The Distance Education and Training Congress of Accreditation (DETCA)
The Distance Education and Training Congress of Accreditation (DETCA) has consistently emphasized the importance of professional growth within the distance education community.The DETCA accreditation program is for the distance learning component institutions worldwide. DETCA is a structured accreditation with the self-study, on-site peer review, etc., typically found in such a program.DETCA is ideal for education institutions wishing to excel in distance learning. Achieving DETCA accreditation is a noteworthy accomplishment.
DETCA is a none-profit professional association for teachers, developers, researchers, consultants and administrators from worldwide involved in open and distance learning. We believe that a balance between the need for disclosure, and the need to maintain the successful nature of peer review and self-evaluation can be achieved. With regard to transparency, DETCA takes seriously its obligation to provide information to the public. We support the interest of many in improving the public understanding of the accreditation process, and engage in collecting information about our accredited institutions and the effectiveness of their educational programs.We also believe that making reliable information about accreditation processes and standards, and the performance of our sector is a good practice.
This website offers a new public face for DETCA and spearheads an expanding member-only area.
In this first phase of the member area development DETCA members are supplied with a log in to access pages that are locked to the public. Over coming weeks and months the content available in those pages will grow.
In future phases it is expected to enable members to modify their own member details online, provide permission to release contact details to other members and view a member directory incorporating photos, and conduct electronic transactions such as joining DETCA, renewing membership, or registering for events.
Members are invited to offer suggestions for improvement or volunteer their time to work on particular areas by using the email feedback.
DETCA accrediting standards for programs track with — and are comparable to and exceed — the accrediting standards of all the education institutions. The curriculum for the program to be comprehensive and comparable to the curriculum offered for similar professional by other appropriately accredited institutions. Graduates of distance education programs must exhibit skill and knowledge attainment through the demonstrated achievement of educational objectives and outcomes comparable to those of accredited resident programs that are similar in nature and level. DETCA accredited programs are comparable to those programs for approval for regionally accredited institutions. Course design, rigour; quality and faculty qualifications are in harmony with global accrediting standards.
DETCA was found to meet the same precise standards as all other institutional accrediting groups had to meet.
Governments and educational policy makers must recognize the need for lifelong, open and flexible learning as part of the solution to national and global educational needs, and to help prevent future financial crises. Further more, the leadership of the open, online and distance education community in the innovation of teaching and learning using information and communication technologies, and the importance of collaboration both within the academic and corporate worlds.
DETCA strive to meet the highest expectations with regard to effectiveness, transparency and accountability, and make the following commitments:
Quality management and quality assurance through accreditation and evaluation assessment will take into consideration the unique characteristics of open, online and distance education.
Guidelines for quality in education will take into account expected and assessed learning outcomes, the need for well designed learning materials, and an equal need for learner support including tutoring. Examples of good practice in internal quality systems will be gathered to help define common ground for quality measures that allow institutions to learn from one another.
Internal institutional quality systems will be transparent to students, staff, funding bodies and other external parties.
DETCA will nurture and encourage entrepreneurship to lessen the impact of future economic crises.
The open, online and distance education community will promote appropriate government policy frameworks to foster innovation and entrepreneurship within and by open, online and distance education institutions.
Institutions will integrate entrepreneurship in their curricula, to actively promote a culture of entrepreneurship in society.
Best practices will be disseminated in maximizing the social and financial returns on university and faculty intellectual property, in enabling faculty mobility, and in facilitating innovation and entrepreneurship.
Alumni will be engaged in the learning enterprise, through sharing experiences in innovation and entrepreneurship, and providing opportunities for internships.…