Accreditation is a process that evaluates whether an educational institution or program meets established quality standards. It involves an external review by an accreditation body to ensure the institution provides high-quality education, sufficient resources, and effective teaching methods. Accreditation helps students, employers, and the public trust the institution and confirms that the education aligns with national or international standards. It also supports institutions in improving their programs and gaining recognition.

Any public and private institutions from different fields and levels, universities, colleges, and other higher education institutions can apply for accreditation. This includes institutions that offer undergraduate and postgraduate programs.

AAC’s accreditation standards are based on both European Standards and Guidelines (ESG) and American standards and Guidelines. These guidelines ensure that institutions meet high international benchmarks for quality in education. By combining both, AAC guarantees that accredited institutions offer reliable, high-quality education and operate efficiently. This alignment with both EU and US guidelines ensures that AAC-accredited institutions meet rigorous standards.

AAC offers evaluation and accreditation services for undergraduate and postgraduate programs.

• Program Accreditation: Evaluates the quality of specific academic programs, ensuring they meet set standards and is valid for 6 years.
• Institutional Accreditation: Assesses the overall quality of an entire institution, covering all its programs, governance, and resources, and is valid for 6 years.
• Evaluation of Existing Accreditation: Reviews current renominated program or institutional accreditations.  It helps institutions gain a second independent accreditation. Validity depends on the original accreditation.
• Concept Program Accreditation: A preliminary evaluation of a new program, ensuring its design and goals meet quality benchmarks. It is valid for up to 3 years until full institutional accreditation is achieved.
• Concept Institutional Accreditation: A review of a new institution’s foundational structure and readiness to meet accreditation standards. Valid for up to 3 years until full institutional accreditation is achieved.

AAC partners with two prestigious accreditation bodies: ACBSP from the USA, which specializes in business program accreditation, and AQAS from Germany. These collaborations allow AAC to strengthen its services by aligning with internationally recognized standards and expanding its global network of educational institutions. Through these partnerships, AAC ensures that its accreditation process meets both, European and American benchmarks for higher education quality.

Yes, AAC is officially locally recognized by  Curacao's Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport as a National Accreditation Agency and by also the Ministry of Social Development and Education in Anguilla.

The length of the accreditation process varies depending on the institution and the program being evaluated. Factors like the complexity of the programs, the preparation of the institution’s documentation, and the scheduling of site visits can affect the timeline. On average, the process can take several months from the application to the final decision. AAC works closely with institutions to guide them through each step efficiently.

No, an ISO certificate is not enough for educational programs. While ISO focuses on quality management, educational institutions need accreditation from a recognized agency like AAC. Accreditation specifically evaluates the quality of education, teaching methods, and academic standards, which ISO does not cover. To meet educational standards and gain recognition, accreditation from an approved body is required.

You can find detailed information about AAC’s services by visiting our website www.aac.cw. There, you’ll learn about the specific processes, benefits, and standards we follow to ensure high-quality education.

You can reach AAC through multiple channels:

• Website: Contact Form
• Email: office@aac.cw
• WhatsApp: +43 664 99 510 666

Feel free to choose any of these methods to get in touch with AAC for inquiries or support.

AAC holds memberships with internationally recognized accreditation organizations, including:

• ENQA (European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education):  https://www.enqa.eu/membership-database/aac-accreditation-agency-curacao/
• INQAAHE (International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education):  https://www.inqaahe.org/membership/members/?region=&country=&type=&n=curacao
• CHEA/CIQG (Council for Higher Education Accreditation): 

​https://www.chea.org/ciqg-membership-list

AAC was founded in 2017 as an independent and private accreditation body. It became officially recognized in Curaçao in 2017 and in Anguilla in 2022. The headquarter is located in Curaçao, from where it offers accreditation services to institutions worldwide. This professional structure ensures that AAC offers high-quality services aligned with international standards.

• Mr. Dipl. Ing. (FH) Mario Grabner, MBA: Chief Executive Officer (CEO
• Ms. Bernadette Mostler: Chief Operating Officer (COO)

The process for applying for accreditation with AAC generally follows these steps:

• Application: The institution submits an application for program or institutional accreditation.
• Self-Report: The institution prepares a self-report based on AAC guidelines.
• Self-Documentation: The institution prepares a detailed self-documentation based on AAC guidelines.
• Review: AAC assembles a panel of experts to evaluate the institution’s documentation.
• Site Visit: The expert team conducts a site visit to the institution.
• Final Decision: The Accreditation Commission reviews the findings and issues a decision.

For more details, visit the AAC website.

• Program Accreditation focuses on evaluating specific academic programs. It reviews the quality of each individual program.
• Institutional Accreditation evaluates the entire institution, including its governance, operations, resources, and all academic programs. It assesses whether the institution as a whole provides quality education and meets national or international standards in all areas of operation.

In short, program accreditation is for individual programs, while institutional accreditation assesses the entire organization.

AAC ensures quality by following established European Standards and Guidelines (ESG) and American Standards and Guidelines. The process involves a team of expert reviewers who thoroughly evaluate an institution’s self-documentation, conduct site visits, and provide detailed feedback. AAC ensures the process is clear and thorough, making sure institutions meet high global standards.