Why are Canadian colleges and universities seeking American regional accreditation? Don’t the Canadians have their own form of accreditation (which the American schools recognize as the equivalent of our regional accreditation)? What is the motive in seeking American regional accreditation? This is interesting. Maybe the Mexican and the European schools will follow suit by seeking American RA (I’m being facetious).
As has been pointed out RA and DETC accreditation is likely to increase the enrollment of US students in a foreign institutions. It allows easier company tuition reimbursement and probably a higher comfort factor. We are moving more and more into a world wide economy and it makes financial sense for any institution to maximize its return on the investment it has made in instructional assets. Perhaps the next step is a legitimate world wide accreditation.
Although I recognize the above comment was made in jest, it is interesting to note that the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) is the recognized regional accrediting body not only for eleven U.S. Southern states, but also Latin America. Latin American institutions that have the same regional accreditation as, say, the University of South Florida , include: * Fundacion Universidad de las Americas – Puebla Cholula, Puebla, Mexico * Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey - Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico * Instituto Centroamericano de Administracion de Empresas - Alajueal, Costa Rica * Universidad de Monterrey - Garza Garcia, Nuevo Leon, Mexico (candidate) Important Safety Tip: None of the above institutions are to be confused with the Monterrey Institute of Graduate Studies (a.k.a. MIGS, a.k.a. The Center of University Studies Graduate College) whose degrees have been deemed fraudulent or substandard by the Texas authorities. In Europe, we find that The American University of Paris, Franklin College Switzerland, and The American International University In London are all accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSACS). And the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) accredits the American College of Thessaloniki (Greece), the American University in Bulgaria, and Deree College (Greece). Obviously many overseas institutions perceive some value in U.S. regional accreditation, including (much to my surprise) a number of Swiss hospitality management schools (reputed to be among the best in the world), which are accredited through NEASC’s Commission on Technical and Career Institutions.
Breaking the globe down into "regions" Now that is absolutely fascinating. The world is truly small and is continuing to shrink. This has crossed my mind too.
For the simple reason that our U administrators LOVE to travel in support of their quest for RA accreditation, and subsequent activities related to it. Darren.
