Citation
(2000), "The US accreditation system and the CRE's quality audits a comparative study", Measuring Business Excellence, Vol. 4 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/mbe.2000.26704caf.002
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2000, MCB UP Limited
The US accreditation system and the CRE's quality audits a comparative study
The US accreditation system and the CRE's quality audits – a comparative study
A.M.R.C. Amaral, Quality Assurance in Education (UK), Vol. 6 No. 4, 1998
Discusses an exchange between the US Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, the American Council on Education and the CRE (Association of European Universities) which aimed to share experiences of evaluating universities for accreditation purposes. Presents a comparison of the US and European systems with a view to finding out where improvements can be made on both sides of the Atlantic. Outlines recent developments in the USA and Europe; the introduction of a voluntary accreditation system in the USA; and the problems raised by the introduction of an internal market in Europe. Examines the strengths and weaknesses of both systems drawing extensively on existing studies. Presents a detailed analysis of the procedures focusing on the author's experience at Columbia University, New York: describes the evaluation process (it lasts two days and involves a team of 11 individuals who meet up and discuss the accreditation). Compares this with the European system in which the review team consists of three people who spend slightly longer assessing the institution. Argues that the responsibility for creating the mechanisms for quality measurement and improvement should lie with the institution and points to a lack of communication from top management to academics in European universities.
Quality focus says:Plenty for practitioners in this wide-ranging review.