course, the process can pro-ve to be a considerably challenging one and involve extensive documentation, self-asse-ssment, and ext-ernal audits. Institutions must invest a significant amount of their time, effort, and resources in meeting the stringent criteria. Moreover, maintaining accreditation requires con-tinuous compliance with evolving standards; this can be demanding for institutions with limited resources. However, the long-term benefits far outweigh the challenges, making accreditation a worthwhile investment.
Accreditation guarantees that an institute adheres to specific quality standards in its teaching methods, facilities, and outcomes. In the context of students, it would mean getting education or training that is recognised by employers and institutions. Where employers are concerned, accreditation will ensure a steady supply of skilled graduates to meet market demands. For the broader economy, it will nurture a more competent workforce, reducing skill gaps and enhancing competitiveness.
The writer is the chairperson of National Vocational and Technical Training Commission.
Published in Dawn, December 14th, 2024
Dear visitor, the comments section is undergoing an overhaul and will return soon.