Subject: Re: IFETS-DISCUSS Digest - 7 May 2000 to 8 May 2000
From: Peter French (carlyle@celestial.com.au)
Date: Tue 09 May 2000 - 01:20:36 MEST
From: "Peter French" <carlyle@celestial.com.au> Subject: Re: IFETS-DISCUSS Digest - 7 May 2000 to 8 May 2000 Date: Tue, 9 May 2000 11:20:36 +1200
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Accreditation - an interesting topic.
You must realise that it has a special meaning in the USA with the various
levels - Regional Accreditation, DETC, State Licensing, Professional
Practice Accreditation.
May I be permitted to stray slightly within the topic rather than from the
topic?
It MUST be looked at on a broader field than what you have stated. You make
a valid point on one hand, but surely the knowledge gained, to be portable,
must carry some form of 'credit worthiness' or 'warranty' either express or
implied?
In the British and Colonial countries we know exactly where we are as we are
conditioned to a traditionally structured system. Incidentally, at least in
Australia, Institutions are 'self-accrediting' but it is now realised that
one cannot safely administer ones own quality control absolutely.
Our knowledge and competence is never doubted - commensurate with the
stature of the Institution that has issued the parchment. Without a
parchment that is acceptable, no amount of knowledge is truly marketable or
transportable. Is not the effective utility of the knowledge and hence the
competencies the ultimate issue?
I review overseas qualifications daily, and some are a joke. Sub-continental
and neighbouring countries with pass marks of 33 per cent? What is the value
of the knowledge? ...put them into an advanced learning group for which they
appear to be qualified to enter and you will quickly find out. There are
many such 2nd and 3rd world examples.
However they are not alone. American degrees? The undergraduate degree being
a generalist degree to assist in the finalisation of an incomplete high
school education? Professional education requiring Masters level study? The
benefit here is of course that more mature professionals are let loose onto
the market compared with say UK, NZ or Australia. Doctorates being granted
before a Masters degree? ...the LLB in USA becoming a JD and then the next
degree being the LLM?
Maybe you are right ... the quality is more important, but you can't ignore
the reality of the importance of the parchment.
Peter French
BEd MAcc MEd
Director of Studies - Business & Information Technology
CHALMERS INSTITUTE
Melbourne, Australia
www.chalmers.edu.au
pjfrench@chalmers.edu.au
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