Revans University and IMCA Lost DETC Accreditation

We at IMCA had been accredited by the DETC in Washington DC for 15 years until February 21st 2005. We have been extremely proud of that accreditation and given all the support we could muster to DETC's work around the globe. Just a month ago the DETC included our nominees for the 12th time as DETC

Outstanding Graduates in its annual publication. We have been proud to convene two DETC Seminar Workshops at Buckingham and Oxford, to contribute to their Occasional Paper Series, to serve on DETC Committees and attend and speak at their Annual Congresses most recently in April 2004 in Washington. And the late Dr Reg Revans, the inspiration for all our action learning programmes, was himself honoured by the DETC at a ceremony at the Royal Society for the Arts in London

We shall always acknowledge the benefits received over those fifteen years we have worked together with the DETC and what we both achieved together.

However, as US President George Bush observed only this week when addressing the European Union in Bruxelles, Its time to Move On. The DETC Accrediting Commission did not wish to continue its accreditation of IMCA any further after it had taken note of its Visiting Panel Report from August 2004, and our considered Response in December 2004. IMCA had planned an Independent Appeal against the decision but the conditions of the normal DETC Appeal are such that the essence of our Critique could not be addressed by the independent members of the Appeal Panel. In the spirit of action learning we asked that it should, but they declined our suggestion on the grounds that their Regulations did not permit it. We on the Faculty globally are of course disappointed that the DETC does not wish to listen to our observations. We believe we have something useful to share for the whole membership of the DETC arising from such action learning adversity. Equally, many of our Graduates and Associates up to Masters level will be disappointed too that the DETC does not wish to continue to identify with what they achieve globally as pioneers for over 40 years of workplace action learning in the traditions established by Reg Revans.
Furthermore, it is a cruel irony of fate that since IMCA's

Constituent Institutions have sponsored Revans University in the USA since 1999, when IMCA itself is no longer accredited, under those same DETC's Regulations, Revans University can no longer remain on the DETC listing of accredited institutions. And there is no basis whatever on which it can appeal.

Both these outcomes under DETC Regulations clearly demonstrate it to be an inappropriate partner for our future at IMCA and Revans University as leaders in workplace action learning. Philosophically we believe in virtually the opposite of the regulatory framework the DETC feels it must uphold.
Assuring Quality Action Learning in the Workplace


The reason why IMCA holds accreditations from external bodies is to assure our Associates and employers at large that we are delivering quality action learning in their workplaces. In addition to the DETC, IMCA has since 1987 been accredited [and that continues] by the British Accreditation Council, and for nearly 10 years now has been ISO 9000 Compliant. All Associates are externally examined as well as having all their work assessed internally. IMCA has since its establishment in 1964 always worked with panels of outstanding managers and scholars from around the globe particularly through its Court of Honorary Members who subscribe to our workplace action learning philosophy.

And since the Cape Town Congregation Meetings at Business School Nederland International there in November 2004, IMCA has joined them in sponsoring a new Independent Standing Commission for Workplace Action Learning that will, inter alia, counsel all IMCA institutions globally, monitor the work of the Common Professional and Academic Board, and evaluate the outputs and outcomes of all programmes. This is a major step towards the formal establishment of a global accrediting body for quality in workplace action learning. We shall now redouble our efforts to make it a great success for workplace action learners around the world, with accreditation criteria and standards that truly reflect the realities of workplace action learning. The Standing Commission has its own discrete, crystal clear focus that brooks no confusion between workplace action learning and distance learning or face to face campus learning, and eliminates the need for compromises along the path to accreditation of such learning.


Business Not Quite as Usual


As we now 'Move On' at IMCA and Revans University, therefore, it is not 'business as usual'. It is workplace action learning without compromise. The immediate disappointment in not being invited to continue our accreditation with the DETC has already been replaced by an absolute determination to support the Independent Standing Commission for Workplace Action Learning that will give Associates, clients and customers the assurance that our services are of the requisite quality. It shall have our support just as we gave 15 years of support to the DETC. The Independent Standing Commission is working in partnership as we at IMCA and Revans University always do - with action learners in countless workplaces and the many client organisations. It is they who pay the fees to enable their workplace action learning whether on a programme of studies resourced by IMCA Socrates in a Corporate University or directly on a Set following a Certificate, Diploma, Bachelor, Master or Doctoral award.


Finally, one of the very important things we have learned again and again since 1964 was that we exist solely to help managers learn to be more effective in their roles. In doing that in the years ahead the applicable protocols we shared with the DETC will continue to be honoured. But we shall certainly and gladly add to them those further protocols that the Independent Standing Commission rightly requires, which uniquely make workplace action learning a truly winning formula for managers wishing to develop their careers and the careers of those they work with.




Dr Richard Teare - Principal
Dr Gordon Prestoungrange - President Emeritus
February 25th 2005

 

I wonder if this is only as a result of a difference in philosophy, or there were certain inherent problems in the action learning approach that have caused this. Would be interesting to get feedback from seasoned education veterans on this forum.

 

A lot is spoken and very little said.

Why was IMCA denied? Academic deficiencies? Financial reasons? The establishment of an alternative accrediting body? Something else?

I notice the Canadian School of Management, owned by IMCA, IIRC, resigned its accreditation at the end of 2004. Was this related? Why did they do it?

 

Would students currently enrolled for Revans University can qualify for refund since they are not going to receive an accredited degree?

Few of my students are just enrolled for a BPS (Bachelor of Professional Studies) offered by Revans in Malaysia and they are now asking for refunds and not sure whom to approach. Any comments or suggestions will be highly appreciated.

Peter Chin