The Bhutan Accreditation Council (BAC) has been established as per the clause 11 of Tertiary Education Policy of the Kingdom of Bhutan, 2010 endorsed by Lhengye Zhungtshok on 26th of January 2010. The Council is the autonomous body having overall authority on accreditation, quality assurance, and interpreting and recognizing qualifications which will ensure an international level of tertiary education standards. The Council members were appointed through an Executive Order dated June 14, 2011. The Quality Assurance and Accreditation Division (QAAD), Department of Adult and Higher Education serves as the Secretariat to the Council.
The Council and its Secretariat is supported by Professional Councils like the Bhutan Medical and Health Council, Bhutan Board of Certified Counselors, Bhutan Institute of Architects, National Teachers Council, etc. It also involves the trained accreditors for the accreditation of Tertiary Education Institutions (TEIs) in the country.
The Secretariat to the BAC has joined the Asia Pacific Quality Network (APQN) as intermediate member and the International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE) as full member. It also works closely with the agencies responsible for quality assurance, accreditation and recognition of qualifications. These facilitate the professional development of all involved in the quality assurance of higher and tertiary education in Bhutan and transnational mobility of students and workers.
The Council, through its Secretariat, has developed the Bhutan Qualifications Framework (BQF) to serve as the tool to facilitate to compare standards, transfer credits and recognize tertiary education qualifications. The Principles of Accreditation and the Accreditation Manual have been developed based on the international practices. These documents guide the accreditation of the TEIs in Bhutan.
In addition to the above documents, the Council uses the Guidelines for the Recognition of Qualifications to validate the qualifications on request. The guidelines have been developed using the UNESCO Toolkit in order to facilitate global recognition. The requests usually come from the clients who have been asked to validate their qualifications mainly for the purpose of employment public, corporate and private sectors. The recognition is also provided to those aspiring to join both local and parliamentary governments.
Based on the recommendations of the Organisational Development exercises 2014, the Council is working towards achieving autonomy. It has been proposed to be called as Bhutan Qualifications Authority.
The Council has the functions and powers as listed below.
Functions:
The Council shall:
- Review proposals for the establishment of universities, colleges and institutions and recommend to the Royal Government of Bhutan through the Tertiary Education Board (TEB).
- Establish mechanisms to ensure credible accreditation system in the country.
- Review, endorse and disseminate Bhutan Qualifications Framework (BQF).
- Review General Principles of Accreditation of tertiary institutions from time to time.
- Recommend and endorse mechanisms for quality assurance of tertiary institutions.
- Review and endorse the relative value of diplomas and degrees granted by colleges and universities.
- Monitor standards of Tertiary Education Institutions.
- Collaborate with relevant Professional Bodies to promote the integrity of tertiary education institutions.
- Establish the Bhutan Qualifications Framework which enables to review degrees from outside as well as degrees from Bhutan by other countries.
Powers:
The Council shall have the following powers to:
- Accept accreditation of colleges, universities and institutes as well as the degrees offered by them.
- Interpret all qualifications, frameworks, and institutional standards based on the BQF.
- Accredit the programmes and recognize qualifications of tertiary institutions.
- Appoint sub-committees to execute its duty effectively and responsibly.
- Frame rules and regulations for establishment, accreditation, quality assurance, and qualifications.
Composition:
The Bhutan Accreditation Council (BAC) shall be comprised of the following members:
- Secretary, Ministry of Education - Ex-officio
- Secretary, BCSEA - Ex-officio
- Commissioner, Human Resource Development, RCSC - Ex-officio
- Registrar, Bhutan Medical and Health Council, MoH - Ex-officio
- Director, Department of Occupational Standards, MoLHR - Ex-officio
- Director, Department of Adult and Higher Education, MoE - Ex-officio
- A private representative
The Chairperson shall be the Secretary, Ministry of Education, who is the Registrar for Tertiary Education as per Tertiary Education Policy (Clause 11.4).
The Director, Department of Adult and Higher Education shall be the Member Secretary as per Tertiary Education Policy (Clause 8.1.4).
The Chairperson shall:
- Oversee and facilitate the functioning and communication of the Council.
- Endorse the decisions of the Council and sign the minutes before circulation to the members.
- Review and monitor the implementation of the decisions of the Council.
- Be the final authority for interpreting and recognizing qualifications, granting authority to award degrees, and accreditation of all tertiary institutions in keeping with provisions of Tertiary Education Policy.
The Member Secretary shall carry out the following:
- Schedule meetings and notify the Council members.
- Invite members and professionals to attend meetings when required by the Council.
- Guide the meeting according to the agenda and time available.
- Ensure all discussion items end with a decision, action or definite outcome and the follow up report.
- Review and circulate the draft minutes amongst the members.
- Communicate decisions of the Council to the Board, Ministry of Education and other relevant agencies.
- Follow up the decisions and implementation of the Council.
The Secretariat (The Department of Adult and Higher Education with Quality Assurance and Accreditation Division) shall:
- Facilitate the smooth functioning of the Council.
- Distribute the agenda at least a week prior to the meeting.
- Take notes of proceedings and prepare the minutes of meeting.
- Circulate the draft minutes of the meeting within two weeks from the date of the Council meeting.
- Ensure that the minutes are confirmed by the Chairperson before distribution.
- Prepare all necessary documentation including research and analysis for deliberation by the Council.
- Work out the Quality Assurance and Accreditation System for the Institutions and Programmes for Council’s approval from time to time.
- Liaise between the Chairperson of the Council, the Board and the members of the Sub-Committees.
- Implement the Tertiary Education Policy as per the directives of the Council.
Meeting:
The Council shall meet at least three times in a year or as deemed necessary.
Quorum:
- A two-third of the members of the Council shall constitute a quorum. The Council shall hold its meeting if the quorum is met.
- All decisions shall be guided by the Tertiary Education Policy and they shall be based on the simple majority.
Amendments:
- The Terms of Reference (ToR) shall be reviewed and amendments shall be recommended when deemed necessary from time to time.
- The above Terms of Reference for the BAC shall come into operation with immediate effect.