Accreditation

Accreditation is a process that supports a culture of continuous improvement and excellence in all that we do. It involves cycles of reviewing, assessing and enhancing how we operate as an academy as we remain mission-focused, resulting in operational efficiency and enhanced policies, and procedures.

Qualified external agencies and peer institutions are a part of the process and provide the validation of quality assurance. This cultural shift signifies to external and internal stakeholders that the University meets the quality standards expected of a recognised member of the national and international community of universities.

University of The Bahamas aims to become the first institution in The Bahamas to be accredited by the National Accreditation and Equivalency Council (NAECOB). NAECOB is the national authority responsible for registering and accrediting educational and training providers that provide services in The Bahamas.

The council is a is a statutory body established under the National Accreditation and Equivalency Council Act of The Bahamas.

UB is simultaneously pursuing international accreditation as a member of and contributor to the international community of universities.

By its very nature, a university is an international enterprise. Successful universities recruit faculty from jurisdictions, seeking the ones most likely to carry out outstanding scholarly work as teachers and as researchers. Internationalisation has become a driving force to bring together students from different backgrounds to prepare them for a global society and recruit faculty with a record of outstanding scholarly work. International accreditation is a pivotal part of attaining that international recognition. 

University of The Bahamas aspires to be better, stronger and have an increased capacity to support and drive national development. Continuous improvement will make us more equipped to do this while enhancing our accountability to the public, the government which provides substantial funding and our private donors.

We will:

1. Develop a culture of continuous quality assessment and improvement.

Seeking accreditation means submitting an in-depth review of programmes, policies, practices, and procedures to enhance quality assessment and improvement in service to our students, faculty and staff and to the nation at large.

2. Support and enhance student mobility.

Accreditation provides a solid basis for creating student exchange programmes where students from UB can attend other universities for a semester and, in return, UB welcomes and serves students from other universities and both receive recognised credits. It also opens to door to more robust recruitment of international students at UB and a more diversified student body.

3. Develop and support research.

International accreditation will enhance the research opportunities available to UB faculty. As an internationally accredited university, UB would be well-placed to partner with other universities in international research activities funded through grant and sponsored research programmes.

4. Develop faculty and staff exchange programmes.

International accreditation better supports faculty and staff exchange programmes, by reassuring potential university partners that such relationships can be beneficial to both institutions.

5. Facilitate access to increased financial resources.

At an accredited institution, where gaps in processes and services are discovered, we can better make the case for support from our primary funder, the Government of The Bahamas, and from private donors. Additionally, successful recruitment and integration of international students, whose higher tuition fees can increase our revenue base, is dependent on having a recognised accreditation status.

6. Add value to the degrees our alumni have earned.

Our graduates have gone on to further studies well-prepared to be successful in subsequent programmes while others are serving in various positions all over the world building strong, successful careers. International accreditation can bring external and validation of internal claims and add value to our degrees, even for those who are already graduates.

7. Become a leading institution of choice for Bahamians.

Accreditation will provide us with a competitive advantage when recruiting top-tier students who have the choice and the means to attend universities elsewhere. This leads to a larger market share, helping to grow the university and increase the likelihood that such students will become future nation-builders.