About Us
” We are experts in the accreditation of full-time, part-time, and distance learning programs.”
Founded in 2017
The Accreditation Agency Curacao (AAC) is an independent and professional organization responsible for accrediting higher education institutions located in Curacao. The AAC was established in 2017 in response to the growing need for a National Accreditation Agency to ensure the quality of education on the island.
The Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sport of Curacao has officially recognized the AAC as a National Accreditation Agency. This recognition allows the AAC to provide services aimed at ensuring the academic quality of higher education programs, as well as courses offered by vocational institutions. The Ministry's acknowledgment is reflected in an official letter, dated 2022 and identified by case number 2022/012532.
Our Vision and Mission
The Accreditation Agency Curacao (AAC) strives to ensure that institutions of higher education in the Caribbean, Latin America, and around the world meet the highest international standards. Our primary mission is to promote quality assurance in education and vocational training.
To accomplish this mission, the AAC was established to accredit degree programs, including bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs, at universities, universities of applied sciences, colleges, professional schools, and vocational programs/courses in higher education institutions in Curacao and abroad.
The AAC places great value on partnerships with local and international agencies and institutions. We promote collaboration to share knowledge, expertise, and best practices in quality assurance.
AAC Structure
AAC Standards for Accreditation in Higher education
The AAC adopted the standards and guidelines for quality assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG; 2015). The European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA) developed these standards in co-operation with the European Students’ Union (ESU), the European Association of Institutions in Higher Education (EURASHE) and the European University Association (EUA). The focus of the ESG is on quality assurance related to learning and teaching in higher education, including the learning environment and relevant links to research and innovation. In addition, institutions have policies and processes to ensure and improve the quality of their other activities, such as research and governance.
AAC Standards are based on the following four principles for quality assurance:
• Higher education institutions have primary responsibility for the quality of their provision and its assurance.
• Quality assurance responds to the diversity of higher education systems, institutions, programs and students.
• Quality assurance supports the development of a quality culture.
• Quality assurance considers the needs and expectations of students, all other stakeholders and society.
AAC accreditation process
The AAC offers program and institutional accreditation to all Higher Education Institutions (HEI). The Accreditation process is divided into two phases.
Membership Candidacy
First Phase: Application process
Candidacy status membership means that the university or institution is officially authorized to begin the Program and/or Institutional Accreditation process with the AAC. This status is granted to institutions that have demonstrated sufficient maturity in their self-report during the application process.
Once the Accreditation Commission has made a positive decision regarding the application and self-report, the institution may officially commence with the accreditation process.
For
more information regarding the requirements for application, please send an
email to: office@aac.cw.
Full membership
Second phase: Official start of the accreditation procedure
The Full Membership Status is awarded to Higher Education Institutions (HEI's) that have successfully fulfilled all the requirements of an institutional and/or program accreditation as established by the AAC.
Full Membership Status:
- Awarded to AAC accredited HEI's, which have fulfilled all the requirements of an institutional and/or program accreditation.
- The HEI's are published on the website of AAC and the Higher Education Institution may publish the accreditation decision and full membership on their own website and advertisements including the AAC Logo and the Certificate.
- Are accredited without conditions - passed without conditions or
Accredited with conditions – passed with conditions or Failed.
Newly established HEI?
Let's have a conversation and discuss accreditation possibilities and the benefits!