Evaluating Accreditation as a Catalyst for Quality Improvement in Education

Introduction

In recent decades, accreditation has become a key quality assurance mechanism in education, providing a structured approach for assessing and enhancing institutional performance. Accreditation serves as a hallmark of quality, fostering confidence among students, parents, and other stakeholders. In some countries, funding and grants are often contingent upon an institution’s accreditation status, incentivizing participation. However, there is growing concern that accreditation may be perceived more as a compliance requirement rather than a meaningful opportunity for quality enhancement, particularly in developing regions. This perspective risks undermining the true potential of accreditation as a transformative practice for educational institutions.

This special issue of Quality Assurance in Education aims to critically explore the impact of accreditation across different educational levels and disciplines. We seek original research and comprehensive reviews that examine the effectiveness, challenges, and future potential of accreditation as a tool for genuine quality improvement in education. The goal is to provide a platform for diverse perspectives and offer valuable theoretical and practical insights to academics, accreditation bodies, educational administrators, faculty, and students.

List of topic areas

Submissions are encouraged on a wide range of topics related to accreditation, including but not limited to:

• The Evolution of Accreditation: Exploring the historical development, current practices, and future directions of accreditation in education.
• Institutionalizing a Culture of Accreditation: Strategies for embedding accreditation processes as a core component of institutional culture.
• Trends and Best Practices: Identifying effective accreditation practices that have demonstrably led to quality improvement in education.
• Impact of Accreditation on Educational Quality: Assessing the tangible benefits and contributions of accreditation to enhancing educational outcomes.
• Challenges and Grey Areas in Accreditation: Examining the complexities and limitations in the current accreditation processes, including compliance-focused approaches.
• Stakeholder Perspectives: Investigating views of students, faculty, administrators, and other key stakeholders on the value and impact of accreditation.
• Critical Appraisal of Accreditation Processes: A rigorous evaluation of accreditation methodologies, criteria, and their effectiveness in driving quality improvement.

Submissions information

We invite researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to submit high-quality, original manuscripts that contribute to a deeper understanding of accreditation as a quality assurance practice. All submissions will undergo a double-blind peer-review process.

For inquiries, please contact the Lead Guest Editor, Dr Jeffrey W. Alstete, at [email protected].

We look forward to your contributions to this important discourse on the role of accreditation in fostering quality education.

Submissions are made using ScholarOne Manuscripts. Registration and access are available here.

Author guidelines must be strictly followed.

Authors should select (from the drop-down menu) the special issue title at the appropriate step in the submission process, i.e. in response to "Please select the issue you are submitting to". 

Submitted articles must not have been previously published, nor should they be under consideration for publication anywhere else while under review for this journal.

Click here to submit!

Key deadlines

Opening date for manuscripts submissions: 1st December, 2024

Closing date for manuscripts submission: 30th April, 2025

Special Issue Guest Editors

• Dr Jeffrey W. Alstete, Iona University, USA
• Dr Shirish Raibagkar, Savitribai Phule Pune University, India
• Dr Krassie Petrova, Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand