ACCREDITATION
INTRODUCTION
Accredited means Trusted (endorsed, certified, credited, acknowledged). Accreditation is a Process & Result. As a Process, it is a review where accrediting body sets standards which are subject to Continuous Improvement & Up-gradation. Whereas a result, it is a form of recognition granted to only those who come up to the mark or fulfills set criteria.
In terms of TEVT Institutes, Accreditation has often been defined as Quality Assurance where credit is given to Institutes that are performing in terms of real service delivery. TEVT is not just theory it requires more hands on practice and application of mind (Practice).
TEVT Institutes shall have clear Strategies as how to train workforce as per International Acceptable Standards. TEVT Institutes must Honestly Pursue its objectives by Efficient Utilization of Available Means and strive for excellence. Quality TEVT Institutes can Build Confidence in an employer (Domestic/International). TEVT Institutes must know the Criteria for Accreditation Accreditation is the only solution to produce World Class Workforce.
PRINCIPLES OF ACCREDITATION
Accrediting Agency sets certain standards & criteria to approve, recognize or grant accreditation status. It works as third-party to control bias in evaluation.
This provides a Competition-Base to do better. In addition to this, it strengthens Internal Controls such as Internal Evaluation and Audit and Self Assessment.
The Lead Assessors’s evaluation in terms of adequacy of a Program in an Institute to carry on its objectives as per set standards. Accreditation highlights the utilization of available resource to achieve its goals.
Accreditation Assessment Report helps Institute to improve weak areas and come up to set standards.
STANDARDS
Structure/Processes and Standards defined at central level following traditional evidence based technical norms and protocols.
Top Down Approach:
Where Quality is explored through qualitative /quantitative market practices, LMIS it involves industry, private sector, employer, TEVT Institutes (Training Providers)
Client Preference Approach:
NAVTTC ACCREDITATION MANUAL
Click following link to download the Accreditation Manual
Manual Accreditation
National Accreditation Standards for TVET Programs (Institutes) have been worked out in consultation with all stakeholders including provincial TEVTAs, Senior Faculty of TVET Institutes, Federation of Chamber of Commerce & Industries, Employers Federation of Pakistan. These standards have been made a part of Accreditation Manual. These standards have been categorized in:
1. MANAGEMENT
Mission of an Institute defines its training objectives, its place in Industry and Community. Its approach to policy making through proper planning and transparent management Effective Leadership, governance and administration are required to fulfill its vision Coordination faculty, students and other staff in all planning & monitoring activities.
2. FINANCIAL RESOURCES
TEVT Institutes must have adequate funds to conduct quality training courses.
Budgets allocations Operational, Developmental & Non-Developmental & utilization.
Self Resource generation
3. PHYSICAL RESOURCES
Adequate Space, Building & Infra Structure, Sports.
Proper and Relevant Lab Equipment, Tools, Laboratory Facilities
Health Safety mechanisms (Dispensaries/First Aid)
Transport, Internet & library etc.
4. HUMAN RESOURCE
FACULTY: numbers, status, qualifications & experiences, workload, lesson plans, recruitment rules, promotion, participation in evaluation activities, performance appraisal, teachers/students ratio.
STUDENTS: Admission, Enrollment, Apprenticeship, scholarships, concessions, opportunities, career guidance
Other support Staff
5. TEACHING LEARNING PROCESS
Instructional Design, Theory/Practical ratio, Course Content & Duration (Curricula)
National Vocational Qualification Framework.
Skills Standards, Teachers Learners Manuals (TLMs).
Internal/External Evaluation procedures (Students Feedback).
E-Learning, Recognition of Prior Learning, Recognition of Informal Learning
6. ASSESSMENT & EVALUATION
Continuous Assessment and Evaluation
The institute makes sure that representatives of industry take part in relevant assessments
Trainee Projects (for current session)
The institute uses itemized question banks
The institute makes sure that internal assessment and evaluation are transparent
The institute maintains a pool of assessors
7. INSTITUTE-INDUSTRY LINKAGES
Industrial Linkages, Apprenticeship, Internship, Institute Management Committee.
Linkages between TEVT Institutes, Employers, Business and Industry for mutual benefit
8. STUDENTS SUPPORT SERVICES
Does the institute have processes to help students with admission? Does it provide counselling and guidance to students (and parents)? Does it support students to find their place in the labour market?
9. CONTINUOUS QUALITY IMPROVEMENT
Is there a manual that defines key processes for the management? Are responsibilities clearly defined? Does the institute invite and utilize feedback from all stakeholders to improve?
10. COMPETENCY-BASED TRAINING
Does the institute run new Competency Based Training (CBT) programs under the National Vocational Qualification Framework (NVQF)?Are the teachers and the assessors adequately certified?
Mission of an Institute defines its training objectives, its place in Industry and Community. Its approach to policy making through proper planning and transparent management Effective Leadership, governance and administration are required to fulfill its vision Coordination faculty, students and other staff in all planning & monitoring activities.
BENEFITS
Accreditation is effective in assuring quality in the TVET sector. It involves the major stakeholders such as students and alumni, TVET institutes, employers and industry, parents, and the country.
For the students
Helps students and parents in identifying quality institutions to attain desired knowledge, competences and skills;
Real value for money spent / invested;
Students’ competences, skills and certified degrees are internationally recognized make graduates globally acceptable;
Alumni take pride in completing their training from a recognized institution.
For the TVET institutions
Facilitates training institutions in identifying their strengths and weaknesses and motivates them to remove identified gaps;
Strengthens institutional responsibility for a quality education by taking into account the institutions’ own self-assessment reports;
Supports institutions to establish a process of continuous quality improvement through self-evaluation involving feedback from stakeholders;
The faculty takes pride in serving in accredited institutions;
Facilitates identification of quality institutions with a view to investing public / private funds by donors;
For the parents
Facilitates the identification of quality institutions;
Real value for money invested;
The parents can participate in the career planning of their children;
For employers and industry
Helps employers and industry identify institutions that provide adequately qualified graduates who meet the expectations;
Helps employers in making a choice in hiring employees;
Employers can provide specific feedback to the institution with a view to making their trainings service provider’s demand driven;
Facilitates in industrial research.
For the Alumni
Lifelong professional pride;
Facilitation in career progression;
Employer preference;
For the Country
Gains confidence of international investors that quality human technical resource is available;
Helps in achieving portability of skills throughout the country.
Promotes innovation and knowledge resource through interaction among accredited institutions.
Accreditation of Qualification Awarding Bodies (QABs)
Introduction
Accreditation of Qualification Awarding Bodies Accreditation is linked to the NVQF in two ways. On the one hand TVET providers who offer competency based training will have to be accredited while on the other hand those institutions which are tasked with competency based assessment – the qualification awarding bodies – will have to be accredited as well.
Qualification awarding bodies will be required to manage and accredit assessment centers. Assessment centers can be well-equipped TVET providers, companies providing adequate facilities or assessment centers solely put up for the purpose of assessing candidates. By accrediting assessment canters qualification awarding bodies will assure that candidates and assessors find an adequate assessment environment that allows for fair, valid and consistent assessments. Staff at Assessment center will also have to be trained by qualification awarding bodies.
Accreditation Process of QAB
The Accreditation Process Accreditation is a continuous quality assurance effort. The accreditation cycle for qualification awarding bodies starts with an initial accreditation with a follow-up visit by the accreditation assessors after 18 month and a re-accreditation three years after the initial accreditation