FAQs

Accreditation is the status granted to an institution /programme after having been assessed and have met the criteria/requirements to provide the highest level of quality education. 

All institutions that offer education and training that lead to an award of postsecondary and tertiary level qualifications must be registered with the NAB before beginning to offer any qualifications.

Mandatory registration ensures that the interest of all stakeholders in the postsecondary and tertiary level sectors are protected. Institutions that are not registered with the NAB should not be operating in SVG. Mandatory registration means that an evaluation and assessment of the institution was done and that the institution has met the minimum standards of the NAB.

The criteria for registration with the NAB focuses on ten (10) key areas of the institution:

• Legal Status
• Governing body
• Financial Viability
• Mission
• Administration
• Educational Programmes
• Faculty and Staff
• Learning Resources and Infrastructure
• Student Support Services
• Quality Assurance and Improvement 

To be admitted to the registration process the institution must put in writing its desire to be registered with the NAB. The NAB will invite the institution to submit a completed application form with supporting documents and pay a non-refundable application processing fee. The Application Form is processed by staff of the Board. If additional supporting documents are required, the applicant is informed in writing.

If the application is complete, the applicant receives a notification letter requesting suggested dates for an Application Interview.

After an application is accepted and the applicant successfully completes the Application Interview, the staff of the Board informs the institution of the date and time for an External Review which would include a Site Visit. The review is conducted by a team of External Reviewers or Evaluators appointed by the Board. Information in the application form is examined and verified during the External Review.

The External Reviewers then produce a written report to the Board presenting their findings, the outcome of the review and a recommendation of the status to be awarded to the institution. The External Review Report is considered by the Board and a decision taken. The Board can accept the recommendation or seek clarification or justification from the External Reviewers prior to making a final decision. The decision of the Board is final. The applicant is advised in writing of the outcome of the review.

Fees that apply to the registration process are:

• Processing fees (non-refundable)
• Cost of site visits
• Administrative fee
• Annual registered institution fee (paid annually to maintain registration)
  
  
  
  
  

Registration of an institution will depend upon the state of readiness of the institution.

The decision can either be:

1. Registration for a period of 3 years
2. Provisional Registration
3. Denial of Registration
   
   
   
   

Yes, usually within 3 years. However, an institution can become deregistered by the NAB if it is in violation of any of the evaluation criteria as set out by the NAB. Registered institutions must submit to the Board, in writing, a request for reaffirmation/reregistration at least six (6) months prior to the expiration of the period of registration.

A Registered Institution is required to submit a Registered Institution Annual Report (RIAR) to the Board no later than two (2) months after the anniversary date of its registration. The RIAR is an official record of changes that have occurred during the reporting period with respect to the evidence submitted by the institution in fulfilment of the Criteria for Registration. Failure to submit the RIAR may result in sanction or adverse action by the Board. Adverse action can lead to revocation of registration.

“Diploma Mill” is an institution/organization that awards degrees for little or no academic achievement, usually at a very low cost. The “tuition" amount requested is generally a lump sum of between $500-$2,500.
For more information on Diploma Mills go to https://www.geteducated.com/collegedegree-mills/161-college-degree-or-diploma-mill

The Caribbean Area Network for Quality Assurance in Tertiary Education (CANQATE) was established in 2004 as a sub-network of the International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE). CANQATE works to promote capacity building among countries and institutions of higher education and to facilitate regional discourses on policy and research in the fields of quality assurance and quality enhancement whilst engaging policy makers, researchers, evaluators, administrators and faculty in professional development.

For more information on CANQATE please visit: http://canqate.org/Home.aspx