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An international education at home: Distance learning graduate education
As with every university you are interested in studying with, you should check their accreditation. For example, UNISA operates in accordance with the Higher Education Act 101 of 1997, as amended. It is recognized by the South African Department of Education (DoE), accredited by the South African Council on Higher Education (CHE) and all its qualifications are registered with the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA). Internationally, one way for the accreditation of Unisa’s qualifications in foreign countries with an established Qualifications Authority, is for the two qualification authorities involved to negotiate the mutual recognition and accreditation of each other’s qualifications. In other cases the publication of an institution’s name in specific authoritative publications, forms the basis of accreditation. UNISA is inter alia listed in the following publications: Commonwealth Universities Yearbook, an international directory providing authoritative information on more than 600 universities in 36 Commonwealth countries; International Handbook of Universities published by the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and verified by the International Association of Universities. Students must however enquire from the specific foreign country/university whether UNISA’s qualifications are accredited/recognized.
Scheer from DETC, based in the US, says potential students should check the actual accreditation bodies when looking at a degree: “To check the accreditation of any postsecondary school or college visit www.chea.org (Council of Higher Education Accreditation). The school must be accredited by an agency recognized by the US Department of Education.” The CHEA website contains details of over 400 quality assurance bodies, accreditation bodies and Ministeries of Education in 175 countries.
Employers can be impressed by people who have studied for a distance learning qualification.
Employers can be impressed by people who have studied for a distance learning qualification. “The CEO of a large international consulting firm recently commented that he would value a graduate from a distance learning (DL) MBA who had achieved the same results as a graduate from an equivalent on-campus program more favourably in light of the greater commitment required from the student to achieve this result,” says Chris Howarth, Director of External Programmes at the School of Management, Royal Holloway, University of London.
