What is Accreditation?
Accreditation is a mark of quality. It certifies that the accredited institution has met or surpassed agreed to standards in terms of programme content, programme delivery and in the level of customer service and support offered to students. Reputable universities and schools voluntarily seek two levels of accreditation.
Institutional accreditation certifies the entire university/school.
Programme accreditation certifies specific programmes offered by the educational institution.
Institutional Accreditation
As the business school of the Sagicor Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies, the Cave Hill School of Business and Management (SCHSBM) benefits from the institutional accreditation granted to the campus by the Accreditation Council of Barbados.
This accreditation process is rigorous and must be undertaken every five years. International and regional education experts and consultants conduct the accreditation assessment on behalf of the Accreditation Council of Barbados, and the process entails a comprehensive interrogation of all functions, processes and programmes within the SCHSBM. It also examines whether the university’s student admission and services procedures, student resources and student academic achievement meet agreed to standards.
On completion of the assessment exercise, the Accreditation Council renews the accreditation status and presents a set of recommendations for further improvement. These recommendations must be taken on board in order to guarantee accreditation in future assessments.
Why Institutional Accreditation?
Institutional accreditation is important. It gives UWI and our graduates a competitive edge since:
- It is a clear indication that all programmes are high quality.
- Obtaining a degree from an accredited institution increases the chance of admission into international graduate degree programmes
- Obtaining a degree from an accredited institution enhances employability locally, regionally and internationally.
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The University of the West Indies (UWI) Brand
SCHSBM is a UWI business school. The UWI is a global university rooted in the Caribbean with an internationally recognised brand. For over seven decades, The University of the West Indies has been a pivotal force in every aspect of Caribbean development. Starting as a university college of London in Jamaica with 33 medical students in 1948, The UWI has evolved into an internationally respected academy with approximately 50,000 students and 5 campuses:
- Mona, Jamaica (1948)
- St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago (1960)
- Cave Hill, Barbados (1963)
- Open Campus (2008)
- Five Islands, Antigua and Barbuda (2019)
One of only two regional universities in the world, The UWI extends from Belize in Central America to Trinidad and Tobago in the southern Caribbean. It is also one of the world’s most globalised universities, with
nine global centres spread across North America, Latin America, Europe, Africa and Asia.
The UWI’s 2017-2022 strategic plan, themed the
Triple A Strategy, focusses on widening
Access to quality tertiary education,
Alignment of the University with academic-industry partnerships relevant to the region’s needs and improved
Agility through global connections and initiatives.
Ranked among the best in the world
Since 2018, The UWI has earned a place among the top 600 universities in the world, the top 40 in Latin America and the Caribbean, and in the top 100 Golden Age University Rankings and Impact Rankings in 2020. The UWI remains the only Caribbean university to make these prestigious lists.
In 2021, the Times of London Higher Education Rating (THE) rated the UWI in the top 1.5% of reputable universities around the world.
Programme Accreditation
The SCHSBM has achieved a number of specialised programme certifications from international certification bodies. In some instances, these certifications come from the top global accreditation body. Our current certifications (as of January 2022) include the ACCA at both the undergraduate and graduate levels; the CMMP (Canada) for both undergraduate and graduate marketing and SHRM, which is a top Human Resources Management Certification body in the United States. An ever-present strategic goal of the SCHSBM is the achievement of the highest level of international certification for all of its programmes. In this regard, accreditation efforts are ongoing.