An analysis of a framework of internal influential factors affecting the progress and outcomes of accreditation processes at the University of Curaçao

Résumé

As of the beginning of this century, the University of Curaçao (UoC) star­ted to implement preliminary activi­ties to attain the accredited status for its programs by the Netherlands-Fle­mish Accreditation Organisation (NVAO). These exercises were highly successful since in its first attempt the UoC obtained the accredited status for the great majority of its programs. Based on a case study approach, in this paper the result of an analysis of these accreditation processes are presented to illustrate how the UoC has managed the great challenges encountered and to identify the internal factors that had an impact on the progress and out­comes of these processes. This study, which was as part of a PhD process, led to the design of a heuristic fra­mework comprising of enablers and barriers affecting accreditation pro­cesses. This framework can generi­cally be used as a descriptive, pres­criptive and analytical instrument for the design, implementation and monitoring of accreditation proces­ses, particularly in small universities.