What is Accreditation?

Accreditation is the outcome of an evaluation or assessment of a programme or Institution to determine the transferability and reliability of qualifications offered. It assures educational quality and accountability.

Types of Accreditation

Institutions can achieve two types of accreditation: Institutional Accreditation and Programme Accreditation. 

Institutional Accreditation is a comprehensive evaluation of an institution against the standards of the accrediting body and seeks to assure stakeholders that the Institute’s operations are in accordance with established quality standards.

Programme Accreditation is a comprehensive review of a specific programme against the standards of the accrediting body and seeks to assure that graduates have achieved the stated educational objectives and competencies.

Why Accreditation for BIMAP?

Accreditation provides assurance of the quality of education offered by BIMAP.

BIMAP’s Accreditation Process

BIMAP is in the process of securing Programme Accreditation and Institutional Accreditation from the Barbados Accreditation Council, emphasising our dedication to excellence, accountability and best practices in training and higher education and our unwavering commitment to continuous improvement in all our services

In order to achieve accreditation with the Barbados Accreditation Council (BAC), BIMAP is following a structured, multi-phase process designed to ensure quality, accountability and alignment with national standards.

Here is a breakdown of the key steps:

The Accreditation Process

1. Eligibility for Candidacy

 BIMAP was required to meet the eligibility for candidacy, which involved the following:

• Achievement of Registration with the BAC
• Providing evidence of Certificate of Incorporation to operate in Barbados.
• Demonstrating a sound financial base and governance-level approval to pursue accreditation.

2. Statement of Intent

• The institute submitted formal notification to the BAC expressing interest in Programme Accreditation and Institutional Accreditation.

3. Compilation and submission of a Self-Evaluation Report (SER)

• The Institute conducted a comprehensive internal review of all its operations, policies, and practices and aligned its findings with BAC’s Programme Accreditation and Institutional Accreditation Standards.
• The Programme Accreditation SER and evidence of compliance were submitted and the Institutional Accreditation SER will be submitted in the near future.

4. Evaluation Visit

• The BAC will appoint an external evaluation team who will:
• Validate the SER
• Review documentation and evidence
• Interview external stakeholders, staff and students
• The evaluation team will compile a formal evaluation report and submit to BAC.

5. Review and Decision

• The BAC will review both the SER and the evaluation report and a decision will be made as to whether the Institute has achieved accreditation status.
• BIMAP will receive the final report and decision and may appeal if necessary.

6. Award of Accreditation

• Accreditation is granted for 3, 5, or 7 years, depending on the maturity of the institution.