Is that true that UNISA recently became DECT accredited? Just wondering why they would need this accreditation which, by all accounts, seems to be nearly useless. Dennis Siemens
Hi Dennis It has been discussed here before. It allows graduates who are asked is it accredited to give a quick and automatic yes, would likely help with tuition reimbursement and financial aid issues, and for whatever other reasons UNISA saw it as advantagous.
See previous discussions on Unisa and DETC in these threads: Unisa DETC Accreditation Notice on Unisa's Webpage UNISA and IAC (Canada) University of South Africa (UNISA)/DETC
I suspect a symbiosis. DETC benefits greatly from UNISA's prestige in distance learning. DETC has been on a strong campaign to accredit degree-granting institutions. As we've discovered, the degrees and credits of DETC-accredited schools still meet a lot of resisitance at RA schools. I imagine this can be overcome, in part, by DETC demonstrating its capability to accredited schools comparable to regionally acccredited universities. Also, DETC has floated the notion of accrediting schools offering first professional doctorates. Who knows if they might also have on their wish list to accredited schools offering academic doctorates. They already accredit some, like IMC, St Augustine, Concord, and the University of Leicester, but seem to exclude (or conveniently ignore--it's rather hard to tell) the doctoral-granting activities of these schools.
Branding I would still maintain that DETC has the better end of the deal, and still believe that the motivation behind the whole project is wanting to be associated with "American academic standards", which, supposedly are quite good, and sought-after commodity in the world. There is much to be said on either side of that statement. Nonetheless, that is not the issue. I believe, it is part of a world phenomenon associated with globalization, in which "americanization" is seen as a positive and modernizing value--as some have noted. (It seems people out there want to be connected with America--in some fashion. And, typically befitting our modern, commercially-based and -driven lives, people [internationals (instead of foreigners--more appropriate, I think,)] are connecting to America in the name brand sense). Therefore, I still maintain this association between DETC and Unisa is an act of branding, so to speak.
